Indoor vs. outdoor room access

[HiHoWeGo]

I have read a lot of people say they much prefer hotels with indoor corridors for room access. The reasoning is usually that indoor makes the hotel feel more classy and opulent, with outdoor access feeling less so, more like a cheaper motel. Usually also mentioned is less foot traffic and noise, balconies, etc.

My personal opinion is different. While I understand the above argument, I really like outdoor access, at least what I experienced at POR and POFQ. Both of these have such beautiful landscaping that walking out your room door and strolling the grounds is a pleasure! And with outdoor room access and smaller buildings (as opposed to one or two large ones), the grounds are usually much more prominent giving a greater opportunity to experience them. I do miss balconies, though.

On our trip to POR I have very fond memories of waking up early in the morning and strolling over to pick up coffee and drinks. It wouldn't have been the same for me if I was walking indoors, down corridors with hundreds of feet of the same wallpaper, but that's me.

What say you?

 

[bigbabyblues]

At Disney, I don't mind outdoor entrances. We've only stayed at values and CBR, and that isn't likely to change. I do like just being able to walk into our room.

Anywhere but Disney? Indoor is the only choice.

 

[minnie mum]

On most trips I prefer hallways to walkways. But the reverse is generally true for me when we stay at resorts, including WDW. I've had a problem with noise from the hallways at some of the deluxe resorts. Kids running and people talking loudly carries right into the room. I think the mods are quieter, since the doors have better seals.

And like the OP, I love being immersed in the resort as soon as I step outside my room instead of traipsing down an endless corridor.

 

[Sue M]

The only thing I dislike about outside door is that people passing by your room can look right in. So less privacy. I hate being in a room during a sunny day or morning( we do take afternoon breaks) and sitting in a dark room with drapes closed.
So for this reason I prefer inside halls.
I do agree that some if the moderate resort grounds are beautiful. I love POR. But GF, and Poly have beautiful grounds too because they have multiple buildings.

 

[karly05]

Before my first stay at POFQ, I was leery of the "exterior corridors" because I was thinking of the non-Disney Outside World, where exterior corridors means the cheapo Motel on the highway. After staying at POFQ, I really like the outdoor access at Disney resorts. There were always plenty of other people outdoors when I was coming and going, and I think it would have been "spookier" walking alone through some winding hallway. And you're right, OP, it was so nice to have that fresh air walk to breakfast in the mornings.

Outside of WDW, however, PP is right, interior only please.

 

[haj697]

I agree with a PP that exterior entrances at WDW do not bother me. We just spent a week at CBR and I loved opening the door up to the beautiful foliage right outside and loved being steps away from a quiet pool. However, when we are traveling and staying somewhere other than WDW, I feel much better with interior entrances.

 

[HiHoWeGo]

I wasn't thinking about it, but I do actually prefer the indoor access when at places other than Disney. Although for cost reasons, while on the road I don't usually worry about it and accept outdoor access. It's usually a matter of sucking it up for a single night.

But at Disney (mods anyway), I've never felt the that resorts with outdoor room access feel cheap. To the contrary, I've loved the two I've stayed at!

 

[POOHsie]

I agree with everyone. Anyplace else in the world, I would prefer not to stay at a place with an outdoor room entry. Decades ago, young DD and I stayed overnight at a place with outdoor entry. And I was so spooked about the surrounding neighborhood, I moved the dresser in front of the entry door.

But at WDW, I've stayed Moderate and Value, and I like the outdoor entry. There's always nice landscaping to look at along the way, and at the door, we're either happy because we're leaving for the parks, or we're happy to get back after a wonderful park day, with the day's souvenirs.

I think, at least in my case, that WDW has proven to be a safe and secure environment, where my family can relax and slowly lose ourselves in a heavenly week or two.

The Disney bubble is real.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't mind either way. I'm just happy to be at WDW.

 

[Radiorox]

Anywhere but Disney? Indoor is the only choice.

I feel the same way!! For me to feel "safer" I like the upper floors. To me it seems like less foot traffic too. The only thing I wish Dis would have done is made the walk ways a little bigger to accommodate a couple of chairs outside of the Values and the Mods.

 

[DLM1980]

On my first trip to WDW we stayed at Pop Century, arriving just around midnight and it was pouring buckets outside. I did not know what to expect but we were given a map and directions to our room (it was the furthest away from everything) and we had to run from building to building with our luggage to escape the rain.

That is why I would love hallways.

However, after spending the night there my partner is kinda a room snob and said the place was a dump (in his eyes) and they moved us to CBR, same type of layout though but the rooms were nicer in his eyes. I must say that I love CBR, and don't mind its sprawling buildings, but I've also never got stuck there when its raining. But I imagine if I did I'd be wishing for hallways.

At the very least I wish there was just a covered walkway that connects each building or island of building kinda like a carport but for people...ala a people mover walkway without the ride part. That way the odd chance that it does rain, I can walk to where I'm going and not be completely soaked by the time I get to my destination

My partner and I would like to try deluxe one day but I must say I think I'd miss opening "my front door" to be outside, just like being at home.

