Which resort- we don't want to fold the stroller!!!

[crusin'minnie]

My wonderful DM is going to WDW with me and 3 DD's (11, 6, 9mos) in July.

I made reservations at AKL, but after our trip in May at CBR the stroller folding and unfolding on the bus was a pain. Also, if I take the older girls to BB one day, DM can't manage it alone if she wanted to go to Epcot with the baby. DM's favorite is Epcot. So really we're looking for the fewest steps from resort to Epcot and where we don't have to fold the stroller.

The Poly is out b/c DH wants to stay there next time and we don't want to spoil that. I was thinking CR. We would have to do the cheapest room. Can you tell me how far of a walk we would have to the Monorail?

What about the EPCOT resorts- would we have a shorter walk there than the CR & monorail?

Thanks,

 

[susy]

The Beach Club has the shortest walk to Epcot and also has boats to Epcot and MGM. I don't know about folding up the stroller for the boats.

 

[jel0511]

The shortest walk to Epcot is from the Beach Club. Depending on your room location, it's about a 10 minute walk. This is also the only way to ensure you won't have to fold the stroller. On the boats to/from Epcot/MGM, you do have to fold up the stroller. Taking the monorail from CR, you'd have a walk from one of the wings into the Tower, then walk to transfer at TTC, and then that HORRIBLE ramp once you get to Epcot. Now, it is not a guarantee that you can ride the monorail with your stroller not folded. If the monorail is crowded, you will be asked to fold the stroller.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

You do NOT have to fold your stroller on the Friendship boats that go to Epcot, YC/BC, BWI, S/D, and MGM. You also don't have to fold your stroller on the monorail or on the big ferry from the TTC.

You DO have to fold your stroller on all buses, the small boat from the GF/Poly to MK, the boat from OKW to DTD, and the boat from POR to DTD.

The only one I'm not sure about is the boat from WL and CR to MK. We haven't stayed at those resorts.

 

[skiwee1]

As many times we've rode the monorail we have never been asked to fold the stroller. And by the looks of it neither did the other 1000 people with them! LOL! Even when it is park closing and the line to the monorail goes all the way down the ramp they don't ask you to fold the stroller. A few weeks ago we were waiting for the monorail at Epcot and the wait was huge. I asked the CM if I needed to fold the stroller and he replied, "Of course not unless you would like to ride with the driver." Of course we took him up on it and got a ride in the front!

 

[jel0511]

TigrLvsPooh - I find your post most interesting. I was told EVERYTIME I told the Friendship boats last summer I needed to fold up my single stroller and store it in the rear of the boat for safety purposes. There were TONS of strollers back there, and even when the boat wasn't crowded I was asked to fold and stow my stroller. Now, regarding the monorail. I have been asked by CM's MANY times during crowded stops, to fold up my stroller to make room for more guests. So, maybe it's been your experience not to fold, but I've expereince having to fold my strollers MANY times so it does have to be done on occassion.

 

[AspiringCindy]

Nope! You don't have to fold your stroller on the boat from WL to MK! We've done it on numerous occasions.

 

[tjmw2727]

My vote would be an Epcot resort - you can walk or take the boat to both MGM and Epcot. This would be nice for DM while you are out with the other kids at BB as well as for catching dinner at WS, the fireworks or even Fantasmic at night. If baby falls asleep one adult can just walk to the resort and if the older kids are tired the other could take the boat with them. When leaving Fantasmic we always find it much quicker and much more enjoyable to walk and often get back to the resort before we would have if we had taken a boat.

While I have never been asked to fold the stroller on the Friendship boats, I was always asked to take dd out of the stroller while on the boat. DD sat on my lap while the stroller stayed in front or in the back of the boat, but at least I didn't have to fold/unfold! On the monorail you can usually keep the stroller open unless its really crowded or a really big or double stroller.

