Bus Stops

[Cory's Gal]

Are there any threads about how the bus stops are lined up at the theme parks?? I would like to take this in consideration when choosing a resort for this spring...THANK YOU!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Not a good way to choose a resort. For instance...at DHS, POP is very close to the park entrance end of the bus que. But, at Epcot and MK, it's the very last stop. There is no rhyme nor reason to the line ups at the bus stops.
I have stayed at....CR, Polynesian, BC, BW, S/D, POR, OKW, ASMusic, POP....they all have their good points transportation wise as well as their negative points.
Better to choose a resort based on it's amenities and theming. The Epcot resorts (BW/BC/S/D) are all within easy walking distance to both Epcot and DHS...but their bus transportation to MK and AK are slow. The monorail resorts have great access to MK but you have to get over to the TTC to get the Epcot monorail and the buses to AK and DHS are slow.
The moderates all have multiple bus stops within their respective resorts..so you have to figure that into the equation. The AllStars sometimes lump all three resorts into one route, sometimes they split Movies up from Music and Sports. POP as a designated bus route...only one stop at the resort and it makes no other stops along the way....right to each park.
It's really a toss-up.

 

[RMulieri]

I wouldn't choose a resort this way.The Bus stop line ups at the themeparks change all the time.They can change if resort occupancy changes. Some trips BEach Club was one of the first stops at the MK, others it was futher down...I wouldn't base my trip on this

 

[Cory's Gal]

Thanks for replies, I am not planning on choosing a resort only on this factor of the bus stops, but I didn't know if they were all in the same order or different. I am hoping to limit even a few extra steps for my dad. I am mostly just curious, it seemed that the last time we stayed at Pop that our stop was always one of the last, good to know they change!!

 

[JXL]

goofy4tink mentioned that

"The Epcot resorts (BW/BC/S/D) are all within easy walking distance to both Epcot and DHS...but their bus transportation to MK and AK are slow"

How slow is bus transport from swan/dolphin to MK? what about going to Epcot and taking monorail to MK, would that be a better option?


thanks

 

[CleveRocks]

goofy4tink mentioned that

"The Epcot resorts (BW/BC/S/D) are all within easy walking distance to both Epcot and DHS...but their bus transportation to MK and AK are slow"

How slow is bus transport from swan/dolphin to MK? what about going to Epcot and taking monorail to MK, would that be a better option?


thanks

Going to Epcot and catching the monorail to MK is almost always a worse choice than catching the bus.

First things first, it won't work unless you have a park hopper ticket or an Annual Pass, since you would need to enter Epcot in order to accomplish this.

Second, it entails a walk of approximately 1.25 miles from Swolphin to the monorail station outside the front of Epcot. So even at a healthy 3 miles per hour walking pace, you're talking about a 25 minute walk. Then up to a 10 minute wait for the monorail. Then an 8 minute ride to the Transportation & Ticket Center, where you'll need to get off the Epcot monorail, walk down off the platform, and walk around to the express monorail platform and walk up and wait for a monorail. Maybe you could have a 5 minute wait, and then a trip of a less than five minutes ... so you're looking at it taking about a 50+ minute trip, and remember that included walking 1.25 miles. Also remember that you can't even do this until after 9 a.m. when Epcot opens (unless it's Extra Magic Hours at Epcot that morning).

The bus from right in front of your resort, including any waiting time, should not exceed 50+ minutes, it should take substantially less than that, and no extra walking involved.

And lastly ...

 

[goofy4tink]

I guess it's all relative when you discuss bus travel times. If you're used to getting on a bus at POP and going directly to the park, then you are going to be nudgy when riding the buses at most other resorts....for example.
When taking a bus to MK or AK from any of the Epcot resorts, it will be a bit longer. If boarding at BW, you will most certainly share a bus with those at the S/D....sometimes the bus stops at BW first, then it goes on to the Swan, then to the Dolphin, then off to the park. Sometimes, BW is last on the route and the bus goes to the park right from BW, but you may not have your party all seated together on the bus.
If at the YC/BC, you will have those two stops...then on to a park. But, a lot of times, the bus route will have all 5 of the resorts on the loop..especially after park opening runs. If you get on the bus at the BW for instance, at let's say 11am, and are heading to MK, you may very well stop at the S/D, then head to YC, then BC, before heading to a park.

You will find this to be the case at almost all resorts that have alternative transportation to a park(s). If you are staying at a monorail resort, you will find the buses to DHS and AK can take longer.

There really is no perfect resort....it's all about choices, and what is going to work for each family on each trip.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Thanks for replies, I am not planning on choosing a resort only on this factor of the bus stops, but I didn't know if they were all in the same order or different. I am hoping to limit even a few extra steps for my dad. I am mostly just curious, it seemed that the last time we stayed at Pop that our stop was always one of the last, good to know they change!!

If a few extra steps will make THAT much of a difference to your dad then you may want to consider renting him an ECV for the duration of your vacation. People frequently underestimate just how much walking they'll be doing at WDW. Anybody with mobility concerns should really look into ECVs or wheelchairs.

