Bus Transportation around Disney World

[Halbleib1]

Disney Transportation is great in that you don't have to worry about the driving and figuring out the routes to take. However at the same time they need to do something about the scheduling of the buses. They say that you should only have to wait about 15-20 mins for a bus but that was not the case when we were just there. We had a wait of well over 30 mins at times waiting for a bus to take us from POP to a park or downtown. We watched quite a few buses come and go-lot of times for the same line and we still didn't get a bus for the park we were going to. We also were on a bus from Downtown back to Pop and were talking to people that were trying to get back to catch their Magical Express bus to the airport-of which they missed and they said that they waited well over an hour just for the bus to arrive. Also be aware that if it is shift change time you will have a longer wait as well. The only time we found that the system worked its best was when leaving a park at closing time. They were quick to line the buses up because they wanted everyone out of there so they can get home as well. Also take note that if you are trying to go from one resort to another and all the parks are closed you CAN NOT go to the transportation center to get a bus back to your resort you must catch a bus at one of the resorts to Downtown Disney and from their get the bus that is going to your resort. I found this out the hard way as it was my first trip their and you would think that from the transportation center you should be able to get any mode of transportation to anywhere around Disney right? WRONG! My husband was their last in 1996 and he felt that the transportation system worked more efficently at that time probably because they kept to the same route all day and now they change routes at different points and this maybe where mistakes happen. Whoever is giving the orders doesn't always realize that a bus has not been sent to pick some people up while their have been many buses sent to pick others up. Therefore creating a longer wait for some.

 

[snowy76]

First of all... Welcome to the DIS!!

I hear ya about the inconsistencies in the busing -- too any here, not enough there etc. That being said, Disney is starting to implement a newer system that involves GPS... it's supposed to be fully running by this summer, and it should alleviate many of those issues!

 

[ncbyrne]

Our upcoming trip Aug 22-28 will be our first time without a rental car, and our first time relying totally on WDW transportation. This thread has me nervous that we will be sorry we made this budget decision.

 

[dudspizza]

First of all... Welcome to the DIS!!

I hear ya about the inconsistencies in the busing -- too any here, not enough there etc. That being said, Disney is starting to implement a newer system that involves GPS... it's supposed to be fully running by this summer, and it should alleviate many of those issues!

Agreed, though I always make sure to budget enough time to get everywhere with Disney Transport. If I had to catch ME or had a dinner ressie, I would simply take a cab.

A little research would have told the OP that the TTC is not a hub for bus transfers. It was at one time, but is no longer used for that. The only Disney Transport buses are ones going to/from AK and MGM. Off site shuttles and buses us the TTC as well. Before the bus stops were added at MK, Disney Transport did use the TTC as a hub.

Duds

 

[snowy76]

Our upcoming trip Aug 22-28 will be our first time without a rental car, and our first time relying totally on WDW transportation. This thread has me nervous that we will be sorry we made this budget decision.

Don't be nervous! I always tell people to just make sure they have a realistic idea about how long buses may take. If you're traveling at a busy time (park opening or closing) you may have to wait for the second or third bus. And since the buses run constantly, ie, not on a set time schedule, some runs go faster than others depending on the day, how many people go to each park etc.

We've never used a rental car and have been just fine with it. We figure we're on vacation, so we won't spend time worrying about getting somewhere fast... we do enough of that at home!

 

[cranbiz]

I'm actually surprised that you had those problems at POP. Because it's one of the larger resorts, there are always buses going from the parks to POP and back.

The dispatch system at the parks is timed to call for a bus within 20 minutes of the last dispatch. If the guest level is heavy, then there can be problems as it may take another 10-20 minutes to divert a bus to handle the additional load. A lot of times a bus will be dispatched sooner than 20 minutes.

There is actually no such thing as "Shift Change" at WDW. Drivers will come in when scheduled (and a driver may have a shift of anywhere between 6 to 12 hours) and simply take over an existing bus. This process will add about 3-5 minutes to a wait time as the new driver inspects the bus for damage and adjusts the mirrors and seat to their preferences.

