My DW and I are taking our two-year-old to WDW in late May. We're going for just four nights and are on a tight budget. We're trying to decide between the POP (or one of the All star resorts) and the Howard Johnson Enchanted Land Hotel. If we stay offsite we can afford to rent a car. If we stay at a Disney resort, we won't. How inconvenient will the Disney buses be? We'll likely be heading back to our rooms for a nap each day so the transportation issue is important. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
WDW transportation is great. So you should have no problems. Just remember that the bus drivers need to eat lunch too.... So the bus transportation can be if between 11am and 1:30pm. but I have NEVER had a problem at any value resorts - all the other resorts big YES - but NEVER a value resort.
we loved pop and stayed there in DEC the 50s section was great. We did have a rent a car and took the buses only one day. It was ok. Not bad just alot of poeple. If i had to choose i would still choose pop. You get free transportation around the world, the extra magic hours, package delivery to your resort and other things off site can give you good luck
I stayed at POP last June with my ds and didn't have a car. We didn't have a problem with the busses and we took breaks everyday. We loved this hotel.
We have stayed at Pop twice - once with a car and once without. We took the buses everywhere on Disney property both times and never had a problem. And the extra magic hours for staying onsite were an added bonus! Have a great trip!
we drive to wdw so have a car and never ever use it( 8 trips) our last was at pop and we found the buses to be very good. they are only for that resort so there is only one drop off point and one pick up. ( not bad as it's close to everything else) only suggestion is if you eat dinner at another resort, try to make it so you will be ready to go back to pop before the last park closes for the day( like an hr or more, but with a little one that would probably be what you'd do anyway) so you can take a bus to there then pop...it seems the dtd route takes forever as you have to wait for ever, not sure why. adn when we were there pop bus stops were always way far away, like in the next county but i'd stay at pop for sure rather than offsite. we were there over mlk weekend the yr they opened and it was booked to capacity( said it was first time ever happened in wdw history) but even though the food court was bad, the buses were still great, they just sent more. i don't remember ever having to stand i'd probably stay again but kids think they want a "great pool"...your little one will probably love the goofy surf board water jet place, very cute, it's to the left behind everything pop toward the big wheel. have fun!
I would say go with the POP. By staying offsite, you are not going to be entitled to those special little perks like EMH. Plus, wouldn't you have a to pay for parking if you weren't staying at one of the hotels? I think it's about $8/day. Although it's not that much, I know it would sour our trip having a pay every morning and then to have to fight with the trams on the way in. We almost always drive or rent a car. We thought about and we've decided for our May trip that we just don't need it. We're staying at POP as well Just be sure that if you're heading out to the parks first thing in the morning to be there so that you don't have to stand in line for two or three buses to come and go. We're planning on getting up bright and early, being out bright and early, and napping during the heat of the day. If someone falls asleep on the bus home, no harm done... and more power to them!
POP is a nice Value resort We stayed at All Star Movies when my son was 2 and he loved it!! Could have had something to do with the huge Woody icon right outside our room. I usually rent a car, but wouldn't think twice about taking the Disney transportation to save some money On the other hand, have you checked the transportation board, and played around with pricing some rentals? You may be surprised how cheap you can actually rent a car! Good luck with your decision
No Doubt! Pop without a car. Even though we did have one bad experience at park closing at MK on a Saturday night, I would still stay on site rather than off. I have done both and I have to say that the off property trip was just not that great. It took away so much of the magic. Trust me, you'll enjoy your trip so much more when you leave the driving to Disney. Just make sure if you stay till park closing to either try to get to the bus stop asap or just find a bench somewhere and rest until the crowds are gone and you'll be fine.
We adore POP and, although we drive there (we live just a couple hours away), we just park the car for the whole trip and take Disney transportation everywhere. We think the bus system WAY,WAY beats driving, especially at night at the end of a long day. POP is very cute and fun--no offsite hotel has comparable magic for the price. Fun pools, wild decor, convenient food court, pool bar, transportation, and a very safe feeling of being cupped in the hands of a protective WDW the whole time.
We were there 2 years ago and NEVER drove even though we had bought a 2004 Honda Odssey the night before we left for our vacation! We loved the WDW busses. We are talking about driving on our upcoming trip just to see what it is like! Have fun!
I would definetly stay at POP without a car. My reason being, we always get a car because we are staying at ron jon resort in cape canaveral for a couple of days before we go to disney. Every year we go to a different resort at the beach and then stay at disney. When we get to disney we never(and I mean never) use the car. If you have a stroller, you just fold it up and take it on the bus. It works great and we have never had a problem. People at disney tend to take things with a grain of salt so usually they try to help you out. Have a great time!
Good point. But also, check Allearsnet.com. They say one of the disadv. of staying off site is that if the parking lot to Magic Kingdom is full, then you can't get in. Don't risk that. Of course, that applies to all the parks. However, if you stay onsite, then that isn't a problem.
I would go with Pop using the bus. If you stay offsite you'll have to park at the TTC. I think the bus will be quicker. I cannot wait to try Pop for the first time (also late May). I've stayed at ASMo and that was lots of fun. Have a great trip!
We stayed at the POP and did so without a car. And we never had any probs using the buses. Im glad we choose not to rent a car. It would have been more of a hassle than I was wanting. Sure waiting for a bus can be bothersome and they are a bit crowded.. But it was worth it to be onsite and get the other perks than be off and driving.
Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars or Pop according to PassPorter.com All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono) Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min Have fun at Disney!
My DH and I stayed at the Enchanted Land resort about 10 years ago and would never stay there again - and I am not sure if any thing has been redone since then. Dirty dirty dirty. It is truly a budget place in my opinion. On the other hand we have stayed at POP 14 times so far and the buses run well. What do you think you need a car for? In case of true emergency need to go offsite a cab would be cheaper than renting a car. Alicia
I agree we live in Florida and drive to Disney about 7 hours away. Part of the reason I like to stay on property is because I park the car and dont touch it untill we leave. We always use the Disney transportation so we dont have to fight the traffic or get lost. Also remember if you are staying offsite with a car parking at Disney is about $9 a day.
On site, On site, On-site!! I will NEVER stay off-site again! When you self-park, you park out at the transit center and then catch a tram to the monorail or the paddleboats. Then it takes 10-20 minutes to get over to MK. To park, take a tram, then take either transport to MK, you will blow at least 30 minutes, EACH WAY! With the shuttles, they drop you off at the front gate to Mk and each park-- In 2 minutes you are greeted by characters and are having fun. If you self-park-- you will lose two hours of vacation everyday if you go back for a break. How much is 2 extra hours per day in Disney World worth? Don't get me wrong -- the excitement of taking the paddleboats or monorail that first time to Magic Kingdom is part of the magic. But there isn't much Pixie dust left on the monorail on Day three and trip number 10!
I would definately choose POP w/o a car. You will be in the middle of the magic & you can take a bus back for mid day nap time. Hope you have a great time.
