We will be using WDW transportation for the 1st time, input needed

[Disneyhenry]

Hello everyone, we will be going to WDW after our cruise for 3 nights and going to MK, HS and Epcot, it will be myself DH and our DS age 7. I have decided to just use their transportation instead of renting a car like we normally do, so what is really important to be is resort that offers the best way to get to the parks. I have considered BC, Poly, CR and maybe even CS or WL, I was wonder what resort you think has great transportation? I prefer Deluxe but my sister is also going and really wants to stay at PoP, the full size beds really don't work for us, I would maybe be ok with AoA family suite, but IDK much about AoA. A compromise and stay at a MOD maybe what we need to do, just looking for others input, I stayed at CS in Feb and loved it but we had a car at the time.
Oddly my sis makes 3 times the amount of money they we do, but when we go on vacation, that is where we spend money - we just have differences on what is important, thats all, to her, her cars, clothing etc is where she spends money. So really money isn't the issue but finding a resort that we both will love is what we need to do, so I turn to DIS and get some ideas
Thanks Everyone

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

If you dont mind walking, BC or BWI are guaranteed walks no wait to epcot and dhs. Poly and Contemporary have convenient transport too, if the monorail is actually running. When we stayed Poly in 2011, I was a bit put out when the Monorail to Epcot was down one morning and we had to take a bus. That said, we're returning to a monorail resort in January, so it certainly wasn't a deal breaker. I disliked having to take busses everywhere when we stayed at CSR, but the install of the wait times boards for busses and or if I couldn't afford or didn't want to afford the deluxe, I'd stay moderate again.

 

[trishadono]

I have stayed at almost all the resorts with 50+ stays in 20 years. . Really for transportation there is no guarantees. If you try to go for rope drop, or leave after a parade or fireworks, it will be busy.


Sometimes it is just luck! However if we get to choose we like the monorail resorts the best. Cr/blt are nice because of the walk ability.

I have a aoa trip scheduled because it does have a queen for me but my dh isn't going. He is outgrown the values. However the values are fun for kids. For the mods I enjoyed them all with similar transportation results.

Lastly wl has a close price to mods and quick transition. We were surprised there were both boats and busses to mk.
The bus to mk ran very often since the distance is so short.

I have a sill like that too! For us my money goes for Disney!!

 

[Disneyhenry]

I have a sill like that too! For us my money goes for Disney!!

LOL I think that is why I have a job, so that we can go to Disney too

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

I stayed at the CS resort and it's all buses but it was great! You just have to come prepared knowing it will take a little longer than the monorail.

 

[houseful of boys]

We just got back from the YC and had the best transportation experience we've ever had. Walk/boat to Epcot and DHS and the boat dock is closer to YC than BC and buses are shared by YC and BC but YC gets picked up first so there were always seats. We had not one complaint about our transportation.

 

[BobC]

My resort of choice is the WL

Boat transportation to MK and to CR for monorail to EPCOT or MK

 

[Sue M]

For good transportation to both MK & Epcot, IMO Poly has the best options with boat or monorail to MK, and you can walk to the TTC for Epcot monorail. And bus to dhs.

BC/YC is walking distance to Epcot and a 15 min walk to DHS or boat. Bus to MK.

As for your sister, if she wants to stay at a value, she can. Do you all have to stay at the same resort? Sometimes we vacation with a friend, who stays at Pop. With planning and cell phones it's super easy to meet up at a park.
I would gently explain to her double beds are not an option for you.
Perhaps a compromise with a moderate if staying at different resorts isn't an option. POR Riverside and POFQ are pretty centrally located but don't have the same transportation perks.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think transpotation is important but there can always be glitches, that you do not expect. The monorail has been acting up lately and that can be a mess.

If I was taking a family trip I would try to compromise my stay a bit. I love the Deluxe resorts but value is very subjective and has nothing to do with income level. WE tend to keep the DEluxe stays for when my DH joins us and stay moderate the rest of the time. Bus transportation is not bad, IMO. WE generally have felt inconvenienced.