The new MiM system should help in this respect. A bus on another hub can be routed to fill a need. In addition there are now camera's at the busier locations that will be monitored to insure that a bus can be diverted to fulfill a need.

One of the reasons that the TTC is no longer a transportation hub is due to outside guests abusing the free parking at DTD.

Addressing the resort to resort issue, all of the parks and DTD are transportation hubs, therefore you should be using these hubs to transfer. There is no way that WDW can have resort to resort service and resort to park service with the number of buses in the fleet. Just like a city transit system, there are locations that may seem odvious to a rider that should be serviced directly that require a transfer to another bus. This is because of number of available buses, available drivers and demand.

To be able to offer resort to resort service would require a lot of additional expenses, which would result in higher prices somewhere. Or to keep expenses the same, would require cutting back on resort to park service.

The choice is up to our guests. Write Disney with what you want, if enough guests want a change, you will get it.

 

[Halbleib1]

I am well aware that they can not go from one resort to another and that you need to go to a park or the transportation center for a bus to another resort however if it is later at night you can not get a bus from the transportation center directly back to your resort you must get a bus to downtown disney first and from their get the right bus for your resort. If you are leaving a park that is open this is not an issue as you can get a bus directly to your resort. The problem that we had was that we were leaving a resort after having dinner and we could not pick up a bus from Magic Kingdom as that park and all the others were already closed for the night so we thought that we would go to the transportation center and get a bus. Wrong! We were told that no buses were leaving the transportation center and that we had to walk to one of the resorts and pick up a bus to downtown disney and from their get a bus going to our resort. The point that I was trying to make in my original post is that if they are going to have a transportation hub you should be able to get any mode of transportation that they offer. For example if you are looking to get a bus you should be able to do so even if the Magic Kingdom is closed being as it is after all the transportation center.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Because things do change, like the TTC no longer really being the Transportation center that it once was, it is very important to take a few minutes after checking to read the materials the desk gives you each and every time. You never know what small peice of very important info is in there, especially when it comes to transportation.

 

[goofy4tink]

Although this thread was revived from last spring, it seems to be in action again...so...I don't think that many people take a bus to the TTC in order to get a bus back to their resort. THere haven't been buses running to the resorts from there in my memory, but that could be flawed.
Always take a bus to DTD from a resort, in order to get to another resort, late at night. Or, have a cab called.
There is no way that Disney can provide for all situations. They do a pretty decent job as it stands now. So...at a resort late at night, and need to get back to your own resort? Bus to DTD and transfer to your resort bus, or, call a cab.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am well aware that they can not go from one resort to another and that you need to go to a park or the transportation center for a bus to another resort however if it is later at night you can not get a bus from the transportation center directly back to your resort you must get a bus to downtown disney first and from their get the right bus for your resort.

There are no resort buses at the Ticket and Transportation Center. You can't get one there at ANY time, much less late at night. There are buses to the theme parks (other than MK) and water parks. (There may still be a bus to Fort Wilderness. I can't remember if there is or not). All resort buses now go directly to the MK bus stops. Downtown Disney is now the usually cited bus hub for resort-to-resort travel and is the only option for switching buses after the parks close. The TTC has not been a resort bus hub for quite some time.

There are also no direct buses to Downtown Disney from TTC or from any of the theme parks. (As was posted by cranbiz, this is to cut down on guests parking at DTD, where there is no charge for parking, and using the bus system to get to the parks, thereby bypassing the now $11 parking fee.)

