Would you check out Disney Springs or Boardwalk?

[mlggirl]

My boyfriend and I are visiting Disney early September for a few days, staying in AoA. I have been to Disney many times and this is his first visit.
On our MNSSHP day I have Boma breakfast and Winter Summerland mini golf planned. We then have 2-3 hours of downtime before getting dressed for the party.
Should we visit Disney Springs due to size or Boardwalk due to Skyliner convenience? Or is there a better place to visit since we are both not huge shoppers? Will need a place for lunch or an early dinner too!

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

My boyfriend and I are visiting Disney early September for a few days, staying in AoA. I have been to Disney many times and this is his first visit.
On our MNSSHP day I have Boma breakfast and Winter Summerland mini golf planned. We then have 2-3 hours of downtime before getting dressed for the party.
Should we visit Disney Springs or Boardwalk? Or is there a better place to visit since we are both not huge shoppers? Will need a place for lunch or an early dinner too!

Definitely Disney Springs. There is more to see and more food choices. I'm not a big shopper either, but I just like the vibe, food choices and desserts!

 

[DL1WDW2]

That is a lot of activity Plan a little rest time.
You could go to BLTor Grand Floridian and relax w/appetizer &drink to walk to MK
Do not use any Disney transport! Unless you like long lines and probably arriving late for holiday party!

 

[sparrow10_]

1st time = Disney Springs
Seasoned = Boardwalk

 

[SteveH]

Disney Springs hands down. IMHO Boardwalk has sort of lost the vibe it once had.

 

[MemoryMakers]

Agree with others about going to Disney Springs...and, depending on the weather, maybe try to find a place to eat outside (Boathouse, Jaleo, and Summer House are a couple of our favorites to do that).

 

[DL1WDW2]

Warning You should Walk to MK for any Halloween event!
I live really close to WDW and friend is Disney Bus Driver
Walk please … plus the lines start forming for very popular Halloween Characters photos , etc .
If Jack & Sally is on your list Enter early ,
Disney will have castmembers inside park if you have parkhoppers to scan ticket
Otherwise you will have long line beginning before Hallloween party official entry!
Is this your first time?

 

[LoveDaisy]

DS. There will be little to do on the boardwalk during the day. There is the screen door gift shop, the dell, and pizza window will be open during the day. The entertainment is not until the evening. The cake shop is not open, the corn dog stand is not open and Big River Grill is closed with no plans for what will take its place. Abracadabrabar opens at 4 and flying fish and Trattoria open at 5.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Agree w/ all of PP - I love the Boardwalk but wouldn't make a special trip to visit it in its current state...Disney Springs gets my vote.

 

[Dave006]

On our MNSSHP day I have Boma breakfast and Winter Summerland mini golf planned. We then have 2-3 hours of downtime before getting dressed for the party. Should we visit Disney Springs due to size or Boardwalk due to Skyliner convenience?

Neither. In early September it will be Hot Hot Hot and humid. If you are spending a few hours at Mini golf you will be ready for a shower and a rest period. Unfortunately the Boardwalk area is not hopping during the day. It is really a quick evening visit at best. Since you both are not big shoppers I would skip DS during the daytime in September and save a visit to DS for an evening visit at another time.

Since you can enter MK at any time from 4 PM on focus on getting to the MK earlier rather than later. Since you are having a Boma Breakfast buffet I would plan on a light late lunch at one of the MK resorts.

Dave

 

[fla4fun]

Unless you are driving yourself, or taking a rideshare, to DS, 2-3 hours including travel time is not going to give you much time to explore DS. Count on a minimum of 30 minutes at the bus stop at either end.

I would recommend DS over BW during the day, but not for such a small amount of time. I would go back to your resort and rest or have a little pool time instead.

 

[mlggirl]

Awesome advice, thank you all so much!! We will skip on both Boardwalk and Disney Springs in favor of just geting our costumes on and going to a late lunch at one of the MK resorts beforehand and walking to the party.

 

[Dave006]

... going to a late lunch at one of the MK resorts beforehand and walking to the party.

You are only able to walk from the GF and the Contemporary(CR) to MK (from 3:45 - 6 PM) it will not be fun since there is very little to no shade. The path from the CR is the shortest but still hot.

I would suggest focusing on the Resort Monorail, (yes it can take 20 minutes or more) from any of the MK resorts for your first choice or a resort launch from the Poly or GF.

Dave

 

[mlggirl]

I would suggest focusing on the Resort Monorail, (yes it can take 20 minutes or more) from any of the MK resorts for your first choice or a resort launch from the Poly or GF.

Hmm good point, I am a bit worried about party traffic on Disney transportation. Will the monorails be better than the busses? Or are neither that bad

 

[fla4fun]

Hmm good point, I am a bit worried about party traffic on Disney transportation. Will the monorails be better than the busses? Or are neither that bad

Some of it depends on what time you are going to the park. If you plan to be there as soon as they start allowing party guests in the park, they will both be busy. We stayed at Riviera last year and our bus was almost empty going to the party (only five people total, including our party of three), but we left the resort around 5:00 pm, so after the initial rush and before the people who planned to arrive just as the actual party starts.