Universal (cheap) v Disney motels (Pop, Sports etc)

Bugsy

Bugsy

New Member
Original Poster
Is it better to stay at the Disney motels or the Universal hotels that are cheaper an offer indoor hallways? I'd like to ride the skyliner, but does it seem justified and double the price for a motel outdoor walk motel building. Is it just me? I don't think any Uni hotels make you do motel style? I think I'm leaning for Uni and the safety but is the skyliner worth it??
 
Tony the Tigger

Tony the Tigger

Well-Known Member
You can ride the skyliner anytime for multiple reasons, so I wouldn’t book a hotel based on that.

Curious what the issue is with indoor vs. outdoor hallways? I prefer it with my own private entrance from outside. Those indoor hallways usually get gross.

Will you have a car?
 
MickeyLuv'r

MickeyLuv'r

Well-Known Member
I'd say it depends a bit how you want to spend your time. Universal has 3 very new hotels that are very nice, and also inexpensive. I recently stayed at Endless Summer and the brand new Stella Nova. Both are great, and much newer than WDW's offerings. (Aventura is also fairly new.)

That said, the two properties are a little ways from each other. if you are planning to go to WDW every day, then staying closer to WDW would make more sense.

We usually split our vacation, and stay at WDW or near WDW on days we plan to visit WDW, then stay at Universal or near Universal when we plan to visit there.
 
StarWarsGirl

StarWarsGirl

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
I've never felt unsafe at Pop. I stayed there on my first trip ever that wasn't with my parents when I was 18 with a friend who was also 18. I'm currently at Pop on a solo trip. I was just having a conversation with a friend that I stayed at a Double Tree Hilton in Anaheim when I went to Disneyland and paid about the same for that that I paid for Pop, and the room at Pop is 10x nicer. The only thing I request is to not be on a first floor since I am a solo female traveler, but that would be the case in any hotel that had an exterior patio or entrance. The worst thing about Pop is that it's a bit noisy, but that can be true of any large hotel, or one located near a highway.

If you want to do Uni, stay at Uni. If you want to do Disney, stay at Disney. The convenience of being at Disney and being able to hop on Disney transportation and be back at your hotel is unbeatable. That being said, if I were doing Uni, I would absolutely be staying over there for the same reason.

Room at Pop...
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I love that shower; it's so nice.
 
Tony the Tigger

Tony the Tigger

Well-Known Member
StarWarsGirl said:
I've never felt unsafe at Pop. I stayed there on my first trip ever that wasn't with my parents when I was 18 with a friend who was also 18. I'm currently at Pop on a solo trip. I was just having a conversation with a friend that I stayed at a Double Tree Hilton in Anaheim when I went to Disneyland and paid about the same for that that I paid for Pop, and the room at Pop is 10x nicer. The only thing I request is to not be on a first floor since I am a solo female traveler, but that would be the case in any hotel that had an exterior patio or entrance. The worst thing about Pop is that it's a bit noisy, but that can be true of any large hotel, or one located near a highway.

If you want to do Uni, stay at Uni. If you want to do Disney, stay at Disney. The convenience of being at Disney and being able to hop on Disney transportation and be back at your hotel is unbeatable. That being said, if I were doing Uni, I would absolutely be staying over there for the same reason.

Room at Pop...
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View attachment 839994View attachment 839995

I love that shower; it's so nice.
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The All-Stars have been redone pretty much the same way. They are significantly improved from what they used to be.
 
StarWarsGirl

StarWarsGirl

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Tony the Tigger said:
The All-Stars have been redone pretty much the same way. They are significantly improved from what they used to be.
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I saw pictures and thought they looked similar.

I have always given Pop a slight edge because of transportation. First because Pop always has its own buses. Now it has the Skyliner. People have mixed feelings about the Skyliner; I personally am a huge fan and will choose the Skyliner over the buses every time.

On this trip, I'm having to use a scooter because I'm dealing with a (hopefully temporary) medical issue that limits my energy levels and the distance I can walk. Skyliner is SOOOO much easier to use for a scooter than a bus. You pull in, they put something under the wheels, you go. You arrive, they take it out from under the wheels, you're done. Not to mention I hate having to make everyone wait for me to get on the bus first. I'll take the Skyliner and other forms that don't hold everything up if I can.
 
StarWarsGirl

StarWarsGirl

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
meggo819 said:
I definitely don’t think the motel style is a safety issue. Not at Disney anyway. I’ve never felt unsafe at any WDW resort.
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I travel a good bit alone, and I'm a 29 year old woman, and when choosing a property at any place, I look at overall safety, along with other factors such as cleanliness, when choosing.

