Art of Animation Bus & Entry Question

[esmeet7]

I'm a Disney newbie trying to plan a group trip to the Magic Kingdom. We're thinking of staying in the new Art of Animation (AoA) Suites because of our larger families.

I was wondering about advantages to staying in a property like AoA over off-premises properties that have their own shuttles to the parks. It seems like the Disney properties would offer advantages in that the buses would run more often, the time to get into parks would be shorter, and you might even get to enter early/stay late if you're in a Disney property.

Can anyone summarize for me what time-saving conveniences exist for the AoA property versus an off-site property with its own shuttle? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[ourpartyofsix]

We just booked AoA for our family of six after a lot of deliberation between offsite and onsite.

One thing I learned is that most offsite shuttles do NOT allow strollers. So if your youngest needs a stroller, you need to be prepared to rent at the parks every day, something we did not want to do. And adding a car rental to our total made the savings offsite much less. In the end it was going to be cheaper for us to stay at POR and do the dining plan vs. stay at an inexpensive but nice offsite hotel. My DH didn't want us all in one room at POR, though, so we opted for two standard rooms at AoA.

I've only been to Disney once before (also with four kids, we stayed at AKL) but more seasoned Disney friends of mine said it is easier/faster to travel with small children when staying onsite.

We will save the offsite stays for when our kids are older!

 

[si-am]

I'm a Disney newbie trying to plan a group trip to the Magic Kingdom. We're thinking of staying in the new Art of Animation (AoA) Suites because of our larger families.

I was wondering about advantages to staying in a property like AoA over off-premises properties that have their own shuttles to the parks. It seems like the Disney properties would offer advantages in that the buses would run more often, the time to get into parks would be shorter, and you might even get to enter early/stay late if you're in a Disney property.

Can anyone summarize for me what time-saving conveniences exist for the AoA property versus an off-site property with its own shuttle? Thanks in advance for your help.

You pretty much summed up the advantages yourself!

The offsite shuttles, in my experience, really aren't that great. They don't run frequently or consistently, and they pick up in the middle of a parking lot with no real designated queue.

You'll get there faster on Disney transport, plus you have the advantage of extra time in the parks with Extra Magic Hours.

The disadvantage, of course, if that you'll pay extra for the convenience.

 

[disnut8]

If you are thinking about an off site place, PLEASE request that establishment send you a copy of their current shuttle schedule. Once you see that, you will know the advantages of staying onsite.

We have stayed offsite but had our own car so just drove but I did look at the shuttle schedules at each of the places (one a Ramada just outside the maingate). The shuttles usually will NOT get you to a park earlier than rope drop. You will get there in time for opening, maybe. If you are lucky. There might be two shuttles in the morning - if you are lucky. One usually for opening and then one later. Then nothing for the rest of the day to get you to the parks.

For getting back to your offsite place, you will again maybe have two options. If you are lucky. One at or near close of the park and one earlier. If you are lucky.

There will be NOTHING during the day.

Also, if you are going to the Magic Kingdom, the offsite buses drop you off at the TTC so you will have to get the ferry or monorail from there.

And offsite buses have you stand in the parking lot to wait. Try doing that when it's raining.

Disney buses run every twenty minutes or so. It's continual all through the day. I don't know the setup at Art of Animation but I'm assuming it will be like the other values with a queue line in which to stand. It might not be shaded but it's only going to be 20 minutes MAX that you have to wait any time of day. Whenever you want to depart for a park.

And all the bus stops at the parks are shaded for when you return. Again, 20 minutes MAX wait whenever you want to go back to the resort.

 

[spiceycat]

offsite shuttles depends upon which hotels.

many hotels will share one bus - so it could arrive at your hotel already full - and you would find yourself (if you could even get on) standing.

coming back can be worst first it is as the pp says only one or twice in the evening. they generally will leave before the fireworks. big problem if you miss it - then you need to take a taxi back and that will add up quickly. Also it can leave early if it is full and if it does - it WILL NOT come back. Learned that the hard way.

so if you want to stay offsite then definitely get a rental car.

the only exception is the DD hotels - but some of them are just as expensive (if not more) than a value WDW hotel. but they have a good system - not as good as WDW - they go to the parks every 30 minutes.

now Wyndham Bonnet Creek also has a bus and it seems to stick to its schedule more than most offsite. So you might look at it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well.....since you mention MK specifically....off-site shuttles will drop you at the TTC, from where you have to either ferry or monorail over to MK. AoA buses will drop you right outside the entrance area to MK...much, much closer. As do all the WDW resort buses.
The WDW buses, from their resorts to the parks run quite frequently...usually about every 15 mins or sooner. The off-site resort shuttle buses run a few times a day....seldom more than once every few hours. And they tend to stop at other hotels along the way...can take quite awhile to get to a park.

