Best and Worst *Deluxe* Resorts for Transportation?

[BigOnDis]

I will agree with the other posters that the AKL transportation is very reliable. They do not share buses with anyone else and that is a huge plus. In all of our stays there, we have always been happy with it.

 

[wer14631]

Ditto. The "no-share" aspect of the AKL buses are a real plus.

 

[Beaker74]

We love the CR, a monorail ride to Poly, GF, and MK; a quick 5 minute walk to MK if you prefer. A monorail ride and transfer to Epcot (this has never taken us an hour, not even close), buses to AK, MGM, waterparks, and downtown. If you want to go to another resort to eat or just simply to see it, or the Boardwalk for the evening, you only have a quick 5 minute walk to the MK bus stops and hop on the bus going to the resort of your choice, no going all the way downtown to get a transfer. We stay exclusively at CR now due mainly to the conveinence.

 

[wedhead]

Definitely the Poly!! Monorail to the MK and a 2 minute walk to the TTC to get directly on the monorail to Epcot. If these are the two main parks that you are interested in, the Poly is the best choice.

 

[sters]

The AKL is the only resort that does not share its busses with another deluxe. The Boardwalk resorts are accessible to Epcot/MGM but they all share to go to MK and AK. The monorail resorts are convenient to MK/Epcot via monorail but they all share their busses for AK and MGM. The wilderness lodge shares with the campground. So all in all, I'd think the AKL might be the most convenient to the parks and Blizzard Beach. However, with triplets in strollers, I'd be inclined to stay on the monorail, since your most likely will spend most your time at the MK.

 

[Leota]

Even tho it's not my favorite resort, I'd say the Poly is the most convienent monorail resort. I wasn't always thrilled with the buses there.

I think the transportation at the Epcot resorts is fantastic. I love being able to walk/boat to 2 Parks. As mentioned, even tho you sahre buses with other Epcot area resorts at times, you can easily grab whichever of the buses comes first or jump off at any resort & walk to yours.

We'll be trying AKL in April & I'm encouraged by what I hear about their transportation.

I've never had an issue with Disney Transpo tho, even at Fort Wilderness. The way I figure it, I'm in WDW, I don't have to drive or park & it's all good.

 

[BCV23]

The Polynesian has the best transportation options IMHO. Resort monorail and launch are both fun to MK. Short walk to TTC for the Epcot monorail or the ferry to MK.....I especially like the ferry for a quick and uncrowded return to the Polynesian midday. We don't use the buses that much to AK and Mk but you can also return to the Polynesian via a MK bus which drops you at the TTC. Just hop whichever comes first, Polynesian or MK bus. So many options at the Polynesian. There used to be a bus from the TTC to FW & WL which made it very easy to get to Hoop Dee Doo. It was recently discontinued but Tyler reports it will still be running fback to the TTC after the later shows.

The Epcot resorts have a slow boat option to MGM and Epcot. From Y&BC to Epcot, it is much faster to just walk. So if you consider your own two feet a transportation option.......

In addition, the Epcot resort boats lack the charm of the MK launch and ferries for me.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

We've stayed at the WL and Ft. Wilderness (which I know you aren't considering but the transportation options are the same) and at the Poly. I haven't had any transportation complaints from any of them. We've been there twice over Christmas week, once at the tail end of Spring Break and once during the fall when it was a lot less crowded. I can't say I have had complaints on the transportation for any of those visits. From the WL or Ft Wilderness, if we were on the boat dock waiting for a boat to the MK and there were a bunch of people or if a boat to the CR just happened by faster with no MK boat in sight, we'd take the CR launch and then walk to the MK. We usually got there around the same time as people waiting for the MK launch. We only waited more than 10 minutes MAX for a bus from WL or Ft Wilderness once and that was by choice. We were leaving Epcot after Illuminations and could have gotten on one bus but at standing room only. We had a 2 little kids with a double stroller so we didn't want to stand and decided to just wait for another bus so we could sit. The buses were always frequent and reliable for us.

From the Poly, it was definitely VERY convenient for the MK. On that trip it was just me with our 2 and 4 year old sons. We met up with a friend and her 2 and 4 year old daughters. Since we were on a "Mom and kids only" trip and were out numbered by preschoolers, convenience was a BIG factor for us. The monorail and boat launch to the MK were fantastic. VERY easy to get back for afternoon naps etc. We did take the monorail around to go to Epcot one day and with sitting for about 5-10 minutes between the MK and the CR while they put another monorail into service it did take us about 45 minutes from the time we stepped on to the monorail at the Poly till we walked through the turnstiles at Epcot. The next time we went there, we did the walk to the TTC and were there much faster. The buses were GREAT at the Poly too. We were in the Raratonga longhouse and were literally steps from both the monorail and the bus stop so that helped a lot!

I totally agree that each resort is going to have it's transportation downside, there isn't a perfect option yet. I wouldn't say that it's always bad at the WL though, at least not in our experience. We were very pleased with the transportation. We drove from GA and I remember saying to my husband that at least we'd have the car if the transportation was a problem. We valet parked upon arrival and didn't see the car again till check out.

 

[PamNC]

I would say the Poly hands down has the best transportation of all the deluxes. You not only have the monorail to take to MK, but the TTC is right next door...it's easy to get to Epcot. You have the ferry, and the boat launches. Can't be beat.

The worst - well - I think it would be AKL. I'm just guessing and I'm probably bias, because I hate the buses and you'd have to take a bus EVERYWHERE. At the Epcot resorts, you can walk or take a boat launch. But, AKL feels in the middle of nowhere.

You would think WL would have good transporation, huh? NOPE. We didn't think so. It felt far removed although it's a MK resort. The boat launch was slow as molasses.

PamNC

 

[Alaska Catdog]

We've stayed at BWV, CR, AKL and PORQ. The best for transportation (and in general, IMHO) was AKL. Yes, it's true you're only choice is the bus but the bus is only going where you want it to go. It doesn't stop at other resorts, it doesn't go to other parks. It was never crowded and we always got a seat (could be 'cuz we were there in Nov). For moderate resorts I'd go with POFQ. The bus stop is the first bus stop in PO which is very good, often the bus would fill at our stop and not even venture into the rest of PO. It's also the first stop upon return so you know you will get to get off first. You also have the boat option to DD which we loved taking advantage of. When we stayed at BWV we walked or boated everywhere. We went to MK via the monorail after strolling through Epcot. It was nice. I will never stay at CR again but that has little to do with transportation. Though I will say that on more than one occassion we took a cab after waiting more than a half hour for a bus, yeah, they have a monorail which you should take to Poly or GF if you want to catch a bus (ha ha ha)

 

[DisneyMomx7]

With kids your age I would pick one of the monorail resorts. Contemporary, Poly or GF. GF is my favorite followed by Poly. COntemporary doesn't ring my bell but it does have great transportation. THe only deluxe I would be worried about for transportation is AKL.

 

[krcit]

I recently(Nov) stayed at the Poly and I agree that the Monorail can't be beat. Especially with triplets. However I did think that the bus service, or actually I should say bus system, left somthing to be desired. I found it not at all organized. Everyone was just milling around, so that people who got to the bus stop as the bus arrived would just get on in front of people who had been waiting 15-20 minutes. Noone was doing it on purpose, they just didn't know. I think they need to have signs telling people where to wait for each destination. Anyway, enjoy your trip and those gorgeous triplets. I have triplet nephews/niece!!