Another Great Trip to the Poly, but...

[4greatboys]

I understand the frustration over the wait. Our last trip in June we stayed at OKW. Most of the time bus service was fine but one day my dh, I and 2 youngest went to AK. Ds 17 decided to meet us there. While waiting for an AK bus another bus was loading a person in a wheelchair. This is whent the AK comes, the bus did NOT even STOP. It just went past the stop. Then he had to wait atleast 30 more minutes for a another AK bus so in all he waited CLOSE TO ! HOUR! to get on a freaking bus.

I did complain about that, no reason someone should have to wait that long. Other than that the service was decent.

 

[LoraJ]

This is why we rent a car. The last time we used the bus system we spent 90 minutes total in waiting time in one day. What a waste of vacation time.

 

[northriver]

We didn't have any problems with the busses at the Poly but we catch the first bus every morning out of there. We only took the bus to AK one morning and DTD another, and then returned mid afternoon when the busses weren't too crowded. Otherwise we were on the monorail, we spend most time at MK and Epcot.

For the cost of Poly rooms, you can/should definately budget for a cab! We can't because we have a group of 5 including two that need carseats, so we are stuck with the bus for a few more years.

 

[Buzz2001]

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 September. Maybe we should join them ???

Take care, Jay

That was a fun boat trip. Too bad they raised the price, but then what hasn't gone up.

I know what you mean about school. I can't take Nikki out anymore. She'll be starting HS this fall. That's part of the problem and I hate the summertime and the heat.

Glad your friends enjoyed CSR! It is a wonderful place.

 

[BobNoxious]

Best to use the TTC when staying at the Poly. You get more bus choices... more often... Only a 5-10 min walk

 

[boomhauer]

This is why we rent a car. The last time we used the bus system we spent 90 minutes total in waiting time in one day. What a waste of vacation time.

Unless you're psychotic like me and get to the park 30 minutes before it opens and stay until the minute it closes.

 

[skyscanr]

Well we just got back from the poly stayed the mid june . We found the bus to be very fast and never had to wait long for one, maybe 10 to 15 mins each time

 

[ihearttink]

DH and I drive down to WDW, I'm too scared to fly, so we always have our car. Now on past visits to the World we always drive to DTD because the bus ride is way too long.

We are staying at WL in Sept. during free dining . My questions are these:

1. Are we better off taking our car to all the parks, if not all, which ones?;
2. If we do drive to the parks, at closing time is it faster to get back to your resort by car versus bus/boat? I always thought if we drove we would end up sitting in traffic at closing time.;
3. I have a handicap pass so will this make parking easier, i.e. closer to entrances at the parks?; and
4. This year I PROMISE myself that I will do the EMH at night at MK, never have in all my trips there. Would the boat/bus be faster then the car to get back to WL, if I make it till 1:00 in the morning? I have no idea how big the crowds are during this.

Sorry so many questions.

 

[Aurora63]

For the cost of Poly rooms, you can/should definately budget for a cab!

No, I disagree. For the price of any room on property, you should expect decent bus service! Especially since this is one of the 'perks' of staying onsite.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

No, I disagree. For the price of any room on property, you should expect decent bus service! Especially since this is one of the 'perks' of staying onsite.

I agree completely!!! Disney advertises how wonderful ME and the on-site transportation is, they had better deliver. It's frustrating to pay all that extra $$$ to stay at the Poly or another Monorail resort (or any resort on property for that matter) and then be at DTD, MGM, etc, and see bus after bus come for the same resort while you're still waiting.

Honestly, If the bus system dosen't improve, I will seriously consider staying off-site next trip...That whole DTD resort area will be looking pretty nice....

 

[MeLaNie9]

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.

We were pretty upset with the buses from the Poly as well, and the worst by far was to DD. We waited a long time for all buses but much longer for the one to DD and by the time we boarded there was a huge line and it was packed. We had to stand with DH holding DS2, me (pregnant) holding bag and stroller. Then the bus driver yelled at me for stepping like one inch over the yellow line at the front of the bus - I was so angry by that point that I snapped right back at him. Bus service on our next trip from YC seemed a bit better but we did not go to DD, partly because of this prior bad experience.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I know I might get flamed for this but I feel it needs to be said. With all the money guests pay to stay at the Deluxe Resorts, I feel why should they not the great bus service the Value Resorts get? That is not at all intended to be a shot at the Value Resorts since those guests pay less per night, but it can be frustrating to wait forever for you're bus to arrive and you already seen 5 All Star Buses before you're bus finally arrived.

