POP bus service w/ toddler?

[luvmyboys]

After months of reading these boards, I still can't decide where we should stay for our late Sept trip. It will be DH (better known on the restaurant boards as the extreme penny-pincher) and my 2 DS (will be 7 and 15 mos). I know the deluxes are out, which eliminates the monorail option but I can't decide btw the moderates or POP.

I am so confused, and I HAVE to start making ressies, booking flights, etc...
My DH is not at all excited about this trip, and along with not breaking the bank (though that one is more negotiable) I want to make this trip as stress-free for him as possible, so that he'll want to go again!!!!

What is my most hassle-free option, out of the value or mods, in terms of toting around a 1 and a half-year old? Please help me decide!

 

[Bugsmom73]

I would say a moderate. It would give you a little more room and I would suggest maybe POFQ for the size. IT is small and not a whole lot of walking. Would it be in your budget for WL though, cheaper than the MK monorail resorts but has decent boat transportation.

 

[StrwLady]

I was thinking the WL too. If you can get a general public or annual pass rate, being value season, the rate can be very reasonable. The grounds of the WL is very relaxing. We had a courtyard view in March. Every night my hubby sat out on the balcony and relaxed. A couple of nights I wondered if he fell asleep out there. Maybe a relaxing atmosphere will help your hubby fall in love with Disney!

The boat transportation to MK is nice to have. And I had no complaints about the bus transportation.

I don't have any experience at a Moderate so I can’t give an opinion there. But having stayed at the All Stars before, I do know there is a lot more hustle and bustle going on at those resorts. Maybe that would not be the best idea if you want to keep it stress free.

Take Care
Jamie

P.S. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with a Value Hotel. One main reason we do deluxes now is I rent an ECV off site. So having a larger room and monorail or boat transportation to some to some of the parks makes things easier.

 

[jennifer293]

I just got back from a 7 night stay at the ASMo with Dh, 1yr DD and 4 yr DD. The rooms are very small and cramped (well they were for us we have a lot of stuff) but the bus situation was not bad at all. We stayed at MK one night for EMH and we were packed on the bus that night but the rest of the time we all had more than enough leg and stroller room. I was told on several occasions that it was a good week we had picked to visit because it was not busy at all. We never waited in line for a ride more than 10 minutes the whole time we were there.

I cannot help you with other resorts since this was my first time to WDW, but I know next time we come we will go MODERATE!!

Have fun....(my dh was being a poot about the trip also but once he saw Goofy he turned into a small child) LOL

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

I would say a moderate. It would give you a little more room and I would suggest maybe POFQ for the size.

I agree with this completely. If given the choice, the value resorts with an 18 month old is tough. They are huge with a ton of walking, and the bus service is a little on the crowded side. We actually stayed last Nov at POFQ with a 3 year old and a 5 month old, and I think it was great. Nice pool, not much walking because of it's smaller size, and it was very quiet. Nice place for DH to relax. Besides the busses, there was also boat transportation to DD. HTH !!!
Good Luck !!!

 

[sarsah]

Will you have a car? We have found that it is often faster and more convienient to drive ourselves to the parks. We get there faster and sometimes the kids will take a little nap in their car seats on the way to/from in the afternoon. It's also easier with the stroller (it stays in the trunk until we get there). My boys are 2 & 5.

We do take Disney Transport sometimes, since the kids enjoy it, but it's sometimes a long ride.

Sarah....mom to Jason & Devin
6/05 - PC
11/04 - Swan / OKW (DS#2 first trip - 18 months old)
11/02 - PO-R (pregnant with DS#2)
10/01 - PO-R
11/00 - FW-Homes (DS#1's first trip - 6 months old)
5/99 - DxL
9/98 - DxL
6/96 - CB (trip with DH's family)
11/95 - PO-FQ (Honeymoon)
6/90 - offsite
3/89 - FW-campsite
3/84 - FW-campsite
4/80 - FW-campsite

 

[momto2inKC]

We just got back from Pop and we are very happy with the transportation there. We never waited more than 5 or 10 minutes for a bus to take us to a park and most evenings, they had 2 or 3 busses loading up at the same time to return to the hotel.
We also found the rooms to be comfortable, for us. We really didn't spend much time in them, though. We'd leave in the morning and usually come back to swim then back to the parks for the night.
I will say, I thought the beds were very comfortable, but the pillows we horrible! You could not even tell you were laying on one!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Regardless of if you stay at Pop or the Mods, the transportation is going to be similar for either. Both have multiple stops and sometimes long walks back to your room. I don't see the benefit in spending the extra $$$ for a mod when you get food courts, outdoor hallways and double beds, just like the values. If you're concerned with saving a buck, stay at the pOP, you'll basically get the same experience.