If you all want to stay together, I would look at POFQ. I found the transportation to be pretty good there, and it has decent amenities. You can use the amenities at POR, and there is a boat to DTD, which is one of my favorite trips to take in the evening. It is really pretty. It is more than a value, but way less than a Deluxe.

 

[havoc315]

We are also doing 3 nights after a cruise and staying at Beach Club.

It's largely a question of where you want to spend your late nights, as it helps if you can get back to the hotel easily while the crowds line up for buses.

Among your list:
Contemporary: Walk or monorail to/from Magic Kingdom. Bus to DHS. And for Epcot, monorail to TTC, then switch to Epcot monorail.

Poly: Monorail to MK. Can walk to Epcot monorail. Bus to DHS.

Beach Club-- bus to Magic Kingdom. Walk to Epcot (3-6 minutes), or boat to Epcot. Boat to DHS (20-30 minutes) or walk to DHS (about 20 minutes).

So -- Contemporary -- great MK access. Fair Epcot access. Bus DHS access.

Poly-- very good MK access. Good Epcot access. Bus DHS access.

Beach Club-- great Epcot access. Very good DHS access. Bus Magic Kingdom access.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think Pop and AofA have the best bus service to any park. The resorts are large so buses are plentiful. If your sister wants to stay at Pop, then you staying in a suite at AofA is a good compromise.

 

[kandb]

I would never stay at Pop, especially with full size beds. Maybe just meet each other at the parks. You really don't have to stay at the same resort if you are both are not on the same page about it.

 

[loves to dive]

For what you pay at AoA you can stay at a Mod so if price is an issue, I'd do a Mod instead of AOA. You couldn't pay me to stay at POP. I've stayed there once and will never do it again. Yes the transportation was o.k. They do not share a bus unless it's busy then I think they share one with AoA but the bus stop is uncovered so you are exposed to the elements. On the other hand, there are lines for each park so there is no mad rush to get on the bus when it comes as there can be at resorts that have the covered bus stop but no line. It felt like a Motel 6 to me, the beds were hard and small, all outside hallways, noisy and my room had mold in the shower. I would go with BC, you can walk to Epcot, the boat to HS is about 20 min. but the walk is not bad, our boat driver last week told us the it was the same distance if you were to go in the gate at Epcot at FW and walk to WS so if you've done that, you know how easy it is. The bus to MK is pretty good and they come pretty often. BC is the second stop at YC and it can get crowded depending on what time of day you go. The monorail has been having issues lately and they have been working on it and taking it down so I wouldn't stay at any of the resorts that you had to depend upon it.

 

[CuseWazowski]

Our stay at AoA was great. Yes, you will bus everywhere, but we found the buses to be plentiful and timely in both directions during our stay there. Maybe we were lucky, but never waited more than 5-10 minutes for a bus. AoA also doesn't share buses with other resorts, so that saves time as well. The resort is very comfortable, the suites are really nice, and the theming is great. But the suite is more expensive than a mod, and you may not need the suite for a family of three. I can't speak to the transportation at the mods since we haven't stayed there yet. Have fun researching and planning!

 

[disneypanda11]

My vote was for BC, but you could choose YC or BWI for the same reason- you are able to walk/take a short boat ride to two of the three parks you plan to visit (HS, Epcot). In our experience, the fewer BUS trips necessary at any resort, the better!

 

[Abline7]

For best transportation to the Magic Kingdom/Epcot, your best options would be the Grand Floridian, the Contemporary, or the Polynesian Village Resort. All three of these have access to the monorail, which can take you to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot (For Epcot, you are required to change to a different monorail at the TTC in order to get to Epcot by monorail). Another good choice would be between the BoardWalk Inn and Villas, The Yacht and Beach Club, or the Swan and Dolphin, which all have access via water taxi to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot.