1st Solo Trip - Which resort?

[jjas]

I am planning my first solo trip for later this year - 9/8 to 9/12 and I am very torn about which resort to book. I keep going back and forth between Dolphin, Yacht Club and Boardwalk Inn. I know I want to stay in the Epcot area because of Food and Wine Festival. Money is not my first deciding factor but always something to consider. Here are my pros and cons for each:

Dolphin: Pros - I have stayed there before and pretty much know what I am getting. It is also the cheapest of the 3 options. Cons - We mostly stayed there when we went as a family - will I have too many memories of family trips and miss that? Some of the reviews are not the best about service/room conditions.

Yacht Club: Pros - The resort looks beautiful and the rooms are recently refurbished. I like the idea of having a balcony. It is the closest to Epcot. Cons - It is the most expensive of the options.

Boardwalk Inn - Pros - I have always thought I wanted to stay there. The location is great and it is the middle of the prices. Cons - Have been reading several reviews about how the rooms really need to be updated.

I also have been thinking about walking back to my room alone at night - can't remember how well lit the pathways are to the Dolphin and don't know about the Yacht Club. The Boardwalk Inn seems like it would be the most well lit of the choices.

Any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[TYTY]

My vote is for Boardwalk....I always go for the middle choice. Not the most expensive or the cheapest. I stayed there in November and it was awesome. I'm not very picky but our room looked just fine to me.

 

[loves to dive]

I've stayed at all three solo many times. My #1 pick is always going to be YC, it's my favorite resort on site. I actually have a split stay coming up in August with 2 nights at the Swan and 4 nights at the YC. If money is no option, YC all the way. BW is a good resort and I will and have stayed there if it is less, which it almost always is. I think some of the inn rooms might actually be closer to Epcot then YC. I've stayed at Swan/Dolphin more because I go so often, I just can't make myself pay the price for YC or BW. I've actually had better service at times at the Dolphin then either of the WDW resorts, that was in the before times. The rooms aren't in bad shape at either Dolphin or BW.

As far as walking back at night. YC and BW no problems at all, it is all well lit and well traveled. When I walk back to Dolphin at night I actually walk the BW way instead of by YC. The only reason for that is there is a tiny part (and I'm talking maybe 6 steps) where there is a little wooded area hiding the back of the resort. It is well lit and safe but it kind of creeps me out. I've walked by it many times though if I forget to go the BW way. I don't think either direction YC or BW is shorter, it might depend on where you room is at the Dolphin but we have timed it and it takes the same amount of time.

 

[Marthasor]

I am planning my first solo trip for later this year - 9/8 to 9/12 and I am very torn about which resort to book. I keep going back and forth between Dolphin, Yacht Club and Boardwalk Inn. I know I want to stay in the Epcot area because of Food and Wine Festival. Money is not my first deciding factor but always something to consider. Here are my pros and cons for each:

Dolphin: Pros - I have stayed there before and pretty much know what I am getting. It is also the cheapest of the 3 options. Cons - We mostly stayed there when we went as a family - will I have too many memories of family trips and miss that? Some of the reviews are not the best about service/room conditions.

Yacht Club: Pros - The resort looks beautiful and the rooms are recently refurbished. I like the idea of having a balcony. It is the closest to Epcot. Cons - It is the most expensive of the options.

Boardwalk Inn - Pros - I have always thought I wanted to stay there. The location is great and it is the middle of the prices. Cons - Have been reading several reviews about how the rooms really need to be updated.

I also have been thinking about walking back to my room alone at night - can't remember how well lit the pathways are to the Dolphin and don't know about the Yacht Club. The Boardwalk Inn seems like it would be the most well lit of the choices.

Any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated!

I've stayed at all three resorts (YC and Swan solo) and YC would be my first choice. I love the vibe and location of the resort. I also like the ease of having a good QS option right off the lobby. I just stayed solo at the Swan in Feb. and I did not feel uncomfortable walking anywhere in the Boardwalk area as a solo female. The biggest downside of Swan/Dolphin was transportation to MK and AK. I ended up using lyft to DS and AK and using the buses at YC and BWI to get to and from MK. BWI is my least favorite resort in the EP area. I always have noise problems when I stay there and I don't like that the dining options are only accessible by going outside. The menu at Boardwalk Bakery is also, currently, really limited, IMHO.

 

[patty57]

How much less is the Dolphin? I really like the Swan/Dolphin, and often choose them over the Disney Resorts. With that said, I spent a night there last week, and the lobby and lobby bar were overrun by a convention. Also, the pool and beach were closed for the convention. I know those things happen, but I still didn't like it. Especially the lobby and bar. I've never seen anything like it.

 

[rangerxenos]

I've stayed at Yacht Club twice solo, and loved it. If you can afford it, that would be my vote.

 

[loves to dive]

How much less is the Dolphin? I really like the Swan/Dolphin, and often choose them over the Disney Resorts. With that said, I spent a night there last week, and the lobby and lobby bar were overrun by a convention. Also, the pool and beach were closed for the convention. I know those things happen, but I still didn't like it. Especially the lobby and bar. I've never seen anything like it.

