Why complain or be concerned about a resort that's too spread out

[Boopuff]

I was reading a question someone had about how spread out some resorts are. I was thinking about that. When you really think about the size of many WDW resorts, they are all spread out. Especially if you're in one of the really remote buildings. I stayed at Poly a few years ago, and we were in Pago Pago. I felt that room wasn't near anything! Staying at one of the lowly SSR/OKW people say those are too spread out, but in reality, it depends upon your room. and attitude! I just watched a video a vlogger did of VGF and they were in a really far building from the main guest house. I guess my point is that all the resorts are 'spread out" to a degree.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

The towers like Bay Lake Tower and Riviera however are not. So yes to many, no to all.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I recently did a stay at AKL (Kidani) and my room couldn't have been further from the lobby - as in it was at the very end of the hallway. It was a HIKE to the lobby and back. Everyone in my group were young adults but it wasn't fun to have to walk that distance every time we left our room especially after a long, hot day in the parks. I can only imagine how it's like for people with mobility issues and families with small kids. The resort is gorgeous but the size is one of my main complaints about it. I'm sure many others feel the same since that is the most common complaint I see about AKL and similar resorts such as Boardwalk, Saratoga and OKW.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I really don’t like all the bus stops either.

 

[MamaBelle4]

I see about AKL and similar resorts such as Boardwalk, Saratoga and OKW.

AKL and Saratoga are so different in my opinion. The number of bus stops at SSR means you're never really that far away and the out door entrances mean that you don't have to walk down these ridiculously long hallways that every sound echoes and reverberates.

 

[Smugpugmug]

AKL and Saratoga are so different in my opinion. The number of bus stops at SSR means you're never really that far away and the out door entrances mean that you don't have to walk down these ridiculously long hallways that every sound echoes and reverberates.

Yeah I get that. I've never stayed at Saratoga because I don't like the theming and size, but I've done the walk from Grandstand to Disney Springs and that is a fairly long walk in direct sunlight. I also agree with the previous poster about not loving the amount of bus stops resorts like Saratoga and OKW have. At least AKL only has 1.

 

[a1tinkfans]

POR is another one.. choose Preferred otherwise it can be a long walk … to use that mug u bought, lol.

 

[Boopuff]

The thing with multiple bus stops: at least you don't have a long walk to the main bus stop!

 

[sethschroeder]

they are all spread out

Umm no they are not....

Riviera is all compact (and amazing)

Staying at one of the lowly SSR/OKW people say those are too spread out, but in reality, it depends upon your room. and attitude!

Attitude has nothing to do with it when you are needing to wait on a bus that then makes 2/3/4 stops at other stops inside of the resort itself. Then on top of that you have to bus everywhere unlike any of the resorts that are closer to parks with other transportation options.

I just watched a video a vlogger did of VGF and they were in a really far building from the main guest house

Not really

VGF to the main building 532 feet under a covered walkway.

That is basically the distance from (518 feet) from building 23 at OKW to the main building. Building 23 is the first one over the bridge (so one of the closer buildings).

Heck AKV from one wing of Kidani to the main lobby is 1242 feet.

So I think you need to spend more time on your next WDW vacation visiting the resorts and seeing them. Might be better though for your pocketbook to think location and being spread out does not matter though.

Heck that hike at Kidani gets you from VGF to Poly basically. So essentially two resorts at your disposal.

 

[erionm]

I also agree with the previous poster about not loving the amount of bus stops resorts like Saratoga and OKW have. At least AKL only has 1.

AKL/AKV has two bus stops, Jambo House & Kidani Village. Order of stops depends on the final destination of the bus. Buses headed to a theme park pickup at Kidani Village first. Buses headed to Disney Springs pick up at Jambo House first.

 

[Smugpugmug]

AKL/AKV has two bus stops, Jambo House & Kidani Village. Order of stops depends on the final destination of the bus. Buses headed to a theme park pickup at Kidani Village first. Buses headed to Disney Springs pick up at Jambo House first.

Right. I said one because once you get on at Kidani, you hop on over to Jambo and then you're on your way but you're correct. I still prefer that over the 4-5 stops that Saratoga and OKW have.

 

[Her Dotness]

I stayed at Poly a few years ago, and we were in Pago Pago. I felt that room wasn't near anything!

Gotta differ with your "felt that room wasn't near anything."

Pago Pago is barely a 10-minute walk to/from the TTC. Can't say that of any other.