I understand that WDW determines bus service based on each Resort's number of rooms and guests at the Resorts, however there are times when I wish that it could be equal for all Resorts. So no more basing bus arrivals on how many rooms are at the Resorts.

 

[sandybobandy]

I know I might get flamed for this but I feel it needs to be said. With all the money guests pay to stay at the Deluxe Resorts, I feel why should they not the great bus service the Value Resorts get? That is not at all intended to be a shot at the Value Resorts since those guests pay less per night, but it can be frustrating to wait forever for you're bus to arrive and you already seen 5 All Star Buses before you're bus finally arrived.

I understand that WDW determines bus service based on each Resort's number of rooms and guests at the Resorts, however there are times when I wish that it could be equal for all Resorts. So no more basing bus arrivals on how many rooms are at the Resorts.

I'm not going to flame you per se, but I think you could have worded it differently than to imply Deluxe guests should get more buses because they spend more. I think simply using a different set of words could prevent any further flaming. Also, those of us that do stay at Values also experience long bus rides. Just as you may see 5 value busses go by at MK, I may see 5 Poly or GF busses go by while at AK. Just trying to show both sides....

But getting back to the nature of the post, I choose to believe Disney is doing the best it can. Otherwise, I just get frustrated

 

[Marty Joe]

We just got back from a 7 day adventure at the Poly on Sunday and our experience was a little different. Our bus routes was only fair except for the MGM bus, which has always been a pain for me. It took forever to get back to the Poly after Fantasmic and we left early. I did spend most of my time standing up because the Poly bus is also the CR and GF bus...

 

[Marty Joe]

I forget to mention that while we were waiting on the ME to take us home, a cruise line bus shows up and that was the bus we should have got on because the cruise line bus was taking the place of the ME bus. The driver could have spit that out when he got off the bus!

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I'm not going to flame you per se, but I think you could have worded it differently than to imply Deluxe guests should get more buses because they spend more. I think simply using a different set of words could prevent any further flaming. Also, those of us that do stay at Values also experience long bus rides. Just as you may see 5 value busses go by at MK, I may see 5 Poly or GF busses go by while at AK. Just trying to show both sides....

But getting back to the nature of the post, I choose to believe Disney is doing the best it can. Otherwise, I just get frustrated

I don't think that's what CR ResortFan4life was trying to say. I think he or she was saying that the bus service should be just as good at a Deluxe as at a Value....It does seem like the values have a LOT more busas and they seem to come MUCH more frequently.

 

[doug65]

In my understanding, the Disney Bus Service isn't actually "Disney" since it's outsourced to Mears...yes, Mears. The same folks uh, responsible, for the "Magical-Tragical Express."

When we arrived on 6/22 and were met by our SunRay driver, Roger (who was awesome by the way) he took us past the holding areas for all those riding, or rather waiting for ME, the, uh, "Free" service. Not to rub it in or anything, but looking at the vast herds standing around, sweating, all I could think of was "Moo!"

Lest you think I'm completely unsympathetic, realize that I stayed at Shades of Green and was subjected to Fleetwood's transportation. They're the ones who makes Mears look good.

Anyhoo, the next time you encounter a CM or other Disney employee, feel free to express verbally, your surprise that Disney is willing to lend its hard-earned name and reputation for exceptional quality to such a mediocre, non-Disney service. A service by the way, which would look far more at home if the Bus Route Signs revealed their destination to be, oh Gatlinburg, TN or maybe Branson, MO.

 

[sandybobandy]

I don't think that's what CR ResortFan4life was trying to say. I think he or she was saying that the bus service should be just as good at a Deluxe as at a Value....It does seem like the values have a LOT more busas and they seem to come MUCH more frequently.

I'm sure you're right. I just read it differently than they likely intended it to sound. That's why it's so challenging to have "discussions" on a message board-tones and emotions can be misread.


It's all good though-Hakuna Matata!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I don't think that's what CR ResortFan4life was trying to say. I think he or she was saying that the bus service should be just as good at a Deluxe as at a Value....It does seem like the values have a LOT more busas and they seem to come MUCH more frequently.

The way you wrote you're reply is the way I meant for my previous reply to sound like.

 

[bab31]

I have to agree as well, and was glad that others shared our opinion. Last June we waited-- I can't even tell you how long-- for a bus from the Poly (where we were staying) to MGM in the evening. My husband finally hailed a cab. We were actually happy to spend the extra money just to get moving!!
I panic about this when planning a new trip. I would love to save money and stay at a moderate, but don't know if I could only rely on the bus system for transport!!

We stayed at CSR and had no bus issues- probably because they dont share their busses with any other resort.