Transportation from SSR, BWV?

[DizKarAzy]

Can anyone tell me about the transportation to MK and Epcot from these 2 resorts? Bus only? Boat and bus? Which has a better location for toting young kids to the park.

Also, can anyone tell me if DTD is interesting for little kids? The last time I was in WDW, DTD didnt exist!!

 

[BriarRosie]

SSR has only busses to the parks. BWV has busses to the MK and AK and
you can either walk (much faster) or take the Friendship boat to Epcot.
The walk to Disney-MGM via the walkway is a long haul, so most people
prefer the boat.

I don't have kids, but I can tell you the kids I saw LOVED the Lego area,
as well as Once Upon a Toy and Goofy's Candy Company.
Those are all at the Marketplace part of DTD.

Pleasure Island is mostly comprised of the nightclubs, so you walk through
there to get to the West Side. I don't think there's anything kids love
over there except DisneyQuest, which requires admission...plus many hours
to devote there.

 

[mama03]

Bwv, need only to walk to Epcot, long walk or boat to MGM, Bus to Mk.

SSR, bus only to all locations.

Now remember you can be creative and bus to a disney hotel and take a boat or the monorail to park.

I have not done this but I think you can catch a monorail from epcot.

 

[DizKarAzy]

Thanks BriarRosie and Mama.. Great info!

Also, would you classify the BWV as very noisy? I see that it directly sits on the BW and I would think this would not be very peaceful at night? Am I wrong?

 

[byoung]

Thanks BriarRosie and Mama.. Great info!

Also, would you classify the BWV as very noisy? I see that it directly sits on the BW and I would think this would not be very peaceful at night? Am I wrong?

Not noisy, fun.

 

[Desnik]

We have had a room right over the BW twice and once you close those balcony doors you can't hear a thing. Oh, except for that bell that rings for one of those carnival games. All of those are closed by 11pm anyway.
We love the BW and SSR and have small kids. But, if you want to be closer to the parks, I'd go with the BW. Also if you stay at the BW and don't get a BW view, you won't have to worry about any noise from the BW area things.

 

[aprince&princess]

We just came back from a stay at the Boardwalk. We walked in and out of Epcot, which was pretty quick. We also walked to MGM in the morning. The walk was a little longer, but we figured we walk all over the park anyway. When we took the boat back to the boardwalk from MGM, the ride was quicker than walking, but we spent more time since we had to stand in line and wait for a boat.

Also the boat from MGM and the buses from MK & Ak are for Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin resorts. (AK included Beach & Yacht too). Saratoga buses are only for Saratoga, although there are a whole bunch of stops within the resort. (DVC tour person told us there are 8 stops there)

 

[starbox]

I think that SSR would be a better location with very young kids. The bus transportation is efficient and direct (no sharing the bus with other resorts). The pool at SSR is better for toddlers/preschoolers because it is zero-depth entry, has a tiny little toddler slide, and has a nice water-play area. SSR also has a very cute playground that is themed to look like a dollhouse.

BWV is awseome for elementary age kids or older - but the pool with the giant clown face might scare a toddler/preschooler and I don;t know that Jellyrolls, ESPN, and the Atlantic Dance Hall will be very attractive to the diaper-wearing crowd. The easy access to EPCOT is nice - but with very young ones, I'm guessing you'll be at MK most of the time (with some MGM for Playhouse Disney).

DTD is a short stroller ride away and there is lots for small kids to enjoy: Lego Land, the Rainforest Cafe, World of Disney has a Pirate shop and a Princess shop now, Goofy's candy, etc. It's a nice place to walk to wind down. SSR also has numerous quiet trails and paths, which is how we always got our kids to sleep when they were babies (ah, the stroller ride).

SSR is very quiet and relaxing - a good place to unwind with very small children who need occasional breaks from the hyper-stimulation. I'd stay at SSR for this trip and save the heavy themeing of BWV for a few years, till the kids could really enjoy it.

 

[Starr W.]

We just came back from a stay at the Boardwalk. We walked in and out of Epcot, which was pretty quick. We also walked to MGM in the morning. The walk was a little longer, but we figured we walk all over the park anyway. When we took the boat back to the boardwalk from MGM, the ride was quicker than walking, but we spent more time since we had to stand in line and wait for a boat.

Also the boat from MGM and the buses from MK & Ak are for Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin resorts. (AK included Beach & Yacht too). Saratoga buses are only for Saratoga, although there are a whole bunch of stops within the resort. (DVC tour person told us there are 8 stops there)

Just got back from SSR and there are only 4 stops at the moment(we were at Congress Park inbound 3rd stop,outbound only 1 stop more than you're on the road) will be to 5 when the Grandstand opens. It may feel longer if you're on a bus that has to unload scooters.


I liked the rather subdued theme, pools looked nice, too cold to go in. Couple of nice playgrounds(great for my social DS5). DH loved the gym. Nice walk to DTD(Everyone loved the House of Blues).

 

[tjkraz]

If you are bringing your own stroller, you may appreciate the ability to walk to Epcot and MGM. But do realize that it is a LOT of extra walking. To get from your BW guest room to either Epcot or MGM is a solid 15-20 minutes on your feet pushing the stroller (including a couple of trips uphill.) And that travel time is one-way. If your family is the type to take a mid-day break between park trips, staying at the BW will easily add 60+ minutes of walking on days that you visit those two theme parks.

Contrast that with the 1-2 minutes it takes to walk to a SSR bus stop and the bus transportation can often be a lot more relaxing. It may take you a few more minutes to make it to the park, but at least you are sitting on your rear the whole time.

If you will instead be renting a stroller at the parks, forget BW. You will go insane trying to prod the family along every time you visit EP or MGM. Rental strollers can only be used within the theme parks, and they will never cooperate during that walk (at least not consistently.)