Elderly parents: Which DVC would have least walking to transportation?

[Lucky'sMom]

We may be going with our 3 elderly parents. Which DVC properties generally have the least amount of walking to a bus stop or boat transportation? I know it varies depending on room location, but I was wondering if certain resorts would give us a better chance of being closer to transportation. thanks!

 

[Dumbo]

Boardwalk Villas

 

[paults]

I second BWV, boat to Mgm and Epcot

 

[iloveokw]

I hate to disagree but I would request a room in a building with an elevator near the Hospitality House at OKW. You walk a very short distance to the bus and also from your car to your room. There have been times when we were tired and we stayed at Boardwalk or Beach Club and thought we were NEVER going to get to our room. Those hallways can be very, very long.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Thanks for the responses, so far. If it matters, I was hoping to use Magical Express this time, and avoid the rental car. If you rent points, you can still use ME, right?

 

[Alexander]

I hate to disagree but I would request a room in a building with an elevator near the Hospitality House at OKW. You walk a very short distance to the bus and also from your car to your room. There have been times when we were tired and we stayed at Boardwalk or Beach Club and thought we were NEVER going to get to our room. Those hallways can be very, very long.

I completely agree with OKW. If they can't get a room near the HH, then check the map for buildings close to the other bus stops. We haven't stayed at BWV, but we've been to BCV twice and it is a long walk, especially to the boat. It is shorter to walk to Epcot from the villas than to walk all the way to the boat dock. There is a thread somewhere here about that with a map that shows the distance. The distance to the busses is also quite a ways even if you walk outside the building and cut across the roadway by the check-in area, and really long if you go around the inside.

The VWL wouldn't be too long of a walk to the busses either. The villas are closer to the bus stop area than the lodge itself. However, the walk to the boat for MK is a long one.

I would choose OKW on this one. There are many buildings close to the bus stops.

 

[Alexander]

Thanks for the responses, so far. If it matters, I was hoping to use Magical Express this time, and avoid the rental car. If you rent points, you can still use ME, right?

 

[Deb & Bill]

The bus stop for BWV is very far from the villas. Plus if you are down one of those never ending corridors, you have to add that distance as well.

VWL is close to their bus stop, but not as close to the boat dock for MK.

SSR bus stops are scattered throughout the resort, just like OKW, so you can get a villa somewhat close to the bus stop.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I think BCV would be good. Very close to Epcot, the bus stop isn't too far and the boat to MGM (like BWV.)

 

[rogerram]

If you are near the elevator at BWV, then you would be close to the boat or buses. You just don't want to be at the other end of the hall. I wish they could put an elevator or stairs you can use so you could get out the end by the swan/dolphin area.

 

[Doctor P]

I think BCV would be good. Very close to Epcot, the bus stop isn't too far and the boat to MGM (like BWV.)

I strongly disagree. You have to walk a long way, for somewhat who is not mobile, to get to the boat dock at BC/YC and the bus stops are on the Yacht Club side of the resort. A villa close to HH at OKW is the best answer the way the question is posed. The bus stops are further removed from the main building at all of the other resorts.

 

[Doctor P]

If you are near the elevator at BWV, then you would be close to the boat or buses. You just don't want to be at the other end of the hall. I wish they could put an elevator or stairs you can use so you could get out the end by the swan/dolphin area.

Wrongo again. You still need to walk across the lobby and then another 200 or so yards to get to either the bus or the dock at BWV. You just basically walk out of your villa and across the street at OKW. I don't think people are thinking about this in terms of someone who has trouble getting around. A couple hundred yards is an easy walk for most of us, but that is a difficult barrier for some people.

 

[littlestar]

We own at VWL, BCV, and BWV. The easiest walk for our parents to the bus stop was at VWL. Also, it's a covered walkway to the bus stop, so they won't get wet if it's raining. But if it's the boat launch transportation, that's on the other side of the resort - so that would be more of a walk.

At BWV, they only have one set of elevators. If you're at the end of the hall by the tennis courts, it's looong to get back to the elevators - winding halls.

SSR and OKW are condo style DVC resorts, so depending on your location, you can have a long walk to a bus stop. Or, maybe not. Depending on where they put you.

BCV is not a bad walk to the bus stop. Just not as convenient as VWL was.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm going to say VWL and OKW. At OKW, you can be very close to any number of bus stops. The only issue is being sure you are on a ground floor or elevator building. If you are across the street from HH, you are VERY close! We loved building 13 for that reason! At VWL, you will close for buses, but as mentioned, quite a walk from the boats. That shouldn't matter though, because If I remember correctly, you can also take the bus to MK.

BCV is quite a hike and uphill for elderly people wanting to go into Epcot. Also, if they are going to MGM, the boat dock is all the way over by Beach Club, again a hike. BWV has that whole long hallway thing going on. Only a very few units are close to the elevators, and even then, you have quite a hike out to the boats. Buses might be a bit closer. SSR SHOULD be about like OKW, but unfortunately, we did not find that to be true. Even though the bus stop was near our end of the building, it can be quite a ways for the mobility challenged. The advantage at SSR is that you will always have an elevator, and you could request close to a bus stop. The problem is, we found that at SSR, often the shortest route to a bus stop was accross grass, and that's not easy either.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

We stayed at OKW once in a 1-bedroom (without our parents), and even though we requested to be near the main buliding, it was all full so we were very far away. This was in early November during value season, so I worry a little about getting our requests. Although, we didn't have any elderly with us to make this a necessity. Thank you all so much for your input...I'm still rather confused. But like any issue, there are different points of view, and I appreciate them all.

 

[paults]

Lucky'sMom

what parks are you going to.

 

[jimmytammy]

I put in a vote for VWL. Yes we own there, and yes we are partial to it. But the busses are closer than any other resorts I can think of. We have never stayed at BWV so I cant speak for that one, but the walk looks like it could be a ways from certain rooms.

 

[SueOKW]

I've been far from the HH at OKW, but never really very far from a bus stop. (I think there are 5 bus stops in good locations. Good luck with your decision.

How are you planning on getting around in the parks?

 

[jorodopo]

We just got back from BWV and we were at the end of one of the long winding hallways so definitely request close to the elevator. With that said, the next time we go with parents I expect we will stay there again. On their last trip they went on Small World and that was their only ride. I think they will really enjoy just sitting on the Boardwalk and watching the musicians and magicians, etc. Have fun planning.

 

[Aneille]

We just got back from BWV and we were at the end of one of the long winding hallways so definitely request close to the elevator. With that said, the next time we go with parents I expect we will stay there again. On their last trip they went on Small World and that was their only ride. I think they will really enjoy just sitting on the Boardwalk and watching the musicians and magicians, etc. Have fun planning.

My parents aren't elderly and they haven't been any where but the BWV but sitting out on the BW is what they both talk about. They really enjoyed just hanging around, getting something at the bakery, even at night.

They are going again in December and all I hear about is how they plan to sit on the BW.

So depending on how often they are actually planning on going into the parks and what your parents enjoy doing during their down time, this may factor in your decision.

I learned that my parents enjoy people watching.