Another Great Trip to the Poly, but...

[Piglets Mommy]

I agree!!! on our Dec. 2005 trip, we waited 40 min for a DTD bus to pick us up at the Poly...Then we stopped at FT Wilderness, AKL and BB before actually getting to DTD...The worst part was that NO ONE got on at any of the other stops. One family got off at BB, but we went out of the way to stop at all of those other places for no reason. With today'sGPS technology, you'd think things could be timed better. It would be great if there was a CM at each resort stationed at the bus stops to be sure busses are coming when needed.

I agree as well about standing being dangerous...coming back from MGM one night I was standing holding DD2 who was sleeping as well as the folded stroller. Every time we went around a corner I almost fell over. I'm afraid one day a lot of people will get hurt if there is ever an accident.

I'm even a bit more worried about the busses this time as it is our first time not at a monorail resort, so we will need them even more.

 

[kelscross]

I've had a few bad experiences on the Disney bus. When the bus filled with black smoke and we had to pull over on the side of the road to wait for another bus to transfer to (it happens I guess..) Only to find that our bus driver lead us through a hill of fire ants and everyone on the new bus was eaten alive by the fire ants.

Oh..the time that my daughter got trampled at the DTD bus stop by the unruly rude crowds with no CM controlling the situation. She was shoved under the wheels of the bus as she was trying to get on.

And the cleanliness is not their strongest suit either...I was wondering how often they clean the insides of the bus. Not just for trash, but actually wiping it down. I mean..thousands of sweaty people tend to stink up the place.

However, in our most recent trips I have been noticing a urine smell on the monorails...I wonder if they clean those?

I guess this is a concern for the transportation board.

I do agree though...the bus service at the deluxe resorts leave much to be desired.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Once, it took us 1 hour and 15 minutes to get from MGM to the GF. Last week we just took more taxis.

 

[Tess]

We love everything about the Polynesian but for the DD/TL bus situation. These are the only routes on which we've had major difficulty. It took us nearly two hours on one trip just to get to DD. TL in the early morning is usually a long wait as well.

I have written to WDW after every vacation about the issues with this route. One would think that it would behoove Disney to make getting to the shopping area a piece of cake--and quick--more time to spend all that money! Unfortunately, my complaints over the past 10-12 years have fallen on deaf ears. This route remains a thorn in my side as well.

We now allot extra money for taxi trips to and from the DD/PI area. The trip is around $15 each way and takes approximately 15 minutes compared to the 1-2 hours the bus transportation requires.

I will continue to complain and maybe someday someone will hear and listen!

 

[scanne]

DH wants to go to DD, but I personally hate it there! And add in the bus conundrum, ugh! Maybe I'll convince DH to just take a cab if he REALLY wants to go.

Thanks for the info!

 

[grannyminnie]

Boy, I'm glad we always have a car at Disney!! I feel so sorry for those of you held captive by the bus system down there.

 

[SeaSpray]

Here is my experience with the bus service at WDW:

At all of the moderates and also AKL, the bus service was GREAT. I was just at POR a couple months ago and it was wonderful, never had a wait of more than 10 minutes.

At the Polynesian, my DSs have complained about the bus to DTD, every single time they tried to get a bus there, so it wasn't just a one-time thing. And it was a VERY long wait for them, each and every time.

Also, I don't like that the monorail resorts and the WL all share the same busses. It takes us longer to get to the non-monorail parks from the monorail resorts, than it takes when we've stayed at a moderate or at AKL. The monorail resorts really should have dedicated busses for each resort, unless it's an off-time.

Having said all that, the Polynesian IS our favorite resort, and when we go at the end of this month we'll be mainly going to the MK and Epcot, so we won't have any transportation issues, since we'll be using the monorail and boats.

As to the person who thinks that those of us who don't complain about the busses at WDW as being either Disney bus employees or having large quantities of stock, that's just not true. There really ARE people who have excellent experiences with WDW transportation, and like I said above, except for those few instances, with the bus to DTD from Polynesian being the worst, we never have a thing to complain about.

