Kids remember a lot from our first trip, but the biggest impression was the massive upgrade we got to the Presidential Suite (https://www.glassslipperconcierge.com/blog/disneys-contemporary-resort-presidential-suite-is-incredible) at the Contemporary Hotel: 4 balconies with great views, 3 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms, living room, a dining room, a kitchenette, all the Club Level refreshments. Even though I'm not really an Incredibles fan, it was amazing!

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the hotel with larger than life cartoons! The Art of Animation. The Giant Ursula. The Lion king cave. The Cars town! So memorable.

This is the only hotel my kids remember and still talk about. But only because they were huge Cars fans and we stayed in themed suite. They didn't care about the rest of the hotel.

The cheaper WDW resorts really cater to young kids. At 50, I can’t do that anymore. We stay at the Floridian or Yacht and Beach Club (great pools).
If I had little kids and on a budget, I’d do Art of Animation.
9 years and up, I’d consider Animal Kindgom Lodge.

Buy out someone’s leftover vacation club points or go through Costco

Did Saratoga once with a big group and it’s very different from other resorts. Very removed and not Disney like. Pool can be far and waiting for buses is a pain. Nice resort though with lots of space and a kitchen and easy to get a good deal if buying points.

My six year old still talks about the four seasons Orlando.

I remember staying off premises with my family at a condo in Kissimmee in the 90s. It felt like a palace of a hotel room to me at the time!

We’ve been to Disney with our kids a few times and we just spent 4 nights in a Disney resort over spring break and never went to any of the parks.

The Disney resorts are fun given the theming/vibe, pools, and access to other Disney properties (and parks).

I can’t imagine staying offsite and navigating transportation unless you plan to spend all day at a park. Being able to go back and forth makes it more fun/relaxing imho.

Fwiw, I don’t think you need to spring for a luxury property. We’ve enjoyed Art of Animation just as much as the Boardwalk. We’ve visited/eaten at all the fancy resorts and most other Disney properties—each has a fun vibe and different pros/cons.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends what you are looking to do/for - we like the hotels because we like good pool scenes and took off some time out of the parks to hang at the hotel - but if you aren't doing that, don't bother with a nice hotel situation.

+1. We stayed at the boardwalk and came back in the afternoon and hung out at the pool. DS remembers the pool and all the activities going on then. We also like the boat ride to the parks. That was nice and really easy.

Our family really liked Boardwalk as well. Did parks in the morning after a quick breakfast and then came back to the hotel for lunch + pool + naps and then walked to Epcot for dinner. Kids remember the pool, country dinners, and quad bike we rode around the boardwalk.

My teens remember the outdoor pool, outdoor dining and water slide at the Hard Rock. They don’t remember the room at all. We just went last June.

My kids actually remember the hotel the most since we spent 4 days there and 3 days at the parks. Parks is a lot of waiting around. Hotel was lazy river and slides.

We went to Universal and it’s all about Harry Potter, nothing about the hotel

We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge and it was her favorite thing about the trip.

The hotel was my favorite part but I didn't go to Disney until 7 and kind of hated it. Probably too old for the character stuff and it just felt like a hot slog. Rides were...fine? I preferred a lovely hotel and liked Epcot. I was both pretty privileged and 7 going on 17 always though so YMMV. But for ny childhood self, a 3 bedroom suite and an amazing water park and pools plus room service and being able to order a Shirley Temple from my bath tub was better than any of the rides.

I will lol a bit because I am a "rough it" adult generally but my childhood self lovdled the hotels and "luxury" more than any of the park stuff. So..that's what I remember most.

2 things:
-I agree w a pp that it depends how privileged your kids are generally and how often your family travels as to what might impress them. My kids are impressed by any hotel w a pool (any pool) and a hotel breakfast that includes waffles and sugary cereal 😂.
-we are not going to Disney world for the accommodations, shopping, or the food. We’re going for the rides! We are the type to stay from open to close and ride everything, experience everything.

We have been 5 time. First time stayed at the Polynesian. Kids don't remember anything. I remember it because it was so cramped. Second time stayed at Art of Animation. Kids remember it a bit. Next 3 times we stayed off site. My kids don't care about the hotel. They are all about the rides.

My kids went to Disney world when they were 9 and 7.

Then-9 year old’s top memories of the trip: thunder mountain railroad (his favorite ride), it’s a small world (his least favorite ride 😂), the pools at the hotel (we stayed off property), and meeting buzz light year (he was super into Toy Story as a toddler and still loved meeting the characters at age 9).

Then 7 year olds top memories of the trip: getting scared on pirates of the Caribbean (she hated it), loving dumbo and riding it multiple times, how hot it was, and the hotel pools

They don’t remember the hotel at all. But they speak of the transport from hotel to parks. The transport was brief because we stayed on site, but I guess it was memorable.