How big is it?

[crazyme5kids]

So much is said about how large the resorts are and how long it can take to walk to the rooms, pools, restaurants etc.... So my question is, how big are the resorts? How long did it take you to walk from place to place within the resort? Please state the resort and section you stayed in. Thanks!

 

[bicker]

Some folks do concern themselves with the size of some of the resorts, but in the context of being at WDW, where it isn't unusual to walk 6 or 7 miles each day just to get around the theme parks, the extra 300-500 feet doesn't seem all that significant to me. In a nutshell, though, the moderate resorts tend to do pretty well on the distance from parking lot to room meter, but not so well on the distance from hotel restaurant to room meter. The value resorts don't do as well on either meter, but the difference in price is often highlighted as more than justifying the difference. The deluxe resorts often have the lowest AVERAGE room-to-restaurant numbers, though some rooms are much better than others at some deluxe resorts. The parking-to-room distance at deluxe resorts is often considered less relevant: Folks have an option to use valet parking, and if you decide not to, you're generally healthy enough that the extra few hundred feet are truly meaningless. However, if you're looking to save money, and that's why you decide against valet parking, then the deluxes are probably not the resorts for you (for many reasons, actually).

Having said all that, the best resorts on these meters IMHO are the Contemporary and Polynesian.

 

[widget]

When we stayed at CSR (cabanas section) it took us 7 mins to stroll to the Pepper Market where the food was served and when we wandered around the entire lake area to take a look at the other sections it was a very pleasant 40/45 min stroll. You could get from the farthest section(Rancho)to the food court via a bridge from the large pool in under 20 minutes. No bus stop was more than a 3 min walk from the rooms (or 5 if you forgot your park passes as my other half did!!)
When we stayed at CBR (Aruba) it was a 20 minute stroll over the bridge to the food court/large pool and again only 2/3 min to bus stop. But it did seem more spread out and kept getting lost around the park.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

At CBR, we were one or two islands from Old Port Royale, it seemed like a good, central location. No hikes necessry.

We were at one of the end rooms in AKL, by the animal barn. It was a LONG walk back and forth between the room and the hotel lobby. It was at least 6 or 7 minutes. Of course, 6 or 7 minutes in air conditioned comfort isn't so bad. Unless, of course, you're 6 mos. pregnant --- as I was at the time.

At BWV we had a Boardwalk view 1BR at the end of the hall. (The top balconies on the building with the wave-shaped roofline.) That one was also a hike and a half, but in air conditioned comfort.

We just got back from SSR and that was the worst walk by far. From the Paddock, across the bridge over the central pond, and to Art. Pall. and pool took at least 10 minutes. No shade, high heat, high humidity...YUCK. BUT, we had a bus stop, quiet pool, and playground within 1-2 minutes from the room.

It's interesting, at home we walk everywhere, and only drive 1-2 times per month. Yet the walks at Disney are even longer than what I do in the city every day!

 

[Tikiman]

I have stayed in buildings at each end of the Polynesian and in the middle. I took vidoe of the resort and I took the times off the video and posted some of them on my web site. Here is a link and at the bottom are some of the walk times.

http://www.tikiman2001.homestead.com/map.html

Aloha

Steve

 

[crazyme5kids]

Bumping this up, it might help with resort planning.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Any more input?

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We've stayed at most WDW Resorts since 1971, see signature, and have never, ever, thought about the distance, length of wings, between rooms, etc.

Enjoy!

 

[tink freak]

ITS NOT THAT LONG OF A WALK THAY USLEY GIVE YOU A ROOM UP FRONT IF YOU DONT COME SUPER SUPER ERLY

 

[PortieOwner]

Great thread. WDW Resort is strange in that distance seems to stretch once you are there whether you are driving, riding a bus, or walking. The most annoying long hike I recall was from a room at the WL out to the rental car parked far out in the parking lot (but I just wasn't going to pay for valet parking every day, and this was back when valet parking was either cheap or free). At WL the trip to the lot was so far that I overcame my innate cheapness and paid the luggage guys in both ends of the trip to move and store the luggage.

