Resort Recommendations for First Solo Trip

[kleigh1969]

I have stayed solo several times. The first was POR (April 2014). I loved my room in Alligator Bayou. One night, pretty late, I accidentally got off at the wrong bus stop at the resort. I thought, not a big deal, I'll just walk with all the other people getting off toward my room. They all seemed to disappear within a minute or two and then I was walking through these winding paths with lots of vegetation not completely sure which way I was going. I knew it was probably fine, and it did turn out to be fine, but I was irritated with myself for not being more aware because I felt vulnerable and I didn't like that.

Then next trip (Oct 2014)I arrived very late and stayed one night at Pop Century and switched to Wilderness Lodge. I figured Wilderness Lodge would feel "safer" because of the interior space. Since it was triple the cost of POP, I decided so save some money and stay at POP that first night.

I always have liked Wilderness, but I ended up falling in love with Pop Century and before I would never (I don't know why) have considered staying there. It felt very compact and safe, well lit, etc. IF you are saying in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, you are close to the main pool and Classic Hall and there are always people around and again feels very safe.

So my next trip (June 2015) I stayed the whole time at Pop Century and loved it. It was fun to walk over and check out Art of Animation too. The trip after that (August 2015) I decided to spurge and stay AKL club level. It was very nice - I love AKL, but I really missed POP!

So I went back to POP in April this year. I rented a car for the first time and that gave me freedom to go to places like AKL to eat, but still stay at POP, and let's face it, save money so I could justify more trips! I have another trip to POP already booked!

So I know you said moderate, but consider Pop Century. I LOVED POR, but just be more aware of where you are going if you are traveling late at night since it is so spread out with so much vegetation. I have also stayed at POFQ and CSR (multiple times), but not solo. I actually love CSR, think it has a great location, is beautiful, and have never had my Disney buzz interrupted by seeing people doing business as many people have mentioned.

When you are alone, know where you are going, walk with purpose, have your phone with you, and you will be fine. I tried my first solo trip after getting divorced. I wasn't sure how I'd do, but I LOVED the freedom of doing whatever I want whenever I want. I think it would be hard for me to get used to going with other people again and having to actually compromise and not have the trip revolve around me! (harhar!). Do I wish I had a family (no kids, parents deceased) to go with me, of course! But if life gives you lemons, you make lemonade!

 

[Deanie1]

Alfredo, I am sure you will love POR. Our family has stayed there 7 times now, the first 5 times in Alligator Bayou (our family of 5 went the first 3 visits) and the last 2 in the Mansions. I really do prefer the Alligator Bayou the most as I love the landscaping and the bayou feel it has. Now, I do get lost easily but there are two colours of paths - red and grey. One is more direct and the other is a meandering path but I cannot remember which is which. I am sure you will have a better sense of direction than I do (most people do!) The quiet pools are very nice also, if you would prefer that. Have a great time!

 

[Alfredo68]

Alfredo, I am sure you will love POR. Our family has stayed there 7 times now, the first 5 times in Alligator Bayou (our family of 5 went the first 3 visits) and the last 2 in the Mansions. I really do prefer the Alligator Bayou the most as I love the landscaping and the bayou feel it has. Now, I do get lost easily but there are two colours of paths - red and grey. One is more direct and the other is a meandering path but I cannot remember which is which. I am sure you will have a better sense of direction than I do (most people do!) The quiet pools are very nice also, if you would prefer that. Have a great time!

Thank you! I am looking forward to being there. I will have my own car, so getting lost may not be as much an issue, but then again my sense of direction without a GPS is null. LOL. I do LOVE the idea of quiet pools. Actually, anything quiet is perfect for me. I chose this resort with a Cast Member on the phone who knew I am an introvert and prefer things a bit on the quiet side. I am not sure where I will land since I think all parts have Garden View rooms. I am hoping, after your comment, that I land in Alligator Bayou but I am sure I will like wherever I land. It will be an adventure. Then I will use my car to drive to the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT since it will always be faster (and less crowded) than the bus. Since the MK is 5 miles away and EPCOT 1 mile from POR, the car will get me there in no time. Then I will also have flexibility. I am really excited about the trip! I have not been back to WDW since 2011 (without counting my visit to DL in February of 2012), so it was about time I got down there.

 

[Deanie1]

You can always request Alligator Bayou. I would if I was you. The rooms are the same but with different bed dings and AB has wood headboards. When I mentioned that I get lost, I meant that I can get lost WITHIN the resort. Once I figure out which colour paths were direct, I was OK.

