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

[Bugsy]

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??

 

[Figgy1]

What are the plans for your trip. How many days at what parks?

 

[Tony the Tigger]

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]

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.

 

[meggo819]

I think I'm leaning for Uni and the safety but is the skyliner worth it??

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.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

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...

I love that shower; it's so nice.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

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.

The All-Stars have been redone pretty much the same way. They are significantly improved from what they used to be.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

The All-Stars have been redone pretty much the same way. They are significantly improved from what they used to be.

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]

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.

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.