It really depends on when you are going, if there is a discount, etc. It can be be anywhere from $100 a night less to up to $300 a night less. I have a split stay coming up the last week in August, splitting two nights Swan and 4 nights YC. Swan is $311 per night, YC is $511 for 3 of the nights and $550 one night. The $311 includes the resort fee. It is a little more to park at Swan/Dolphin and when comparing numbers you always have to make sure you are looking with the resort fee added on. That YC is without any discount. If/when an August discount comes out, I'll rebook as I have an AP but I wanted a place holder. If they close the pool in one area it will open at the other Swan/Dolphin share their pools so you can use either one. There can be conventions there at any time, I've had them when I've been there but they don't bother me. If I'm not mistaken, YC is also a convention resort.

 

[jennyq87]

Another vote for Yacht Club. The rooms are wonderful and I find it to be a very quiet resort. I've walked back from Epcot solo at night and I feel perfectly fine taking the walking path by Beach Club. There are some dark spots the other way (between Boardwalk and Yacht) that I could see making some nervous alone.

 

[Shellyred8]

Another vote for YC. Their quick service location is much better than the BW Bakery, IMO.

 

[chiburple]

I haven't stayed at the others but just wanted to say that I don't think the rooms at Boardwalk need updating. I think it's just a matter of taste and if you like that kind of throwback style. Personally, I love it! I would never stay at the Contemporary resort for example. Then again, I think I've secretly been a 60-year-old woman my whole life.

 

[Lizgistix]

My vote is for whichever resort you've been most wanting to stay at.
As for safety, I'm a single lady who has been going solo for the last 2 years, often times being out very late at night, sometimes even after everything has been closed. I've never felt unsafe, but I'm also aware of my surroundings. (habit, I guess) The only time I've been scared was when I happened upon a raccoon going through the garbage at Port Orleans French Quarter, but we startled each other.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I vote YC. The rooms and resort are a bit more adult oriented. If you are interested in the pool or hot tub I recommend the quiet pool as I found it much less crowded than SAB. YC has a bus to MK vs Dolphin who buses to TTC (or you can walk to YC and use their bus).

Disney has announced BWI will be refurbed, complete with a new restaurant and sandwhich shop or something in addition to the room remodels. They haven’t started yet but with the refurb being announced on the Disney parks blog its most likely just a matter of time. That wouldn’t make it very relaxing.

I feel like Dophin will be there for later trips where you might need to reign in costs but for now you’re on your first solo trip! That’s a special occasion so take that splurge!

 

[Best Aunt]

I have stayed solo at Swan, BoardWalk Villas, Beach Club Villas and Yacht Club. I have stayed with family at Beach Club Villas and Dolphin. My response to OP's issues:

1) Will I have too many memories of family trips and miss that?
That's never been an issue for me.
My memories of family trips are of individual fun moments. Going back to the same location doesn't make me miss my family. If you are going to rule out a hotel for that reason, are you going to skip all restaurants where you ate with family? Are you going to skip all rides and attractions that you did with your family?

2) Some of the reviews are not the best about service/room conditions.
For every single hotel, you are going to find posts from unhappy people about service and room conditions.
You also are going to find posts from happy people about service and room conditions.
One problem is that people are more likely to post when they are unhappy.

3) I also have been thinking about walking back to my room alone at night.
I feel this is more of an issue when you are staying at a resort which has multiple buildings. Port Orleans Riverside, for example - you get off the bus, then you have to walk to your building. You might be the only person getting off that bus who is walking to that building. It might make a person feel uncomfortable. But all of the hotels that you are considering are one-building resorts, so walking through resort property isn't really an issue. There probably are other people heading toward the same door at the same time.
For Yacht Club, Beach Club and BoardWalk: if you are coming back from Epcot, you can see the door as you walk on the path from the park.
I wouldn't choose BoardWalk over Yacht Club or Beach Club merely for the "walking back from Epcot solo" issue.
For Swan and Dolphin, it's a little different.

 

[jjas]

Just thought I would come back and give an update to my plans. I had thought this was going to be my first solo trip (anywhere NOT just WDW) since losing my husband 7 years ago to the dreadful cancer and my girls being grown and starting families of their own - I should have known better!

Oldest DD said - Mom, you don't really think you are going to the Food and Wine Festival WITHOUT me!! So now she will be joining me on Thursday night and leaving on Sunday night. We were also out with friends over the weekend and the mom and daughter had me send them all our plans because they think they may also join. The more the merrier! As it stands now I will still have all day Thursday, Sunday night and all day Monday to see how I feel about traveling alone - which was one of my reasons for this trip.

As far as resorts go I decided to treat myself ( and I guess my daughter) and book a room at the Yacht Club. It seems like most people really enjoy it and I am looking forward to trying a new resort!

Thanks for all your advice and suggestions - who knows? I may get that trip alone one day !

 

[DVacationer]

Great choice. You are going to have a BLAST! I hope you get a chance to lounge around the pool. It’s so beautiful especially during golden hour.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

My solo trip to Yacht Club was the trip that convinced me to move to Florida.

I now live ten minutes from WDW property.

Enjoy!