Which resort, single person, best transportation

[skellinton]

So, WDW and I are both turning 50 and are going to be celebrating together next December (2022). A little late for both of us, but I want to go for the holidays and can't do it this year.
In any event other family will be going with me but they are staying at one of the beachy hotels where you can walk to EPCOT. Those are out of my budget, but I would like to stay somewhere a bit nicer then the POP.
It is just me in the room and although I don't envision spending a lot of time in the room I do like one that feels Disney (so not the Coronado which seems very corporate to me). I am mostly concerned with transportation as I go early and stay late, so I want to maximize my sleeping time by not having to waste a ton of time on transportation. I am not willing to pay for an Uber or whatever people do every day, so I am relying on Disney's free service.
I am going to book this week which I know is early, but it will make it seem real to me and keep me honest about the cost so I know what I am in for!
Which hotel would you all pick. I have only stayed at the Pop and CBR prior to this. CBR was just ok to me, definitely not worth the cost upgrade but that was about 8 years ago. I believe they have renovated since then?
TIA

 

[Best Aunt]

Whatever you price out, you might want to then compare the cost to Swan/Dolphin with AAA discount. Swan/Dolphin are near the beachy hotels but generally are cheaper.

If you want hotels cheaper than deluxe (the beachy ones), and you have ruled some out already, I think your options are:
- All Star Movies
- All Star Music
- All Star Sports
- Art of Animation
- Port Orleans Riverside
- Port Orleans French Quarter

I think you are going to find that fewer and fewer rooms have a Disney feel. It seems like every time they renovate a hotel, they remove the Disney touches.

 

[mousehouse23]

Normally, I'd recommend CBR for the Skyliner access to Epcot and HS. It has undergone recent renovations, but it's still a massive resort, so bus transportation to MK and AK can take a while. And, of course, the Skyliner can go down at times (though there probably aren't too many thunderstorms in December).

I love Port Orleans French Quarter. It's the smallest Disney resort, so it's easy to get around, and it only has the one bus stop. Bus transportation is extremely reliable there. There's also the water taxi service to Disney Springs. The rooms are no great shakes, but they have a really good QS location, with the famed beignets they're known for. It's just a nice, quiet resort that feels like a peaceful respite from the busyness of the parks.

The one weak spot for POFQ is that Disney doesn't offer discounts there as often as at Riverside, because there are fewer rooms they have to fill.

 

[Sue M]

CBR for skyliner. It will be easy to go meet up with your family in Epcot resort. Room location is important so look at map and put in a room location where you’d like to be.
You‘ll only have to bus to MK and AK.

 

[loves to dive]

I wouldn't pick a resort based on buses. The buses are the buses are the buses and you are going to get good service and bad service at every single resort, no matter what the level. If you don't want to go deluxe, you are going to have to either rely on the buses or the sky liner. I've tried the sky liner once just on a lark and it took me longer to go from HS to Epcot that to either walk or take a boat.

If you are going to spend a lot of time at HS and Epcot, look into Swan/Dolphin, they can be priced out about the same as a moderate and are within walking distance to both those parks.

PoR, CB and CS both are big and have internal buses, you can try to get a room closer to the front and not have to take the whole loop but that is not guaranteed. I've stayed at all three and frankly don't find the walk from the back to the front that bad but I'm in the minority. FQ only has one bus but does share with POR every once in awhile. It's the only moderate I have not stayed in because I'm not a fan of the way the outside of the buildings look, too much like a motel for me, again I'm in the minority. I've stayed in all the value resorts except AoA (I'm not paying that much for a value) and even from the furthest room I don't find the walk horrible. Sometimes, the All Stars will share a bus but not very often. The only way to sort of avoid the buses is to stay at a monorail resort and then you are still going to bus to HS and AK and are stuck with the monorail to Epcot whether you want to ride it or not (I go to MK and take the bus). WL is going to give you a boat to MK but you are going to bus everywhere else. Epcot resorts are going to give you boats or walking to HS and Epcot. CB and Pop are going to give you sky liner to Epcot and HS but it's not always the best choice. You are going to bus everywhere from AKL.