 

[Clare Voince]

Another advantage of indoor hallways that hasn't been mentioned is protection from rain, and getting out of the heat and into air conditioning.

 

[Polydweller]

Another advantage of indoor hallways that hasn't been mentioned is protection from rain, and getting out of the heat and into air conditioning.

Yep, so true and another big advantage, with indoor you get a private balcony and you get to see all that Disney beauty on the balcony relaxing with a drink and food. The exterior door cannot give you that.

 

[gericoronado]

I love the immediate outdoor access right outside the door! The door opens and you are there looking at beautiful WDW, not some hallway.

 

[DebbieB]

The only thing I dislike about outside door is that people passing by your room can look right in. So less privacy. I hate being in a room during a sunny day or morning( we do take afternoon breaks) and sitting in a
dark room with drapes closed. So for this reason I prefer inside halls. I do agree that some if the moderate resort grounds are beautiful. I love POR. But GF, and Poly have beautiful grounds too because they have multiple buildings.

I agree, it makes the room dark. One time we were staying at CBR on the second floor and when kids ran down the walkway it vibrated up the walls. We were also by steps and people were banging strollers up the steps late at night. Also had people pulling their chairs outside and having conversations and drinking out on the walkway. I also hate the window air conditioners.

 

[Shaden]

After a couple years of reading here from the deluxe snobs (admitted or in denial) that indoor hallways were the best, because they just ARE. Ok, some actually gave justifications....

Usually because there was "less noise" from people walking by your door, and because they "liked the view" of a) having a balcony, and b) not looking out the window and seeing the walkway, and um ... rain.

Having only stayed at moderates before, and LOVING them, we were quite intrigued about how the hallways would be at AKL this time ...

Yea, that noise thing ? Complete crap. We heard much ... MUCH more noise outside our door in the hallway than we did in our Moderate stays outside our door form the walkways. Keep in mind, our last stay at POR, our door walked out onto the main stairwell, on the way to the main pool, and the food court from Magnolia terrace, second floor. VERY busy area ... hardly heard a peep. AKV, halfway down a corridor, TONs of noise. Kids playing in the hallway, people chatting as they walk back to their rooms, people being just plain loud ... and I think the hallway actually amplifies the noise.

As for the Balcony vs. Walkway ... the balcony WAS nice, no doubt, but ... for us the walkway, (moderates in our case) give the resort more of a "Home" feel, almost like a condo. If just doesn't feel as much like you are sharing a space, more like you walk up to your "suit", "condo", "home", "room" whatever you want to call it, and yur in. There was something really nice about that ....

We have NEVER had a problem with rain at wdw, part luck and part ... it just doesn't bother us. It usually rains really intensely for like 10 - 30 mins, and then its gone, or its a constant rain, and we are going to be dealing with it to go to the parks anyway, or we are planning on just hanging out in the room anyway ... Just a non-issue really.

I think both have advantages, but the advantages of the hallways and the indoor corridors were hugely overblown.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I guess I am a deluxe snob, but I will tell you why. I always vacation solo leaving my DH at home. He doesn't want to vacation anywhere, and I am obsessed with WDW. When I am solo, I just feel safer with the interior hallways. If it is extra stormy, and I need something in the gift shop, usually I can still be in the same building to go get it. Also, I really like my balcony. I bring a temperature gauge and place it on my balcony the whole vacation. I just love to know the exact temperature, and humidity on any given day. The higher up balcony's are also great places to take photos! And, last but not least, when I am in a deluxe, the hot tub is usually pretty close by, but when I am in a moderate, getting to the hot tub can be a really long trek at night. Because of arthritis, I like to get into the hot tub just before going to bed. It helps a lot.

 

[North of Mouse]

At Disney, I don't mind outdoor entrances. We've only stayed at values and CBR, and that isn't likely to change. I do like just being able to walk into our room.

Anywhere but Disney? Indoor is the only choice.

Exactly the way we feel!!

We 'don't' stay at any other hotels with outside entrances to rooms because we don't feel safe. We don't have that feeling at Disney. Never heard of a safety issue in that regard.

 

[maxiesmom]

I agree with those who say the rooms that open onto a hallway are louder. That has been my experience too! The ping of the elevator, the slamming of the doors, the excited chatter of the kids is all caught by the hallway and amplified.

Also, not every deluxe room has a balcony. And some that do have them have teeny tiny balconies. Balconies you can walk out onto, look at the view, and go back in. Not balconies to hang out on. I wanted to mention that just in case someone got the idea that all deluxe rooms have balconies. Not true!

 

[sophia315]

I do not mind the outdoor entrance at Disney but I prefer having a balcony. We have young kids so it is nice to come back in the afternoon get them settled into a nap or watching TV then I can sit outside and read or just enjoy the scenery. Also with young kids it is nice to have the sliding door open and they too can sit on the balcony while we are getting ready for the parks. When in a moderate you lose that little bit of privacy and extra space. I do think the hallways are boring (and can be noisy) though so if Disney could find a way to give me an exterior walkway (with scenery) and a balcony I would live it!