If time is a factor, then the bus is always the way to go when trying to get to MK. It is so much faster than taking the boat.
Time is a factor. But this is more about perceived convenience. Basically, my wife disdains the buses. A leisurely boat ride is fine even if it is a little slower.
The WL is our first home away from home. Not only is there a boat to the MK but you can also get a boat to the Contemp...which gives your Mrs. her monorail access with a huge savings on the budget. Our second and new home away from home is the Boardwalk. I just love this area of the World. Walking to Epcot is great and we tend to have alot of ADR's at Epcot so its perfect for that.
The easy access to the monorail was a big part of what attracted me to WL as I knew it would make Mindy happy. I did run the Swan and Dolphin past her this morning and I think that may be the way the winds are blowing if we can foot the bill.
DHS and Epcot are my wife's favorite parks. The kids like them too. Being able to walk or take a boat to two parks is extremely appealing to her.
The Swan & Dolphin are much less expensive than the other Epcot resorts (Yacht, Beach, Boardwalk Inn) but offer many of the same conveniences. The walk to DHS is under 20 minutes, Epcot under 15 minutes, reallly depends on how fast of a walker you are. I suggest you use Bing or Google Maps to see what it looks like from the sky. Fron the Swan & Dolphin, you'll be able to enjoy the Boardwalk, which is usually hopping at night when Epcot closes. The Swan and Dolphin also share a lovely outdoor pool complex.
The major downside is that you'll have to pay for transportation from the airport to the hotels. 'Magic Your Way' service is not offered.
I did not know about Magical Express. That's good to know. Not necessarily a deal-breaker, but something to consider. I expect to be arriving late at night with 2 little ones. And wrangling bags, kids and a stroller is a hassle!
Also, I know the Swan and Dolphin have a $14/night "resort fee" as well. So, I'll have to do the math once Disney discounts come online.
The WL is great, it has the best WDW resort lobby. (I also like the AKL lobby.) I love the 1920s/1930s feel of the Boardwalk, it's my favorite WDW resort. However, the WL is expensive and the Boardwalk Inn is really expensive, often double the price of a Moderate Resort.
We stayed at AKL once. Great lobby!
We visited the Boardwalk for the first time in 2010. Unfortunately, my wife was mad at me for a very long busride it took to get there from DTD. The Boardwalk was the last stop of all the Epcot resorts and by the time we got there she had stopped talking to me. But it sure looked nice for the 10-15 minutes I spent there getting the evil eye.
The Epcot resorts are also connected to each other via a boat. You can catch a boat near the International Gateway entrance from Epcot to DHS, with 3 stops at the Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach, and Swan/Dolphin. I didn't time it but have the impression that it took about the same amount of time as the boat between WL & MK. I remember that the WL boat stopped at the Wilderness campground but don't remember if it also stopped at the Contemporary.
That's extremely appealing. A slow boat ride to Epcot is just fine. We took the boat from The Boardwalk to Epcot and by the time we got there my wife was speaking to me again. Ah, the healing power of boat rides!
Several people have posted that they compared the walk time between Epcot/DHS and have reported that it's faster than the boat. The convenience of the boat is that you can sit and rest for a bit, nice if you are recharging your batteries.
Amen. Especially with a spouse who doesn't love Disney, two little girls and possibly my mom tagging along!
This is our all time favorite resort. The price point is at the highest end we're willing to pay (the most I've paid for a room here is $225/night for conceirge) and we've gotten rooms as low as $144/night here.
That's pretty much what I'm looking at. I wouldn't pay any more, but it just may be worth it. For $144/night, I'd jump on that!
What we like about it is it removes us from the "Florida feel" of the rest of the resort, and that everything seems to move slower/have a calmer feel here. We've never had a problem with the boat service (and it's probably more convenient nowadays than the monorail is). But honestly the secret to the WL is the BUS service to and from MK. It has it's own dedicated bus and it a VERY short drive...and because of that. It runs about every 10 mins. And since everybody thinks about the boat as the primary way to get to/from the Kingdom...the bus is usually relatively empty!