I use Disney transportation all the time when I'm there and I have a car with me. I don't find the buses that bad but I'm never really in a hurry to get from point A to point B.

 

[Marthasor]

So, WDW and I are both turning 50 and are going to be celebrating together next December (2022). A little late for both of us, but I want to go for the holidays and can't do it this year.
In any event other family will be going with me but they are staying at one of the beachy hotels where you can walk to EPCOT. Those are out of my budget, but I would like to stay somewhere a bit nicer then the POP.
It is just me in the room and although I don't envision spending a lot of time in the room I do like one that feels Disney (so not the Coronado which seems very corporate to me). I am mostly concerned with transportation as I go early and stay late, so I want to maximize my sleeping time by not having to waste a ton of time on transportation. I am not willing to pay for an Uber or whatever people do every day, so I am relying on Disney's free service.
I am going to book this week which I know is early, but it will make it seem real to me and keep me honest about the cost so I know what I am in for!
Which hotel would you all pick. I have only stayed at the Pop and CBR prior to this. CBR was just ok to me, definitely not worth the cost upgrade but that was about 8 years ago. I believe they have renovated since then?
TIA

If you want something nicer than POP, that's a mod. If you want a mod with better transportation, that's CBR. If CBR was "just ok", as PP noted, price out Swan/Dolphin. It's not going to "feel Disney", but it's definitely an upgrade from POP and gives you walking access to both DHS and EP plus Skyliner and boat to DHS. POR and POFQ are lovely, but that is 100% buses to the parks.

 

[The13thLetter]

I would say Swan/Dolphin if the pricing works out (which sometimes it can be same or even less than a mod), but if not, POFQ is my suggestion. i just love the feel of that place and all it has to offer.

 

[daae3]

sounds like a fun trip...if you want to be budget conscious but some amenities that won’t break the bank, a moderate like POFQ, POR or Carribean. CBR is running a little more expensive because of skyliner access so I would price out and see what is in budget. POFQ is my fave because of size, but I have stayed at POR and it is very nice. If you decide you want skyliner access but still budget, POP or AOA. Swolphin has lots of fans and would put you in same area as your travel party. It is supposed to be like a deluxe without deluxe prices. Every time I have priced it, it still seems a bit more than I want to pay, but worth checking your dates just to see..

 

[supersnoop]

family will be going with me but they are staying at one of the beachy hotels where you can walk to EPCOT. Those are out of my budget,

You might try renting DVC points for a stay at the Boardwalk. That might actually fit into your budget.

 

[auntlynne]

50th birthday and anniversary. Polynesian if only for one night. That and the Contemporary are what I think of for old-school WDW.

I have one night booked at Animal Kingdom Lodge in September; caught one of their summer discounts. It’s cheaper than what was available at Art if Animation.

The rest of the trip could be somewhere economical.

The idea of renting DVC points sounds great.

Port Orleans looks nice - and Disney-esque.

 

[Nabas]

With Disney's Magical Express ending and the recent announcement confirming they will have access to evening hours, I suggest the Swan or Dolphin. Usually, you can get a AAA rate that's about the price of a Disney Moderate Resort. This puts you close to theme parks.

Both are excellent hotels. I give a slight edge to the Swan.

Disney Hotels - Official site for Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin (swandolphin.com)

 

[Best Aunt]

OP said they want to book this week, and it's too early to rent DVC points for December 2022. You can't do that until 11 months out, so January 2022. However, OP could make a reservation at the hotel of their choice this week, and try to rent points at a later date (cancelling the hotel resie if renting points works out). Since December is a popular time of year, OP would want to have a request in before the 11 month mark so that the DVC owner could try to book at 11 months out.