Bus from All Star to MK?

[Partyof12]

We are staying at the All Star Music family suites in November. Can someone tell me how often the bus to MK runs. Also, do you still have to take the monorail from the bus stop or does it go straight to the gate?

Also we have CP breakfast at 8:20 AM. Will we be able to take the bus early enough to get there before our reservation?

Also is it really difficult to get the bus back after the fireworks? We will have five little children with our party, so are worried about long lines for the bus late at night when they are already tired.

Would appreciate any information. This is the first time we are staying "on property"

Thanks

 

[WEDWDW]

The buses will run approximately every 20 minutes.They will take you directly to the front gate at Magic Kingdom.There should be buses beginning at around 7:00 AM to take people to the parks in time for the Characer Breakfasts,but I would definitely verify this schedule with the Lobby Concierge at your resort.When leaving Magic Kingdom after the fireworks,it can be a long wait for buses.Sometimes they will bring 2 or even 3 buses simultaneously and it is not bad at all.Even if you get on a bus pretty quickly,there is still a good chance you will have to stand.It is about a 15 minute ride back to your resort.With so many children,you may want to consider driving if you have a car,but remember you will have to get in line for either the monorail or ferry back to the TTC and then ride a tram back to your car.I never have a car at WDW and enjoy not having to drive anywhere.I have found WDW transportation to be as efficient as can be expected,but it can be time-consuming and tiring when you have to stand at the end of a long day.I love staying on-property-I hope you have a great trip!

 

[Robo]

The buses will run approximately every 20 minutes.They will take you directly to the front gate at Magic Kingdom.There should be buses beginning at around 7:00 AM to take people to the parks in time for the Characer Breakfasts,but I would definitely verify this schedule with the Lobby Concierge at your resort.When leaving Magic Kingdom after the fireworks,it can be a long wait for buses.Sometimes they will bring 2 or even 3 buses simultaneously and it is not bad at all.Even if you get on a bus pretty quickly,there is still a good chance you will have to stand.It is about a 15 minute ride back to your resort.With so many children,you may want to consider driving if you have a car,but remember you will have to get in line for either the monorail or ferry back to the TTC and then ride a tram back to your car.I never have a car at WDW and enjoy not having to drive anywhere.I have found WDW transportation to be as efficient as can be expected,but it can be time-consuming and tiring when you have to stand at the end of a long day.I love staying on-property-I hope you have a great trip!

Ditto to all of that.
("Breakfast buses" actually start as early as 6:45am).

 

[luvpoohbear]

Like WED said, either way, whether you drive or ride the bus, you will have to stand in a line at the end of the day. Personally, I think that the lines for the monorail and/or the ferry are worse than waiting on a bus. After you get back to the TTC, then you have to stand in line again for the tram!!

When you ride the bus, all you do is walk to the bus stop, wait in the appropriate line for your resort and get on the bus. Yes, depending on the crowd level, you may not make the first bus, but at least you don't have to go anywhere else.

It is always harder with little ones, but it takes a lot more stress off of you if you don't have to worry about getting back to the car and waiting in the traffic to get out of the park. Yes, you may have to stand on the bus, but at least you don't have to worry about driving, and you can somewhat relax and enjoy the ride.

My family absolutely loves the WDW transportation. It is so nice to be able to get on a bus and go where you want. No keeping up with car keys while you are in the parks!

 

[Dis-Wiz]

We, too, are staying at the All Star (next summer), and I would like to add to some of her questions.

I was wondering if any of you know the order of the drop-off and pick-ups of all the All Stars. It has been a long time since our last stay at All Star so I have forgotten.

For example:
Do you know if we stay at All Star Sports, if we will be brought directly to the MK, or do we stop at ASMu and ASMo on the way?

I was just wondering if there is a specific order the buses stop at the All Star resorts. If anybody knows this info. or can tell me if I can find it somewhere, it would be appreciated . Thank you.

 

[Robo]

Do you know if we stay at All Star Sports, if we will be brought directly to the MK, or do we stop at ASMu and ASMo on the way?

I was just wondering if there is a specific order the buses stop at the All Star resorts. If anybody knows this info. or can tell me if I can find it somewhere, it would be appreciated . Thank you.

This can CHANGE with EACH bus in the mornings.
Order of resorts coming in from the main entrance is:
Sports
Music
Movies

If a bus that stops first at Sports, "fills" at Sports, it most-likely will not go on to Music and Movies.
Sometimes (often) it WILL go on to one or both of the others, if it still has some room left after Sports.

