Best advice for bus transportation

[a-mad]

So this may not be the right forum to post this in... but it is also the most active, so hopefully it's ok!

We are headed there in a few weeks and will be staying at AoA. I've heard all kinds of conflicting information about bus travel between parks. For AoA and POP are they only using buses for MK and AK (since they are "Skyliner resorts"?) I had thought that buses were still an option there... but I could be wrong. We want to try Skyliner, but have heard horror stories about trying to use it for rope drop at DHS and Epcot. Is Skyliner our only option for those parks?

Furthermore, for anyone that has stayed at those resorts, how early are the buses leaving for the parks? I know the official word from Disney is that the buses depart "45 minutes before park open", but we all know that the parks have been opening 30-45 minutes earlier than posted time in many cases... so does that put us out of luck for rope drop if we use buses? Is the time more like 60-75 minutes? We just want to be sufficiently prepared prior to our arrival.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Heather07438]

RE the third part. Official word from CMs is indeed 45minutes from official open. That’s basically their guarantee. Very commonly the first bus arrives 70 minutes prior. No guarantee but this usual. To increase your chances to board that first bus it’s recommended to be on the bus stop 80-90 minutes before official park open, this way you’re not behind 10 other parties all waiting to get on bus #1.

 

[a-mad]

RE the third part. Official word from CMs is indeed 45minutes from official open. That’s basically their guarantee. Very commonly the first bus arrives 70 minutes prior. No guarantee but this usual. To increase your chances to board that first bus it’s recommended to be on the bus stop 80-90 minutes before official park open, this way you’re not behind 10 other parties all waiting to get on bus #1.

That's what I was hoping. Thanks for the advice!