Trying to pick a resort while also avoiding buses, when possible..

[paisleybell]

As the title says, I'm trying to pick a resort (and having trouble doing so...!) while also avoiding the buses as much as possible.
We are looking to go the last part of may/first part of june (7 nights) or the first full week of june (5 nights).
We would prefer to walk to the parks where possible, or take the monorail.
As I understand it, correct me if I am wrong, animal kingdom will be a car or bus park, no matter what. What about Hollywood studios?
My limit for a resort, not including ddp or tickets, would be about $1500.

It's a stretch, but we can swing a BLT studio (lake view, std no longer avail..) through a dvc rental.
It will be another week or two before I can book though, so, this may no longer be available by then.

Not sure where to stay if we do the 7 nights though or what our best options would be.
We could do an animal kingdom studio through dvc rental, but I don't like the idea of being so far away from everything we'd do most. We will have park hoppers and will visit each park at least once, but will likely spend the most time at magic kingdom. We also want to visit disney springs one of the days.

Is BLT/CR the only real way to walk to MK? Is the TTC lot pretty crowded?(if we happened to rent a car the whole stay..).

Please fill this newbie in! I have been to Disney once when I was a kid... and for one day 10 years ago. Never stayed onsite..
This might be my child's only chance to visit during childhood and I want to make it as awesome and as less stressful as possible without breaking the bank too much.. (I know, I know, that's what everyone wants, right?)

The biggest problem is, knowing my child and I, we may ending up skipping a lot and avoiding certain things if our only way around is by bus. >_<

Maybe it's better to stay at a low moderate resort and rent a car? How bad is dealing with parking? Especially if we switch parks mid day or take a break to our resort and go back out?

Thanks for any help!!

 

[vicki_c]

The only way to walk to MK is from the Contemporary or BLT. From the Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Clubs and SwN and Dolphin you can walk to Epcot or DHS.

All that said, unless you have a bus phobia or something, I wouldn't discount a resort where you need to use buses. Especially at your price point.

 

[Indio]

If you don't rent a car, you won't be able to avoid the buses and go to all parks. Bus or car is the only way to get to Animal Kingdom. CR is the only resort where you can walk to MK easily, but that is out of your price range unless you rent DVC points. You're probably going to have to stay moderate and rent a car to stay within your budget/bus parameters. It's easy to drive around Disney. There is very good signage and parking is not hard - plus you get free parking if you're staying at a Disney resort, so it won't be a problem to drive.

 

[Kimberle]

CR or BLT are the only resorts where you can walk to the MK. Deluxe and DVC.

Epcot walking distance resorts are BWI, BC, YC, Swan, and Dolphin. They also have boats to Epcot and HS. You can walk to HS from these resorts, but it's a long walk. All deluxe and DVC resorts.

There are no resorts within walking distance to AKL. Bus only for all resorts.

A resort budget of $1500 in early June is probably going to take you to a Value or perhaps a mod (if a good deal is available). Deals probably won't be announced for this time frame until Dec/Jan. IF they are announced.

Remember, WDW resorts is huge. About the size of San Francisco. If you don't want to take buses, you'd probably be better off staying at a Value and renting a car.

 

[paisleybell]

I am okay with renting DVC points, especially to get BLT, the only issue will be with availability two weeks from now.
So it sounds like BLT dvc will be the best bet for the shorter stay, if avail. Or a low-mod resort with a car rental for the longer stay.

Thanks for the help!
Any ideas on the best way to go over car routes ahead of time? Google maps?
Is google maps navigation pretty accurate for when we are there?

 

[havoc315]

It's rather simple:
Magic Kingdom resorts (except Wilderness Lodge) = Monorail to Magic Kingdom. Monorail to different monorail to Epcot. Bus elsewhere.

EPCOT resorts -- Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin -- bus to Magic Kingdom, but can walk to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. (Beach Club is a very very short walk to Epcot, long walk to DHS. Swan/Dolphin are about a 10 minute walk to each).

 

[Brenda Kim]

Yes I have used google maps and my garmin GPS and both have provided straight to the front gate of each of the parks. Parking in no problem and super easy. WDW is HUGE and looking at it before you go from google maps will give you a picture of what you will be driving. But once you get the hang of where everything is it is super easy, with just a few main roads to navigate. I have stayed on site with a car at the Coronado and Caribbean Beach Resort, both GPS lead me straight to and then to the parks, I did not even preprogram in my GPS once your in Orlando all of WDW comes up under Attractions in the garmin menu.

 

[paisleybell]

Yes I have used google maps and my garmin GPS and both have provided straight to the front gate of each of the parks. Parking in no problem and super easy. WDW is HUGE and looking at it before you go from google maps will give you a picture of what you will be driving. But once you get the hang of where everything is it is super easy, with just a few main roads to navigate. I have stayed on site with a car at the Coronado and Caribbean Beach Resort, both GPS lead me straight to and then to the parks, I did not even preprogram in my GPS once your in Orlando all of WDW comes up under Attractions in the garmin menu.

Awesome! That makes me feel a lot better! Thank you

 

[NJ Goofy]

I'm not a big fan of the buses so I can feel your pain. I have rented a car on a few of our trips and, as the posts above note, getting around Disney is fairly easy if you stay on property. We are DVC members and always try to stay at a resort that we can get to 2 parks without the bus, such as Boardwalk (walk or boat to EPCOT & DS). If you stay at BLT you'll be able to walk to MK and monorail to EPCOT but it will be buses to AK & DS. My only issue with driving is the parking, no matter how early we get to the parks it always seems like we end up parking a mile from the gates. They don't seem to park front to back but more in rows from front to back !

