BLT -- A Sandwich or a Resort? Nov 09 TR (12/9 Lessons Learned)

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by Tat2ddisneymom

My thoughts...yes you will regret not having a car. Disney transportation is not all its cracked up to be. But you know what they say about opinions.

I agree with yours already! But this trip is supposed to be a cheap one for us -- no dining plan, no rental car, no special tours, etc.

And if we hate Disney transportation that much, then we'll know not to ever do it again!

[Tat2ddisneymom]

Originally Posted by Marshay

I agree with yours already! But this trip is supposed to be a cheap one for us -- no dining plan, no rental car, no special tours, etc.

And if we hate Disney transportation that much, then we'll know not to ever do it again!

Well, here's the way I see it, and again, it's only my opinion. I've done it with and without a car. I'll NEVER do it without a car again. To have to rely on Disney transportation to take you everywhere you need to be is ridiculous. You have ADRs you need to get to and you have to wait and wait for a bus that never seems to come. Add to that the fact that you have a stroller that you need to tote along with you and that makes it more of a hassle. It really seems to have gone downhill over the last few years. I mean it is okay if you just take it once in awhile for a change of pace if you're sick of driving. But to have to do it all the time is such a waste of time and energy.

[Leger13]

Originally Posted by Tat2ddisneymom

Well, here's the way I see it, and again, it's only my opinion. I've done it with and without a car. I'll NEVER do it without a car again. To have to rely on Disney transportation to take you everywhere you need to be is ridiculous. You have ADRs you need to get to and you have to wait and wait for a bus that never seems to come. Add to that the fact that you have a stroller that you need to tote along with you and that makes it more of a hassle. It really seems to have gone downhill over the last few years. I mean it is okay if you just take it once in awhile for a change of pace if you're sick of driving. But to have to do it all the time is such a waste of time and energy.

I think the reason Disney transportation seems to have gone down hill in the last few years is because they did away with a lot of the buses they had running in previous years. A bus driver in '07 told us that Disney was doing that to cut costs. It totally sucks and we haven't used the Disney transportation since then.

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by Tat2ddisneymom

Well, here's the way I see it, and again, it's only my opinion. I've done it with and without a car. I'll NEVER do it without a car again. To have to rely on Disney transportation to take you everywhere you need to be is ridiculous. You have ADRs you need to get to and you have to wait and wait for a bus that never seems to come. Add to that the fact that you have a stroller that you need to tote along with you and that makes it more of a hassle. It really seems to have gone downhill over the last few years. I mean it is okay if you just take it once in awhile for a change of pace if you're sick of driving. But to have to do it all the time is such a waste of time and energy.

Originally Posted by Leger13

I think the reason Disney transportation seems to have gone down hill in the last few years is because they did away with a lot of the buses they had running in previous years. A bus driver in '07 told us that Disney was doing that to cut costs. It totally sucks and we haven't used the Disney transportation since then.

Well, since we'll only need the bus for DHS and AK (and we may not even go to AK), maybe we'll be ok. We can walk to MK and monorail to epcot and I think those are the two parks we'll be at most of the time.

The last time I took a Disney bus was to go to Pleasure Island since we planned to drink...and that was about 6 years ago...i'm sorry to hear that cuts have made the waiting worse. You'd think Disney would want to run more busses to get everyone into the park sooner, so they can spend their money!

[Leger13]

Originally Posted by Marshay

Well, since we'll only need the bus for DHS and AK (and we may not even go to AK), maybe we'll be ok. We can walk to MK and monorail to epcot and I think those are the two parks we'll be at most of the time.

The last time I took a Disney bus was to go to Pleasure Island since we planned to drink...and that was about 6 years ago...i'm sorry to hear that cuts have made the waiting worse. You'd think Disney would want to run more busses to get everyone into the park sooner, so they can spend their money!

Yeah you should be fine. And if you're not, you can always take a taxi if you really don't want to deal with the buses.

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by Leger13

Yeah you should be fine. And if you're not, you can always take a taxi if you really don't want to deal with the buses.

Good idea! I need to remember that.

[Leger13]

Originally Posted by Marshay

Good idea! I need to remember that.

Thank ya Glad I could help! I know those Taxi's are everywhere. Especially down at DTD. They wait for all the alcoholics to need a ride I also know they sit in the valet area of the deluxe resorts too. I see them there every time I go to visit/drool over what I haven't experienced yet

[Trentmom]

I will be curious to see how it all pans out

I know I am in the minority here, but I never had a major problem with the buses.

Like you said, you will have walking access to MK and then can hop monorail to Epcot

That only leaves DHS and AK, if you even go to them

so, I think u will be fine on this trip

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by Leger13

Thank ya Glad I could help! I know those Taxi's are everywhere. Especially down at DTD. They wait for all the alcoholics to need a ride I also know they sit in the valet area of the deluxe resorts too. I see them there every time I go to visit/drool over what I haven't experienced yet

"YET" being the key word!

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by Trentmom

I will be curious to see how it all pans out

I know I am in the minority here, but I never had a major problem with the buses.

Like you said, you will have walking access to MK and then can hop monorail to Epcot

That only leaves DHS and AK, if you even go to them

so, I think u will be fine on this trip

This is good to know! I forget...do you still take a stroller to the parks? I know it'll be a lot easier once we don't have to drag that around anymore.

Speaking of strollers, we need to decide if we are taking one or two strollers. Obviously Elie will need a stroller at 8 months but even Rae who will be 4 in Nov will most likely need one too if we don't want her to be cranky and tired of walking.

We have a single jogging stroller and a single McLaren...I wonder if we should bring both of them...I also see on the budget boards that there are stroller swaps that you can participate in for free...this might be something to consider, too...

Looks like another thing to add to the research!

[Leger13]

Originally Posted by Marshay

"YET" being the key word!

haha you got that right

Originally Posted by Marshay

This is good to know! I forget...do you still take a stroller to the parks? I know it'll be a lot easier once we don't have to drag that around anymore.

Speaking of strollers, we need to decide if we are taking one or two strollers. Obviously Elie will need a stroller at 8 months but even Rae who will be 4 in Nov will most likely need one too if we don't want her to be cranky and tired of walking.

We have a single jogging stroller and a single McLaren...I wonder if we should bring both of them...I also see on the budget boards that there are stroller swaps that you can participate in for free...this might be something to consider, too...

Looks like another thing to add to the research!

okay I don't know much about strollers but I was thinking, would you be able to carry Elie around in one of those slings/backpack (I have NO idea what it's called) type things?? Maybe if you can do that you can just take one stroller and let the girls take turns in it. Or, I know it's huge, but maybe get a double stroller. Then when they both want to be in it it is possible and when DD3 is not in it Elie will have a nice big stroller to stretch out in when she wants to take a nap.

I have seen the stroller swaps too. That's another great thing to consider. Only thing I would be worried about there are germs but you can just give it a good once over with some lysol wipes or something like that and be good to go.

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by Leger13

haha you got that right
okay I don't know much about strollers but I was thinking, would you be able to carry Elie around in one of those slings/backpack (I have NO idea what it's called) type things?? Maybe if you can do that you can just take one stroller and let the girls take turns in it. Or, I know it's huge, but maybe get a double stroller. Then when they both want to be in it it is possible and when DD3 is not in it Elie will have a nice big stroller to stretch out in when she wants to take a nap.

I have seen the stroller swaps too. That's another great thing to consider. Only thing I would be worried about there are germs but you can just give it a good once over with some lysol wipes or something like that and be good to go.

Yep, we have a Baby Bjorn and it was great with our first DD but she was only 3 months when we took her to WDW. I'm worried about strapping an 8 month old to us and walking around for a while.

I do have one of those Maya wrap slings, but I can't get Elie to use it. She just cries so I must be doing something wrong. The Bjorn is better.

But yes, your idea of one stroller and sling makes sense but DH already said he doesn't want to rely on the sling/bjorn for transpo...that sort of thing is better for just waiting in lines...not hiking all the way around Epcot.

Germs may be an issue...honestly, I wasn't even thinking of that...but a good Clorox/Lysol wipe should do wonders...probably more germs from playing on the ground than sitting in a stroller, ya know?

[Leger13]

Originally Posted by Marshay

Yep, we have a Baby Bjorn and it was great with our first DD but she was only 3 months when we took her to WDW. I'm worried about strapping an 8 month old to us and walking around for a while.

I do have one of those Maya wrap slings, but I can't get Elie to use it. She just cries so I must be doing something wrong. The Bjorn is better.

But yes, your idea of one stroller and sling makes sense but DH already said he doesn't want to rely on the sling/bjorn for transpo...that sort of thing is better for just waiting in lines...not hiking all the way around Epcot.

Germs may be an issue...honestly, I wasn't even thinking of that...but a good Clorox/Lysol wipe should do wonders...probably more germs from playing on the ground than sitting in a stroller, ya know?

Ah gotcha. Well, like I said, I don't know anything about strollers or the slings or anything like that but just thought I'd put down my thoughts.

I hope you guys can get the stroller thing figured out. Sorry I can't be as much help to you on this as you have been to me on DVC

[Leger13]

Hi Marsha. I found this for you http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/Bay-Lake-Tower/index.htm

That should at least settle your fears on what the BLT rooms look like. I think it's nice

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by Leger13

Hi Marsha. I found this for you http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/Bay-Lake-Tower/index.htm

That should at least settle your fears on what the BLT rooms look like. I think it's nice

Thanks for the pics...I had seen some before...I guess I just think it still looks 70s-ish...those yellow stools just don't cut it for me. Wish there were more blues and greens...

But looking at these pics definitely makes me more excited to be there!!