Hi, Hannah! Welcome to planDisney!
I'm so excited to hear that you're planning a stay at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel before setting sail with
Disney Cruise Line. I have done the same thing with my family, and I can tell you that staying at one of
Walt Disney World's resort hotels before a voyage with Captain Mickey is both convenient and lots of fun.
With its colorful, larger-than-life Disney theming, Disney's Art of Animation Resort is always a favorite among the littlest resort Guests. This resort hotel offers spacious family suites that would be the perfect place to relax before your cruise. Disney's Art of Animation Resort is also home to the largest resort pool on Walt Disney World property, so this would be a fun place to hang out with your toddler. I think your kiddo would also really enjoy exploring the grounds to see all of the giant sculptures of favorite animated Disney characters that can be found throughout the resort.
If your family enjoys fireworks, you don't need a theme park ticket to watch the show. If you decide to stay at one of the
Magic Kingdom area resorts, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney's Contemporary Resort all offer great views of both
Happily Ever After and the
Electrical Water Pageant. These three resorts also have access to the
Walt Disney World Monorail if you think your little one would enjoy a monorail ride.
A trip to
Disney Springs is a great way to spend the day before your cruise. If you decide to visit Disney Springs, a stay at one of the resort hotels that offer
water transportation to Disney Springs might be the right choice for your family. My family and I have stayed at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter several times before a cruise. This resort hotel offers a relaxing boat ride to Disney Springs. It also has gorgeous grounds to stroll through, a fun sea serpent water slide at the pool, and delicious beignets to snack on.
As you explore resort hotel options, I would recommend taking a look at our
planDisney Pocket Guides for Disney Resort Hotels. These guides offer a wealth of information to help you decide which resort to call your home away from home. Be sure to also check out this fun and informative planDisney
video about selecting a resort that's perfect for little ones. If you have any additional questions, please come back and visit us again at planDisney!
See ya real soon!
Samantha