Hi Debra!
Welcome to planDisney! You've got a friend in me as you plan your upcoming Walt Disney World Resort vacation!
Debra, I'll start by saying that I don't think you'll be disappointed in ANY of the
Deluxe Resort Hotels available in the Disney Resorts Collection. I've stayed at several of them over the years and have loved each one. Our family stayed at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge a few years ago and it felt like a wonderful little escape. We had a Savanna View room and enjoyed some quiet time each morning with our oldest looking for animals from the balcony. The
dining options are also wonderful!
However, if park hopping is a top priority for your trip, I would recommend a stay at one of the hotels located near the International Gateway of EPCOT, which is also known as
Disney's BoardWalk. There are three great options to choose from in this area including
Disney's BoardWalk Inn,
Disney's Beach Club Resort, and
Disney's Yacht Club Resort. From each of these hotels, you can easily walk to EPCOT and also take a stroll over to Disney's Hollywood Studios. The walk to Disney's Hollywood Studios will take probably about 20-25 minutes depending on which hotel you choose (Disney's BoardWalk Inn is closest). You could also use Disney's
complimentary transportation to take a FriendShip boat from any of the resorts to the entrance to Hollywood Studios and take a bus to Magic Kingdom Park or Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. If you'd like to walk through EPCOT in the morning, you could stop by
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in France for a chocolate croissant then take the Monorail to Magic Kingdom Park. These BoardWalk area resorts also have easy access to the
Disney Skyliner if you'd like to visit another property for dinner - like
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera at Disney's Riviera Resort. It's a perfect place for a special night out!
As far as the after-hour parties, I think you are referring to
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and
Disney Jollywood Nights as two events that have been offered during the holiday season in past years. These special-ticketed events do not require theme park admission in addition to the ticket for the evening. You can usually gain access a few hours ahead of the parties for some "bonus" time exploring the parks. I recently shared
more on holiday offerings with another guest that you may find helpful!
Debra, I'm sending lots of pixie dust as you plan your magical vacation. Please stop by and see me or any of my planDisney pals for more vacation planning tips and tricks in the future - we're all ears!
See ya real soon,
Kristi