Housing

[snowprincessofAK]

Which is better Chatham or Vista?

[JPTexan82]

Well I had a blast a vista, I met my new wife there in 2003

[Joanna71985]

I've stayed at Chatham 3 times. I really enjoy it there. It's the newer of the two complexes, and it's really nice.

[disneychickforever]

Their both great...I stayed at Vista last time, and thought I'd hate it, but I loved it! Plus cheaper rent, always a plus!

[snowprincessofAK]

I'm probably not going to have a car with me, so which is better for buses and such?

[orangekid13]

I'm probably not going to have a car with me, so which is better for buses and such?

from the information i've gathered, vista has a walgreens right across the street and a wendys really close, chatham is about a mile away from a grocery store, and down the street from there are the orlando outlets.
as for buses i've read conflicting statements, some say the buses are fine at both (at least for getting to work) and i think i've read complaints for both about getting to and from grocery stores.

you could always make friends with someone because they have a car, i'm sure they would let you tag along if you help pay for gas

I found vista and chatham on google earth, using the google earth community layer, then mapped them on google maps
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=fountain+way+ln,+lake+buena+vista+fl&daddr=Lake+Forest+Dr,+Orlando,+Orange,+Florida+328 21,+United+States&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=28.37478,-81.4995&sspn=0.020239,0.046949&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=14
Vista is above the A placemarker and Chatham is immediately below the B placemarker.
you can search that map for different stores by name or keyword (google is amazing like that) which might help you decide where you want to stay

[Pendragon1515]

from the information i've gathered, vista has a walgreens right across the street and a wendys really close, chatham is about a mile away from a grocery store, and down the street from there are the orlando outlets.
as for buses i've read conflicting statements, some say the buses are fine at both (at least for getting to work) and i think i've read complaints for both about getting to and from grocery stores.

you could always make friends with someone because they have a car, i'm sure they would let you tag along if you help pay for gas

I found vista and chatham on google earth, using the google earth community layer, then mapped them on google maps
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=fountain+way+ln,+lake+buena+vista+fl&daddr=Lake+Forest+Dr,+Orlando,+Orange,+Florida+328 21,+United+States&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=28.37478,-81.4995&sspn=0.020239,0.046949&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=14
Vista is above the A placemarker and Chatham is immediately below the B placemarker.
you can search that map for different stores by name or keyword (google is amazing like that) which might help you decide where you want to stay


That was really neat!

[disneychickforever]

Vista is great to get to Walgreens and such. It's so close it made no sense to drive there at all. Walmart is literally just down the street, and there are some restaurants within walking distance.

[Sehsun]

I'm probably not going to have a car with me, so which is better for buses and such?

I lived at Chatham and really liked it. I enjoy quieter environments, and I didn't have issues with noise from other apartments.

As far as the buses.....
The buses come to both apartment complexes. Most of the time, the buses come to Chatham first before they head to The Commons or Vista (which means that you will be guaranteed a seat on those bus routes).

When I took the bus to DAK, Chatham was the last stop before heading to the wardrobe building and DAK, so the bus would be a little filled before I got on. Also, buses going to Epcot will be crowded (in the mornings more often) with students from The Commons.

[orangekid13]

crowded busses aren't a problem for me, WSU is in a town so small it doubles when the students show up after being home for the summer, and there's under 20k students...
The busses from the big apartment area to campus fill to the gills every morning and there's a bus every 15 minutes at the most on two routes; they're all packed a bunch of times a day and have to go past some stops without stopping because there's no more room...

How often do the buses run there and how packed are they when they're "a little filled" or "crowded"? For crowded are we talking so many people that have to stand that everyone gets to know the people around them a little too well?

[Sehsun]

How often do the buses run there and how packed are they when they're "a little filled" or "crowded"? For crowded are we talking so many people that have to stand that everyone gets to know the people around them a little too well?

The bus routes vary - some would come around every 20 minutes, some once an hour (I never took those before though), and the DAK and DHS (then MGM) one came every 30 minutes.

A "little filled" would be like, around 10 people or less, maybe? Crowded (when talking about the Epcot bus after it stopped by The Commons) would be like standing room only.

Also when I got off work at MK after 9:00, when the buses were late, there was standing room only. A couple times, we'd be rushing to get on the bus, and the bus driver said very firmly that no one would get on the bus unless we got on one at a time.

[Joanna71985]

I'm probably not going to have a car with me, so which is better for buses and such?

Both complexes are fine for buses. One thing to note- the majority of buses start at Chatham and end first at Chatham. This helps in ensuring a seat.

crowded busses aren't a problem for me, WSU is in a town so small it doubles when the students show up after being home for the summer, and there's under 20k students...
The busses from the big apartment area to campus fill to the gills every morning and there's a bus every 15 minutes at the most on two routes; they're all packed a bunch of times a day and have to go past some stops without stopping because there's no more room...

How often do the buses run there and how packed are they when they're "a little filled" or "crowded"? For crowded are we talking so many people that have to stand that everyone gets to know the people around them a little too well?

