I did miss the evening entertainment factor that you get with a MK or Epcot resort, although I didn’t miss the MK resort price tag!
Fireworks were replaced by other things. Playing drums in the lobby, stopping by the night vision goggle station, more night swimming, a stop by the Victoria Falls lounge, etc.
I think if we were park commandos and really wanted a lot of park time, the distance and 100% reliance on bus might have bugged me, but I’m not sure? But since we wanted a break from the parks but still wanted to be in the Disney bubble, it worked out really well.
We did use the bus to/from MK one day and did Minnie Van to/from Epcot another day. Just enough to get a little park fix in.