Bus experience for the 1/2

[IamTrike]

I'm trying to figure out if our experience for the half was an anomaly. We were staying at POR and we were on a bus by 3:30 and didn't get to Epcot until just after 4:30. Is this the typical experience from those resorts on the half morning. Our driver seemed confused, so I'm trying to figure out if it was a case of him getting lost or just a result of the way the roads were blocked for the half causing a much worse traffic jam. Our experience for the full was completely different. We left about the same time and the trip only took about 15 minutes.

 

[Disfan11]

I'm trying to figure out if our experience for the half was an anomaly. We were staying at POR and we were on a bus by 3:30 and didn't get to Epcot until just after 4:30. Is this the typical experience from those resorts on the half morning. Our driver seemed confused, so I'm trying to figure out if it was a case of him getting lost or just a result of the way the roads were blocked for the half causing a much worse traffic jam. Our experience for the full was completely different. We left about the same time and the trip only took about 15 minutes.

We stayed at the POFQ for the Princess last year and we got on the bus around that time. But I think it only took about 20 minutes. Was it a Mears driver or a Disney bus? They were using both last year for the Expo and the run.
Ours was a smooth, fast trip.

 

[IamTrike]

We stayed at the POFQ for the Princess last year and we got on the bus around that time. But I think it only took about 20 minutes. Was it a Mears driver or a Disney bus? They were using both last year for the Expo and the run.
Ours was a smooth, fast trip.

It was a plain white bus. It didn't have any of the disney logo's or the Mear's logo's on it.

Our trip to the Marathon only took about 15 minutes.

 

[satman1962]

Two years ago, I was staying at the BeachClub for my first Disney Half Marathon and I was so anxious I was at the bus stop before 3 am! There was just one other runner waiting with me and the bus pulled up shortly after. The driver exited the bus stop area, drove to the first intersection, sat for a few moments, then rested her head on the steering wheel and said 'I don't know which way to go!" Well we were happy to direct her, but I imagine some of these drivers are brought in to handle the heavy load of runners and are very unfamiliar with the area.

Needless to say a strange first experience for me!

 

[halvnorsk]

We also stayed at POR and rode the bus both mornings. Saturday, we were on a bus by 3:15, but I bet it sat there for almost 30 min. waiting to fill up before leaving. By then the traffic was so bad that we didn't get to Epcot until around 4:30 or so. Sunday morning, we were again on a bus by 3:15, but they left almost right away and there was hardly any traffic to speak of. I figured it was the difference in the number of participants each day but maybe mostly the difference in departure times.

 

[DVC_Chris]

It did take a huge amount of time from Riverside... but I think the strangest thing was the soundtrack the bus was playing... I think I heard everything from the Jeffersons to Rocky Horror.

 

[Big Vic]

Ryan - We're you on the bus that did the lap around the resort before heading out the main entrance?

 

[Haas4Concern]

I've been to 4 of the marathon weekends since 2007 and from what I've seen is that there isn't a "normal" bus experience. Sometimes it is smooth and painless while other times are a complete mess. I ran the relay this year and the bus ride there wasn't bad at all. Sounds like the half was the "training run" this year for the drivers.

 

[KippWade]

I was at the bus stop at Pop just before 3 and made it over to Epcot in no time at all. I think it was 4 to 6 buses pulled in at once (yes, I'm not sure how many it was... it was EARLY!!)

 

[mrsR123]

This was my fifth marathon weekend and the worst bus service I have seen. I could not believe they didn't run buses from the expo to the parks. They held buses until they were nearly full causing folks to sit for long periods of time-- even when there were back-ups immediately adjacent.

The bus I took on race morning from Fort Wilderness went all through the MK area, then out on the highway all the way to the McDonalds where the driver did a u-turn. It took forever, but I figured sitting on a bus was better than standing around in a parking lot.

 

[IamTrike]

We also stayed at POR and rode the bus both mornings. Saturday, we were on a bus by 3:15, but I bet it sat there for almost 30 min. waiting to fill up before leaving. By then the traffic was so bad that we didn't get to Epcot until around 4:30 or so. Sunday morning, we were again on a bus by 3:15, but they left almost right away and there was hardly any traffic to speak of. I figured it was the difference in the number of participants each day but maybe mostly the difference in departure times.

I think we may have been on the same bus. I have text messages to people that I sent as we got on and off the bus. We started in the back of POR were on the bus at just after 3:30 and got the parks just after 4:30

Ryan - We're you on the bus that did the lap around the resort before heading out the main entrance?

I don't really remember. Got on at the bus stop by the mansions. When we got there, there were 2 buses and we got on the second bus. Our bus driver was talking to the first bus driving. I'm pretty sure I overheard him saying something along the lines of "oh, I'll just follow you"

 

[ahoff]

I had an interesting bus experience. I was running a bit late, and did not show up at the BW bus stop until 4am. I noted the line was much longer than I have seen at other races, but I was not worried at that point. As I got in line a bus was just pulling away. I started getting a bit concerned when no more buses arrived. How long does it take to go to Epcot and back, after all? At 4:30 I got more worried, and finally at 4:45 two buses arrived, one of the chartered race buses and a regular Disney bus. Luckily, I got onto the Disney bus. The driver was very cool, it was like the old days of Disney, when the drivers would interact more with the guests. He had us laughing and screaming, with varied humorous comments, my favorite being, "everyone close your eyes, I'm running this stop sign". He went in a different direction than the race bus, and most certainly exceeded the limit, and we were at Epcot pretty quick, only to get into a long line of other buses. At which point he laid on the horn a few times, to many cheers. (not that it made us move any faster, but made us all laugh) When we finally got off, I had to run to the bag drop, and then run to the start. The road to the corralls was wall to wall (shoulder to shoulder?), and a group of us were almost running through the woods to get by. I missed the start, I saw the fireworks go off while caught in a crowd back by corral D. I did manage to get to my corral before the next wave went off, and did catch up to the pack. Of course by then I was all warmed up!