There are different times for the buses. They range from about 20 minutes (MK) to 30 minutes (AK) to an hour (Walmart). They can be really busy around the time the parks will be open. They can also be really crowded at park close. One bus that is busy a lot is the Epcot bus, because there are a lot of ICPs.

[Pendragon1515]

Both complexes are fine for buses. One thing to note- the majority of buses start at Chatham and end first at Chatham. This helps in ensuring a seat.



There are different times for the buses. They range from about 20 minutes (MK) to 30 minutes (AK) to an hour (Walmart). They can be really busy around the time the parks will be open. They can also be really crowded at park close. One bus that is busy a lot is the Epcot bus, because there are a lot of ICPs.

HEY! i have a question....is it like a city bus or is it like a tour bus? and do they always go to walmart like everyday....

[Joanna71985]

HEY! i have a question....is it like a city bus or is it like a tour bus? and do they always go to walmart like everyday....

The buses are like tour buses.

And it runs to Walmart every day but Sunday. Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri it runs from 3pm til midnight. Wed/Sat it runs 9am to 5pm.

Also, 1 day out of the week (it changes each month) goes to the FL mall instead of Walmart. For example, in July the Walmart bus goes to the FL Mall on Thurs instead of Walmart.

[Pendragon1515]

The buses are like tour buses.

And it runs to Walmart every day but Sunday. Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri it runs from 3pm til midnight. Wed/Sat it runs 9am to 5pm.

Also, 1 day out of the week (it changes each month) goes to the FL mall instead of Walmart. For example, in July the Walmart bus goes to the FL Mall on Thurs instead of Walmart.

WOW that sounds neat! are they nice busses? or are they crap?

[snowprincessofAK]

Now do you get to choose where your housing is or do they just put you wherever they have the room?

[Joanna71985]

WOW that sounds neat! are they nice busses? or are they crap?

They can be both.

Now do you get to choose where your housing is or do they just put you wherever they have the room?

They ask you at check-in where you would like to stay, and they do try to put you there if there is room. I recommend getting to check-in as early as possible, if you are able to.

[snowprincessofAK]

They can be both.



They ask you at check-in where you would like to stay, and they do try to put you there if there is room. I recommend getting to check-in as early as possible, if you are able to.

well I'm in alaska right now so I'd really like to try and get down there a few days before everything. :eek: :cool1:

[Pendragon1515]

They can be both.



They ask you at check-in where you would like to stay, and they do try to put you there if there is room. I recommend getting to check-in as early as possible, if you are able to.

Now when do you recomend getting there? like 7 am when we should be there at what 8:30? or is that toooo early?

[Joanna71985]

well I'm in alaska right now so I'd really like to try and get down there a few days before everything. :eek: :cool1:

Alaska?! Wow, that must be some plane ride!

Now when do you recomend getting there? like 7 am when we should be there at what 8:30? or is that toooo early?

I would say to get there at 8am (I don't think they'll let people in before that).

[Pendragon1515]

Alaska?! Wow, that must be some plane ride!



I would say to get there at 8am (I don't think they'll let people in before that).

ok 8? great! where do we show up at? like arrive?

[Joanna71985]

ok 8? great! where do we show up at? like arrive?

Check-in takes place at Vista Way.

[Pendragon1515]

Check-in takes place at Vista Way.

ok! now when you enter disney property are you stoped at all or can you go where ever you want...this is before you check in. if that makes sense?

[Joanna71985]

ok! now when you enter disney property are you stoped at all or can you go where ever you want...this is before you check in. if that makes sense?

To get into the parks, you need your ID (which you won't get til Traditions on Day 3). But you can go to DTD if you like.

[snowprincessofAK]

Alaska?! Wow, that must be some plane ride!

.
It's 5 hours from seattle, and I'ma crabby traveller...lol
:scared1:

[Joanna71985]

It's 5 hours from seattle, and I'ma crabby traveller...lol
:scared1:

Wow. I don't know how you do it!:worship:

[Pendragon1515]

It's 5 hours from seattle, and I'ma crabby traveller...lol
:scared1:

5 HOURS????? I CAN BARELY STAND THE 49 MINUTES IT TAKES ME TO GET TO ORLANDO! do they feed you??

[Joanna71985]

5 HOURS????? I CAN BARELY STAND THE 49 MINUTES IT TAKES ME TO GET TO ORLANDO! do they feed you??

I know. It's only about 2 hours to fly from NJ, but it takes 18 hours to drive down.

[grinningghost]

My DD is living at VW and loves it there. It's pretty darned nice for the price - she'll NEVER find a complex like that IRL for that kind of rent.:thumbsup2

I'd live there.;)

[Pendragon1515]

My DD is living at VW and loves it there. It's pretty darned nice for the price - she'll NEVER find a complex like that IRL for that kind of rent.:thumbsup2

I'd live there.;)

whats DD and IRL ?????

[Joanna71985]

whats DD and IRL ?????

Dear/Disney Daughter and In Real Life