AoA vs. Pop vs. CB for Skyliner effectiveness and room quality

[Piglet99645]

Hey Gang,

I know the this-or-that resort questions get tedious, but I haven't found the info I want by searching the forums.

We will only be 3 people, myself and kids ages 22 and 17, but for reasons we need a suite or 2 hotel rooms.

Our criteria:

At least 2 real beds (not sleeper sofa). No problem if we get two rooms, obviously.
We don't care about pools
We will stay on property 3 nights then move to a rental house with more family arriving
I've done the All Stars and while they were fine as accommodations, I find the busses annoying.

This leads me to wanting to try a Skyliner resort. (Not likely to want to pay Riviera prices).

Two rooms or a suite at AoA (or two rooms at Pop) are a lot cheaper than two rooms at CB. (But I understand that the little mermaid rooms are farther away, which is why I would probably go for an AoA suite).

People seem to love or hate CB. The setting looks nice to me, but I don't like the sound of lots of walking before I even get to the parks.

Questions:

1. Which resort would have the shortest/easiest access to the Skyliner? (In terms of walking from the room).

2. Regarding beds, I know the arrangement of the AoA is a bit weird, but are there at least 2 REAL beds? (i.e. is the fold down table bed like a real bed? Or more like a sleeper sofa?)

3. Is the Skyliner actually a timesaver vs. driving from a house across the way and parking at the theme park?

4. Is the Skyliner actually a timesaver vs. taking a bus from the All Stars?

5. Is It dramatically faster/closer to stay at CB vs. AoA or Pop to get to HS and Epcot?

6. Will this all be pointless if the Skyliner is down for some reason?

7. Are the AoA suites better-located than the Little Mermaid rooms?

This will be our first WDW trip since 2016 (we do DL at least once a year).


And if you have read this far....... do you have any other suggestions for resorts to consider? I want to do HS and Epcot while we stay on property, and Animal Kingdom and MK after we depart. There doesn't seem to be a good way to get to MK without staying at a monorail resort.... so we might as well drive to T&T.

Thanks!

P.

 

[CarolynFH]

Hey Gang,

I know the this-or-that resort questions get tedious, but I haven't found the info I want by searching the forums.

We will only be 3 people, myself and kids ages 22 and 17, but for reasons we need a suite or 2 hotel rooms.

Our criteria:

At least 2 real beds (not sleeper sofa). No problem if we get two rooms, obviously.
We don't care about pools
We will stay on property 3 nights then move to a rental house with more family arriving
I've done the All Stars and while they were fine as accommodations, I find the busses annoying.

This leads me to wanting to try a Skyliner resort. (Not likely to want to pay Riviera prices).

Two rooms or a suite at AoA (or two rooms at Pop) are a lot cheaper than two rooms at CB. (But I understand that the little mermaid rooms are farther away, which is why I would probably go for an AoA suite).

People seem to love or hate CB. The setting looks nice to me, but I don't like the sound of lots of walking before I even get to the parks.

Questions:

1. Which resort would have the shortest/easiest access to the Skyliner? (In terms of walking from the room).

That will obviously depend on where your room is. Some sections of CBR are very near to the Skyliner stations, but other sections are far away. AoA and Pop are smaller resorts, so if you're in a building farthest from the Skyliner it's probably a shorter walk than from the farthest building at CBR. Whichever resort you choose, look at maps of the resorts and request one of the buildings (or book the necessary view category) closer to the Skyliner.

2. Regarding beds, I know the arrangement of the AoA is a bit weird, but are there at least 2 REAL beds? (i.e. is the fold down table bed like a real bed? Or more like a sleeper sofa?)

The fold down table bed is a real bed, a Murphy bed.

3. Is the Skyliner actually a timesaver vs. driving from a house across the way and parking at the theme park?

Probably - although if you're going at rope drop and get to the Skyliner station when there's already a very long line of people ahead of you, it may be close. The advantage is that the Skyliner loads continuously, so the line moves quickly, and the Skyliner stations at DHS and Epcot are closer to the park entrances than the parking lots are, so a shorter walk from Skyliner to tapping into the park.

4. Is the Skyliner actually a timesaver vs. taking a bus from the All Stars?

I haven't stayed at the All Stars so can't answer with certainty. However, the Skyliner loads contiuously and can transport a bus load of people every few minutes. At the AS, if you miss one bus, you may be waiting 20 minutes or more for the next one.

