Value or Moderate? I can't decide!

[Winston112]

Would you stay at POP and rent a car or stay at WL and use Disney transportation? I'm on a budget, but I figure I could use the money saved by staying at POP on a rental car. If I pay the outrageous price for WL ($265/nt), I can't afford a rental and we would have to rely on Magical Express and the buses to the parks. I have always wanted to stay at WL and we've stayed at POP on our last 2 visits to WDW, 2/05 and 6/05. One night we had to wait in a very long bus line to return from MGM. It definitely put a damper on our wonderful night at Fantasmic.
Please Disney vets, what would you do?

 

[durango kid]

Stay at Wilderness! No car is needed. If you want to save a couple of extra bucks, stay at Port Orleans and skip the car!

 

[Winston112]

Thanks durango kid. Do the busses at WL run often? Are there usually long lines for the WL bus?

 

[katrina1122]

I stayed at WL a number of years ago. We were constantly waiting upwards of 30 mins to get a bus from the resort. I stayed at Pop in 2004 and never waited more than 15 mins for a bus to show up. I loved WL but I don't know that I'd do it again without a car.

 

[Luv2Roam]

WL!
With WL you have the option of boats or busses.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Would you stay at POP and rent a car or stay at WL and use Disney transportation? I'm on a budget, but I figure I could use the money saved by staying at POP on a rental car. If I pay the outrageous price for WL ($265/nt), I can't afford a rental and we would have to rely on Magical Express and the buses to the parks. I have always wanted to stay at WL and we've stayed at POP on our last 2 visits to WDW, 2/05 and 6/05. One night we had to wait in a very long bus line to return from MGM. It definitely put a damper on our wonderful night at Fantasmic.
Please Disney vets, what would you do?

That is a personal decision, but how much is the rental car usage worth to you? If you liked the POP, stay there and save if you want the rental. Remember that the buses to Wilderness Lodge can also fill when you are coming out of the Fantasmic show at MGM. And, we have had long lines to the buses to WL. It just depends on many factors which buses have wait lines. Have you figured out just how much the difference in savings would be between the POP and WL?

 

[lynn46356]

We stayed at Pop in February of this year. Never did we wait for a bus in the morning more than 5 minutes. It was great. I can honestly say the whole 6 days were great as far as bus transportation. Maybe one night after the fireworks at MK we had to wait 15 minutes for the bus but 3 came at the same time. This was our 5th visit to the mouse and we have never used our car. Many years ago, on a family trip to St. Louis, we got lost and my husband and I were arguing about being lost and we all were starving. The kids started crying and said we were going to get a divorce because we were arguing. We'll be married 23 years this November and any time we can have someone else drive us around while on vacation we take full advantage!!!!! Have fun planning!!!!

Lynn

 

[Doc CW]

POFQ is the best mod resort of all it has the best atmosphere and pool plus the food court rocks

 

[mrstomrice]

We stayed at Pop during Spring Break last year. We drove, so we had a choice of a car or transportation. We used the buses the majority of the time, with very little wait. I also enjoy the information the bus driver and others can give you on the ride. I personally don't think the extra cost of a rental is necessary. Have fun!

 

[Laxmom]

I stayed at WL a number of years ago. We were constantly waiting upwards of 30 mins to get a bus from the resort. I stayed at Pop in 2004 and never waited more than 15 mins for a bus to show up. I loved WL but I don't know that I'd do it again without a car.

We stayed there a few years ago and tried to use the boat transportation. Evidently, they start at the same point and WL was the last stop or close to it. We waited nearly 45 minutes for a boat with room on it for the 4 of us. Will never rely on Disney transportation again. We ended up driving the rest of the week. I agree - loved WL but not without a car.

 

[Troy08]

I stayed at WL a number of years ago. We were constantly waiting upwards of 30 mins to get a bus from the resort. I stayed at Pop in 2004 and never waited more than 15 mins for a bus to show up. I loved WL but I don't know that I'd do it again without a car.

>>I had just the opposite wait. Stayed at the WL in July 05 during the height of summer(mid-july). The buses were fantastic. Never waited more then 15 minutes and that was for a bus to DD(which always make you wait no matter which resort you stay in). The buses both to and from the park were wonderful as was the boat to the MK.

One of my fav memories from that trip was coming home from Epcot one night and driving up the street to the WL and seeing the fireworks explode right in front of us from the MK. If you can swing the WL financially, do it and leave the driving to Disney.