ART system, has it improved?

[SpaceMan5]

In 08 we used the ART system while we stayed at the Embassy Suites South and thought it was a royal pain. The pick up times were inconsistent and usually had to wait for 10-15 mins in line at the hotel just to ensure we got a seat on the next shuttle. It just made it tougher to figure out the schedule since we were traveling with another family.

So on the last 2 trips we opted for hotels (HOJO, BWPPI) that were within walking distance to the parks. We really liked being able to come and go as we pleased.

My question is has the ART system improved since 08 and if so this would open up other hotel options for us.

 

[skiingfast]

In 08 we used the ART system while we stayed at the Embassy Suites South and thought it was a royal pain. The pick up times were inconsistent and usually had to wait for 10-15 mins in line at the hotel just to ensure we got a seat on the next shuttle. It just made it tougher to figure out the schedule since we were traveling with another family.

It's not surely going to happen like that. ART runs every 20 minutes so that may of just been unlucky timing. Also the shuttles often fill up when you stay at a convention hotel, thats why that hotel is there, not for DLR guests, and there is a convention going on.

 

[sonnyjane]

The less "variables" in a vacation, the better in my opinion. Public transportation, although not entirely inconvenient, is a variable that you can't necessarily control, whereas getting up, getting dressed, and walking out the door is much more reliable and predictable. If given a choice, I'd always choose to stay within close walking distance, but that's just me

 

[c5mjohn]

We just spent 3 nights at the Marriott Suites(corner of Chapman and Harbor). Many of the hotels around that area (Crown Plaza, Homewood, Hyatt, Sheraton and Marriott, probably more) no longer use ART. They hired PCA Management (Parking Company of America) to shuttle back and forth to Disneyland.

The service was excellent! Picked up on time every :15 and :45. The ride to the parks was always about 10 minutes. Returned from the "A" section of the shuttle bus area every :30 and :00. If we were returning from the parks and our hotel's shuttle was full they would let us ride any of the other shuttles going to the area and drop us off at ours! So awesome and the tips I gave were well deserved.

My experiences with ART were serviceable but less than spectacular. One shuttle broke down on the corner of Ball and Walnut and had to wait 20 minutes for a replacement shuttle. When we stayed at the Holiday Inn on South Manchester the ART took about half an hour to get to the parks.

On top of the improvements, kids four and under are free instead of the ARTs three and under. Nice surprise when they didn't charge my four year old the buck to get on the shuttle. Also, they never checked for passes when leaving the parks. Pretty convenient not having to getting your pass out while holding 3 bags of disney souvenirs in your arms.

 

[jandm]

We just spent 3 nights at the Marriott Suites(corner of Chapman and Harbor). Many of the hotels around that area (Crown Plaza, Homewood, Hyatt, Sheraton and Marriott, probably more) no longer use ART. They hired PCA Management (Parking Company of America) to shuttle back and forth to Disneyland.

The service was excellent! Picked up on time every :15 and :45. The ride to the parks was always about 10 minutes. Returned from the "A" section of the shuttle bus area every :30 and :00. If we were returning from the parks and our hotel's shuttle was full they would let us ride any of the other shuttles going to the area and drop us off at ours! So awesome and the tips I gave were well deserved.

My experiences with ART were serviceable but less than spectacular. One shuttle broke down on the corner of Ball and Walnut and had to wait 20 minutes for a replacement shuttle. When we stayed at the Holiday Inn on South Manchester the ART took about half an hour to get to the parks.

On top of the improvements, kids four and under are free instead of the ARTs three and under. Nice surprise when they didn't charge my four year old the buck to get on the shuttle. Also, they never checked for passes when leaving the parks. Pretty convenient not having to getting your pass out while holding 3 bags of disney souvenirs in your arms.

So the Marriott & Sheridan Park both have this new shuttle service?

 

[jandm]

We just spent 3 nights at the Marriott Suites(corner of Chapman and Harbor). Many of the hotels around that area (Crown Plaza, Homewood, Hyatt, Sheraton and Marriott, probably more) no longer use ART. They hired PCA Management (Parking Company of America) to shuttle back and forth to Disneyland.

The service was excellent! Picked up on time every :15 and :45. The ride to the parks was always about 10 minutes. Returned from the "A" section of the shuttle bus area every :30 and :00. If we were returning from the parks and our hotel's shuttle was full they would let us ride any of the other shuttles going to the area and drop us off at ours! So awesome and the tips I gave were well deserved.

My experiences with ART were serviceable but less than spectacular. One shuttle broke down on the corner of Ball and Walnut and had to wait 20 minutes for a replacement shuttle. When we stayed at the Holiday Inn on South Manchester the ART took about half an hour to get to the parks.

On top of the improvements, kids four and under are free instead of the ARTs three and under. Nice surprise when they didn't charge my four year old the buck to get on the shuttle. Also, they never checked for passes when leaving the parks. Pretty convenient not having to getting your pass out while holding 3 bags of disney souvenirs in your arms.

So the Marriott & Sheridan Park both have this new shuttle service?

 

[c5mjohn]

The Marriott Suites is the only one I am positive about. I remember one of the new shuttles had the Sheraton logo so I am fairly positive that it does too. You can call any of the hotels and ask.