5. Is It dramatically faster/closer to stay at CB vs. AoA or Pop to get to HS and Epcot?

The advantage of CBR is that you don't have to transfer from one Skyliner line to another because you're boarding at the main hub. The AoA/Pop Skyliner runs from the bridge between those two resorts to the hub at CBR. There you have to get off and transfer to either the Epcot or the DHS line, depending on where your destination is. So if you're going near rope drop, you would likely be moving through a long line at AoA/Pop and another one at the CBR hub.

6. Will this all be pointless if the Skyliner is down for some reason?

Yes.

7. Are the AoA suites better-located than the Little Mermaid rooms?

Sorry, I don't know.

This will be our first WDW trip since 2016 (we do DL at least once a year).


And if you have read this far....... do you have any other suggestions for resorts to consider?

You could consider the Ft. Wilderness cabins - but I think the AoA suites are probably better (the cabins have only one bathroom - I think the AoA suites have 2?), and Ft. Wilderness transportation to the parks is more complicated. And then of course there's always the "rent DVC points" suggestion for a 1BR villa or 2 Poly studios.

I want to do HS and Epcot while we stay on property, and Animal Kingdom and MK after we depart. There doesn't seem to be a good way to get to MK without staying at a monorail resort.... so we might as well drive to T&T.

If you're staying at any Disney resort, the resort bus or boat drops you off right outside the MK entrance. You walk through security and then through the tapstyles and you're in. If you drive to MK, you park at the TTC, walk or ride to the TTC security screening, then have to take the monorail or ferry across the lagoon to get to the entrance plaza and tapstyles. It's an extra step you can avoid by staying onsite.

Thanks!

P.

 

[Piglet99645]

Thank you, Carolyn.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’d book either a Nemo Suite at AofA or 2 standard rooms at Pop and request the 60’s section. The Pop rooms will have a better chance of being closer to the Skyliner since the 60’s standard rooms face the lake.

 

[CharissaOKC]

Without knowing time of year you are going or how long your trip is I would say 100% suite at AoA or 2 rooms at Pop. The 2 rooms at Pop will almost always be cheaper than a suite at AoA. By booking a suite over 2 regular hotel rooms the only thing you gain is a microwave and interior corridors.

To me if you don’t care about pools then CBR would be out for me. The rooms are dated and the resort is very spread out.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

All rooms will have 2 real beds. If you definitely want to stay in the same room then do an AOA suite. If that doesn't matter than you can also do POP. Yes,the AOA suites are closer to the lobby, especially Finding Nemo. I would wait on CBR until they do a room refurb. POP is our family favorite value resort, we will be there again in 12 days

 

[Bravefan]

Not sure if it was just me, but when I walked around AoA it was pure hell, full of screaming children! And not the fun screaming way, like playing in the pool. Lots of exhausted parents too. It was like a birth control ad, so loud.

 

[CynBeth]

We stayed at CBR in a preferred room near the food court and after breakfast on the days we went to Epcot and HS took the internal bus to the Skyliner. The buses were fine to MK and AK.

 

[RoseGold]

Transfer skyliner is not a big deal. All of these will be roughly the same on the Skyliner timing.

CB fifth sleeper is an option here. Maybe better to have three beds for all of these adults. I slept on the Poly trundle, and I thought it was great. It's a little narrower and shorter than a twin. I'm an average size adult female.

Not sure if it was just me, but when I walked around AoA it was pure hell, full of screaming children! And not the fun screaming way, like playing in the pool. Lots of exhausted parents too. It was like a birth control ad, so loud.

I mean that's all of Disney. If you don't want hotels and pools full of kids, Disney isn't the place.

 

[Piglet99645]

Thanks all. Trip is in early May. Fifth sleeper not an option as we need the privacy of a door that closes or a separate room nearby.

 

[bffdisney]

I would definitely do 2 rooms at Pop! 60s is the section you would want (all are good as easily walkable). Close to buses and the skyliner. We LOVED it because it loads continuously, but another BIG plus was that you get to sit down! So no matter the wait, you will not be crammed in and standing on top of people. They load what fits for everyone to sit comfortably. That was a huge relief for us especially at the end of the night.

 

[Mikey15]

7. Are the AoA suites better-located than the Little Mermaid rooms?

Since I don't think this was answered earlier, the Little Mermaid rooms are at the far north of AoA, comparable to the 50s buildings at Pop. The suites are more centrally located, Nemo encircling the pool area, Lion King closer than Mermaid to check-in, bus loop, and dining, and Cars farther south like 80s/90s at Pop. Technically Nemo will be closest to both pool and Skyliner, and accordingly has a small premium.