My DH only went to WDW the first 3 times and now he prefers to just stay home. I either go with my daughter but my next trip will likely be solo ( fall 2017). I have never gone solo before so let me know how it goes. I should stay at POP but I would just miss POR too much. They also have a great food court.

 

[Alfredo68]

You can always request Alligator Bayou. I would if I was you. The rooms are the same but with different bed dings and AB has wood headboards. When I mentioned that I get lost, I meant that I can get lost WITHIN the resort. Once I figure out which colour paths were direct, I was OK.

My DH only went to WDW the first 3 times and now he prefers to just stay home. I either go with my daughter but my next trip will likely be solo ( fall 2017). I have never gone solo before so let me know how it goes. I should stay at POP but I would just miss POR too much. They also have a great food court.

Yes, I figured you were speaking of getting lost within the resort. I looked at the map and it is gigantic. I can see how someone can easily get lost. As long as I can keep track of where I left my car, I may be OK. However, walking around within the center part of the resort....THAT is where I may get lost. But, since the whole thing looks like it is pretty much a circle, at some point I would end up at the front/reception area where I can be rescued by a Cast Member. LOL. I saw images of rooms at the Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend and all look nice. The Magnolia Bend rooms seem lighter in feel, but that may be because there is less wood. I am not sure I'd like POP....seems a bit like a party resort. This is another reason the POR appealed to me, it seems quieter.

 

[spiceycat]

POR is great love it.

the only WDW resorts that I got mixed up was Polyn - now they have the building signs on all their exits - then it was only on the one not facing the beach side - long ago.

POR building are different the Mansion side (which I loved) is very different from the AB side. my favorite building there was 85 Magnolia Terrace. here a map

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/port-riverside.htm

the blue/green is POR
the purple is POFQ.

my grandpa - how did you like PC?

 

[Alfredo68]

POR is great love it.

the only WDW resorts that I got mixed up was Polyn - now they have the building signs on all their exits - then it was only on the one not facing the beach side - long ago.

POR building are different the Mansion side (which I loved) is very different from the AB side. my favorite building there was 85 Magnolia Terrace. here a map

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/port-riverside.htm

the blue/green is POR
the purple is POFQ.

my grandpa - how did you like PC?

Thanks for the info! After much debating, I made a special request that my room be in the Magnolia Bend (Mansion) side. I think I will like the lighter rooms better than the darker wood rooms. However, I know requests are not always granted, but I figured my request was pretty broad, so getting a room on the Magnolia bend side should be OK, especially having asked three months ahead of going.

 

[spiceycat]

If you get building 85 - MB - it is a short walk to both the bus stop behind it and the food court - thru the main pool to the food court. It also has a restaurant POFQ does not - it uses the one at POR -

 

[Alfredo68]

If you get building 85 - MB - it is a short walk to both the bus stop behind it and the food court - thru the main pool to the food court. It also has a restaurant POFQ does not - it uses the one at POR -

I will actually have my car and will not be using the bus, which will make things easier, less crowded and faster.

 

[spiceycat]

would always take the bus to the MK - otherwise it can get crazy,

plus you do know about the new if you want to park close parking that the parks have - so if you take your car prepare for a long walk - or pay $15 for parking - now if you are not staying at a WDW resort make that $35 ($20 and $15). just another way for WDW to separate you from your money.

heard it is to get more guests to take the buses - instead of taking their cars. It is at all the parks except the water parks - they just have the $15 up close parking fee.

 

[Alfredo68]

would always take the bus to the MK - otherwise it can get crazy,

plus you do know about the new if you want to park close parking that the parks have - so if you take your car prepare for a long walk - or pay $15 for parking - now if you are not staying at a WDW resort make that $35 ($20 and $15). just another way for WDW to separate you from your money.

heard it is to get more guests to take the buses - instead of taking their cars. It is at all the parks except the water parks - they just have the $15 up close parking fee.

According to WDW (and what I was told by several Cast Members when booking my reservations), when you stay at a Disney resort, your park parking is complimentary. Here is the info. They give you a decal for the car, though I just spoke with a CM and she said they'll scan my MagicBand when entering the parks parking and that will show I am staying at a Disney resort and provide the complimentary parking. The MK has trams that drive you to the Monorail. EPCOT is direct car to entrance. I have done that many times before, so it is no issue. I have also done the bus enough to know I never want to go that again. Too packed, long waits, big crowds. I also have dining reservations in various locations and will want to change clothes, which means returning to the resort and then back to the park. Doing that with a bus will kill two hours, easily. The car is a 10 minute drive to the MK and less to EPCOT. The MK is 5 miles from POR and EPCOT only one mile.