Even if the resort loop monorail is at the station when you get on, you're not going to get to the Poly as fast as you can walk from the TTC to Pago Pago. Admittedly, if your aim is the GCH, the monorail might get you there faster.

 

[AvidDisReader]

I recently did a stay at AKL (Kidani) and my room couldn't have been further from the lobby - as in it was at the very end of the hallway. It was a HIKE to the lobby and back. Everyone in my group were young adults but it wasn't fun to have to walk that distance every time we left our room especially after a long, hot day in the parks. I can only imagine how it's like for people with mobility issues and families with small kids. The resort is gorgeous but the size is one of my main complaints about it. I'm sure many others feel the same since that is the most common complaint I see about AKL and similar resorts such as Boardwalk, Saratoga and OKW.

The resort at Kidani is one of my favorites, but the walk can be quite long to the lobby. Like some I used to complain, until it hit me that it was the price I was paying for having such large rooms - especially the 2 bedroom suites. Now, I just accept the walk and enjoy the comfy rooms.

 

[Smugpugmug]

The resort at Kidani is one of my favorites, but the walk can be quite long to the lobby. Like some I used to complain, until it hit me that it was the price I was paying for having such large rooms - especially the 2 bedroom suites. Now, I just accept the walk and enjoy the comfy rooms.

I was in a deluxe studio and with three adults with a bit of luggage, we did not have a ton of room. The long walk to the lobby was probably my biggest complaint along with the busses. Everything about the resort is excellent - we had a savannah view so that helped alleviate my annoyance with the hike from one end of the resort to the other. If I did not have a savannah view I would absolutely not stay at AKL but I know others feel differently.

 

[BillPA]

So you go to EPCOT, walk around Future World, then head over to World SHowcase. you put on 2 1/2 -3 miles. Get on the bus back to your resort and that 1200 foot walk is too much? By the time you get to that last unit, you have walked past 90% of the units. Do you plan on always being at the farest room?

 

[TraderStitch]

This is exactly why we are buying Riviera in about a week when we head down. Everything is close by without a long walk to get to your room.

 

[lovin'fl]

Well, when you spend the day at F&W and then have to huff it down a long long hallway you may have...um...trouble making it to the bathroom. Guess it's best to try and potty in lobby restrooms before the trek to the room. Anyway, some locations are way better than others. Like BWV being near elevator. And AKV Kidani being near lobby. SSR being in Congress Park. Just to name a few.

 

[dez1978]

POR is another one.. choose Preferred otherwise it can be a long walk … to use that mug u bought, lol.

Yeah... I know some people love that resort, but it's a never again for me...

 

[Brian Noble]

There is no argument that some are much more spread out than others. But the question is whether or not that matters to you, and if so how much.

We normally have a car and drive everywhere not named MK. So for us, having multiple bus stops doesn't really matter all that much. For those days when we are making multiple stops, it adds what, 10 minutes to our day, round-trip? Maybe 15? I mean, sure that matters, but even at my hourly consulting rate it doesn't matter that much.

The other place where it can matter is getting to resort services. At SSR, the longest you can possibly walk from a building to the entrance of Artist's Palette is a half mile (per google maps from either the back corner of Carousel or Congress Park). OKW is a little worse but not much at 0.6 miles from the far corner of South Point. This is a bigger deal if anyone in your party has mobility limitations. But, we aren't in that position (yet). It's less pleasant in the rain, but so are the theme parks. If it's really bad, we just hunker down in the villa until it passes, continuing our semi-permanent game of Hearts. That's what the deck of cards in the Owner's Locker is for.

Some people hate having to walk more than they have to while at WDW with a white hot passion. If you are one of those people, you really don't want to stay at OKW or SSR. If you have anyone in your party with limited mobility, that's another reason to think hard about it.

But I happen to like having my resort be a respite from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks, and the quieter the better. I'm willing to trade that for a little extra time getting to wherever. That elevates places like SSR and OKW higher on my personal list than it might be for most others. The fact that they cost less points and tend to be available at 7 months is just a bonus. Likewise, BLT is a little lower on my list than it is for many others.

 

[TraderStitch]

Riviera is definitely a nice rest from the hustle and bustle. Hanging out in the court yard during the day or by the pool, it feels like a world away from the rest of things, however just a quick 10 minutes from Epcot. VGF and Poly pools can feel like pure chaos sometimes.