I also recall being at Alligator Bayou at Dixie Landings and the walk to the food court and restaurant was pretty far, while the drive there seemed to take only a minute (must be something about the way the paths wind around).

Our room this last trip in the Cabanas at CSR was not near a parking lot either, and moving the luggage to the room the first night (only 6 trips or so) was a sweaty struggle.

Portie

 

[goofy4tink]

Distance can vary greatly depending on where you are at a particular resort. I have stayed at POR (DxL) three times...in Magnolia Terrace it was 5 minutes to the main bldg, bldg 35 in AB was an 8 min. walk, bldg 14 in AB was a 1 min. walk. At CR we were in the North wing and it was about 5 mins to the monorail. At Polynesian in Tokelau it was about 5 mins to monorail. BCV it was a 5 min. walk to the bus. At BWV it took us 7 min to get to the buses in one room and 5 min in a different room. At Pop it took about 4 mins, at AllStarMusic it was about 4 mins.
I really don't care about the walk to the buses or the food areas. I'm walking huge distances in the parks...so what's the big deal if I walk 4 mins or 7 mins to the food court at my resort. Just doesn't figure in to my planning at all.

 

[Mamu]

While I love the theming of the moderates, I find them to be a bit overwhelming. Especially when your in one of the remote areas.

 

[cobbler]

French Qtr, bldg 1, only a couple of minutes to get to the main food court and bus stop area.

CSR, Ranchos and Casitas. Not a very long stroll in either section to get to the main food court, closer to the main pool in Ranchos. Both were close to a bus stop.

CBR, Martinique, close to food court, don't remember about pool because it was under refurb when we were down.

POR, AB, Bldg 15, close to south depot and main food court.

POP, 50's, close to main food court and bus stop

ASSports, Tennis, bldg 5 (or 15?) can't remember, know it had a 5. Not a bad walk to main food court, pool and bus stops. Found some short-cuts.

All in all the resorts I have stayed at I could have been far away or close and I really wouldn't have noticed either way because I don't mind a nice stroll. And I have had young kids in tow too, as young as 10 months with strollers and diaper bags so I understand that. We just enjoy the scenery, have a nice conversation and take our time and relax. I guess walking that extra bit doesn't bother me, at least I know I am burning off those extra calories from all that yummy popcorn, mickeybars and other good food.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thought I would give this a bump for more opinions.

 

[srfrgrl07]

I think about it this way:

Value resorts have approximately 2100-2300 total rooms spread out in approximately 10 bldgs.

Moderate resorts have approximately 1800-2000 total rooms ususally spread out in approximately 8-10 bldgs. French Quarter has 1000-1200 rooms.

Deluxe resorts vary from about 600-900 rooms and depending on the resort 2-8 bldgs.

Think of the distance from one building in an apartment complex to another. It may not be an exact comparison, but it's pretty close.

 

[HopperFan]

I think it depends on what you plan to use and enjoy in the resorts. While it may be close or far to your room, if you aren't using it, does it matter ? Look at the resort maps and footprints. Footprint is more important than the number of rooms, plus some hotels are 3+ stories. If the footprint is tight, the walk is shorter.

Compare moderates, similar number of rooms but wide variation in footprint:
CBR - @2100+ rooms in oblong footprint around 45 acre lake
CSR - @2000+ rooms in circular footprint around 15 acre lake
POR - @2000+ rooms in circular footprint around river/island

We prefer to use the main themed pool at resorts, at CBR (which probably has the largest footprint of moderates) we had over a 15 minute walk with children to the theme pool and food etc. That is a long walk with kids or to get a drink. Now at CSR we stayed in Casitas (considered closer to main area) but only walked a couple minutes to pool area and they have food and drink there - was not necessary to go to main building. AKL, 5 minutes with walking and elevator to pool, but everything you want to close together there. POR, 5 minutes in Mansion or AB each time. ASMo we were probably as close as we could get to staying in ASMu but it was only a 5 minute walk to our main pool and food court.