Then, being a WDW resort guest, staying at one of the WDW resorts, you get to take advantage of the EMHs at various parks..both in the morning and in the evening. You can have packages sent back to your resort. You can charge things to your room account if you have left a credit card on file. The pros are huge for staying onsite.

 

[sharadoc]

Another advantage is that some of your party can go back to the room due to fatigue or not feeling well or whatever and the rest can stay at the park if you want. Since offsite shuttles run infrequently, a sick or tired person would just have to wait or take a taxi which could be very expensive.

 

[bdoyledimou]

i love the simple fact that I can go to the parks early, i can head back to the resort mid day, chill out a the pool, and then go back to the park later that day without being stressed.

 

[pigletto]

We were pretty excited to try Bonnet Creek.. which is actually inside the Disney gates but not one of their hotels.
All of these nagging concerns kept creeping in though. Transportation was a big one. We're taking dd's friend this time and they are two 15 year old girls. I would have zero problem leaving the park early and letting them stay for a few hours and meet us back at the room while staying onsite. But it concerned me more with a shuttle that they are unfamiliar with. If they miss the Disney bus, there will be another one in 15 minutes or so. Not with a shuttle. So less freedom for them.

Then like others mentioned.. I really like sending our purchases back to the resort. It seems like a small thing but it's not when you buy something at 4 different countries in Epcot and it's 90 degrees out. No lugging packages.

Extra Magic hours are a bonus. We don't usually start out at the EMH park, but if we are still full of energy and want to head over to the night time park with EMH we have that option onsite.
And I think the biggest advantage of all for us is the afternoon nap/swim. It's HOT when we go. Our best touring strategy is to hit the parks for opening, get as much as we can done, and then hightail it out of there when it starts to get too hot. When you're onsite it's doable. Offsite without a car, it wouldn't be too pleasant heading back and forth. That mid day break from the heat is the thing that keeps us all from being really cranky sometimes. It's a lifesaver!

 

[happy2012]

If you want more freedom WDW bus are great. I don't trust off site busses. [unless they were a Hilton or something w/ a good name]

 

[jojomoore]

Let me start by saying that i have never stayed off site.

I have stayed on site three times.

I choose to stay onsite for the following reasons:

Bus service picks up throughout the day and ive rarely had to wait over 15 minutes for a bus. We were dropped off at the entrance of each park. BEing dropped off at the front door is so much better than taking a tram to the TTC and riding monorail to front entrance. Whenever you are ready to leave the park and return to your resort you can buses run continuously to all resorts throughout the day.

If you do drive - parking is free if you stay onsite. If you stay offsite, you will have to pay for parking - which costs money and takes a little time.

EMH - One of the four parks will open early or stay open later each day for guests staying on property to enter early or stay late and experience the rides with lower crowds. My family utilizes morning EMH to experience more rides with lower crowds. You can visit Disney World Resort official website and go to "my vacation" and you will be able to view park hours for up to 6 months out. The calandar will list Extra magic hours for each park. THis is helpful in planning which parks to visit and where to dine each day.

Disney theming - There is just something special and indescribable about staying onsite. Disney world resorts embrace theming and make you feel like you are in another world from the time you arrive until the time you depart.

Also, when you check into your hotel your tickets will be placed on your room key which looks like a credit card. You will use this card to gain access to your room, to enter the parks each day, and you may be able (if you provide the front desk or your hotel with a credit card) to charge purchases to your room key up to a certain amount which can be paid when you check out.

If you stay on site you are allowed to purchase the dining plan if you wish or you may be eligible for free dining if it is offered for the time period of your stay. If you book a room at rack price but free dining becomes availble later you can always call and change your reservation to receive free dining. The same is true for room discounts. Discounts and free dining are not available at all resorts and all resort room types and are limited on quantity so you have to act fast if these become available for your resort and time period. You can visit DIsney World Resort official website and go to "Special Offers" to check for discounts and promotions.