 

[cranbiz]

I am well aware that they can not go from one resort to another and that you need to go to a park or the transportation center for a bus to another resort however if it is later at night you can not get a bus from the transportation center directly back to your resort you must get a bus to downtown disney first and from their get the right bus for your resort. If you are leaving a park that is open this is not an issue as you can get a bus directly to your resort. The problem that we had was that we were leaving a resort after having dinner and we could not pick up a bus from Magic Kingdom as that park and all the others were already closed for the night so we thought that we would go to the transportation center and get a bus. Wrong! We were told that no buses were leaving the transportation center and that we had to walk to one of the resorts and pick up a bus to downtown disney and from their get a bus going to our resort. The point that I was trying to make in my original post is that if they are going to have a transportation hub you should be able to get any mode of transportation that they offer. For example if you are looking to get a bus you should be able to do so even if the Magic Kingdom is closed being as it is after all the transportation center.

Under this senario, you are asking to be transported to a closed park to transfer. This is not going to happen for several reasons. A closed park is just that CLOSED. You now no longer have the staff present to allow for these services This includes boat and monorail services. It also includes outside services like taxi's. What cabbie is going to wait at a closed park for a fare? None! You would also need additional security present to assure that guests don't try to enter the closed park. All of this is impractical or if practical, expensive. The TTC is still a transportation center, it's just not a transportation center like a central bus station. You have all of your taxi services, all outside bus service, a monorail station and a ferry dock and also park to park transportation. It just does not offer the services that YOU want. Sorry, guest abuse killed that for DTD and guest comments changed it for other areas.

 

[Endeavour105]

I am well aware that they can not go from one resort to another and that you need to go to a park or the transportation center for a bus to another resort however if it is later at night you can not get a bus from the transportation center directly back to your resort you must get a bus to downtown disney first and from their get the right bus for your resort. If you are leaving a park that is open this is not an issue as you can get a bus directly to your resort. The problem that we had was that we were leaving a resort after having dinner and we could not pick up a bus from Magic Kingdom as that park and all the others were already closed for the night so we thought that we would go to the transportation center and get a bus. Wrong! We were told that no buses were leaving the transportation center and that we had to walk to one of the resorts and pick up a bus to downtown disney and from their get a bus going to our resort. The point that I was trying to make in my original post is that if they are going to have a transportation hub you should be able to get any mode of transportation that they offer. For example if you are looking to get a bus you should be able to do so even if the Magic Kingdom is closed being as it is after all the transportation center.

You are in error.

The MK is NOT the transportation center. The MK is the MK. The only transportation available at the MK are buses to WDW resort hotels.

Across 7 Seas Lagoon from the MK, the Transportation and Ticket Center is the hub for monorails serving the MK area resorts on the resort monorail line, the express monorail and the EPCOT line; WDW buses to other WDW parks; WDW trams to the MK parking lots; the Shades of Green bus; taxis; and off-site hotel shuttles.

 

[disneydill]

Cranbiz (or anyone in the know)
If I want to get from AK to MGM/Disney Studios on a bus, how do I do that?
I don't remember there being park to park buses.
Help, please!

 

[helenk]

Cranbiz (or anyone in the know)
If I want to get from AK to MGM/Disney Studios on a bus, how do I do that?
I don't remember there being park to park buses.
Help, please!

You are able to get from the AK to MGM by bus. You can not go directly to the MK, you must go to the TTC and transfer to the MK by Ferry or Monorail. But there are park to park buses. There just are not park to DTD buses or DTD buses to the parks.

 

[disneydill]

Thank you!!

 

[cranbiz]

With the exception of MK and DTD, there are park to park buses available at the parks.

At Epcot, the AK bus is at Stop 1 and the Studios bus is at Stop 9
At Studios the Epcot bus is at Stop 3 and the AK bus is at Stop 8
At AK, the Epcot bus is at Stop 13 and the Studios bus is at Stop 15

The TTC stop at Epcot is Stop 11 ONLY when the monorail is down other than that, the monorail is your only form of transportation to TTC/MK

The TTC Stop at Studios is Stop 11
The TTC Stop at AK is Stop 14

 

[bab31]

Agreed, though I always make sure to budget enough time to get everywhere with Disney Transport. If I had to catch ME or had a dinner ressie, I would simply take a cab.

I agree - alot cheaper than renting a car