Going from a MK area Deluxe to an Epcot area Deluxe

[disny_luvr]

Thank you for this. Any idea when the reforms will be done? I may be swayed once done.

I know they just started like last week. I think they are to continue through sometime in 2019.

As far as elevators, if that is important to you, you’d need to request a room in the mansions because there are elevators there. If you are placed in Alligator Bayou, I’d ask for a room on the first floor. There are tons of people at POR that have strollers and manage just fine (I hope that doesn’t sound snarky, I don’t mean it to, just stating a point).

I do not care for the exterior doors either, but when I was there it really didn’t bother me. In fact, I found our room to be very quiet - no people running down the halls or talking loudly as they passed the room.

 

[AngiTN]

So do they not place people with strollers on an upper level in POR? Or do they expect you to lug your 23 lb stroller up and down? OMG. I am literally appalled that this could have been the case for someone who booked this unknowingly. That's no vacation IMO!!

They don't even guarantee people with wheel chairs or ECV a ground floor

 

[AngiTN]

Something I am still trying to wrap my head around, when people complain about resorts like POR or CBR, and individual buildings/outdoor entrances. Don't GF and Poly have individual buildings? Now I know they don't have outdoor entrances but if it's raining aren't you facing the same problems getting to your building and to your room? I never have figured out how it's better there, just because you enter the door from an inside hallway. You still gotta walk outside to get there. And yes, I've stayed at all of them (only resort we haven't stayed at is OKW). GF is actually my least favorite of all resorts (not counting Values)

 

[ninafeliz]

Something I am still trying to wrap my head around, when people complain about resorts like POR or CBR, and individual buildings/outdoor entrances. Don't GF and Poly have individual buildings? Now I know they don't have outdoor entrances but if it's raining aren't you facing the same problems getting to your building and to your room? I never have figured out how it's better there, just because you enter the door from an inside hallway. You still gotta walk outside to get there. And yes, I've stayed at all of them (only resort we haven't stayed at is OKW). GF is actually my least favorite of all resorts (not counting Values)

IDK, there's just a different feel to a room with an inside hallway door vs exterior doors. I think people feel like the exterior doors are more motel like, and less upscale. True or not, it's an impression people get. Also, interior door/hall rooms give the option for a balcony, and most of the rooms at disney with interior hallways do have balconies, and most that don't have at least sliding doors/Juliette balconies. That also makes them more upscale. With exterior doors/hallways many more people walk right by your door, and thus can also see in your room if you don't keep the curtains closed, particularly at night. Even on the upper floors, though there should be less people there. With balconies/patios, most don't even have the option of people walking right by, and those that do at least have some barrier. it also feels less safe to some people to have a door that opens right to an exterior corridor. Sure, people can still access buildings/halls, but not as easily. Is it safer? IDK, but I'm pretty sure it feels safer to many people. You also can't ignore the fact that it is the value and moderate resorts that have exterior hallways, and deluxe resorts with interior hallways. So there's that factor as well, Disney seems to be telling us interior Hallways are better . You definitely do still have the inconvenience or what if it's raining/cold/etc at places like the GF and Poly, and I have read quite a few times that some people don't like them for that very reason and think it's crazy others stay at a deluxe with that configuration. FWIW, I prefer interior hallways and do think exterior hallways make a resort/hotel seem slightly less upscale, but it isn't the only factor in deciding and when we want to spend less money we stay at a moderate or even a value and have had great stays!

 

[Happiest.Haunt_999]

If you normally stay at a MK deluxe resort, then decided to try an Epcot Deluxe (Beach or Yacht), were you happy? Did you miss the MK resort and area too much? Or did you totally love your new hotel by Epcot?

We normally split stay between the two since we learned on a trip that we absolutely love the EPCOT resorts area (and the convenience to walk to our fave park EPCOT). Plus, there's lots of fun, interesting stuff to do on the Boardwalk.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

They don't even guarantee people with wheel chairs or ECV a ground floor

That is very strange. That's part of the reason I have an issue with the second floor. I do have some mobility issues. Very odd.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Something I am still trying to wrap my head around, when people complain about resorts like POR or CBR, and individual buildings/outdoor entrances. Don't GF and Poly have individual buildings? Now I know they don't have outdoor entrances but if it's raining aren't you facing the same problems getting to your building and to your room? I never have figured out how it's better there, just because you enter the door from an inside hallway. You still gotta walk outside to get there. And yes, I've stayed at all of them (only resort we haven't stayed at is OKW). GF is actually my least favorite of all resorts (not counting Values)

I dont like my room directly leading to the outside when I open the door. It feels unsafe to me (that's just my feeling) and I don't like bugs being able to fly right in when I open the door. LOL And it feels "cheap" to me. I also dont like being ground floor and not being able to leave my blinds open while getting dressed, etc. JMO

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

If you normally stay at a MK deluxe resort, then decided to try an Epcot Deluxe (Beach or Yacht), were you happy? Did you miss the MK resort and area too much? Or did you totally love your new hotel by Epcot?

Unless you plan on spending a high proportion of time at MK, I love the Epcot resorts. There’s a great relaxed vibe, I love where the friendships drop you off for Epcot (so much better than the main entrance), and I don’t miss the fussy monorail schedules at all.

