Bus Service since 2002

[Hooked_on_Mickey]

Our last trip was in 2002 (POR) and I remember that the bus service was very good. We are going again this Jan. and I have been reading some posts complaining about the bus service. Has the bus service efficiency really declined in recent years that much? We will have our vehicle but I thought we would use Disney transportation since it was so convenient last time, but now I'm not so sure. We are staying at AS Sports this time. When would it be better to use our own car vs. Disney buses and vice versa?

[Mr. Pig]

Using your own vehicle vs. Disney transportation is a very personal decision as there are positive and negatives for both.

My observations on many trips between 2002 and Oct. 2009 has been that Disney transportation has not declined. I would even venture to say that the routing of buses has become better over the years. A lot of the experience with wait times is luck. You spend a few days just missing the bus you want and have longer waits and you will complain.

When is it better? About the only general agreement is bus to MK is better because you avoid monorail/boat from TTC to MK.

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The only location where my family and I choose to drive to since we always have a car while at WDW is Downtown Disney, because for whatever reasons the buses from the Deluxe Resorts to there and back seem to take forever. However we also noticed for a location like All Star Sports their buses for Downtown Disney seem to come a lot more faster, so every resort is going to be different and it depends on how things are going each day.

[Tozzie]

I never rent a car and always use Disney Transportation, I don't think it has declined but in recent months Disney has been working out some kinks with a new dispatch system. While there are people who have experienced very long waits for buse there are also people who think they waited forever for a bus when in reality it was only ten minutes, it is about percenption, sometimes people don't realize the short amount of time they have waited but standing and doing nothing while waiting for a bus makes time drag and seem like it is taking forever.

[Silver Queen]

We taken four trips to WDW in the past year and the bus service has been fine. During these trips we've stayed at SSR. OKW, Kidani, and VWL. We have never seen the need to rent a car while we're in The World.

[goofy4tink]

I've been going every year since '99..most years multiple times. I have seen no decline in the bus service. Now, with that said, many people have different thoughts as to how Disney should move them around WDW. The vast majority of complaints are that it takes too long, or there are too many other stops. None of this has changed..it has always benn thus. For those guests, a car would be a better option.