For those who have stayed off-site DD area

[Claudia Kellenberger]

So many of these hotels say "Free Complimentary
Transportation to WDW Parks" I would like to know how
efficient it is, and how frequently they shuttle you to the
parks. Is it just as frequent as WDW transportation, or
do they just leave a couple times per day. How easy is it to
get back to your hotel? I am curious about this because I
have always stayed on-site.

Thanks !

[caverill]

When we stayed at the Courtyard in 98, we used the buses to go to both MK and EPCOT. The bus service is OK, but the frequency is not as often as Disney Transportation.

We also had a problem getting back to the hotel from an E-Ticket night. The bus didn't show up, so we just hopped a bus to DD, which worked great.

[Sandy Fisher]

We stayed at the Grosvenor not too long ago and had stayed on site every trip before (except first) and we were very disappointed in the shuttle service. Most disney resorts have shuttles that run about every 20 minutes -- of course some make stops within the resort property. But the DD hotels share buses and they stop at each one. They also don't run as often. And we had to stand out in the parking lot of some of the parks waiting for a bus. The resort buses each have their own place to wait and you don't wait long. When we found out we could get a Disney bus from DD we walked down there and also took our bus back to the area using Disney transportation to DD. That worked much better and we were close enough to walk to the hotel. Since we had park passes, it was okay to use the transportation. We didn't do any E-nights or have any late PS's, etc.

[baileybrad]

Sorry can't help on the specific question but as others have intimated....their bus service does not compare with the system in place at the Disney resorts.

[LindaBabe]

I was really glad to be at the Hilton (The ONLY reason I found to be glad to be at the Hilton) since it was the closest hotel to DTD and I could take Disney Buses and walk. The one time I rode the bus, it came eventually, made several other stops, had a driver that couldn't speak English, and dropped it's load in a numbered stall in the middle of the parking lot.

[slp87]

This is something I was really curious about as well. My friend is leaving Sat. for her first Disney trip and she will have her 4 year old and a stroller during the day while her husband is at a convention. I wasn't sure whether to recommend the bus or use the rental car. Do the MK buses drop you off at the TTC or where the Disney buses go? Give me some advice, would you tell her to bus it or drive on her own???

Thanks!

[janetm]

We just got back from Hotel Royal Plaza a week ago and we loved the shuttles. They left about every 1/2 hour. We would have to walk to the parking lot to spot 26 and wait, but they would say.....we leave every hour and half-hour or like 4:15 and 4:45. We used them for 4 days and loved it. Usually took about 20 minutes to get back and forth to the parks and my husband didn't have to worry about driving. I have never stayed on-site so I can't compare buy we didn't walk much further than you would have to get on the resort buses.