 

[KodakFigment]

Just my 2 cents... We found CS to consistently have a bus stop near the entrance at all the parks. Maybe it's the convention thing. Having stayed at a lot of deluxes we were really pleasantly surprised by this. So much in fact that DH says he would choose CS over any of the other moderates based on this alone...go figure

 

[Cory's Gal]

If a few extra steps will make THAT much of a difference to your dad then you may want to consider renting him an ECV for the duration of your vacation. People frequently underestimate just how much walking they'll be doing at WDW. Anybody with mobility concerns should really look into ECVs or wheelchairs.

Yes, we are most likely gonna have one especially for Epcot. He walks the treadmill most days and can do pretty well, I guess we are just trying to see if there are some spots were we can minimize it some, every little bit can help. Thanks for your input!!

Just my 2 cents... We found CS to consistently have a bus stop near the entrance at all the parks. Maybe it's the convention thing. Having stayed at a lot of deluxes we were really pleasantly surprised by this. So much in fact that DH says he would choose CS over any of the other moderates based on this alone...go figure

Thanks KodakFigment, we are looking at the moderate resorts for our trip, POFQ is one we are looking at and I have always liked the look of CSR! We like that FQ is a small resort but I will also look into CSR! Thanks for your reply!!

 

[pooh2001]

Maybe we have been wierd ,,,but....

We love the Dophin and EPCOT ... so one night we left MK (buses wre busy) and monorailed to EPCOT (extra late night hours) and then walked through, stopped at a few county snack places, and then boated back to the Dolphin.

We used 2 WDW transportations and a great evening activity to get back to the Dolphin !

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

In my experience the last few times I was at Hollywood Studios the bus stop for the Contemporary/Polynesian/Grand Floridian was located at the far end, far away from the entrance gates. So there is an example of 3 Deluxe Resorts that don't have the best location, even though those are considered to be some of the most expensive resorts. In fact one time as we were walking back to the bus stations the bus was there and we started to run, however we just missed it. Now some one might say we should have left 5 minutes earlier and we would have made it, however we had no idea it was already there and if it was closer to the front maybe we would have got on and not had to wait for the next one.

 

[cranbiz]

OK Bus stop locations as of Sunday, not likely to change soon.

All parks combine/move these stops when the park is almost empty. If that happens when you are still there a driver will direct you to the right place

Magic Kingdom A Side Closest to farthest Left of Info Booth

1: CSR
10: WL
2: SSR
9:OKW
3: AKL
8: YC/BC
4: Empty-Riverside overflow
7: BW/SW/DO
5: Riverside
6: FQ
During the day, RS and FQ are combined out of #5
Magic Kingdom B Side right of Info Booth

11: Empty
12: ASMo
13: ASMu
14: ASSp
15: Empty
16: CBR
17: Empty-POP Overflow
18: POP

EPCOT

East side as you come to the bus area, 1-5 is to the left with 1 being the farthest away and 6-8 to the right.

1: OKW
2: SSR
4: WL/FW
5: AK
6: AKL
7: CSR/BB
8: POR

West side as you come into the bus area past Bus Info 9-12 is to the left with 9 being farthest and 13-15 to the right.

9: DHS
10: CBR
11: Empty - TTC when monorail is down
12: POP
13: ASR
14: ASR- Closing only
15: Empty

Studios as you come to the bus info booth 1-6 is to your left and 7-14 is to your right 1 and 14 are the farthest away

1: ASR - Closing
2: ASR
3: EPCOT
4: SSR
5: OKW
6: CSR
Right side of Bus info
7: AK
8: AKL/BB
9: POP
10: CBR
11: TTC/MK
12: CO/PO/FLO
13: WL/FW
14: POR

Charter lot to the left of bus info C11 Sports Complex

Animal Kingdom Side A and B
1: WL/GF
10: FW
2: CO/PO
9: OKW
3: SW/DO/YC/BC/BW
8: CSR
4: SSR
7: AKL
5: CBR
6: POR

Animal Kingdom Side C

11: ASR
12: POP
13: EPCOT
14: TTC/MK
15: DHS

DTD MP/PI/TL are all the same

1: POR , OKW - Separate bus for each
2: SW/DO/YC/BC/BW
3: SSR , CO/PO - Separate bus for SSR and for the CO/PO combo
4: WL/GF , FW - Separate bus for WL/GF combo and for FW
5: AKL , CSR - Separate bus for each
6: CBR
7: ASR
8: POP

I'm sorry but I don't remember the exact order of BB as I have not been in there recently so just follow the signage.

 

[aubriee]

Just my 2 cents... We found CS to consistently have a bus stop near the entrance at all the parks. Maybe it's the convention thing. Having stayed at a lot of deluxes we were really pleasantly surprised by this. So much in fact that DH says he would choose CS over any of the other moderates based on this alone...go figure

This is what I was going to post. I was just there Sept 26th-Oct 4th and found CSR to have the best bus transportation of any WDW resort I've ever stayed at. I was also there about three years ago and found the same thing. It just seems like CSR stops are always close to the park gates.

Just FYI: I've stayed at POP, AS Sports, AS Music, POFQ, PORS, CBR, CSR, BW, WL, and AKL. CSR has always beaten all of them as far as bus transportation goes.