Second guessing my hotel switch

[NJlauren]

I have a mother daughter (she is 8) trip planned for November, we are up to 3 hotels for different parts of a 5 night trip (universal is in there as well)! Don’t ask I tend to go over board! Arrival night, 2 nights at Disney and 2 at universal. We have to switch for universal as I want the express pass and it’s included with my hotel room there.

For the 2nd part (2 nights), I had the beach club booked which is one of my favorites for location and pool. However today I moved to Coronado for about $700 less!

I’m 2nd guessing myself, we will arrive close to 8/9am drop our bags and head to HS where we will spend most of the day, we might purchase a ILL for guardians and hit up Epcot later. The next day is Epcot hopefully for Ratatouille, VQ and ILL for guardians and maybe some food and wine, then at MK by 2 for lunch and the Christmas party.

We aren’t really going to be at the hotel that much, if DD wanted to do the pool on HS day we would, but she has told me her goal is to ride all her favs twice at HS….pray for me!

If a monorail resort opened up I would switch for easy return to room after the party, but if not do you think I’m going to be disappointed with Coronado strictly based on bus and location. I know the actual hotel will fit our needs.

 

[ShannyMcB]

I think you'll be fine. The bus isn't always as convenient as the monorail but the bus is just to your hotel. I feel like the monorail could get crazy crowded with the stops.

 

[MillauFr]

I wouldn't switch hotels that often. I would stay at one place for the entire 5 days.

 

[NJlauren]

I think you'll be fine. The bus isn't always as convenient as the monorail but the bus is just to your hotel. I feel like the monorail could get crazy crowded with the stops.

Thanks!

I wouldn't switch hotels that often. I would stay at one place for the entire 5 days.

Well that isn't an option with our plan, or what I asked.

 

[sheilafri]

Think about what the $700 means in context. Would you pay $700 to cut 10-15 minutes off your commute four times. What else might you do for an hour (or more) with an extra $700. Just because you can afford it doesn’t mean you should spend it. But again, it could be worth it to you. Personally, I don’t find the value in hundreds of extra dollars per night for location. Many people do.

 

[lowlight]

700 bucks is a lot for two days, especially if you’ll barely be in your room. You’ll be fine, book a nice dinner with all that extra.

 

[matt and beth]

Stayed at Coronado recently and were quite surprised how nice it was!

 

[NJlauren]

Think about what the $700 means in context. Would you pay $700 to cut 10-15 minutes off your commute four times. What else might you do for an hour (or more) with an extra $700. Just because you can afford it doesn’t mean you should spend it. But again, it could be worth it to you. Personally, I don’t find the value in hundreds of extra dollars per night for location. Many people do.

Honestly this was a huge part of it, I’m like I could do the Minnie van each way and still come out with $500 in savings which is my daughters park ticket and our Christmas party tickets!

Thanks this actually helped a lot! (And may push me to change our next summer trip too!)

 

[NJlauren]

700 bucks is a lot for two days, especially if you’ll barely be in your room. You’ll be fine, book a nice dinner with all that extra.

Thanks! It will cover so much of the other parts of the trip! I

Stayed at Coronado recently and were quite surprised how nice it was!

I’m excited to try it I want to try all the hotels, and love the style here! However I also wonder will the commute feel long on a short trip?!? But everyone here has convinced me I’m staying with Coronado!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Seems like a short trip with a lot of moving around. For me, when it comes to short trips/hotel stays, time is money…. and I don’t really want to spend much time at all messing with transportation. So that means walkable resorts have a lot of value to me and get the edge over bus only resorts. With your EP and DHS heavy plans, BC seems like the way to go.

Don’t get me wrong, I like CSR a lot and have no issues with their transportation… but when it comes to limited time I’d rather pay for the convenience of my own two feet vs other modes of transport. I do enough messing around with transportation every day IRL… sometimes not having to think about it for a few days (other than your party night) is nice.

It’s a close call and $700 is nothing to dismiss, especially since it doesn’t sound your plans involve much actual resort time, but I think BC would win out for me.

Have fun!

 

[NJlauren]

Seems like a short trip with a lot of moving around. For me, when it comes to short trips/hotel stays, time is money…. and I don’t really want to spend much time at all messing with transportation. So that means walkable resorts have a lot of value to me and get the edge over bus only resorts. With your EP and DHS heavy plans, BC seems like the way to go.

Don’t get me wrong, I like CSR a lot and have no issues with their transportation… but when it comes to limited time I’d rather pay for the convenience of my own two feet vs other modes of transport. I do enough messing around with transportation every day IRL… sometimes not having to think about it for a few days (other than your party night) is nice.

It’s a close call and $700 is nothing to dismiss, especially since it doesn’t sound your plans involve much actual resort time, but I think BC would win out for me.

Have fun!

