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cloddy
Holiday 2011 photo
Member since 8/05 8088 total posts
Name:
Kristen
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Those who have stayed at Disney
Is it a big difference to stay at a value resort and take the bus v. to stay at a monorail resort in terms of convenience of travel back and forth to the park. Does anyone know how long the bus ride is? We were looking at the Music and Pop resorts.
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Posted 5/4/08 9:25 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
I would never ever ever ever stay on a bus hotel with strollers. They seemed to take forever. One night we waited almost 1/2 hour for a bus to come to take us home from MGM. We stayed at the Poly and it was worth the money to just hop on the monorail to get the the Kingdom and Epcot. We even took a cab to/from AK because we couldn't deal with the bus.
Maybe it's just us and 3 kids but we we can't do it.
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| Posted 5/4/08 9:32 AM |
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stayandjohn
Our life is complete
Member since 5/05 5909 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
I havent stayed at a value resort, but one day we decided to take a bus from MGM back to Polynesian. The wait was crazy, the lines were long. I wouldnt recommend it, stay at a hotel on the monorail
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| Posted 5/4/08 9:41 AM |
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cloddy
Holiday 2011 photo
Member since 8/05 8088 total posts
Name:
Kristen
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
Posted by KPtoys
I would never ever ever ever stay on a bus hotel with strollers. They seemed to take forever. One night we waited almost 1/2 hour for a bus to come to take us home from MGM. We stayed at the Poly and it was worth the money to just hop on the monorail to get the the Kingdom and Epcot. We even took a cab to/from AK because we couldn't deal with the bus.
Maybe it's just us and 3 kids but we we can't do it.
I figured it would be harder but it's crazy to me that it's a $700 difference. 
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| Posted 5/4/08 9:46 AM |
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KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
Posted by cloddy
Posted by KPtoys
I would never ever ever ever stay on a bus hotel with strollers. They seemed to take forever. One night we waited almost 1/2 hour for a bus to come to take us home from MGM. We stayed at the Poly and it was worth the money to just hop on the monorail to get the the Kingdom and Epcot. We even took a cab to/from AK because we couldn't deal with the bus.
Maybe it's just us and 3 kids but we we can't do it.
I figured it would be harder but it's crazy to me that it's a $700 difference.
what about wildreness lodge?? Its not on the monorail but you can take a boat to the MK.
I have never stayed at a Value resort. I have heard they are HUGE places. Walking around one can take a long time. The walls I have heard you can hear your neighbors.
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| Posted 5/4/08 10:08 AM |
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Michi
My Love
Member since 5/05 31600 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
I dont have kids but when I went to disney I remeeber thinking.. "those poor parents schleping kids on and off the bus""... I think you will be much much much happier staying at a resort with the monorail.
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| Posted 5/4/08 10:59 AM |
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JavaJunkie
Someday, Somehow
Member since 6/05 5857 total posts
Name:
Lois
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
We stay very close to disney at my IL's timeshare. We rent a car so we can go wherever we want. Costs about $200 for the week, what about doing something like that?
Message edited 5/4/2008 10:22:25 PM.
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| Posted 5/4/08 11:03 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
Why take the bus? If the poly will cost you $700 extra why not spend an extra $150-250 and stay at the value resort and rent a car - this way you can come and go on your own schedule and not worry about lugging stuff on and off a bus etc. It also makes it easier to go to other hotels on property to eat or visit, etc.
I would vote for either the Poly or a lesser resort not on the monorail and renting a car. This way you get the one site benefits and the easy of getting around. If you stay off site you won't have access to the extra magic hours - which depending on the time of year you go are helpful to have. Also you can park for free at the parks if you are staying on site.
Message edited 5/4/2008 11:36:07 AM.
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| Posted 5/4/08 11:34 AM |
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Marcie
Complete Happiness :)
Member since 5/05 27789 total posts
Name:
LOVE being a Mommy!
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
I have never stayed at Value Resort (only because we get really good deals on Moderates) but Ali was 19 months when we took her in January.
It was about a 15 minute ride to the parks. I didn't think it was that bad, I am not sure how much longer the ride is at the value, maybe 5-7 minutes more (if that).
And we traveled with a her regular stroller which was very heavy too - you just get used to lifting it off and on the buses.
We really didn't wait on lines for the buses, but it might have been the time of year it was too.
When are you thinking of going?
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| Posted 5/4/08 11:49 AM |
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
I had no problems with the bus and Hayley's stroller. By the end of the trip I was a pro at getting everything out and the stroller folded up.
Yeah the lines are long on the way back at the end of the day but it didn't bother us. There are only 2 parks on the monorail system.
I plan on going back 12/09, Hayley will be 4 and the new  will be 1 (which was the same age Hayley was when we went) and will be staying at at a Moderate Hotel again.
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| Posted 5/4/08 11:52 AM |
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sunny
Life is good!
Member since 5/05 8369 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
We always rent a car. Last time we got a car for a week for $140. The buses are a PITA.
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| Posted 5/4/08 12:46 PM |
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burberrygirl
so happy!!
Member since 1/07 2091 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
Posted by KPtoys
Posted by cloddy
Posted by KPtoys
I would never ever ever ever stay on a bus hotel with strollers. They seemed to take forever. One night we waited almost 1/2 hour for a bus to come to take us home from MGM. We stayed at the Poly and it was worth the money to just hop on the monorail to get the the Kingdom and Epcot. We even took a cab to/from AK because we couldn't deal with the bus.
Maybe it's just us and 3 kids but we we can't do it.
