waldorf astoria

[kapoof]

anyone ever stay at the waldorf astoria resort? how close is it to the parks and how are the buses? thanks so much

 

[DCTooTall]

I haven't stayed at the Waldorf, but the Podcast did a review of the place a couple months ago so you can probably find their description and pictures elsewhere on the site.

as for location, It's in the Bonnet Creek area. The Hotel and Golf Course is pretty much next door to the Carribean Beach resort/ Pop Century. It's technically offsite since it's not Disney property, but because the area is bordered by Disney on 2 sides, and major highways on the other 2, You still have to go thru the gates to get there. Because of that, many people actually consider it as "on Site", even though you don't get access to the official onsite guest perks. (Like EMH)

 

[kapoof]

thank you!

 

[Frothy]

Took a look over Christmas when we were there and it's located close to Downtown Disney. Looks nice but expensive and we just prefer our vacation home.

 

[MtlFire]

I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria in January. I own DVC at Saratoga, but it was a last minute stay and no studios were available anywhere on site. A really beautiful hotel with great staff. Transportations to the parks is via a deluxe coach like the magical express. It runs about every hour, so you have to time your trips a little more than with Disney Transport.

No self park is available, Valet only. I didn't inquire if you could park at the Hilton self park and walk over.

I'm a diamond hhonors and since its in the Hilton family I was upgraded to a 1 bedroom king with a Disney view. We got a nice view of the fireworks at Epcot, and a large balcony overlooking the pool.

I hate to admit it, but the cash rate at the Waldorf is very much the same to what I was paying at Disney for rack rates in a deluxe hotel for a studio. If I was still paying rack rates, I'm pretty sure I'd be throwing my money at Hilton instead of Disney right now. Granted I've never stayed at the Grand Floridian, but the Waldorf more than gives Disney a run for their money in the deluxe category.

Mtlfire

 

[jtopicz1]

Both the Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria are in the Bonnet Creek Area, near the popular Wyndham Bonnet Creek, but in no way associated.

Their bus service is very nice and contracted through Mears Transportation. Only the Hilton and Waldorf share the bus. The bus schedule is available in the lobby, and depending on the season the buses run every 30 minutes to an hour. There is typically a different bus for different parks (ie. One buss for Magic Kingdom, a shared bus for AK/DS, etc). We found the bus service pretty good, although they did leave us stranded at DTD one night in 30 degree weather, but that was right after the resorts opened and there seemed to be a lot of issues still being worked out.

We have stayed at the Hilton BC, but not the Waldorf. The two hotels are both less than 2 years old and are actually connected via a connection / meeting center. All amenities are shared, in other words guests at either hotel have access to all the facilities at the other (pools, etc.).

My thoughts are that the Hilton is the more "fun" of the two. Good service, pool with lazy river / slide, more casual restaurants on that side. The Waldorf is more "sophisticated". Slightly nicer rooms (from what I have seen), slightly better service, and a more tranquil, adult-style pool. The price difference between the two can be significant.

You really can't go wrong with either.