Best buses from a moderate resort ?

[pooh2001]

We have never stayed at a a moderate WDW resort - but due to the ecomony, a WDW moderate will be affordable for us. We are a family of 4 - DH, DW and teen DS & teen DD. We stay at WDW for at least 12 days, spend most of our time in the WDW parks and use the pool about every other day for about 30-40 minutes. We are not the people who hang out at the pool all afternoon.

But we are concerned about the bus system during peak holiday time. We will be at WDW for Easter weeks in 2010.

Which WDW moderate resort has the best bus system during the holidays ?

Please base your opinion on:
1) Average time it takes for the bus to get to the parks from the moderate resort's bus stop(s) ?

2) Average wait for a bus to arrive at the moderate resort's bus stop(s) ?

3) How many times did you not find a seat on a bus when you returned from a WDW park to your WDW moderate resort ?


Thank you for all your opinions !

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay...here's the thing. I voted POFQ. Why? Because they have just one stop in that particular resort. But, on the days/nights they blend with POR, it adds up to a total of 5 stops. But, there may well be times you don't share on that route...few and far between, but there have been times.

I would advise you to choose a moderate based on the theming you would enjoy...not the bus system. The buses, from all resorts, are going to be stretched to the breaking point at this time of year. There is not a resort that is going to give you 'great' bus service around Easter-time...it just isn't possible.
Your wait times may vary...depends on many things. YOu may just be walking up to the stop as the bus you want pulls up. There may be a few other guests waiting for the same bus, or there may be many, many others waiting. You may walk up just as the bus you wanted pulls away. So, you may have an addtl 20 min wait...depending on the time of day. Same thing goes for park closing buses.
I have yet to have an issue with the buses to POR/POFQ. But my friend had an issue at POFQ last spring...may have been a one time thing, may not. No way of knowing.
The other resorts....CBR, CSR, POR all have multiple stops within the resort..this adds time to each trip.

From the sounds of it, you may be better off renting a car. And that would be my advice no matter where you stayed...deluxe, moderate, or a value. Transportation at WDW, during Spring Break/Easter. is not a quick thing. Many, many people on just so many buses, boats and monorails. Makes for some longish waits.

 

[pooh2001]

Goofy4Tink - thanks for the reply.

My teens thought the POFQ pool looks to babyish for them - so they are leaning towards CSR b/c of the Dig Site pool and 123' slide.


When we stayed at CR during Easter weeks, the walk to and from MK was great and so was the monorail.

When we stayed at the Dolphin during Easter weeks, the boat to DHS and walk to EPCOT worked out great. The bus was shared by Y/C and BW but was never too busy.

But with our money situation, the only way to go back to WDW will be to stay at a moderate and save us about $1500.

Our only hope is to have the Dolphin give us a rate around $180 - the same rate as the moderates during peak season. Then we can stay again at the Dolphin and use our Chase Visa Disney reward dollars as our own form of 'meal plan'.....
Unless WDW comes out with some great rates or deals next year (we have never been offered a PIN code )

Thanks!

 

[Tozzie]

Prior to buying DVC , I have stayed at all the moderate hotels at one time or another and my absolute favorite was Coronado Springs. I like the theming, the pool, the food court just everything, I also found the buses to be good, IME the lines were not as long at the end of the night, as it is a convention resort and not all the guests are park going. That is just my opinion.

 

[pooh2001]

any other opinions ?

It is almost tied between POFQ and CSR !

That is our dilema...which resort, we like both CSR and POFQ

The bus may make or break our choice of which moderate.

If the bus service at the moderate when we stay in 2010 is the worst service my family experiences, my DH may say 'no more vacations at WDW' . I would hate to see that happen.

My family does not want a bus to everywhere, even though it what we can afford. They have been spoiled with deluxe resorts - walking to MK from CR, walking to EPCOT and boat to DHS from the Dolphin, and the boat to MK from WL is so relaxing in the early AM.

 

[pooh2001]

anyone else have an opinion for my poll ?

 

[magicaldisney]

We have stayed at POR, POFQ and CSR. As for the best bus service, we prefer CSR hands down. However, it is not our favorite moderate resort overall. We prefer POR for the best overall mod. If you are looking at bus service only, then CSR.

Just wondering, have you considered renting points from a DVC member? You might find that you can get yourself into Boardwalk, Beach Club, or Contemporary for close to the price you will pay for a moderate. Then you will be close to Epcot or MK.

 

[MICKEEP]

The bus service to all resorts is equal in terms of efficiency and frequency. The only thing that would separate one from the other would be the amount of stops the bus makes. CSR has 4 stops, CBR has 7 stops, PORS has 4 stops but POFQ has only one stop.

That is why I voted for POFQ. When traveling to and from MK and returning after Epcot closes there is a direct bus to the one stop at POFQ. Also the buses from HS, AK and Epcot stop at and pick up at FQ first.

The only downside is that the DTD bus will stop at FQ last

 

[magicaldisney]

The bus service to all resorts is equal in terms of efficiency and frequency.

I don't agree. The BETTER efficiency and frequency was noticeable at CSR. As I said, CSR is not our favorite resort, but the bus service was without a doubt better.

 

[dacky041208]

I don't agree. The BETTER efficiency and frequency was noticeable at CSR. As I said, CSR is not our favorite resort, but the bus service was without a doubt better.

I was at CSR last year for 2 weeks and we seemed to have an easy time with the buses. I think that POFQ would be my 2nd choice. Not to mention at CSR, there are usually a good number of people at conventions, so that is just less people waiting at the bus stops.

 

[Charleyann]

Not only is the bus service good, but the resort is small and compact and you have the boats to Downtown Disney. Oh, the carriage ride was beautiful too. We took the last one of the evening and were able to see fireworks from the carriage.

It was a beauiful ride around both French Quarters and Riverside....

Enjoy the Christmas Spirit not matter where you stay!

Charleyann