Enjoy!
Good to know about the buses. And thanks!
I have never really understood the awesomeness of the epcot resorts.. I have stayed in the boardwalk twice and really didn't like it. Sure its in the middle of the world basically, but you have to walk, boat or drive to Epcot and DHS. I hate walking probably b/c I have a herniated disc in my back that causes agony. I'd rather save the walking for inside the park and the boats seem extremely slow to me. When you take a bus to AK or MK all the Epcot resorts share the same bus, so you have overcrowded buses with a ton of stops. I'll take OKW any day. I don't want you guys to think I'm lazy but the herniated disc really takes it out of you even after just one day of walking. I'm getting a epidural shot today that is supposed to help I hope it stays with me for my April visit.
As I mentioned before, the multiple stops on our once-ever bus trip to The Boardwalk got me in the dog house. I'll have to make sure the Mrs. understands that going in if we opt for an Epcot resort.
To the OP...
WL is valued for it's serenity. The boats offer a transportation option to 'slow your world down a bit'. They are relaxing and a good way to ramp up, or ramp down a day. They are not your fastest path, but they can be enjoyed if you are not in a rush.
I wouldn't consider the location all that remote.. not really worse then the Contemporary.
Pros:
Seclusion
Atmosphere
Different from your everyday hotel
Alternative Transportation options
Cons:
Not centrally located (but none of the MK properties are)
slightly further off the main drag then some others
Cost
If one wanted the most transportation options.. really the EPCOT resorts are the best for that.
Cost is a pretty big Con.
Those Epcot resorts (assuming we can fit them in the budget) are looking pretty good...
Actually, I'd give that nod to the Polynesian.
Monorail, Ferry or Launch to Magic Kingdom.
Monorail to Epcot.
Poly only shares bus with Contemporary. Epcot Resorts (all 5 of them) share going to Animal Kingdom, water parks and Downtown Disney.
And while Animal Kingdom Lodge is the most remote resort, it has the quickest commute to many areas of WDW because they're all direct and don't share with other resorts. Literally, took 15 minutes from the moment I was picked up at Kidani Village to get dropped off at Epcot. No other resort (except the Polynesian) would get you to the front entrance of Epcot so quickly.
If money were no object (which it is) the Poly would be my first choice.
The Epcot deluxe resorts are great if you are going to Epcot or the Studios. However, anywhere else can be a bit of a transportation nightmare. Going to the MK isn't too bad if you are staying at Yacht or Beach since they share a bus (Boardwalk, Swan, and Dolphin share for that route). However, for DTD or AK you share a bus with all 5 locations and that can add a good amount of time to your trip if you are on one of the ends. I have found it better sometimes to get off the bus at the first stop and just walk to where I need to go.
Yeah, I remember the DTD bus to the Boardwalk - believe me!
We'll likely spend no more than a day at AK, so that's not a huge deal. But there may be multiple trips to DTD.
The Polynesian shares a bus with the Contemporary and Grand Floridian on the Studios and Downtown Disney route. For some reason on the Animal Kingdom route it only shares with the Contemporary and then the Grand Floridan shares with Wilderness Lodge. While somewhere in an office it must make sense, I don't fully get why they change the breakup of the resorts in the MK area. It probably has to do with how many people from each resort go to each park, but it still just seems odd to me.
That does seem odd.
THAT is exactly WHY we stay at the WL....location location location....Magic Kingdom is our favorite and being able to zip back and forth on a whim is awesome. The boats are both fun and timely...would rather take a boat than a bus ANY day!!! It's like your own private service....while I love everything about the lodge itself, the location clinches the whole works for me. I don't care for the Contemporary or the Grand Floridian....the Polynesian looks fun and I would consider it for monorail service....but the WL has too many other reasons to snare me....:animwink:.
Yep, boats > busses for us as well.
You guys have given me a lot to think about! Thanks again!
