Analysis paralysis - Help!

[Obliviate]

Hi everyone! I'm planning a solo trip for August and I'm having the hardest time choosing a resort. I'm planning to be there for 8 nights/9 days and tentatively do the following parks: arrival day (early flight) and one additional day at Epcot, 3 days MK, 2 days HS, and 2 days AK. I do like to alternate parks though, so I won't be doing all three days at MK back to back, for example. Given the current circumstances and well, that it's 100 degrees outside, I plan to take mid-day breaks and/or spend plenty of time at the pool and the resort.

Initially I wanted to do a split stay with 4 days at a MK resort and 4 days at BWV. Even though Epcot is probably my favourite park and it would be a no-brainer to stay at the boardwalk under normal circumstances, I'm not sure it's the best idea now. For starters, one of the things that I love about Epcot is eating and drinking with my wife and she's not coming along on this trip. Plus there aren't very many dining options at the boardwalk currently, and no park hoppers means no quick breakfast/dinner at Epcot (which I love!).
I thought about doing CR (Garden wing) or BRV/CCV for the full stay (or even splitting the two resorts, as I've never stayed at either), but I'd be relying on buses for three of the parks. Maybe I can do a split stay MK resort - CBR? Access to the skyliner would certainly make things easier, specially for HS which I really like, but I'm not sure how I feel about CBR...

I've been driving my wife crazy with this back-and-forth so I figured I could ask the experts. Thank you!

 

[holden]

For me, I'd consider walking as much as possible to avoid transportation that would put me in proximity to other people (because of Covid). I'd go with BLT/CR for your MK days and Boardwalk for EP/DHS days. That allows you to walk to three parks.

I can't help with the food concern because I don't know what is open.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I share the same thought. During normal times I prefer to walk, but now knowing how the transportation is, I would be more apt to stay at the boardwalk to being to walk.

 

[Obliviate]

Thank you both! I definitely agree - I'm an avid walker/runner and one of the things I love about Universal is the option to walk to both parks if you're staying on site. Same with Disneyland Paris. That said, not being able to hop on to Epcot kind of offsets the benefits of staying on the boardwalk for me. I think the CBR is a good compromise to minimize direct contact with other people. You get your own gondola and I doubt it'll take you much longer to get to HS than walking from the boardwalk in the brutal heat. I'm still going back and forth between CBR and BW, but I've been leaning towards CBR lately.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Thank you both! I definitely agree - I'm an avid walker/runner and one of the things I love about Universal is the option to walk to both parks if you're staying on site. Same with Disneyland Paris. That said, not being able to hop on to Epcot kind of offsets the benefits of staying on the boardwalk for me. I think the CBR is a good compromise to minimize direct contact with other people. You get your own gondola and I doubt it'll take you much longer to get to HS than walking from the boardwalk in the brutal heat. I'm still going back and forth between CBR and BW, but I've been leaning towards CBR lately.

Ya that would be my only concern right now is the fact that you can’t hop. That’s one of the best things about staying around crescent lake and being able to shoot into Epcot in the evening for dinner and then back to the room on your own time.

 

[georgina]

My next trip is scheduled for October, and I have 4 nights at BWV so I decided to schedule 2 days at HS and 2 days at Epcot while I am there before I switch resorts. It is not my preferred way to visit the parks, but under the circumstances I decided it woudl be more practical.

 

[fla4fun]

Is there any resort that you have always wanted to try, but never have? A solo trip is a great time to try someplace new. In your case, I like the idea of a split between an MK resort and an Epcot resort. I have stayed in the CR garden wing (in fact, prefer the wing to the tower) as well as BRV. They are both great but totally different experiences, and theme really plays a big part in that.

Something to think about - if traveling in August (which I am also) you do run the risk of losing the convenience of the Skyliner during the daily storms. I did a short three day mini trip last month, and out of two Epcot days, the Skyliner was down about a half a day due to weather and I had to take a bus back to the resort. So I wouldn’t count on the Skyliner being available 100% of the time if you choose CBR. I am willing to take the risk (staying at Pop). Since you don’t mind walking, BWV might be a better choice, although you can ride the Skyliner for fun on a DHS day if you stay there - it just doesn’t save any time (I would do it on the return from the park, not on the way in).

 

[Obliviate]

I did book a room at the CBR for 6 nights and was going to book other 3 nights at CR, but I just wasn't feeling it. From the room tours I've watched, the room looked dark and kind of depressing with the yellow/brown colors. Honestly, even the rooms at POP look much nicer to me. I know it's probably the videos and it's much better in person, but I wasn't going to risk it. So I decided to do a split stay at CR GW and BWV. Unfortunately, by the time I tried to make the changes the passholder discount was no longer available for the BWV. After a couple of days of me spending hours at WDW's website, a deluxe studio at the Polynesian Villas popped up, with a passholder discount too! I was surprised because I've never seen availability for my dates, even at full price. Anyway, I've ended up moving to POP for the first two days and Poly for the other 7 nights. I've always wanted to stay at Poly but it was too expensive. I'm kind of sad that I'll have to rely on the bus for HS an Epcot, but this is more of a trip to relax and not lose my sanity than anything. It took a bit of time on the phone but I'm ecstatic!