9/17/2013 9:09 PM
My sister's husband works at Disney so we go at least once a year and have stayed at almost every resort. Each has pluses and minuses but all are good.
We did the cabins at Fort Wilderness 3 times and it was great. About upper mid/high range in price, $382/night but the kids had a full size bed plus bunks in the bedroom and my wife and I used the murphy bed in the family room. Having a full service kitchen was nice, especially for saving money on breakfasts. The size was perfect for our then family of 5. Another bonus, you park within feet of the door to the cabin, great when lugging sleeping kidos. Negatives, to get to the dining area or water taxis to Magic Kingdom you have to either walk, bike, golf cart, or take a campground resort bus, and the pools are pretty basic. Hoop dee doo review (dinner show) is fantastic but might be too old for your kids to get, plus there is a really good dinner buffet there, Trails End. There are a lot of other activities there like pony rides, mini speed boats, campfire movies with s'moores, hay rides, etc.
The best resort pool by far is the Beach and Yacht club. Great slide and most of the pool is sand bottom. Easy walk to Epcot and a great view of the Boardwalk.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is really cool. The Savanah rooms have views of animals right outside the room balcony. Nothing like opening the curtain in the morning to have a giraffe feet away looking at you. They have the best breakfast buffet at Boma. $$$$$ but tasty. My wife didn't like the really long walk from the parking lot to the room especially lugging sleeping kids and their gear.
Wilderness Lodge is really cool and the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios is convenient. Great family style dinner there in the Whispering Canyon Café. Fun atmosphere with sing alongs, stick horse races, etc. during dinner. Just don't ask for any ketsup. $$$$$ but worth it.
We have also stayed at the Polynesian, Coronado springs several times, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans, and the All Stars.
Due to really tight family funds we are staying at All Star Sports again next month but getting 2 adjoining rooms. The rooms are a little smaller with no fridge or microwave. We are taking our own small microwave to sterilize our son's respiratory therapy gear, and since they are renovating their food court, to heat up breakfast stuff. We keep a cooler in the room and the kids take turns keeping it filled with ice. The pools are pretty basic with no water slides.
Staying at Disney allows for free parking at the parks and BIG BONUS, every park has extra magic hours (extended hours) exclusively for Disney resort guests. Some open earlier and some stay open later. The crowds are lighter and most rides have no lines.
Get to the parks early if no extra magic hours work for you. You can take snacks. With your kids ages, most ride lines won't be too bad.
Also, resort guests can have their souvenirs shipped from the parks to the resort for pickup the next day so you don't have to carry them around all day.
Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN