Reducing Walking and Waiting- Which Resort?

I don't want to sound like I'm a crabbing because I LOVE DISNEY WORLD!!!!! But... I am planning our next trip and I need some advice. First of all, any trip to Disney is great regardless of any waiting on their transportation (which is usually minimal) and regardless of the amount of walking at the resorts to get from Point A to Point B. That said, what resort is the best one to stay at to minimize walking between rooms and the resort restaurants/pools/etc? Also, I don't like to request specific rooms or buildings because they aren't guarenteed (with the exception of Preferred rooms) especially because we usually get in VERY late at night and the rooms/buildings are already taken. At check-in, they have affered to move us to a closer room the next day, but I would like to avoid having to change rooms. And... I think we will rent a car next time to minimize transportation waits. My goal here is to maximize our time in the parks and use our "walking energy" at the parks instead of our resort. Sorry for being picky and difficult (and lengthy) but any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

If you are looking for the smallest resort, then it is POFQ. It is small, there are only something like 1000 rooms. Any room is only a short walk away from anywhere on property.

I could walk from my room to the food court and back in a bit over 5 minutes. It is a resort well suited for those who don't want to walk anywhere after they get back from the parks!:D

I agree with Brian. POFQ is definitely the most compact.

Well, your signature states that you are hoping to stay at Wilderness Lodge. I think that is a very good choice for what you want.

The resort is built more "up" than "out" and asside from the villas, most of the rooms are around the lobby. And, even the villas are only 2 minutes or so from the lobby.

All of the restaurants are just steps away from each other in the lobby, as well as all of the other services you may need.

The bus stop is right outside the door as you go down the hall from the gift shop.

The pool is maybe a minute from the lobby.

The boat ramp; however, is a bit of a walk to get to and back from.

I was going to suggest WL as well. It is more up than out like the other person suggested. transport though hasn't been the greatest in my experience.

As far as the moderate resorts go, I agree with the others about POFQ. If you're looking for deluxe, the Contemporary is everything with just an elevator ride away, with the exception of self parking.

If you are looking for a moderate, then POFQ is the smallest. Take note: the pool is small and the slide is short. It is great for younger children. If you are looking for a Deluxe, the WL is the best choice for what you want.

I would say the Contemporary... you get off monorail, take either the elevator or escalotor and then you are only 10 steps to the elevators to the tower rooms. POFQ I had a room request, got there early but did not get it. We were in building 3, close to food court but a bit of a walk to the bus stop(with 2 kids by myself)

I agree with the posters who suggested WL, or Contemporary. If you go with CR though, make sure it's a room in the tower.

WL is a great choice. Some of the rooms have a nice trek down the corridors but if you can get one near the lobby or a first floor near a pool entrance/exit door, there is very little walking.:mickey:

Contemporary is the most compact by far.....WL would be second....Port Orleans (FQ).....AKL....Poly...and GF are slightly larger.

POP is surprisingly convenient...though you wouldn't think it....

Yacht, Beach and Boardwalk are located well...but they tend to seem to stretch out quite a bit.

Coronado, Dixie (PO:riverside), All-Star are very sprawled...as are saratoga and Old Key West

The worst....my old nemesis...Caribbean Beach Resort.....no question

POFQ very small resort. Hardly no walking but besides the boat to dtd everything is a bus ride. POFQ on has one bus stop and then the busses go to por which has a few stops. But because it goes to fq first you get on an empty bus.

Any deluxe or Home Away from Home resorts are gonna be more convenient than any of the others.

That would be incorrect....

If a person does not have a car or does not wish to drive to the resort center to get something to eat....then your statement is not correct.

Generally speaking...the moderates and all stars have the most sprawling layouts...port orleans being the exception.

But yacht and beach and boardwalk are built basically in a line...so it is possible that you have to walk a substantial distance to get to what your want.

Old Key West could be bad specifically if you are all the way out on the horn........saratoga has distant parts as well.

I have stayed or work...most both....at all WDW properties and know the distances pretty well....Contemporary and Wilderness lodge are the most compact as far as distance from transport and facilities...Contemp is the winner

Caribbean is the loser...and I do know every square inch of that property....

Thanks so much to everyone for the information!

*when we stayed at POP we had VERY long walks!! (but I still loved the place)

*even at AKL (which is BEAUTIFUL!!!), the walk from my room to the MARA was far enough that it made my purchase of the refillable mug a waste :mickey: (I'm really not that lazy!)

*POFQ is looking like the winner here (especially because I will kill for beignets) Does anyone know if they sell chicory coffee like Cafe Du Monde?

*Question... Boardwalk only has 378 rooms, but lockedoutlogic said that it's "basically in a line...so it is possible that you have to walk a substantial distance to get to what your want." But with so few rooms, doesn't that make it one of the smallest (equating then to shorter walks) than most other resorts?

*Last question... Jen C. said to get a room at the CR "in the tower", is that something I can reserve or only request?

Yes, you can reserve a room in the tower. You can also choose Bay Lake or Magic Kingdom views. Tower rooms are more expensive than garden rooms, however VERY convenient. MK view is more expensive than Bay Lake view. We really enjoyed the Bay Lake view. We got to watch the Electric Water Pagaent at night from the balcony. It was very enjoyable!

In your response about Boardwalk, we stayed at this resort once, and it was the longest walk we've ever had! We stayed on the "end" and had an extremely long walk to the elevator. The stairs located near our room let us out into a quiet pool area, so it was still a long maze to get to the bus area. Also, you will have to walk to the boat dock (if you choose) or walk to Epcot, and that is the back entrance, so even more walking (we don't mind... we walk all day... its a beautiful walk early in the am). Think of this like the long corridors of AKL. Rooms seem to go on for MILES!

I agree that WL is great. Its the first one that popped into my head. If you stay on the north side, closest to MK, there is an elevator near Roaring Forks (the CS restaurant) and right near the door to the boat dock and pool. We used that elevator a lot, and it was hardly ever crowded. That will lessen the walk if you are on that side of the building. The main bank of elevators are on the south side of the building, so, really, you are covered.

I don't remember much from POFQ, but it is smaller, but shares buses w/ POR. You may save time and energy by not walking far, but you have to make those stops, so, plan ahead.

CR seems to be pretty good, but you will need a tower room to manage not walking far. Plus, to get to MK in the fastest time, you will walk there. Its not far, but, a good 10 min or so.

Its a catch 22 with most resorts. Plan ahead and don't base it all on the walking issue. Look at the whole picture, with the least amount of walking as a perk.

Happy planning!

If you look at a POP map. you can see that there are quite a few rooms that are VERY close to the parking lot.

If you will have a car, this may be the shortest walk around.

Wilderness Lodge is indeed compact, but it is a very long walk from the parking lot. At WL it really is closer to take the bus or boat.