 

[ahutton]

If you are looking at renting DVC points, consider renting at Boardwalk or Beach Club where you can walk into EPCOT and Studios. If you are really bus adverse, you can get to MK from there by walking through EPCOT to the monorail. Then you would only need to bus to Animal Kingdom. First part of June is Star Wars weekends, lots of fun stuff going on at the Studios then assuming they keep the dates the same.

 

[jesse8931]

7 nights in June is gonna be tough on that budget especially if it's on the rail.

 

[paisleybell]

7 nights in June is gonna be tough on that budget especially if it's on the rail.

Yes, if we do 7 nights instead of 5, a monorail, or even deluxe at all, will be off the table. We'd be looking at a moderate with renting a car.

 

[paisleybell]

If you are looking at renting DVC points, consider renting at Boardwalk or Beach Club where you can walk into EPCOT and Studios. If you are really bus adverse, you can get to MK from there by walking through EPCOT to the monorail. Then you would only need to bus to Animal Kingdom. First part of June is Star Wars weekends, lots of fun stuff going on at the Studios then assuming they keep the dates the same.

Beach club has never been a consideration thus far because the decor really wasn't my style. I see BCV are now being renovated though. I wonder if we would get a refurbished room by the time June rolls around.. hmmm

The thought of being able to walk/take monorail to three out of the 4 parks is awesome! And of course.. Star Wars.. Duh.

 

[sharadoc]

Beach club has never been a consideration thus far because the decor really wasn't my style. I see BCV are now being renovated though. I wonder if we would get a refurbished room by the time June rolls around.. hmmm

The thought of being able to walk/take monorail to three out of the 4 parks is awesome! And of course.. Star Wars.. Duh.

You'll need park hoppers to take monorail if you stay at BCV or BW, since you'll have to enter Epcot to get to the monorail.

Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness have a boat to MK, and a smaller boat to Contemporary so you could grab the Epcot monorail via a couple of transfers.

We drive everywhere, even MK, and we don't have a problem navigating the resort at all. Just follow signs and do what they tell you. Ask for a map at Bell Services of the resort, though. It will give you more direct routes to everywhere vs. following signs. The signs seem to want to take you to the biggest roads, not necessarily the quickest or shortest.

 

[paisleybell]

You'll need park hoppers to take monorail if you stay at BCV or BW, since you'll have to enter Epcot to get to the monorail.

Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness have a boat to MK, and a smaller boat to Contemporary so you could grab the Epcot monorail via a couple of transfers.

We drive everywhere, even MK, and we don't have a problem navigating the resort at all. Just follow signs and do what they tell you. Ask for a map at Bell Services of the resort, though. It will give you more direct routes to everywhere vs. following signs. The signs seem to want to take you to the biggest roads, not necessarily the quickest or shortest.

Yes, we will have 5-6 day park hopper tickets.

 

[Sue M]

Staying at the Epcot resorts you can walk or boat to 2 parks, and bus to MK and AK. They are less costly then the MK resorts.
I would always pick a longer stay at a moderate, then a short stay at deluxe. I don't mind wdw busses.
POR/POFQ are very centrally located. And I find their transportation good.
If you decide to rent a car, the only park I wouldn't drive to is MK. Have to park at TTC, wait for parking lot tram to take you to monorail or boat. It's faster to just take resort bus.

 

[ahutton]

I don't believe they expect Beach Club Villas done by next summer, but the Boardwalk renovation has cruised right along and we loved the room we had in June!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

I think it all depends on which park you plan to spend the most time at. If it's MK I say CR/BLT all the way. If EP/HS, I'd say one of the Epcot resorts hands down. We love the Epcot resorts! Easy walk to Epcot and short stroll or boat ride to HS. If you stay at an EP resort, you also can walk thru Epcot and take the monorail to MK.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

my hubby is not a big fan of buses either. We usually drive down from NJ to Disney, LOL, (I don't do planes). We usually stay at a Monorail resort bc our main parks is usually MK and Epcot bc my kids are young. Then each year we go (we are skipping next year) we alternate between DHS and Animal Kingdom. When we go to either of those parks My older son and me usually take the bus bc I don't mind them and my hubby takes the car, lol. We have races to see who gets there first, lol. When my youngest is older and can walk the parks (so we won't need the stroller) I am dying to stay at Beach Club. Its a beautiful resort and its within walking distance to a lot of different things. Its like a big community between beach club, board walk, yacht club, and swan and dolphin. Anyways If you could swing it I would go for BLT that way you have the monorail to epcot & MK plus you can walk to MK from there. Its not a bad walk either maybe about 10 minutes.

 

[minnie mum]

If you stay at BLT the only transportation advantage you have is the walk to MK. You will have to take 2 monorails or a bus to get to Epcot, and the bus to DHS and AK. Or rent a car.

If you stay at an Epcot area resort you can walk to Epcot and DHS but would have to bus to MK and AK. While it's possible with PHs to walk through Epcot and take the monorail to MK, this can only be done while Epcot is open. So you would arrive waaaaaaaay after RD at MK ( probably close to 10:00, which is a ridiculous waste of time) and would have to leave the MK early enough at night to reach Epcot before it closed, which means you would miss the evening parade and Wishes ( again, a waste of park time). Or rent a car.

Or you could stay at a mod resort and rent a car and drive to all the parks. This is still a PITA at MK, since you have to park, take the tram to the TTC, then line up and wait for either the monorail or ferry to take you to the MK. Reverse this to return to your resort. Double this procedure if you return to your resort for a mid day break. Hopping on a resort bus and being dropped at the MK gate is so much easier.

Considering you haven't been to WDW since you were a child, I don't understand this aversion to taking a bus. We've been going to WDW for 40 years, and always use Disney transportation while we're there. Our car stays parked at the resort for the duration.