Is August too hot to stay off the monorail route?

[w8ting4pooh]

I am currently booked at the CR for the first week of August. It's running almost $300 per night for two rooms. How much effort is it to get from the MK to the bus and to the room/pool and then back again?

How much more effort would it be to get back and forth during mid-day if we stayed at the All-Stars (for half the price!)? Will it be too hot to go back to the resort? It seems like by the time you got to the gate, boarded the bus, travelled to the resort, walked to the room, and then reversed it, it would be more tiring than just staying put and having a long lunch in one of the restaurants. Thoughts from the BTDT crowd??

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Have never stayed at the all stars, but have stayed at some others that use the bus system. If you are only planning on the magic kingdom, then yes its way easier to use the monorail, but actually these resorts on monorail have to "bus" to ak, & mgm, also have to change monorails to epcot. so the travel time is pretty equal through out all the resorts. I really like the cr & monorails resorts but we spend more time at mk and only need 1 room. MKY

 

[Boots]

I haven't stayed at All Stars, but you could request a room close to the bus stops and that would save you having to walk quite as far.

 

[DisneyLisa]

We stayed at ASMu in August 2000 & went back to our room for a break most days (other days we did as you mentioned & had a PS for lunch to get out of the heat & some days did both)...the buses were great & we didn't find it that bad. I can't say how long it took us but it worked out fine...most parks were a short drive by bus (MK being the farthest). The busses seem to come more often for the AS resorts...I guess because they are so big.

We had reservations for 10 nights at the GF this July but I just changed it to 5 nights at POFQ & 5 nights at GF (we want to try a moderate)...& we fully intend to take the bus back for a break each day while we're at POFQ. Maybe to some people it's not worth it but we seem to manage just fine. I guess only you can decide if the savings is worth it for you. Good luck.

Lisa

 

[jaguar9748]

We've never stayed at a monorail resort and have survived many summers at Disney. The key is planning ahead and as mentioned above, selecting a room as close to the bus stop as possible. Never go out in the heat of the day. Use sunscreen and misting bottles. Wear as few clothes as you legally can! I would recommend a moderate though - with the summer special at $94 a night, the bigger room and more resort amenities would be the way I would go.

 

[musicfan]

We usually stay at the All Stars, although we've stayed at moderates and deluxes, too. It seems like, no matter where you stay, it always takes around a half an hour to get anywhere. I agree with you, it's often more of a hassle to go back to your room for a break than it is to take one wherever you happen to be -- in a restaurant or a resort, or even just sitting on a bench in a park eating a snack.

 

[ducklite]

The buses are always freezing cold. In all honesty, it's no more of a hassle to get to the CBR or AS than it is to get to a monorail resort. Unless you are in the main building at the CR or GF (major $$) you'll still have to walk to your building when you get to the resort.

Personally, I wouldn't stay at the ASR regardless of how cheap it was. If you want to save some money, look into a moderate.

With the monorail resorts, the only really convenient park is the MK. From the CR you can WALK to the MK faster than taking the monorail, depending on where your room is and how long a wait it is. To get to Epcot you have to change monorails at the TTC, which IMHO is very slow and cumbersome. And you still have to bus to AK and MGM. In all honesty, the Epcot resorts are probably the fastest on average to a park. A 5-10 minute walk to Epcot, 10 minute boat ride to MGM, 12 minute bus ride to MK and 8 minute bus ride to AK.

Anne

 

[w8ting4pooh]

I'm thinking that we will stay at the Contemp for 4 nights and do the other 4 offsite. We have enough points to get most (or all) the offsite nights free. That way, the CR won't seem so expensive. We will visit the water parks, Sea World, and the other big 3 when we are offsite. We will save MK for most of the 4 nights that we will be on the monorail.

I guess we can be pampered for 4 days and swelter for 4. Maybe do a water park every other day?!

August seems so far away right now. *sigh*

 

[halfway there]

I think you've got the right idea now! If you want easy access in and out of the MK then the Contemporary is the way to go. I believe it is the first stop on the way out and the last one on the way in.