 

[MomOTwins]

That would be up to you to request it, they wouldn't look at your kids ages and then assume you would have a stroller and avoid the second floor AB. I would hope that would be a request they would really, really try to meet, but as you are always told - it's only a request so it's never guaranteed! If you just had no idea and were given a second floor I hope they would bend over backwards working with you, but I don't know. I agree, for some people that would be nearly impossible, and what if you were one adult and 2 young children! I have thought about that, if we stay at POR again before we stop needing the double stroller, getting to and from the room would be a real chore if you had to be second floor in AB (we have no interest in the Princess rooms). However, it seems unlikely you would HAVE to be put there, it would be bad luck if they had no first floor AB rooms or any floor Magnolia bend rooms available. It just might be you wouldn't like your room location and wouldn't really have a choice. I know we much prefer AB, and one stay there years ago they did not have a single AB room available and we ended up in one of the furthest away Magnolia bend rooms, so it is definitely possible to not get requests! I've never read about this on the boards, so I'm guessing it is a problem that doesn't come up that often!

Yep, we requested ground floor and close to the main building. We got ground floor so that was helpful with our stroller, but we had the farthest away of the royal room buildings all the way in the back. So you win some, you lose some. Then again, we also had dog allergies that complicated all of this because they decided to make the resort dog friendly after we booked (grr), and so that might have restricted our choices as well.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We love the Epcot area resorts. We prefer them over MK resorts. You can’t beat using your feet as transportation to two parks (although we’ve never walked to DHS). No waiting for monorails or buses there for half the parks. Plus the monorail seems to always have issues and weird hours. Also the MK resorts are so busy. Much busier than the Epcot resorts IME.

We enjoy the mods too. Had two awesome stays at CBR and will be doing two nights at POFQ before moving to BWV for our next trip.

We’ve never done a value but my son did all stars for his senior trip and enjoyed himself.

 

[kniquy]

Each resort will have something that you love about it. I will have to say that our last trip was a Poly 3 nights and AKV 4 nights -- Whenever we think about and talk about the trip we find ourselves loving our time at the Poly a little more than AK. Both are great resorts, but there is a certain feel about Poly that we love -- could it be the history, the closeness to MK -- I think it is a little of both which is why we will likely be adding on DVC points at Poly.

 

[kiford]

Something I am still trying to wrap my head around, when people complain about resorts like POR or CBR, and individual buildings/outdoor entrances. Don't GF and Poly have individual buildings?

I don't know about the Poly since we never stay there but I believe that the difference between the outer buildings at GF and the buildings at POR/CBR is that the GF buildings have elevators. I don't recall an elevator at CBR when we stayed there.

My favourite resorts are BWI, BC, GF, AKL in that order; DH's favourites are GF, AKL, BC, BWI in that order. So we rotate through them. Now that we plan to buy annual passes, we have made a commitment to try YC, CR, Poly and WL. None of them really excite me but since we're planning some shorter trips on a more frequent basis, if I don't like them, I won't feel stuck there. We spend the least amount of our time at MK and most at Epcot but we also do like to do MVMCP and want to try out MNSSHP and we always do dinner at V&A so sometimes being close to MK makes sense.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Unless you plan on spending a high proportion of time at MK, I love the Epcot resorts. There’s a great relaxed vibe, I love where the friendships drop you off for Epcot (so much better than the main entrance), and I don’t miss the fussy monorail schedules at all.

I do plan to spend a lot of time in MK. On our last 9 day trip in April, we went to MK at least 5-6 times.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Yep, we requested ground floor and close to the main building. We got ground floor so that was helpful with our stroller, but we had the farthest away of the royal room buildings all the way in the back. So you win some, you lose some. Then again, we also had dog allergies that complicated all of this because they decided to make the resort dog friendly after we booked (grr), and so that might have restricted our choices as well.

How did your allergies play into this? Did you ask for a room that never has dogs in it?

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

I don't know about the Poly since we never stay there but I believe that the difference between the outer buildings at GF and the buildings at POR/CBR is that the GF buildings have elevators. I don't recall an elevator at CBR when we stayed there.

My favourite resorts are BWI, BC, GF, AKL in that order; DH's favourites are GF, AKL, BC, BWI in that order. So we rotate through them. Now that we plan to buy annual passes, we have made a commitment to try YC, CR, Poly and WL. None of them really excite me but since we're planning some shorter trips on a more frequent basis, if I don't like them, I won't feel stuck there. We spend the least amount of our time at MK and most at Epcot but we also do like to do MVMCP and want to try out MNSSHP and we always do dinner at V&A so sometimes being close to MK makes sense.

Having stayed at the POLY and GF, yes they are outer buildings but they all have interior hallways and feel hotel like, not motel like. Plus at GF, the buildings have more floors so you ultimately would not be as far as you would at say, POR.

 

[FSU Girl]

I definitely prefer the monorail resorts. I love going on the monorail and it gets me to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. But when I did stay at the Epcot resorts I wasn't sad I wasn't at the Magic Kingdom hotels. It's like being in a different world over there. It has a more beachy feel, the boats are nice and I like walking to the two resorts. I pick the hotels based on where my park focus is. If it's mainly Magic Kingdom and Epcot the monorail resorts are me go to. But if its Epcot and HS I'll pick an Epcot resort.