Safe Resort - Walking alone at night

[krllib]

I have decided to go for a solo trip, but I am having difficulty selecting a resort. I love Epcot's World Showcase and paln to spend the majority of my evenings - dining and watching Illuminations. I am a little concerned about walking back to my room in the evening from bus stops from moderate resorts, if I have to walk to remote sections of the resort. I have always stayed at the deluxe properties - Boardwalk, GF, and Poly, but its very expensive for the peak season. What moderate would you recommend for safety and closeness to Epcot? Would I be better staying at a deluxe and paying more? Thanks for the advice!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I wouldn't think any of the moderate resorts would be much different that the Polynesian. You have to walk from the monorail/bus stop there to your longhouse. We've stayed at Coronado Springs (thought it was great), POFQ (also thought it was great, and not as far between the bus stop and the buildings).

 

[Dan Murphy]

Check the discounts at the Swan/Dolphin. There are frequently discounts there......

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/SwanDolphin/sdmainpage.htm#hm-right-sd

And welcome to the DIS.

 

[cstraub]

I would feel much safer somewhere where the rooms have interior corridors. I have felt a bit nervous walking alone at night in the moderates. They can be very desolate. I have caught myself walking fast because I felt a bit nervous about being so alone outside at night. I would stay somewhere where you are dropped off right by the lobby and then walk inside to get to your room. The CR(not garden rooms), AK & WL are all places I have stayed and felt the safest being alone at night.

I do think about the safety at night thing a lot because my parents who are older, usually go with us to WDW and they come and go alone in the evening.

Have fun!

 

[InstImpres]

Be sure to tell a CM at checkin, you were hoping to be close to x (bus stop, elevator, main building) etc as you are a solo traveler. I have always been given a "safety request" though sometime it meant not getting a room immediately and having to wait. I am always happy to wait in the short term to get what I want for the balance of the trip

 

[msteddom]

If you're looking for a moderate I would choose POFQ. there is only one bus stop, and nothing is far away from it at all. The resort grounds are very well lit, and I have always felt safe walking the grounds by myself after dark.


Melissa

 

[aubriee]

Have you thought about renting DVC points? I made my first ever solo trip to WDW last May. I spent the first two nights (Fri-Sat) at POP, then transferred over to a studio at BWV for the next five nights, then back to POP for the weekend again. I got a free upgrade to a boardwalk view, had a studio only a few doors down from the elevator (on the top floor), and was close to EPCOT and MGM for only $117.00/night. I could see Spaceship Earth from my balcony. It was great!

FYI-at POP I mentioned that I was traveling solo and would like to have a room close to the main building. I was placed in the 50's, right on the corner next to the bowling pin stairwell, third floor, and only a minute or so from the main building. I was closer to the main building than most people in the preferred 60's section. I never felt unsafe.

If you do decide to stay at a moderate I would go with POFQ, as it is so small and well lit.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I've worked Graveyard at 4 different WDW hotels, having to delivery Express Check outs to the rooms as early as 4am by myself. I can't say that I ever felt unsafe at any of the properties. Security patrols the areas a lot more overnight. I agree with the others in that Port Orleans French Quarter would probably be your best bet if you are nervous about this. The property is fairly small and compact. None of the rooms are really that spread out from one another and there is only the one bus stop in the front.

 

[spiceycat]

I was solo at Pop and feel perfectly safe.

Kept in mind that there are a ton of people at WDW.

if you walk up to the bus stop and you are the only one there (not likely at Pop) - then go to another bus stop where there are guests until others come to your bus stop....

Talk to people!!! then you won't stand out as a single and be a target.

 

[beccasmom]

Over the years we've stayed in many of the WDW hotels and I've never personally felt unsafe. Having said that, I have noticed more "patrolling" by the security vans than before - I can't pin down exactly when they became more visible, but would guess it was just after 9/11. The moderate and value hotels are for the most part large properties, so I would concur that staying at POFQ would be a good idea. I remember the CR as having some loooong corridors in the wings, which I would avoid as well. The FQ is a compact resort and one of our favorites. But we've stayed at POR and never experienced any issues whatsoever....except sore feet from touring all day! We've never stayed at the Swan or Dolphin, but they may be viable (and well-priced) choices as well....location would definitely be in their favor.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I have stayed solo at Port Orleans Riverside, A/B section, The Swan,
Coronado Springs, and at The Boardwalk Villas. I have had a total of 6 annual solo vacations for 6 nights each. I have *Never* felt unsafe or uncomfortable while walking alone at midnight. I usually request top floor for security reasons, but at The Boardwalk, once they had to give me ground floor. It was OK, no problems. I still way prefer a balcony over a patio, though.

Once I was coming back from MVMCP to my room at POR, at around midnight.
I heard footsteps behind me - and I really did get a bit nervous. I turned around and saw two women, dressed in formal gowns, high heels, with Mickey Mouse ears on! I was amused - and relieved!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We have stayed in all resorts except Ft. Wilderness cabins. The only place I have ever felt unsafe is in the self-parking lot at the GF. It is just too remote, dark, and unmonitored. During our May visit, something strange also was going on there. Both leaving and returning to the lot one evening, there were old, beat-up cars with drivers in them sitting at the stop sign at the exit. The engines and lights were off. Wierd.

 

[krllib]

Thanks for the great suggestions for safety. I have decided to split my stay between POFQ and AKL (got a good rate from AAA). I am looking forward to my solo trip to Disney. Now, to planning and dining PS reservations...the fun begins. Thanks again for your very helpful suggestions on the resorts and safety.

 

[Disney Doll]

If you are planning on spending a good portion of your time at Epcot, then I'd probably go with one of the Boardwalk resorts. As Dan said, there are some good deals at the S/D, and that area is busier...more people around.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

During our May visit, something strange also was going on there. Both leaving and returning to the lot one evening, there were old, beat-up cars with drivers in them sitting at the stop sign at the exit. The engines and lights were off. Wierd.

The self parking lot is split between resort self parking and the cast member parking. Your scenario sounds to me like they were waiting to pick up a CM that was getting off of work. That area of the self parking lot is the only place that you can go to wait for someone, so you will see this happen often around 4pm and again around midnight or so when the CM's are getting off of work.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

We have stayed at POR, Poly, ASmo, CBR, and the Treehouse. The only time I did not like walking back from bus was at the Treehouses - it was like walking through a kind of dark swamp and there weren't as many people out and walking around like at a regular resort - but the Treehouses are closed to guests now. Also, one night I walked alone between POR and French Quarter - I don't think I would again - it was well lit, but there was no one else around the entire way. Probably wasn't the smartest thing I have ever done - but then again I bet it can be very romantic for couples!!!

 

[MrsTink04]

Thanks for the great suggestions for safety. I have decided to split my stay between POFQ and AKL (got a good rate from AAA). I am looking forward to my solo trip to Disney. Now, to planning and dining PS reservations...the fun begins. Thanks again for your very helpful suggestions on the resorts and safety.

I loved POFQ. I walked around there by myself at night...went shopping while DH watched TV . I never felt unsafe. It is a small (beautiful) resort!!!

Enjoy!!!