 

[db99]

We have our first stay at the Poly in October and I have been nervous about the buses there. I haven't read too many good things about them. So we are thinking rental car but hate to spend the money. My thoughts are we'll have one maybe two days at AK and one day at MGM and the rest of our vacay will be MK or Epcot so I'm hoping we'll do ok w/the buses.

My experience in October has always been really good with the buses. Maybe because there is less people to service? Not sure. Either way, my fingers are crossed!

 

[dclfun]

Wow....I have to chime in too on this one. I use a power wheelchair so have to have a lift bus. There are times when the lift is broken or there are so many guests already ON a bus that I will not inconvenience guests so that I can board ( and thus make them stand up). I waited once for 4 busses just to be able to get on. Once I got on and the lift lost fuel and I was unable to get off and once I was jammed under the lift and broke a knee cap. Believe it or not, I now can laugh about these experiences but at the time it was a nightmare. I don't like all the standing either. I travel with a service dog who gets stepped on and shoved. This also happens to small children who are not given the courtesy of a seat. I travelled once with a grateful father and small child. Why was he grateful? Because she held on to my dog the entire trip to keep her from swaying and falling and my SD was careful to brace her. You could see the look on my dog's face...yes, I'm working and I'm doing a good job. I know they want to transport as many people as possible but particularly at the Epcot deluxe resorts there are just too many resorts serviced by one bus. On another note I never drive my own ramp van to DTD as there are NEVER any h/a parking spaces available for my lift and I've been trapped there before when someone blocked me in by parking next to my lift. I strongly feel DTD either needs a parking garage or to expand the lot, however I can see the perception that parking garages are more dangerous and don't have a good appearance either. I'm not sure of the solution but I wish they'd figure out a way for mass transit inside the WDW grounds. To the OP, I feel your pain.---Kathy

 

[ADP]

Busses at WDW tend to perform well or not so well based on crowd levels. In the Summer months, in most cases, I hear more complaints about buses. During non-peak times I don't hear too many complaints. I'm sure there have been situations were buses did not meet expectation during non-peak times, but just less frequent.

As for the transportation to DTD; you would think Disney would want to get you to and from DTD as quickly as possible. Let's face it, the sooner you get to DTD, the longer you might stay, and that's more money you could possibly spend.

 

[EjandMD]

Okay so I'm piling on, however, it is theraputic!

1. Bus system for deluxes not on monorail line stinks! (we ALWAYS rent a car)

2. Your up a creek without a paddle if you try and have reservations at another resort for dinner (again the need for a rental car although most taxis are about $15-20 dollar rides, but consider if you have a family of more than 4 you have to get a taxi van)

3. ME (don't even get me started!) I was a prisoner ONCE! NEVER AGAIN! While everyone else on my plane is waiting for the bus to get to the resort, I'm already on EE And when everyone else is trying to figure out which bag is coming next to their room (since you get it in pieces) I'm already showered and changed for dinner.

4. Poster regarding urine on the monorail...you're right! I thought we just had disgusting guests, but I think now it smells like that all the time.

and Finally TESS- I too am a Buckeye living in that state up north

 

[Tess]

4. Poster regarding urine on the monorail...you're right! I thought we just had disgusting guests, but I think now it smells like that all the time.

and Finally TESS- I too am a Buckeye living in that state up north

I have heard that the smell on the monorail is especially noxious in the summer months. It has something to do with the air conditioning units and the moisture they create inside the cabins. I agree, that smell is terrible at times and some trains are worse than others.

It really does stink to be a Buckeye here--although I have more than a few acquaintances that make it more palatable (as have the last couple of football/basketball seasons) .

 

[fla4fun]

I haven't had much trouble with the bus transportation at Disney, but I haven't been since April, which was right before they ramped up the new system. I have had some concerns about how buses are to be pulled from one route and placed on another at a moment's notice. That could be why a previous poster mentioned that a DTD bus showed up, but no one was allowed to board. Maybe it wasn't going to DTD anymore. And the location where so many AK buses came . . .were they really all AK or were they also being re-routed and not signed properly? What happens if you are on a bus that usually goes to BB then AK, but at BB they decide to re-route? Do you have to get off at BB and wait for another bus? I feel bad for people who may get on a bus, realize they have forgotten something in the room, and won't be able to stay on the bus until it completes the circuit and goes back to their resort - because it may not go back to their resort at all.

