Best Resort For Transportation

[Smolenski7]

Hi.

My family and I are heading down to WDW again this year. We go about every other year, sometimes a bit more frequently, sometimes not.

We have stayed at several different resorts because we like to make each trip as different as possible. We've stayed at The Cabins a few times, Port Orleans twice, and the last time we stayed at the Yacht Club.

Our favorite was the Yacht club because it was in walking distance to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. We really liked that!

We are currently thinking about where to stay next and have come up with a short list of favorites and not-so-favorites. I really don't want sway any poster's opinions out there, so I'm only going to say that we have eliminated the Contemporary, Grande Floridian, and Polynesian all for different reasons.

As the title of this thread suggests our top priority when choosing a resort is ease of transportation. I would love know what resorts have great reputations with respect to this concern. Thanks.

 

[Disneylover99]

Pop or AofA (IMO) if you're looking at just bus transportation.

 

[Lynne M]

Focus more on the logistics of transportation at the resort, than anecdotal stuff about service. WDW has one, centrally dispatched, transportation system. Think of a mass-transit system in a big city. So, don't look at how long people waited for buses, or whether buses were too crowded, because no one resort is better than another in that regard. One person staying at GF could have horror stories about bus breakdowns and waiting 20 minutes for every bus, another could have had buses arrive the minute they walk up to the depot every single time. A lot of it is luck, or things that affect all resorts equally (heavy crowds, drivers calling out sick, mechanical problems).

What I meant by logistics is this: Do the buses from this resort share with other resorts? Does the resort provide alternative kinds of transportation, like the monorail, or boats, or walking paths to theme parks? Does the resort have multiple internal bus stops, so you're making three stops to pick up people before you even get on the road to the Magic Kingdom? Those are the factors that are specific to a resort.

 

[Smolenski7]

Pop or AofA (IMO) if you're looking at just bus transportation.

I guess I should have been more specific.

We are looking for the best resort (minus those 3 mentioned) that will allow us to get back and forth from the parks easiest. We really like the Yacht Club because we didn't have to depend on Disney buses. Just that fact that we controlled our own destiny by choosing to walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios made the trip more enjoyable.

So, yes, do buses play a huge roll in getting back and forth to the parks, of course. We would like a resort that enables us to spend as little time on the buses as possible. I know other resorts that have water transportation too that, in my mind, is a plus over a bus most days.

For example, I have a friend that is an "expert" on all things Disney. He suggests Old Key West because most bus trips are only about 10 minutes to any of the parks. I don't know how accurate that is, but that's the reason he stays there every time he travels with his family.

 

[Smolenski7]

Focus more on the logistics of transportation at the resort, than anecdotal stuff about service. WDW has one, centrally dispatched, transportation system. Think of a mass-transit system in a big city. So, don't look at how long people waited for buses, or whether buses were too crowded, because no one resort is better than another in that regard. One person staying at GF could have horror stories about bus breakdowns and waiting 20 minutes for every bus, another could have had buses arrive the minute they walk up to the depot every single time. A lot of it is luck, or things that affect all resorts equally (heavy crowds, drivers calling out sick, mechanical problems).

What I meant by logistics is this: Do the buses from this resort share with other resorts? Does the resort provide alternative kinds of transportation, like the monorail, or boats, or walking paths to theme parks? Does the resort have multiple internal bus stops, so you're making three stops to pick up people before you even get on the road to the Magic Kingdom? Those are the factors that are specific to a resort.

Awesome. Well said. That's exactly the kinds of details I'm hoping to find out.

Which resorts would you suggest then?

 

[Lynne M]

Well, for the Magic Kingdom, the ones you've eliminated are the resorts with the best transportation options, by far. One you haven't mentioned is Wilderness Lodge, because you have the option to boat or bus to MK, and there's the boat that takes you to FW and CR, which is nice if you want to dine at restaurants in the monorail resorts.

For Epcot, if you liked YC, then BC and BWI/BWV have the same transportation options. Walk or boat to Epcot and HS, and easy access to all of the restaurants of YC, BC, BW, Swan and Dolphin.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We find the BC and YC to be the best based on the ease of being able to walk to two parks. It is also closer to AK then the MK area resorts. You also have the option of walking through Epcot to use the monorail to MK if you want to, although it isn't faster.

We stayed at OKW and the distance from that resort to the parks was fairly short. The route to and from MK is only about 8 minutes. And we never had to wait long for a bus. But - the bus takes a very annoying route through OKW with multiple stops. And it isn't a circular route so it isn't very fast.

WL is great for MK but we find the bus to be rather annoying for the other parks. The Epcot bus shares with Fort Wilderness. I'm not sure of the current bus route since we haven't been there since they changed it, but it does share with one of the monorail resorts or FW for HS and AK. But we love the WL and have come to terms with the park buses. One nice thing is that if you want to get to a resort from WL you can take the MK bus to the bus depot and it is a short walk to another resort bus. It is a handy way to get to the International Gateway.