The following day I had volunteered for a water stop, and had to be at WWoS by 2:45 to start my shift. Since the night was so nice with a big moon I decided to walk, something I had thought about while waiting for the bus the last two years for W&D. I saw hardly any traffic, and took less than an hour, so if I do another W&D, I might walk to the start. It's like walking to MGM three times.......

 

[RadioFanatic]

The buses from BCV to the 1/2 marathon were AWFUL! We got there before 4 am and there were several hundred people in line just waiting for the buses. Then there were no buses coming for a long time. We didn't even get on the bus until 4:45 am. Then the traffic was awful so didn't get to the drop off point until 5:10 am. Then the walk from there to the corral was packed with people and slow. One of my group was in corral A but thankfully already intended to do corral C with the rest of us bc when we got there A had just left! We were pulling off clothes and running to the starting point to truly start! I was surprised Disney didn't have enough buses.

 

[halvnorsk]

I think we may have been on the same bus. I have text messages to people that I sent as we got on and off the bus. We started in the back of POR were on the bus at just after 3:30 and got the parks just after 4:30



I don't really remember. Got on at the bus stop by the mansions. When we got there, there were 2 buses and we got on the second bus. Our bus driver was talking to the first bus driving. I'm pretty sure I overheard him saying something along the lines of "oh, I'll just follow you"

We were on the first bus.

I was in corral B watching all those runners racing by on their way to corral A just moments before and after the start.

 

[K80K]

I drive in every year for the race and always get in early. I have to say that I have never seen traffic as bad as it was this year. Sunday was fine but the traffic we hit Saturday morning was unexpected. Lots of friends left the same time they had in previous years in cars and on buses and arrived with minutes to spare to the start line.

 

[Sandy321]

DH made us get on the first bus from BWV to the Half - I thought it was a bit early - but he was waiting for Chris from POR, and like others, the line was awful waiting..

I was much more upset with how they handled the drive AFTER the 1/2 -

To the Half each resort had a bus to take runners to Epcot - AFTER the half, it was ONE bus for FIVE resorts!! Some were saying they had been in line over an hour waiting for busses - that's just NOT right!

In 2010 and 2008 we stayed at BCV and had one bus for each epcot resort - so no line - which was wonderful in 2010 - we felt it was worth the extra money to stay and not stand in line - what a shock THIS year was!

 

[we3peas]

I believe the buses and drivers were from Mears and other companies. There were 169 buses (half the Disney fleet) for the weekend. Most drivers don't know their way around Disney, especially since they close roads and bring you in entrances not normally open to buses.

My DH did not have any problems getting on a bus from Fort Wilderness both days around 3:30am. For the 5K we drove our car since he could drop everyone off because he wasn't running it.

I'm so glad we didn't stay at an official race resort. DH's uncle and aunt stayed at All Stars Sports and had long waits to get there and leave. After both long races our bus lines were short and we walked right on. I even got to be the announcement person for the bus, how cool!

 

[DisneyRunnerChick]

We had no problems getting there but getting back was a nightmare. We were staying at YC, and for some crazy reason all the Epcot resorts were sharing one bus line. It looped around twice before stretching way back. What made it worse was the lines were between the porta potties, which were providing a not-so-pleasant odor. Standing in a draft of Eau de Poop for nearly an hour is not my ideal after race routine.

We had a similarly bad experience leaving Wine-and-Dine. I'm hoping Princess is better. :-/

 

[goofyinohio]

I did the 3:30 bus from Pop both days. Really no lines on either day to get on the bus unlike previous years, but I used to get on the bus closer to 4.

Ride in during the half it was starting to back up, but we cruised in pretty easily. Sunday was even smoother. No wait at all.

Coming back from the half I hopped right on a bus and it took me no time. Coming back from the relay to Epcot was a bit of a challenge, but they only have so many roads to work with so it took a little while to get from the transition area to EPCOT. Not bad though.
Coming back to Pop after that was easy, but the 3:30 Marathoners were just coming in so the Family reunion area was empty for the most part.

 

[ironz]

From/to SSR:

5K: no problems that I remember...

Half: Long lines when we arrived at the bus stop about 3:30. Noticed that the bus was on the opposite side of the road from where it was for the expo, the 5K, and the marathon. Had to wait for 2 busses, I think. Traffic seemed much worse for the half and it felt like we drove quite a roundabout way, but I was too tired to look to see which direction we went. Our driver was fairly aggressive, and I got the idea that the left side lanes were supposed to be busses only, as we passed a lot of busses in the right side lanes on our way to Epcot. Did have to hustle to the race start, and my friend in Corral B started with Corral C, I think.

Coming back, SSR and OKW shared a bus. The line was a little bit long (I finished in 3 hours), but I think I was the last on the 2nd bus that came when I was in line. One critique was that you had to walk to the fronts of the lines to see the signs for which bus went where, then haul yourself back to the end of the line. Some signage further back would have been helpful.

Marathon:
Went to the bus a little earlier, maybe 3:20, anticipating the crowds from the half. No one in line. Ended up on a WDW bus, so not as comfy, but no wait, and no traffic. Plenty of time to chill before the race start.
Coming back, well, I pulled out at mile 8 so there were very few finishers in the finish area. Got straight back to SSR so I could clean up and go back to cheer on my friends.