I'm sure once all the kinks are worked out, it may be an improvement. But it can also be a big mess during the implementation period. I hope they get it all worked out by fall when I go back.

 

[JayCT]

WOW, I guess I am not alone. One of the things I like about going to WDW is not having to rent a car to get around. DW and I drive enough during the year so I really want to be pampered a little when we are on vacation. We do NOT use Disney's Magical Express which is not Disney (it's a Mears Shuttle), not Magical (it is a bus) and definitely not Express (it stops at many resorts on their way).

I just feel for the price that we pay to stay at a Disney resort, it should not take an hour and a half plus to get to our destination. We are talking about traveling to Miami or something. We are simply going a few miles to a destination that thousands of people are going to as well. There is a better way to manage the system. If I had know it was going to take so long, I would have grabbed a cab. There were several right there. But you just don't know when you are standing there. You think every time that the next bus will be yours and wait in anticipation to see if it is. This is so frustrating. I think the next time (if there is one) I will just grab a cab to the place we are interested in going. Maybe that is WDW wants. Jay

 

[Buzz2001]

Hey Jay! Welcome back!! I wasn't able to get to WDW this year so I'm going through withdrawls.

 

[JayCT]

Hi Mario - How have you been? I hope your family is doing well. Give them my regards. My boys talk about the boat trip to Epcot every time we went to Epcot this trip. They want to do it again. I don't think they realize how hard it is to book that trip. It was a great time. Thanks again.

I can't believe that you haven't been this year. We had a good time this trip, but it was hot, humid and crowded. With my kids age now, the days of pulling them out of school for a trip to WDW during off-peak times are behind us. Sadly, I think we may not be going again for a while. Of course we always say that and then end up start planning a trip when we start to feel the "withdraw" symptoms. We have extra Park hoppers from this trip and we have an airline credit, so who knows...

Friends stayed at CSR in April. I had hooked them up to your web site and they loved it. They had a great time there with your advice, so they are going back in Septmeber. Maybe we should join them ???

Take care, Jay

 

[Aurora63]

Jay, I also love that about Disney...being able to not drive the entire time we're there. But the bus system needs some work!

Things were okay for us at the WL. Honestly, no problems. But when we stayed at POR, ugh. SRO buses were the norm, I was always nervous the bus might topple over on a turn, with all those people packed in! It was horrendous. I don't remember waiting too long for any one bus when there, but with so many people, they need more buses.

Now I'm going back at some point, maybe next September, with my folks (mom and dad.) I will have to choose resorts wisely and plan on using my car...I can't imagine my 67-year-old dad having to stand on a bus somewhere! Not gonna happen.

I hope Disney reads these boards at times and takes this issue to heart...fix the buses!!

 

[PolyAddict]

Three things bug me about my favorite resort, Poly.

Bus transport

Capt. Cooks

Size of pool

We are going back next year and at least I am aware of my feelings beforehand, so I won't be as dissapointed. I put up a good fight this past June not to stay at AKL. I went kicking and screaming. I honestly didn't have time to view a single animal as we were in a standard view room, but that didn't matter because it blew me away in other areas.

Three things I loved about AKL

best bus service on property(ok, I haven't stayed everywhere)

pool area

The Mara

Just my 2 cents.

 

[boomhauer]

Bus issues at Disney are definitley a problem. It doesn't happen often to me, but when it does, it's aggrivating.

In May, I was going to MGM one morning, on an EMH day no less. I counted 4 MK, 3 Epcot, 4 AK, 2 BB, and 2TL buses before an MGM bus came. About 40 minutes.

Makes no sense.

 

[mickaholic4077]

You know what I've noticed? The newer buses have fewer seats so they can pack more people in.