If its a busy time going to a busy PARK (EMH, for example) there will be more buses dispatched to each resort GOING to that park that morning.
Chances are that there will be a separate bus (to, say MK) sent to EACH All Star Resort section due to crowds.
But you simply NEVER KNOW.
I have seen a bus in the morning that went directly to Movies FIRST, then, as it drove by Sports on its way out, turn in and pick up a line of guests at Sports.

At night, at closing time, there are separate buses to EACH (Sports, Music, Movies) Resort... until the crowds get dwindled down, then two (or all three) resorts will board a single bus that will stop at all three resorts in the order of Sports, Music, Movies.

Even after all that... its up to the DRIVERS and the DISPATCHERS and can change on a "bus-by-bus" basis.

I have been on so many trips to and from All Atar, that I've "seen it all".

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

You can avoid the rush at park closing by finding a quiet corner and just enjoy people watching for a half hour or so and then saunter to the bus, where you will most likely be able to find seats for you all.

It is what we do since I learned this trick on the boards.

If you rush you will most likely end up fighting the crowd all the way and then still have to stand in line for about the same amount of time you would have spent just resting a bit.

Slightly Goofy

 

[handicap18]

The only time I found the bus lines crazy crowded going back to All Stars was at the closing of EMH (only used MGM and Epcot right to the very end of EMH). It took a bit longer than normal, but they did have double busses each time. Longest wait at the hotel I experienced was 20 minutes. More often it was less than than.

The majority of the time coming back from a park, Sports is the first one droped off. And the majority of the time when we got on the bus at Movies, there were already people on from Music and Sports and we went directly to the park from Movies. However, there were occassional deviations to this.

In the morning we got on a bus at about 7:10 for an 8:05 CP reservation. They actually opened the gate to those with early breakfasts at 7:45/7:50.

 

[Dis-Wiz]

This can CHANGE with EACH bus in the mornings.
Order of resorts coming in from the main entrance is:
Sports
Music
Movies

If a bus that stops first at Sports, "fills" at Sports, it most-likely will not go on to Music and Movies.
Sometimes (often) it WILL go on to one or both of the others, if it still has some room left after Sports.

If its a busy time going to a busy PARK (EMH, for example) there will be more buses dispatched to each resort GOING to that park that morning.
Chances are that there will be a separate bus (to, say MK) sent to EACH All Star Resort section due to crowds.
But you simply NEVER KNOW.
I have seen a bus in the morning that went directly to Movies FIRST, then, as it drove by Sports on its way out, turn in and pick up a line of guests at Sports.

At night, at closing time, there are separate buses to EACH (Sports, Music, Movies) Resort... until the crowds get dwindled down, then two (or all three) resorts will board a single bus that will stop at all three resorts in the order of Sports, Music, Movies.

Even after all that... its up to the DRIVERS and the DISPATCHERS and can change on a "bus-by-bus" basis.

I have been on so many trips to and from All Atar, that I've "seen it all".

Hey, thanks a lot for your help! We used to stay at All Star all the time, but I just could not remember the bus routine.

So, with all of your info., which All Star resort would be best for getting a direct ride to and from the MK? I know that the buses often change up their route, but there must be some kind of basic routine their often use.

TIA!

 

[Robo]

...which All Star resort would be best for getting a direct ride to and from the MK? I know that the buses often change up their route, but there must be some kind of basic routine their often use.

No, there really is not. We stay for 9-12 days at a time (up to 3 trips a year), go to the parks every day and every night, and we "pay attention" to these things.
You stand a virtually equal chance of getting a "direct" bus GOING TO the MK from any of the All Stars in the early morning.

I'd say that you are most likely to get a STANDING ROOM bus from Movies that does not stop at either of the others on its way to MK (because it has just LOADED at the others already).

Its at NIGHT when you get the slight "advantage" (if there IS one) at SPORTS.
It will nearly ALWAYS be the section that an All Star "combo" bus will stop at first to drop off sleepy guests.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

The All Star Resorts have great bus transportation. We have never been disappointed. We tour during the summer months and the only bus that picked up from the Movies that already had people from other All Star Resorts was the bus to Downtown Disney. All other buses were completely empty upon arriving at All Star Movies. The bus system changes on the fly, supply and demand, you never really know what you're gonna get.

That being said, we normally ride the buses to the parks in the AM. With the exception of the water parks and Downtown Disney, it is almost always faster to take your own car to TL, BB, or DD, esp when heading back to the hotel. In the evenings it is almost always faster to get back to the hotel if you use your own car, esp at MGM after a showing of Fantasmic. The only exception is MK. Always take the busses to MK.

If you decide to take a bus to a theme park and the line is ridiculous going back in the evening, take a cab. The only place this will not work is MK, because the cab stand is located at the TTC.

Have a great trip!