 

[PSUGuy]

For bus transport definitely POP and we've stayed there, 2 of the AllStars, POFQ,POR, Swan, Dolphin and Board Walk. We've made BW our home because we walk to Epcot and DHS, drive to AK and bus to MK.

Bill From PA

 

[illinidp]

Poly is the best for transportation because you can take the bus, resort monorail, or small boat from the resort or you can take the ferry boat, express monorail, or Epcot monorail from the TTC.

 

[buzznina]

Truthfully all transportation can be hit or miss from the monorail to the buses and we have taken them all. The only ones anyone can say is totally reliable are the resorts that you can walk from to a park, unless your legs break down With that said, I have no problems with WDW transportation and do not even consider that when we pick a resort, but that is just our family.

 

[loves to dive]

Not sure of why you eliminated the ones you did so it's hard to suggest something not knowing your reasons. Personally, I love the Epcot resorts, YC/BC or BW are all my go to resorts. Just for ease to Epcot and HS, since those are he parks we spend the most time in. I'm going to do a split stay this April with 2 nights CS and 3 nights WL just because I haven't stayed at either resort yet. I'm not a huge MK fan but I know WL has buses to everywhere else and there are no internal stops so I'm good with that. I've stayed at the other 3 monorail resorts, all 3 Epcot resorts, AKL, POR, ASsp and POR. I think people make too much fuss about the whole transportation issue. I have to drive over 30 minutes each way to work every day so it's no big deal for me to wait on a bus to get to a park. Just build the time into your day and go for it. I would not pick a resort based on transportation but that's just me.

 

[Andyman33]

i think it also depends on where you plan on spending your time. do you have small children and plan most of your time at MK? if so then stay at the contemporary and you can walk to/from mk. Older kids and doing more epcot/hs then go to the boardwalk resorts and can walk to both of those

 

[siskaren]

Poly is the best for transportation because you can take the bus, resort monorail, or small boat from the resort or you can take the ferry boat, express monorail, or Epcot monorail from the TTC.

The OP stated that he's not interested in the Poly.

 

[GPC0321]

I've read that Coronado has the best bus service on property and is the most centrally located resort. So while you can't walk, boat, or monorail anywhere from CSR, you aren't too far from any particular park and have reliable bus service. Plus it's also called the "deluxe lite" among the moderate resorts. Two table service restaurants, extensive food court, pool cantina that serves hot meals, club/business class level rooms available, a fitness club and hair/nail/facial salon.

But I've only been to the Coronado, so I cannot compare. If I could afford it, I'd stay at one of the Boardwalk area resorts to be close to Epcot.

 

[maxiesmom]

The problem is, you can't be close to both Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. And you have pretty much eliminated most of the resorts near the Magic Kingdom. So if you are looking for a resort that is very close to Epcot, any of the boardwalk area resorts will work.

As far as bus transportation goes, all resorts have good and bad days. Picking a resort based only on bus service and the expectation that it will be great is not a good idea.

 

[Smolenski7]

Awesome feedback guys/gals.

We have eliminated Grande Floridian because of price, no hotel is worth that much. Contemporary has been axed (even though I did consider it for a while) because it seems more like an airport than Deluxe Disney Resort. And, finally, the Polynesian is not a consideration because the boss really doesn't care for it.....not sure why.

I guess I can say now that I have gotten plenty of great feedback, our short list (which seems to be ever changing) is
the Boardwalk, Art of Animation suite, or Old Key West (Based on a friend's recommendation).

 

[Disneylover99]

Awesome feedback guys/gals.

We have eliminated Grande Floridian because of price, no hotel is worth that much. Contemporary has been axed (even though I did consider it for a while) because it seems more like an airport than Deluxe Disney Resort. And, finally, the Polynesian is not a consideration because the boss really doesn't care for it.....not sure why.

I guess I can say now that I have gotten plenty of great feedback, our short list (which seems to be ever changing) is
the Boardwalk, Art of Animation suite, or Old Key West (Based on a friend's recommendation).

Honestly? If you are planning on visiting all of the theme parks, I would go with AofA out of your choices. Buses are consistently good. One stop and you're off to a park and, you don't have to rely on the monorail (which can break down) or boats (which feel like they take forever and then they stop running when it rains).

 

[maxiesmom]

This is how I would rank the ones you have left:

#1 Boardwalk
#2 AoA
#3 Old Key West

Honestly I would take the Contemporary over any of the ones on your list. And the Poly too.

 

[Kimberle]

We were always "meh" about the Poly. We've been both to Tahiti, stayed in an actual over water bungalow on Bora Bora, and Hawaii. Then last summer, we stayed at the Poly. We fell in love with in. It is a small resort. The monorail's to MK and Epcot are great. We only used the buses a couple of times. Once to AK. And once to HS. We took the boat over to Epcot then monorail back. (After spending the rest of the day in Epcot.)

We love the CR too. The rooms are large and beautiful. You just can't beat the views. They are fabulous on both sides of the Tower.

 

[Smolenski7]

Spent about an hour with the family tonight. Looks like the Boardwalk is in the lead at the moment. My daughter in particular likes the fact that we can walk to several parks and to the ESPN Club and Beaches and Cream.