Monorail vs Non-monorail Hotel

[BahamaBill]

Thinking of booking the Contemporary, but also Port Orleans? Only been to Disney once and stayed outside the park. Any advantages to staying in a monorail hotel(i have 3 kids 9,9,11). Price Diff about $500
Thanks for the Help

 

[ep4244]

Can only give you my opinion for the CR as I've never stayed at POR.

My DD's 7 and 9 absolutely adored the CR. We did a split day between BWI and CR. Hands down CR was the winner. Girls loved the princess store inside the hotel and also watching the water parade and fireworks from our tower room. Room at CR was larger. And most surprising my girls like the slide at the CR better than the clown side at BWI, according to them the CR slide is much faster going down.

Also enjoyed just hopping on the monorail and riding around -even when we didn't go to the park. Gives you 2 other hotels you can stop at and easily get back to your own, very convenient for different dining plans.

Concourse steakhouse is a gem of a restaurant.

 

[Princess Mindy]

Did not stay at POR but did stay at CBR recently. The non-monorail does get a little combersome with waiting and crowds because of lack of other options, and the monorail drops you off right in front of the parks so you don't have to cross this large void to reach the MK/Epcot entrance from the bus parking. I like the monorail because you don't just get that travel option, you get boats and buses too. I would have appreciated that diversity at CBR, which only has bus. But at least at POR you get boat transport and bus, so 2 out of 3 ain't bad! I am choosing a monorail hotel for my next option because I find it so much better to be "in the loop"

 

[rcraw45425]

Monorail all the way! Plus, the rooms at CR are a lot bigger than PO.

 

[minnie61650]

Did not stay at POR but did stay at CBR recently. The non-monorail does get a little combersome with waiting and crowds because of lack of other options, and the monorail drops you off right in front of the parks "

Correction: The monorail drops you off in front of the MK.
So if you are going to spend all of your vacation or most of your vaction at MK then that is a plus and should concider staying at a monorail hotel.. You can take the monorail to Epcot but it is not direct. First you stop at the TTC get off the monorail go down a steep ramp.Then get in line for the Epcot monorail. Next you go up a steep ramp and then wait to board the monorail. That ramp seems really steep when pushing a stroller. If you plan on spending much time at Epoct,MGM or Ak POR may be a better choice.
Linda

 

[Hollymom1229]

Stayed monorail for the first time this trip, and while I found it to be nice and convienent, especially with the wheelchair, it wasn't a big enough difference for us to be monorail only from here on out.

 

[minnie61650]

Double post sorry.
Bad Computer

 

[Princess Mindy]

Correction: The monorail drops you off in front of the MK.
So if you are spending all of your vacation or most of your vaction at MK then that is a plusand you should consider a monorail hotel.. You can take the monorail to Epcot but it not direct. First you stop at the TTC get off the monorail go down a steep ramp.Then get in line for the Epcot monorail. Next you have to go up a steep ramp and then wait to board the monorail. That ramp seems really steep when pushing a stroller. If you plan on spending much time at Epoct,MGM and/or Ak POR may be a better choice.
Linda

Right. Thats what I meant. But even with the trasfer from Monorail to Monorail it isn't that long IMO and its a great ride. But I agree with Minnie that it really depends on where you want to go while you're there.

 

[Tiffany]

Thinking of booking the Contemporary, but also Port Orleans? Only been to Disney once and stayed outside the park. Any advantages to staying in a monorail hotel(i have 3 kids 9,9,11). Price Diff about $500
Thanks for the Help

Hi,

The advantages of the CR is the location to the MK. You can walk over if you like or take the Monorail. Also, you have the monorail that goes through the middle of the CR. Your kids might like this.

With three kids you would either need to do two rooms or stay in the AB section of POR.

If the differance in price between the CR and POR you can afford then go with the CR if you plan on spending most of your time at the MK then the CR is the resort for you.

 

[lark]

I think in general, if you're relying on disney transportation, the monorail resorts are better, because you're always an easy trip to the TTC, which is a great tranportation hub. You're also within walking distance of the MK, which is also a transportation hub. POR is more inconvenient to the hubs, which is negated somewhat by the fact that at MK opening and closing times, your "hubs" become unmanageable. Also, though, downtown disney is inferior as a hub, as compared to the MK and the TTC.

If you're planning on doing a fair amount of driving -- for example, if you have a car, it's better to drive to MGM whether staying at POR or the Contemporary -- then this is negated. But if you're relying on disney transportation, the CR is a far better spot.

After giving this a fair amount of thought, my view is that the best located resort, in general, is the poly, followed by the CR and GF. The poly gets the nod because you can walk to the TTC. For a trip heavily focused on Epcot and MGM and/or downtown disney, obviously you can't beat the boardwalk resorts -- and they have an awful lot to commend them too. But in general, assuming a 5 to 7 day trip with at least one or two visits to the MK, I'd say the monorail resorts get the nod with the poly first and the CR close behind.

Another thing is that when we go, we try to make disney transportation part of the experience -- going to the chip and dale sing along and then trying to time the boat ride back during fireworks, etc. Your options for this kind of highly retentive planning are increased at the CR.