Bus Service 1st week of December?

[Kelli72]

Hello! I have read so many reviews that say the bus transportation is a hassle. We will be staying at AS Sports 04-09 Dec. Has anyone been in early December and found it to be okay due to lower than average crowds? I am just curious to hear any experiences from anyone who has traveled this time of year in the past. Thank you!

 

[BigredNole]

Buses will be the same no matter what time of year you are there. Going to the parks may be easier because most of the AS resorts are solidly booked for Pop Warner that week.

 

[AngiTN]

We've been during every imaginable crowd level. Never noticed a single different in bus service. Disney's buses run pretty much continually, showing up every 20 min or so. They don't show up less when there are fewer guests. There are however, glitches and sometimes they don't quite make that cycle, sometimes they are faster.
Sometimes you have good timing and you show up just as a bus is arriving.
Sometimes you have bad timing and you show up just as a bus is departing.
That can be 5 min difference yet make a HUGE impact on your perception of the bus service. If you are in mostly in group A, you think the resort in question has the best service ever. If you are in group B more, you think it's the worse. And each group can be there at the same exact time only hitting the same exact bus stop a few minutes apart.

 

[recmouse]

Hello! I have read so many reviews that say the bus transportation is a hassle. We will be staying at AS Sports 04-09 Dec. Has anyone been in early December and found it to be okay due to lower than average crowds? I am just curious to hear any experiences from anyone who has traveled this time of year in the past. Thank you!

Pretty sure the crowds won't be lower than average... I'm going then also and getting a DVC room was nuts at 7 months out. I hope I'm wrong!

 

[keepswimming76]

Pretty sure the crowds won't be lower than average... I'm going then also and getting a DVC room was nuts at 7 months out. I hope I'm wrong!

I'll be there a few days that weekend as well this year. We've been over that weekend last year and the crowds didn't seem bad at all. They were better than crowds we've experienced at the end of September. The only day that seemed hairy was on a Saturday at Epcot, which was to be expected.

 

[buzznina]

We've been during every imaginable crowd level. Never noticed a single different in bus service. Disney's buses run pretty much continually, showing up every 20 min or so. They don't show up less when there are fewer guests. There are however, glitches and sometimes they don't quite make that cycle, sometimes they are faster.
Sometimes you have good timing and you show up just as a bus is arriving.
Sometimes you have bad timing and you show up just as a bus is departing.
That can be 5 min difference yet make a HUGE impact on your perception of the bus service. If you are in mostly in group A, you think the resort in question has the best service ever. If you are in group B more, you think it's the worse. And each group can be there at the same exact time only hitting the same exact bus stop a few minutes apart.

This!!
Been on 30+ trips and it amazes me how many people think the buses are a hassle. People will spend $200-$400 more PER night just to not have to deal with buses or to save 10-20 minutes.

 

[AngiTN]

This!!
Been on 30+ trips and it amazes me how many people think the buses are a hassle. People will spend $200-$400 more PER night just to not have to deal with buses or to save 10-20 minutes.

I admit I'm doing this for NYE. Otherwise, I agree with you completely. But yeah, on NYE and NYEE (30th) I'm staying at resorts that are walking distance to the parks we will be in. On those nights, it will make a HUGE difference.

 

[CAS239]

This!!
Been on 30+ trips and it amazes me how many people think the buses are a hassle. People will spend $200-$400 more PER night just to not have to deal with buses or to save 10-20 minutes.

Or save money and stay offsite and not have to worry about taking the dreadful buses

 

[kmb584]

Buses will run as they always do.

As for the first week in December being lower crowds, that hidden gem is no longer hidden and crowds have been on a steady uptick. Several years ago our fall trip was always in October, but when I began to notice the crowds getting larger we switched to December's first week. It was great for, well, a single December trip. We've been to WDW that week multiple times and the crowds are worse than when we visit during the first into the second week of June!

 

[mamamelody2]

I'm sure it will be fine. Disney does a good job of adjusting bussing as needed.

 

[buzznina]

Or save money and stay offsite and not have to worry about taking the dreadful buses

So true. We actually think WDW does a great job with their transportation, will there be times a bus fails to come etc. yes but for us those times are pretty rare.

 

[AngiTN]

Or save money and stay offsite and not have to worry about taking the dreadful buses

But then one is left to drive oneself on vacation, which means limiting adult beverages, while on vacation. And driving, period, while on vacation. None of which sounds much like a vacation to me or DH.