I stayed at a Fairfield Inn in San Diego, and that property had exterior entrances. You were not getting in there unless you were staying there, though. They had a gate and cameras...I had trouble even finding the front desk to check in. It was also super clean and the rooms were large.

I also stayed at a Fairfield in Anaheim near Disneyland. Same thing, exterior entrances, but I did not feel at all unsafe. You had to have a key to access elevators or stairwells and I don't recall there being first floor rooms.

My big thing is always read reviews when choosing a property. Cleanliness is my big thing along with safety.

Disney properties in the bubble I'm pretty much not worried about because you're pretty much only coming on this property if you're staying here or have business here. It's not like someone nearby can just walk onto it. I don't chose a first floor room as a single woman because you just can never be certain about other guests, but you're less visible on an upper floor, and there's fewer people coming and going as you exit. Actually, they originally assigned me to a first floor room, and I called them and said "hey, I'm a 29 year old woman staying alone; can you please reassign me?" They had me assigned to an upper floor 20 minutes later.
 
Club Cooloholic

Club Cooloholic

Well-Known Member
Bugsy said:
Is it better to stay at the Disney motels or the Universal hotels that are cheaper an offer indoor hallways? I'd like to ride the skyliner, but does it seem justified and double the price for a motel outdoor walk motel building. Is it just me? I don't think any Uni hotels make you do motel style? I think I'm leaning for Uni and the safety but is the skyliner worth it??
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If you plan to do Universal, stay there. If you plan to do WDW, stay there. No indoor hallway is going to make up for having to add a half hour or more to your park commute, plus parking.

I will say this, Unis cheap accommodations are great, Cabana Bay(motel style for the most part) is one of my most favorite Orlando properties and we have stayed at the nicer ones in Uni and it's just more fun.

Second, before you get down on outer hallways, I believe they tend to actually be quieter than some inner doors as the doors are thicker and hurricane resistant.
 
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StarWarsGirl

StarWarsGirl

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
MarvelCharacterNerd said:
Dumb question maybe but what's the advantage of the upper floor room for safety?
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Mostly that you're less visible. There's fewer people walking by your room, so you're less likely to be noticed coming and going.

Because there's so many people coming and going when you're on a first floor room, it's too easy for someone with ill intent to notice a female traveler (or a pair of female travelers) coming and going, and then to wait for them outside their room, especially when they're coming back late at night. Or just to take note of you in general. I also don't like being on the first floor if there's a patio for this reason; just too easy for someone to potentially see in your room, or notice that you're sitting out there. I especially don't like first floor rooms in large cities or places where it's easy for just anyone to get on the property.

I'm not as worried about it at a hotel where you enter from the inside and there are no patios, provided that the front desk is always staffed and that the other entryways are locked. I also don't worry about it if I'm staying with male family members, though I still overall prefer upper level rooms.
 
Tom P.

Tom P.

Well-Known Member
Sirwalterraleigh said:
Pop is the best lower priced option in wdw…by a signicant Margin

Just my opinion
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As someone with a debilitating fear of heights who will absolutely never ride the Skyliner, I am disappointed that Pop Century and Art of Animation have the Skyliner as the only transportation option for Epcot and Hollywood Studios. That has pretty much removed either of those resorts as options for me.
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Tom P. said:
As someone with a debilitating fear of heights who will absolutely never ride the Skyliner, I am disappointed that Pop Century and Art of Animation have the Skyliner as the only transportation option for Epcot and Hollywood Studios. That has pretty much removed either of those resorts as options for me.
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Maybe amusement parks aren’t the places for you? 😎
 
Tom P.

Tom P.

Well-Known Member
Sirwalterraleigh said:
Maybe amusement parks aren’t the places for you? 😎
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I know you're kidding, but seriously I'm not much of a fan of amusement parks per se. I live in an area where King's Island is a thing everyone does, and I've been, but it doesn't hold much interest for me. But theme parks are different. That's why I love Disney is that there is so much more to do there besides riding roller coasters.
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Tom P. said:
I know you're kidding, but seriously I'm not much of a fan of amusement parks per se. I live in an area where King's Island is a thing everyone does, and I've been, but it doesn't hold much interest for me. But theme parks are different. That's why I love Disney is that there is so much more to do there besides riding roller coasters.
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Ouch…you have the bengals…you’ve suffered enough 🤪

Back to front…are you sure there isn’t an alternative bus to studios and Epcot from Pop?

It would be very bizarre for Disney to force one method of transport…but then again - the management sucks.
 

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