Location, Loction, Loation???

[jodyo]

We have stayed at the all-stars, a moderate (PO) and now at the Dolphin (Deluxe). I have to say that the Dolphin location was incredible. We walked all over the place, could walk to Epcot & MGM or take a boat. We got the fab. Teacher's rate so we couldn't go wrong for $99 (newspaper misprint) per night. Anyway, we are going again this year. My goal has always been to try out all of the Dis Resorts, but after staying at the Dolphin I am not sure I would want to stay anywhere else. We really enjoyed our walks to the Boardwalk and boat rides to Epcot & MGM. I can't afford to try the Boardwalk or Beach Club, are there any Moderates that have a great location or lot's to do on-site. We do not want to rent a car, but we like the option of not always having to take a bus. What about WL. They have a rate of only 129 with code. Do they have a boat to MK? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[josierac]

WL is great. There is a boat to the MK, Contemporary and Fort Wilderness areas.

 

[las3888]

I don't think the moderates will meet up to your expectations for location. I love staying in the Boardwalk area. It's almost like an attraction in and of itself.

You MIGHT try the Contemporary wing rooms. They can be had for as low as approx. $134 or $139 with some of the discounts that have been floating around. The rooms are really nice and large and you are right on the monorail (and can also walk to MK). It's a different world there, maybe not as much to do with shops and restaurants, but charming in a different way.

Discounts may be a little tough to come by because I hear the overflow from Shades of Green are staying in the wing rooms. DH and I tried to book a room there for next month but wing rooms were sold out. I am trying the WL and have reservations because it isn't on monorail or near boardwalk, but people say it's really nice so we will give it a try.

Good luck!

 

[4forDis]

The only moderate "location perk" that I can think of is POR has a boat that runs to DTD. Also, I have to say that the bus service was really great.

 

[donmil723]

CSR has a bus that goes directly to the Boardwalk. It's the only moderate that does.

 

[EpcotBill]

I've been reading on these boards lately that the CSR to BW bus has been stopped. Sorry.

 

[Laura]

Well, CSR is very centrally located (if you look at a map of all WDW, it's in the MGM and AK and Epcot triangle); the bus trips are very short except to MK. But, there are no huge differences among the moderates, really. WL's boat would probably be lots of fun.

 

[cindala]

When we stayed at the WL, we loved everything about it: the atmosphere, theme, lobby, restaurants, view, etc, except the transportation.

At the time, our DD's were younger and more interested in the MK than the other parks, and that boat to the MK took F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!! We started hopping the first bus that would come by, and get off at the Poly (the first stop) and hop the monorail to the MK. Getting back from the MK was another story. If you missed the boat, you had a long wait, so one night we had to take the monorail to the TTC and then wait for a bus to the WL.

To all the other parks, the buses were okay, but being so close to the MK, you would think it would take less time to get there! Unless this has dramatically changed, that is definitely a transportion drawback.

You are really not going to beat the location of the BW area resorts. They are just so close to so many things, and give you so many options of things to do and places to go, and easier options of how to get there.

 

[drusba]

Personal view: the Epcot resort area is by far the best location on site; thus, you have now stayed in the area that has the most easily accessible activities as you can walk to two other resort complexes (BW and YC/BC) and to Epcot and MGM. In other words, no matter where else you go on site the location and ease to everything will seem mediocre to poor in relation to the Epcot area. We have stayed virtually everywhere and now generally stay only at BW, our favorite by far.

The second (and distant) best area is the monorail resorts at MK (GF, Poly and Cont) particularly for ease of acces to MK and the ability to from one to the other by monorail.

WL is very nice--best themed resort on site; but you will be away from most things -- it sits in the woods on the lake and you need to take a boat or bus to get anywhere else. AKL is also very nice but out of the way. The moderates though very good will not come close to the sense of convenience and great location you had at an Epcot resort.