This was my original thought! But then I thought about it and figure I can pay for Uber/Minnie vans with the savings if time was really a problem.

It is a really close call!

It is a lot of moving around but arrival night, 2 Disney nights and 2 universal nights it just makes sense this way for the way the trip is working out.

 

[Anthony1971]

Coronado is technically an AK area resort. I did stay there around 20 years ago… when they had pepper market which I loved back then. Anyway the resort is not that far from HS or Epcot As far as the bus ride is concerned. For a better idea the resort is very close to the all stars being on the other side of the highway and about a mile or so down the same highway from AKL. I have stayed at AKL resort a number of times and recall HS and EPCOT being under 10 minutes once on the bus. MK is further. I feel no matter where you stay you just will not make have a huge travel time difference overall. I do like the BW area for walking to HS or EPCOT but more so when the parks close. I like the MK resort area for the same with MK although some you can’t walk but a big difference when parks close. Just stayed at WL when MK was open to 1am it was a nice short ride but the rest of the parks where not so easy. Save the money and use Uber if you feel you want to get to or from a park faster Disney transportation is very hit and miss.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Coronado Springs Resort is huge… really pretty with the new Grand Destino Tower and the extension of the 3 bridges connecting for the 3 Brdges Restaurant & Grill with outside dining and the Tower has rooftop Bar !
I hope you booked the Tower rooms location Other wise be prepared
to use Minnie Vans . GPS on property for Uber or Lyftt might be difficult for driver to find your location . Unless they pick you up at the resort check in.
Hopefully somebody can update with actual recent visit travel advice.
Universal for holidays is wonderful …Need advice ?

 

[Mousetopia]

I wouldn't switch hotels that often. I would stay at one place for the entire 5 days.

I agree. I LOVE hotel switching. Ive done 3 on a 12 day trip. On a 5 day..yikes. Transfer time from universal taking away from the time u have for fun, packing up and moving again..burns magic time even with luggage transfer luggage can delay, transport not be on time, rooms not ready, magic band doesnt work to open the door, even if You pay for minnie van ..they are delayed and hard to come by..either way still more time wasted driving to and from. All for what ? What is gained? If you really are not going to have time at the location to enjoy the resort you got nothing for the time you gave up to move there. Pick your favorite and settle in and use every minute enjoying the magic. Save the hopping for a longer vacay

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

It may be that certain resorts weren’t available the whole time, or the OP had a credit/miles whatever to use up, or they really want to do universal and stay on property. I think s/he realizes that it isn’t ideal but is making the best of the situation in from of him/her.

 

[NJlauren]

Coronado Springs Resort is huge… really pretty with the new Grand Destino Tower and the extension of the 3 bridges connecting for the 3 Brdges Restaurant & Grill with outside dining and the Tower has rooftop Bar !
I hope you booked the Tower rooms location Other wise be prepared
to use Minnie Vans . GPS on property for Uber or Lyftt might be difficult for driver to find your location . Unless they pick you up at the resort check in.
Hopefully somebody can update with actual recent visit travel advice.
Universal for holidays is wonderful …Need advice ?

I am always open to advice will be our third time at universal but first around holiday time, I think we make it right at the start.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I love CSR and Beach Club - the transportation from Beach Club to Epcot and HS would be nice, but I'd stay at CSR for the price difference. And CSR's transportation is all bus but is still usually pretty good. You can walk to the first CSR bus stop if you're worried about seats, especially at rope drop.

And not that you asked, but I would absolutely move to a Universal hotel with Express access even for a shorter trip - it's a perk that Disney can't touch

 

[jods]

Can you use that 700 savings to stay the 3 nights at CSR? I'm not sure if you have plans or late flight or whatever. I would definitely do a universal hotel. It's an easy switch. This summer we switched in the evening and last year we switched when we got up. Both were fine. It's definitely nice getting the express passes and being so close.

 

[NJlauren]

Can you use that 700 savings to stay the 3 nights at CSR? I'm not sure if you have plans or late flight or whatever. I would definitely do a universal hotel. It's an easy switch. This summer we switched in the evening and last year we switched when we got up. Both were fine. It's definitely nice getting the express passes and being so close.

So at the time I posted it wasn’t available so it wasn’t an option, but I kept stalking and I was eventually able to get us 3 nights at Coronado, the plans for this 5 day trip have changed so many times I think I’m finally set.

Seems hotel availability has opened up more in the last 2 weeks.

 

[jods]

So at the time I posted it wasn’t available so it wasn’t an option, but I kept stalking and I was eventually able to get us 3 nights at Coronado, the plans for this 5 day trip have changed so many times I think I’m finally set.

Seems hotel availability has opened up more in the last 2 weeks.

That's awesome! I changed my August trip a million times because what I wanted wasn't initially available. Where are you staying at UO? We stayed at Portofino and loved it.