 

[spiceycat]

here what I am talking about -
water parks
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/preferred-parking-area-coming-to-disney-water-parks/

theme parks
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/preferred-parking-opens-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

this is new this year. so the parking you probably did at Epcot, Studios or AK if you don't pay extra - expect a long walk from the car to the parks. So would definitely go with the bus.

sorry but it is definitely true - got spoiled all those years parking in the closest lot - but WILL NEVER PAY FOR PARKING - so just have to get in better shape.

this is particular cruel at Epcot because it is such a far walk (at least for me) once you are in the park. WDW really needs to put water fountains in the non preferred area - but hey they act like you could have a sun stoke and they won't care. Oh speaking of if you are expecting the parking tram - well guess what they might have had one every 30 minutes - this is the area before when they were coming about 10 minutes if that long of a wait.

they had also moved the tram to the other side of Epcot and did not tell the security guards. So the security guards were telling guests to go to the wrong area to wait for tram. They did fix this the last time I was there. but who knows what next.

Disney is NOT what it was. Now it might be better after they fix everything - but until then it is not nearly as much fun.

 

[Alfredo68]

here what I am talking about -
water parks
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/preferred-parking-area-coming-to-disney-water-parks/

theme parks
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/preferred-parking-opens-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

this is new this year. so the parking you probably did at Epcot, Studios or AK if you don't pay extra - expect a long walk from the car to the parks. So would definitely go with the bus.

sorry but it is definitely true - got spoiled all those years parking in the closest lot - but WILL NEVER PAY FOR PARKING - so just have to get in better shape.

this is particular cruel at Epcot because it is such a far walk (at least for me) once you are in the park. WDW really needs to put water fountains in the non preferred area - but hey they act like you could have a sun stoke and they won't care. Oh speaking of if you are expecting the parking tram - well guess what they might have had one every 30 minutes - this is the area before when they were coming about 10 minutes if that long of a wait.

they had also moved the tram to the other side of Epcot and did not tell the security guards. So the security guards were telling guests to go to the wrong area to wait for tram. They did fix this the last time I was there. but who knows what next.

Disney is NOT what it was. Now it might be better after they fix everything - but until then it is not nearly as much fun.

Oh, yeah, the preferred lot would definitely be charged, but I would not park there. I can't speak for Hollywood Studios because I have not been there in over a decade, nor am I going this time. Also, I lived in FL for 16 years and there is NO way I would ever go there in June, July or August. People complain about the heat, but its is FLORIDA! It is unbearably hot and humid for a good 8 months of the year, but the worst possible is during the summer months. The only times I would go are fall, winter or REALLY early spring (but not during spring break). Unless things have changed, the Magic Kingdom has a tram that goes through the entire parking lot bringing people to the Monorail. I used to just wall and if a tram came, it came. It usually did. While I don't mind walking (after all, the park itself is about 15 acres, so I will be walking), those trams were always nice to ride on. I don't think I ever parked right close to the park (though at the MK, it is closest to the monorail station as the parking, if I remember correctly, does not reach the park entrance as this was something Walt wanted to avoid. EPCOT I really can't recall. I am going late October, and while there is probably no longer a low time for Disney, I am sure there are still off times when there is a little bit less of a crowd. But I do remember the buses and I was not really thrilled either waiting for a but, getting into one or a bus taking five times longer to get to and from a park than my car would. If I had no choice (like the last time I went), then the buses would have to do. But since I will have my car, I will make use of it.

 

[winthropf]

Either POR or POFQ would be great. Make sure to go to see YeeHa Bob in the lounge at POR on Wed.-Sat. nights most weeks. Sit at the bar for the show. I have also asked others to share a table and never had a problem. Great show for all who have the ability to be young.

 

[mjmgsssp]

I stayed at POFQ on a solo trip and absolutely LOVED it! I booked a standard room, and when I did my online check-in, I requested ground floor and near the food court. I ended up in the building adjacent to the main building, and the 3rd room from the food court. It was incredibly quiet (great surprise), had very nice landscaping, with a short walk to the bus stop, pool, and the boat for a trip to DS.

I believe the food court is being renovated thru Oct/Nov, but they have an alternate location off the lobby serving some basics. I understand there's also a bus to POR if you'd like to see what food options they have.

It's my favorite resort whether I'm solo or with others, and made me feel incredibly safe.