Best DVC resort to use Disney transportation?

[beezerdave]

We are planning a short 3-night visit next year that will culminate with a 3-night Disney cruise at the end. We usually rent a car while down there but thought that just using Disney transport while at WDW might be cheaper (will use ME to WDW and then the cruise transport to and from that). Which of the DVD resorts do you think has the best (fastest, easiest) bus routes?

 

[sleepydog25]

I've no doubt you'll get lots of varying answers on this one, so let me be the first. Though some will disagree, we found the buses and boats at VWL to be perfectly fine. They've mostly run on time, mostly had minimal stops, and it's great to have both a boat and a bus that go directly to MK. The big plus to us is that VWL is so relaxing to begin with. Enjoy!

 

[BillPA]

It really depends what you want to do. If you like EPCOT & The Studios then BWV or BCV, if you like MK then VWL, if you will be at DTD most then SSR. If you just want to relax have large rooms with about equal travel time to the resorts then OKW is for you. OKW also has boat service to SSR and DTD

There really is much difference in the bus service by resort. BWV and BCV you can walk of boat to EPCOT & MGM, OKW boat to DTD, VWL boat to MK.

You can't go wrong with any DVC resort.

Have a great cruise and trip to WDW.

 

[vascubaguy]

I haven't stayed at VWL before but I would guess it would be one of the better for transportation. Sure it shares with the WL but there's only 1 stop.

SSR has dedicated buses but it makes several stops, same with OKW.

I liked that BWV we only had to deal with buses for MK, AK and DD. It was nice to be able to grab a boat (or walk) to Epcot and MGM. There was always room on the boats. Additionally, we could head over to Epcot and hit a few rides in the morning then hop on the monorail over to MK. The really bad part about the buses at BWV was the multiple stops (BWV, Swan, Dolphin, and sometimes the BC/YC). BCV might not be too bad, but then again, I haven't taken any buses from there...

 

[rogerram]

I have to agree the BWV or BCV would be very easy. you having boats to either the studios or epcot or you can walk also. that leaves buses to the other parks.

 

[Doctor P]

If you want efficient and timely transportation to and from the parks and DTD, then DO NOT consider BCV or BWV. We use Disney transportation extensively on our trips and have stayed and used the transportation at every one of the on-site DVC resorts. If you are going to be using Disney transportation, I would rank the resorts in this order: 1. SSR; 2. OKW; 3. VWL; 4. BCV; 5. BWV.

With the exception of the International Gateway at Epcot, you will generally get to EVERY park (including MGM) faster using the buses from OKW or SSR than you will using the boat or walking from BWV or BCV (less ambience, yes, but more efficient and reliable transportation). I rank SSR very highly for its transportation after staying there recently. SSR has an advantage that no other resort has--proximity to DTD. This means that you can walk a few hundred yards and have access to a bus to any resort. In addition, it gives you another option to get back to SSR by taking a DTD bus. There are currently four bus stops at SSR and five at OKW, but there are SIX bus stops minimum on the route for BCV and BWV (Swan, Dolphin, BWV, YC, BC, and, often, Typhoon Lagoon). OKW and SSR are very well situated for access to the major routes to and from the parks, which makes the bus rides very efficient in our experience. YMMV.

 

[MinMouse]

We love the boat transportation at BWV. The bus trip tends to get cumbersome though stopping at Swan/Dolphin and sometimes BCV. But we usually head to MK, AK in the a.m. and then we can walk/boat into EPCOT and MGM in the evening.