Which WDW hotel should I choose and other questions?

[sleepingbeautymama]

Hi, we are trying to plan a trip to WDW this September. I am trying to decide on what the best hotel would be for me to stay. I suffer from nerve pain so sitting is very painful and then when it flairs it hurts to stand and walk. I am looking to stay somewhere that has the easiest access and quickest transportation to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Those parks are the two we definitely want to see and we'll see the others if we have time and depending on how I feel. I was thinking the Polynesian??? Would this be the best option? Any buildings in particular there that would be best also?
One other question, I have special cushion I use to sit on. Will they let me take this cushion on the rides? If not, I may have to completely decide not to even go to WDW because I really can't sit without it.
Thanks for your help.

 

[travelitis]

Any of the monorail resorts would be good.

Many of the rides will allow the cushion, but there might be some that they don't want you to for safety reasons. For instance, I can't imagine them not allowing it on Peter Pan's Flight, Soarin, or the Great Movie Ride. I can see them not wanting it on roller coasters. You might want to ask at Guest Relations. My son has used a pad for rides like the Haunted Mansion on occassion, but we've never tried it for wilder rides. You could ask at Guest Relations and see if you could get or would even need a GAC for it. I don't think a GAC would allow you to take it on rides like Rockin Roller Coaster, but I may be wrong.

 

[Selket]

I think it is good to pick if you'd rather be closer to the MK or the AK as the two are far apart. The AKL is closest to the AK and a beautiful resort.

For the MK the CR is probably the closest. It is not too far a walk to the MK or I would think a wheelchair ride on the pathway from the CR to the MK. I don't know if you plan to use a wheelchair or ECV some of the time.

I don't know how others feel about it but I found the monorail resorts great (at least the CR) for getting to the MK but it seemed like a hike to Epcot. You have to change trains at the TTC which means getting off, going down a big ramp (or perhaps elevator? I don't know if they have one) and then back up another ramp (or elevator?) and waiting for another monorail. At least with the bus you didn't have to change busses. I'd rather just get on something once than have to change but that is me! (We do not have anyone in a wheelchair or with serious mobility issues either - fyi).

I did have the thought that if you stay at the Poly there is a building or two closer to the TTC that you might be able to walk to without getting on the MK loop. If you aren't interested in Epcot so much then perhaps decide on whether you'd rather be closer to the MK or AK. Or perhaps change hotels mid-stay from one to another.

Hope you can find out about the cushion before you go!

 

[sleepingbeautymama]

Thank you both for your replies. Now with talking to dh it sounds like we might need to find a less expensive resort. I looked at the moderates and I'm thinking CSR. I just wish there was something more reasonable around MK. Would the bus ride to MK be that long from CSR (including wait time and drive time)? Also wondered would it be easier for us just to take our own vehicle and drive to MK and park or is it better to just wait for a bus? In case anyone is interested, I did contact Disney about the cushion and I was told that I should be able to use it on most rides.

 

[scroot]

We use our cushion on just about everything. Never had a problem. While we prefer other types of transportation (monorail and boat) busses realy aren't that bad.

AK and MK are about as far apart on the map as you can get so a good stategy might be choosing a resort in the middle. Then you would get two medium bus rides instead of one short and one long.

On our last trip we stayed on the monorail line and found getting to mk and EPCOT not only easy but enjoyable. However the bus ride to AK and MGM did take a while.

 

[Selket]

We stayed at CSR last summer and it is a very nice resort. The bus service was excellent (we always caught the bus at the main stop near the front desk). We were there for a convention (the Children With Diabetes conference is held there every other summer) so we didn't do too many park days that trip.

The only possible negative for CSR is the long distance you could be from the restaurant/lobby area and/or the pool. We were closer to the lobby but about as far away as you can get from the main pool. I know there are golf cart like transportation going around the lake but we could almost never hitch a ride on one because it was full. We were there in July and it was hot hot hot outside too. Very few trees at this resort but the theming is beautiful.

If you want to minimize walking at your resort then POFQ is a good choice - it is rather compact. We also stayed at POR this past April and I was very surprised how much I liked it (especially the AB side) - nice and shady and beautiful landscaping.

If you still want to consider a deluxe take a look at the standard rooms at AKL and WL (WL is close to the MK - you can take a boat even). I've seen rooms at both resorts for only about $30 a night more than the mods - but the standard rooms book fast!

If you drive to the MK you have to park at the TTC and take the monorail so I don't think that would save you any wear and tear. We generally have taken busses to the MK and Epcot and drive sometimes to MGM and AK where the parking and trams seem more manageable.

 

[sleepingbeautymama]

The only possible negative for CSR is the long distance you could be from the restaurant/lobby area and/or the pool. We were closer to the lobby but about as far away as you can get from the main pool. I know there are golf cart like transportation going around the lake but we could almost never hitch a ride on one because it was full. We were there in July and it was hot hot hot outside too. Very few trees at this resort but the theming is beautiful.

If you still want to consider a deluxe take a look at the standard rooms at AKL and WL (WL is close to the MK - you can take a boat even). I've seen rooms at both resorts for only about $30 a night more than the mods - but the standard rooms book fast!

Thanks everyone for your replies. Considering the long distance we could potentially be from the pool or lobby area of CSR we decided to go with the WL. I just assumed the WL was as much as the Polynesian but looking into it , it was a little less so we decided to choose WL especially since we know most of our time will be at MK and our dinners are also around that area. The WL looks so gorgeous too. I thought if I wasn't feeling well, I'd still have a beautiful place to stay and enjoy.

 

[Selket]

WL is beautiful - haven't stayed there but we've had dinner in one of the restaurants. It does seem like a more compact resort than some of them. The AKL is the same price-wise but more spread out.

Have a great trip!