We love the Epcot resorts and generally manage it with as few bus trips as we can. You will have to fold the stroller for the bus to MK or AK but I imagine everyone will be there to assist on those trips. We take the bus to MK in the am but when we are done with MK we take the monorail to Epcot and enjoy some of that park as we walk through to the WS and exit to the resort. My girls are older now but this was a great way to do it with stroller and still is!!

Have fun deciding.
TJ

 

[dahess]

OK everyone! I will be the deciding factor on the folding of the stroller on the Friendship Boats. We leave in 8 days (YEAH!), using the baby swap stroller & staying at the Dolphin. I will post my reply when we return

Until then, I'm going to Disney, I'm going to Disney, I'm going to Disney, I'm going to Disney, I'm going to Disney, I'm going to Disney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[madge]

in the trips we have stayed at the S/D we have never been asked to fold the stroller--we park it in the front or back and put the brakes on. The people at the dock even help me get it on and off....hope this helps!

to answer the OP, I'd choose the S/D...but I am a little bit partial The Swan is smaller and easier to manage, but I don't think you can stay there with 5 people....

 

[CEDmom]

We were at WL earlier this month and used the boat to CR and MK quite a bit. The MK boat is much bigger and we were able to roll the stroller on/off without folding. Once at MK we went up the ramp to the monorail and went to TTC then Epcot w/o ever having to fold the stroller. The boat from WL to CR was small and the stroller needed to be folded for that. The WL is beautiful and more reasonably priced that the other deluxe. It also is a quick walk or boat ride to Fort Wilderness and all that has to offer.

 

[csmommy]

While I do NOT recommend the Swan, we Came back from 3 nights there on the 18th. Every time we took the boat, which we shared with BWV & BCV, we did not have to fold our stroller, no one did!

 

[palmtreegirl]

Since you stated that Epcot was a favorite I say go with either the Boardwalk in or the Yacht and Beach Club resort. They're all a short walk over to Epcot making it very convient with no worries about the stroller. Plus you can walk to MGM too if you want, which is nice, especially when the boats are crowded.

We just got back from the CR in March and I think that the Epcot resorts definitely provide a shorter commute to Epcot. Because there isn't a direct monorail to Epcot from the resort you have to switch to an Epcot monorail at the TTC.

If you want convience to Epcot then the BWI, YC or BC is definitely your best bet!

 

[DancingBear]

No disagreements with the other posters if being closest to Epcot is your biggest issue. Also remember that from the Epcot resorts you enter directly into World Showcase which, I'm guessing, might be desirable for your DM, rather than being up at the front of the park, as you would be from the monorail.

We stayed at CR with our 2yo DS in December, and it was GREAT to be able to walk to MK, but using the elevator to take the stroller to the monorail platform is a bit awkward, as you are coming up right into the middle of the queue. Wasn't a big problem with light early-December crowds, but I can see how it would be tougher for your DM.

We had both experiences re strollers on the Friendship boats--always had to take DS out, sometimes (light crowds) were able to not fold, sometimes asked to fold it. This would be a reason to stick with Beach Club or BWI rather than Swan/Dolphin.

 

[caitycaity]

we love the beach club. when we stayed there nov 2001 our room was about a 5 minute walk to the back entrance of epcot!

 

[crusin'minnie]

Thank you all so much for your posts!!!

I called CRO and YC & BC were sold out on AP rates for my dates. BW was $235/ night and CR was sold out of std rooms so Garden was $201/night.

I talked to DM and she wants to stay at AKL with the $124/night AP rate we have now. She says on the day DDs(11 & 6) and I go to BB, she and the baby will sleep in and rest at the resort. I really tried to convince her, but she and the girls all really want to try AKL.

Thank you all for the information. It will not go to waste! Since we have AP's our family is planning on going back to the world for Thanksgiving. This time DM will want to go to Epcot with my aunt 1 day so I will start looking into the resorts you have suggested.

Thanks

 

[kimmar067]

...your best bet would be Contemorary.