I figured it would be harder but it's crazy to me that it's a $700 difference.
what about wildreness lodge?? Its not on the monorail but you can take a boat to the MK.
I have never stayed at a Value resort. I have heard they are HUGE places. Walking around one can take a long time. The walls I have heard you can hear your neighbors.
I know it is a lot of extra money but it is worth it. We stayed at Port Orleans last year, nice hotel, but a lot work. This time we are staying at the Wilderness lodge boat ride to magic kindgom and you take then hop on the monorail for epcot. We are also renting a car to avoid buses for mgm and animal kingdom. Good luck with your plans!
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| Posted 5/4/08 1:20 PM |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
Posted by KPtoys
Posted by cloddy
Posted by KPtoys
I would never ever ever ever stay on a bus hotel with strollers. They seemed to take forever. One night we waited almost 1/2 hour for a bus to come to take us home from MGM. We stayed at the Poly and it was worth the money to just hop on the monorail to get the the Kingdom and Epcot. We even took a cab to/from AK because we couldn't deal with the bus.
Maybe it's just us and 3 kids but we we can't do it.
I figured it would be harder but it's crazy to me that it's a $700 difference.
what about wildreness lodge?? Its not on the monorail but you can take a boat to the MK.
I have never stayed at a Value resort. I have heard they are HUGE places. Walking around one can take a long time. The walls I have heard you can hear your neighbors.
I have stayed at a Value several times and have never heard any more noise out of the neighbors than when we stayed at the Yacht Club. As far as them being big, they are, but there are a lot of cute things on the grounds and from front to back, it's a 10 minute walk if that. I really like the food courts at the value's, much more variety and so much quicker than the options offered at the Deluxe resorts, which primarily have table service.
If money is a factor, stay at a value. I personally would rather use that $700 on something else. The bus lines get really long if you stay at the park until closing. They typically run every 20 minutes or so and I would bring a lightweight stroller, not a full size bulky one. It's not that bad if you only have one child. We've done it plenty of times
ETA: I know some rent a car, but that's a PITA to me. You have to park at the transportation and ticket center at MK and take a shuttle to the monorail or boat just to get to the MK, and the lines are INSANE to get back to the lot if you leave at closing. Plus you have to pay for parking.
Message edited 5/4/2008 1:26:45 PM.
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| Posted 5/4/08 1:25 PM |
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JennChris
life moves fast
Member since 5/05 4225 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
Posted by Summerrluvv
ETA: I know some rent a car, but that's a PITA to me. You have to park at the transportation and ticket center at MK and take a shuttle to the monorail or boat just to get to the MK, and the lines are INSANE to get back to the lot if you leave at closing. Plus you have to pay for parking.
you don't have to pay for parking if you stay at a Disney property 
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| Posted 5/4/08 1:54 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
Posted by Lillykat
Why take the bus? If the poly will cost you $700 extra why not spend an extra $150-250 and stay at the value resort and rent a car - this way you can come and go on your own schedule and not worry about lugging stuff on and off a bus etc. It also makes it easier to go to other hotels on property to eat or visit, etc.
I would vote for either the Poly or a lesser resort not on the monorail and renting a car. This way you get the one site benefits and the easy of getting around. If you stay off site you won't have access to the extra magic hours - which depending on the time of year you go are helpful to have. Also you can park for free at the parks if you are staying on site.
That's what we did. We stayed at the All-Star Music hotel, and rented a car. Worked out great for us. We had the car seat in the car all the time, we got good parking most of the time, since we were Disney guests, we could get to different parks an hour earlier than non-guests. The car was always there when we needed it, and it was sooooo much cheaper than staying on the monorail hotels.
I stayed at the Polynesian a few times growing up. I remember there being a very long walk from the monorail to our room in one of the outlying buildings. Depending on where your room was, the All-Star hotels were much less traveling than the Polynesian.
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| Posted 5/4/08 8:54 PM |
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Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!
Member since 8/05 20181 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
Posted by sunny
We always rent a car. Last time we got a car for a week for $140. The buses are a PITA.
ITA
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| Posted 5/4/08 9:07 PM |
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CunningOne
***
Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
Last time we went, we stayed at the Saratoga Springs Resort and took the buses to all the places. No problems at all, and I brought my umbrella stroller with me every time. It just had to be folded to ride on the bus.
ETA: we rented a car while we were there, but chose not to take them to the parks and pay for parking and all.
Message edited 5/4/2008 9:57:16 PM.
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| Posted 5/4/08 9:56 PM |
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twicethefun
Loving life
Member since 7/06 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
Posted by Summerluv
ETA: I know some rent a car, but that's a PITA to me. You have to park at the transportation and ticket center at MK and take a shuttle to the monorail or boat just to get to the MK, and the lines are INSANE to get back to the lot if you leave at closing. Plus you have to pay for parking.
I vote for value or moderate resorts. The bus was never a problem for us and its true that MK is a PITA with the car. We chose the car over bus one day and it took us 90 min just to get back to the car! Its nice to stay on monorail, but in my opinion not necessary.
Message edited 5/5/2008 5:22:20 AM.
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| Posted 5/5/08 5:19 AM |
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MommyofG
just the girls
Member since 5/05 9461 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Those who have stayed at Disney
back in 01 I stayed at the all star music and was really impressed!!!!!!
rooms were big and clean- never had a problem and never heard the neighbors-
the eating area was really big and had a good choice of foods, the buses were no problem at all.
I didnt have DD at the time but if I stay in disney I would have no problem staying there, there were a ton of strollers there too.
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| Posted 5/7/08 11:19 AM |
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