Boardwalk to DTD by bus. How bad will it be?

[Cinderumbrella]

Again, the trip to DTD in the early afternoon is not a big deal and should not take more than 15-20 minutes plus wait time. It's the trip out of DTD that can be aggravating if you don't use the tips and tricks, and prepare yourself for delays.

But if you're not in a hurry and just lke the boat ride and walk, by all means go for it. There are no restrictions on taking the bus to another resort.

I respectfully disagree. The daytime bus will also be making a stop at Typhoon Lagoon before heading to DTD. That alone will probably be 10 minutes.

OP, I cannot stress enough how much better it is to take a taxi to and from DTD from the EPCOT resorts area. It will be about $12-$15 each way, depending on traffic and will take 10-15 minutes at the most.

We have had it take 60 minutes to get from the Marketplace to BWI when walking immediately onto a bus due to all of the stops, bus driver changes etc.

I agree with a PP that one of the reasons they do this is to prevent folks from utilizing the free parking as a way to avoid parking charges at the parks.

 

[joelkfla]

I respectfully disagree. The daytime bus will also be making a stop at Typhoon Lagoon before heading to DTD. That alone will probably be 10 minutes.

As I said earlier, buses to DTD stop at TL until about noon. After that, only buses leaving DTD stop at TL.

It's really determined by what time the bus originally left DTD for the resort. Usually the cut-off is 11 a.m., but since the time it takes for a bus to reach the resort varies, it's impossible to state an exact cut-off for buses leaving the resort. Noon is an estimate.

 

[eeyoresmom]

I completely understand how you feel, but in all reality, you aren't paying those deluxe prices for better bus transportation. You are paying for better park access at one or two parks. The other parks?? Oh well...stuck with the regular, crazy bus service.
In all seriousness??? The resorts with the best bus service? The values!!! Pop has some of the best bus service I have seen at WDW!!! No other stops, plentiful buses.

If you have the time, then sure, head to DHS, take their bus to SSR and walk to DTD. But it isn't going to save you any time over taking the bus directly (and I say that with tongue in cheek!!) from BW to DTD. But it will be relaxed.

What I am paying for is subjective. I don't think Disney has a policy on that yet I do expect at least on par service with the value resorts. Now, I agree that if I don't like the bus service I can stay somewhere else. And I usually do. Whenever I answer a thread about BW/BC I truthfully disclose that I have to think long and hard about the bus service here before booking. Sometimes I can suck it up, sometimes I can't and am more than happy to stay at another dvc resort. I read a lot of posts from surprised first time visitors about how bad the bus service here is, so I believe there are others out there that do feel like thay are paying for better bus service.

 

[maxiesmom]

What I am paying for is subjective. I don't think Disney has a policy on that yet I do expect at least on par service with the value resorts. Now, I agree that if I don't like the bus service I can stay somewhere else. And I usually do. Whenever I answer a thread about BW/BC I truthfully disclose that I have to think long and hard about the bus service here before booking. Sometimes I can suck it up, sometimes I can't and am more than happy to stay at another dvc resort. I read a lot of posts from surprised first time visitors about how bad the bus service here is, so I believe there are others out there that do feel like thay are paying for better bus service.

I disagree. Disney tells you what you are paying for when it comes to making your room choice. Nowhere in any Disney literature has it ever stated that by staying at a deluxe resort you get better bus service than those staying at a moderate or value resort. They do tell you what you get for paying more--bigger rooms, nicer pool/beach areas, locations closest to the parks. No mention is ever made of better bus service.

 

[eeyoresmom]

And what I am saying is that no one can tell another person what it is that they are paying the deluxe prices for. That is up to the guest. It was posted that I was not paying for better bus transportation, that I was paying for closeness to parks. Again, subjective to that person (who btw, was just stating her opinion I hope) No where does it say in Disney literature you are paying a higher price to stay at a deluxe because you are closer to a park. They may play that aspect up, but then why not play up the superior quick service and bus transportations at the values? All I am saying is that each person decides for themselves if the ameniites or lack of them is "worth" the price of the resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

What I am paying for is subjective. I don't think Disney has a policy on that yet I do expect at least on par service with the value resorts. Now, I agree that if I don't like the bus service I can stay somewhere else. And I usually do. Whenever I answer a thread about BW/BC I truthfully disclose that I have to think long and hard about the bus service here before booking. Sometimes I can suck it up, sometimes I can't and am more than happy to stay at another dvc resort. I read a lot of posts from surprised first time visitors about how bad the bus service here is, so I believe there are others out there that do feel like thay are paying for better bus service.

And what I am saying is that no one can tell another person what it is that they are paying the deluxe prices for. That is up to the guest. It was posted that I was not paying for better bus transportation, that I was paying for closeness to parks. Again, subjective to that person (who btw, was just stating her opinion I hope) No where does it say in Disney literature you are paying a higher price to stay at a deluxe because you are closer to a park. They may play that aspect up, but then why not play up the superior quick service and bus transportations at the values? All I am saying is that each person decides for themselves if the ameniites or lack of them is "worth" the price of the resort.

While it is 'subjective' it is also very easy to see how transportation works at each resort. When looking at resorts, you can see whether or not it has alternative transportation offered. You may 'think' that your deluxe resort stay should include better transportation but it doesn't. It is perfectly obvious to those that have stayed at deluxe resorts that their bus service isn't going to be any better than at a value. Nowhere in a resort description does it say 'and you get faster/more frequent bus service' at a deluxe.
I have a hard time thinking that someone staying at, say, BWI, is going to think the buses are going to be better there than at POR. The vast majority of first time guests don't even give busing a thought...unless they have found boards, such as this one, and then see that there could be an 'issue'.

This subject has been discussed over and over. We can only try to give concise info regarding how the resort busing system works. Do I wish BW's bus system was better? Sure. But, I realize it is what it is and plan accordingly. I am paying for easy access to both DHS and Epcot....and that is a very big deal. Same for those staying at MK resorts.

 

[goodferry]

I would agree that you should budget an hour each way, it's super frustrating lol. It isn't just a matter of stopping at other places, either. I have seen 2-3 buses come and go per park before a DTD bus showed up.

I can't figure out why Disney would make the bus service to the one place where you are pretty much just going to spend money so horrendous. I haven't staying at a resort where I would consider the bus service to DTD even remotely decent (including Pop). Once we got a rental car and saw how quick and easy it was to get there I got really annoyed, lol. From the Beach Club it was 12 minutes. Now unless we have a car or are willing to pay for a taxi, we skip it. There isn't anything there worth 2 hours of our vacation time on a bus.

With that said, if you were to walk to Hollywood Studios and catch a bus to Saratoga Springs and then walk over, it may take you less time than getting the bus at the Boardwalk.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've decided that I'm too impatient for that and have taken a cab to DTD if I stay at any resort other than POFQ or POR and could take the boat. I consider the boat another ride. LOL

I do this too. Happily, OKW and SSR also have boats (and you can easily walk from some sections of SSR).

I can't figure out why Disney would make the bus service to the one place where you are pretty much just going to spend money so horrendous.

I suspect it is just because DTD is a less popular destination---fewer people, fewer buses.

On the broader question of EP-area resort bus service: it's really only a big deal to AK, the water parks, or DTD. MK service is usually relatively efficient (often splits the resorts into two groups, reasonably frequent buses), and not much different from the other resorts. For EP and DS, you can either walk or take the boat. But, the trip to/from AK grinds my gears.