Best resort bus service: Pop, POFQ, WL?

[ppjohnston]

Stayed at Pop in 2016. Upgrading hotel this trip for something a little quieter and/or smaller - we're 2 adults in our early 50's. Pop was great for the price...bus service especially......in 6 days we waited more than 15 minutes maybe twice. Booked POFQ but considering WL (depending on January discounts). Any recommendations for other resorts? Feedback on buses to/from parks?

Thanks!!

 

[Judy-Hopps]

Following! We booked POFQ for our next trip but may considering splitting pending February discounts. I believe with these two resorts, the transportation will be great- having bus and boat to bring you to different locations. We stayed at CBR about 6 months ago and loved it but hated we only had one way of transportation. So if the line was long, too bad because we couldn't go anywhere else.

I've read that POFQ shares with POR so the bus may be crowded and may have to wait. But I've also heard that POFQ is the first stop. I've read that WL sometimes shares with FW so again you might have to wait. I am not certain on wait times for these. I guess it all depends on the year.

 

[JerseyJanice]

All good. Stayed at all 3 and had no big issues with transport at any of them.

 

[MsThumper]

I'm not saying the bus service is bad at WL, but they used to share a bus for every park except MK. We started staying at the EPCOT resorts instead of WL and that was one of the reasons. When going to EPCOT, I believe they went to Fort Wilderness first. For AK and HS they either went to Poly and/or GF first. It's been many years since we stayed at WL, so somebody correct me if this is no longer true.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I'm not saying the bus service is bad at WL, but they used to share a bus for every park except MK. We started staying at the EPCOT resorts instead of WL and that was one of the reasons. When going to EPCOT, I believe they went to Fort Wilderness first. For AK and HS they either went to Poly and/or GF first. It's been many years since we stayed at WL, so somebody correct me if this is no longer true.

IDK, if it's true or it depends on the time of year or the time frame itself. During our stay in 2002, some transport at WL was shared with FW. In 2012, nothing was.

 

[goofyintoronto]

If your looking for a quiet hotel, im not sure Pop is the best choice. I loooove that resort, but its not quiet. And its huge! I would think the quietest would be WL. I love that you can take the boat to MK. But unfortunately I dont know what the buses are like.

 

[preemiemama]

I can tell you that last year, we had great bus service from WL. However, 2 weeks ago it was awful for everywhere but MK.

In the am, MK has its own bus. In the pm, it shares with Fort Wilderness. It's a quick stop close to the Hoop de Doo show's theater, though, so not a time killer.

AK and DHS share a bus with Contemporary, and they were both routinely running about 45 minutes apart. This held true at the parks as well- typically 45 minute wait for the next bus. One morning the 8:00 bus came for AK and DHS, and at 9:15 there was a bus for AK but still not DHS in spite of the fact that the person working on transportation had called 3 times for one to come. That 9:15 bus to AK still stopped at Contemporary- I know because I was on it- and it did not arrive at AK until 9:45.

Epcot shares a bus with Fort Wilderness, but at the Outpost. This is a longer ride than where you go for the MK stop, and tends to be more crowded. Again, the bus was running routinely in the 45 minute range. One day at Epcot I saw 3 SSR buses stop next to me to leave the park before one WL bus arrived.

I know not everyone has shared this experience- we certainly did not last year. It may also be corrected with the Copper Creek area being open now. Or, it may just be hit and miss. WL is a beautiful resort, and we enjoyed our time there for both of our trips. However, the bus service was certainly not up to what I would have expected on this last trip.

 

[Sparky Duck]

WL boat and POFQ boat both help improve the transportation at both, especially since you can then transfer almost anywhere from MK and DS when the boat lands.

 

[stinkpickle]

...something a little quieter and/or smaller...

THIS just screams POFQ.

 

[helenm29]

POFQ was the easiest time we ever had riding the bus. We never had to wait more then 5 or 10 minutes the whole 10 stay and they were never over full

 

[Babsy]

Buses to/from parks can be good or bad from any resort. We have stayed at them all over the years and had trips with almost no wait for buses and trips where long waits for a bus seemed the norm. There is no magic resort where you will be guaranteed quick bus service all the time. Sorry, but that is the way it is, really. People sometimes experience one extreme or the other, but generally you will wait about 20 minutes for the next bus if you just missed one heading to your current theme park choice.

Some resorts may share with some other resorts so the ride itself may be a little longer as a result, but time waiting for the bus is not that variable overall. When sharing, it is nice to be at the resort typically picked up first if a seat is important, but it is nice to be at the last pick up if you want to head straight to the park.

That said, of the three that you mentioned POFQ is the smallest moderate resort and gets great reviews by people enjoying the small size, single bus stop and quiet atmosphere. It sounds like a good fit for you.

WL is nice also and has the advantage of being under one roof and the rooms have balconies.

Good luck choosing!!!