You can sort of shortcut on a path along the lake from the Little Mermaid rooms towards the Skyliner... going that way you could be basically as close as some of the Cars or Lion King rooms (the buildings are all shaped like Tetris pieces so you can add a lot of walking simply being on the far end vs. near end of the same building.

 

[jimmymc]

1. Which resort would have the shortest/easiest access to the Skyliner? (In terms of walking from the room).

CB rooms near the station have the best access. You also don't have to transfer to get to the parks. Second would be preferred rooms at POP or Finding Nemo suites at AoA.

2. Regarding beds, I know the arrangement of the AoA is a bit weird, but are there at least 2 REAL beds? (i.e. is the fold down table bed like a real bed? Or more like a sleeper sofa?)

The Little Mermaid rooms have 2 real beds, the suites have 2 real plus 1 pull out couch.

3. Is the Skyliner actually a timesaver vs. driving from a house across the way and parking at the theme park?

Yes, the Skyliner is the fastest method of transportation in WDW.

4. Is the Skyliner actually a timesaver vs. taking a bus from the All Stars?

Yes, see above.

5. Is It dramatically faster/closer to stay at CB vs. AoA or Pop to get to HS and Epcot?

During busy times (park opening and close), yes it will save a significant amount of time. During the middle of the day, not really.

6. Will this all be pointless if the Skyliner is down for some reason?

If the Skyliner goes down, they'll offer busses from the Skyliner station] at CB, might save you some time if your room is nearby but won't at AoA or POP. I'll note that it's rare for the Skyliner to completely close; it only happens when it's actively thunderstorming. That happens plenty in Florida, but it's usually between 3 and 5 pm, when not a lot of people are travelling on it.

7. Are the AoA suites better-located than the Little Mermaid rooms?

All of them are except the furthest Cars building.

It sounds like you really want to avoid long walks in addition to the two proper beds. An AoA Finding Nemo suite is the best room that will guarantee all of these things. You could also look at two preferred rooms at POP, but they will probably be more expensive and there is no guarantee they will be close to each other.

If you could all fit on 2 queen beds then I would recommend CB and requesting a room right near the Skyliner. Requests aren't guaranteed, but I've never heard of anyone requesting a room near the station and being placed further than 1 or 2 buildings away.

 

[IndyToThere]

On the 60s building at Pop Century, you might have to pay extra for a Preferred room to get this building. I can't say 100% if this is true, but I know we paid for a preferred, and this is where we were placed. I do recommend it though - you are centrally located to the main food court building and the skyliner.

 

[Disneylover99]

On the 60s building at Pop Century, you might have to pay extra for a Preferred room to get this building. I can't say 100% if this is true, but I know we paid for a preferred, and this is where we were placed. I do recommend it though - you are centrally located to the main food court building and the skyliner.

All the 60’s rooms facing the lake are standard rooms.
The rest of the rooms are either preferred or preferred pool view.

 

[Piglet99645]

If you could all fit on 2 queen beds then I would recommend CB and requesting a room right near the Skyliner. Requests aren't guaranteed, but I've never heard of anyone requesting a room near the station and being placed further than 1 or 2 buildings away.

Thank you. We definitely need two hotel rooms or at least a 1br suite for privacy reasons. Haven't ruled out 2 rooms at CB.

 

[DisneyFan83]

I have never stayed in the suites at AoA, but I much prefer Pop to The Little Mermaid rooms there. It felt like such a hike at the end of the day, and seemed louder than any rooms I've ever had a Pop. I haven't tried CB, but have heard it's a trek unless you get a preferred room. I'm partial to Pop myself, but would say if you choose AoA, spring for a suite. They're much closer to everything than TLM rooms.

 

[LynnTH]

Since you are doing HS and Epcot during this time - have you considered either the Swan/Dolphin hotel. Walkable to both parks or you can boat to both or use Skyliner outside of Epcot to get to HS.

We always stay at BWV and the location can't be beat.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

All the 60’s rooms facing the lake are standard rooms.
The rest of the rooms are either preferred or preferred pool view.

That's always our request

 

[Piglet99645]

Since you are doing HS and Epcot during this time - have you considered either the Swan/Dolphin hotel. Walkable to both parks or you can boat to both or use Skyliner outside of Epcot to get to HS.

We always stay at BWV and the location can't be beat.

The idea of walking to the parks at WDW seems crazy to me. Will look but I think I'm priced out of those options. I'm working my way up to Deluxe slowly from Value because I know there will be no going back after that.