Bus waits

[scillacc]

Hi all,
I'm posting this for a friend. She went two years ago, first week of December, stayed at Pop Century. She and her husband hated the waits for the buses and felt that every other resort had buses come more frequently. I told her that I am not sure that the deluxe resorts get better service from the buses than the value or moderate resorts. Mind you, they have seldom taken public transportation and are not accustomed to waiting for buses. Could someone who has stayed at Moderates or Deluxes chime in here? Thanks so much!

 

[addiln]

I have stayed at both deluxe and moderate resorts. I have not noticed one bus service being better than the other. When we stay at CBR it seemed longer but that was because the bus had more stops at the resort. It was the same feeling I got when we stayed at SSR. People tend to complain about the buses but in the end I really don't think one resort has it better than another. They run the buses the best they can.

 

[HarleenQ]

I haven't experienced it to be any different. In fact, our AKL trip a few years ago the busses were a nightmare for us (which doesn't seem to be the norm).

I can honestly say, I'm just not a bus person. If your friends aren't either, it's probably just not a fit. We've decided we'll be renting cars from now on. I just can't do the busses, even when they're running smoothly and exactly as they should.

 

[loves to dive]

The bus is the bus is the bus no matter what resort you stay at. I've stayed at all three categories and it is always hit or miss. It's all about timing, you can get to the bus stop right when the bus rolls up and there is no wait or you can get there right when the bus leaves, which means (in theory) you will have to wait 20 min. for the next one.

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

Many of the resort bus stops have boards showing approximate waits going to the various Disney locations. During my trip in March at CBR, I liked these and they were pretty decent as far as how close they were. To me, I can survive a few hassles with the buses and 1) not have to rent a car 2)not have to drive my entire trip

I have stayed at both moderate and deluxe and have not seen any difference in service.

 

[maxiesmom]

No matter what resort you are staying at it always seems that the other resorts have better bus service. I've stayed at all levels of resorts, and honestly value resorts seem to have the best bus service. Deluxe the worst. Maybe try and explain to your friends that buses are set to come around every 20 minutes or so. Hopefully they don't think they come every 5 minutes or something like that.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Staying at the resorts in my signature, POR and CSR had better bus service more so than the values with CSR being the better mod. Only exception I would say is coming back to the resort after the fireworks at MK. The values seemed to be running non stop while the mods seemed not so frequent. This last trip at CSR we never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus picking up at the resort. Leaving the parks it was once or twice we had to wait 10-15 because we just missed our bus. It can be hit or miss as they rely on a computer system to tell them what stops to hit as they arrive. I can't tell you how many times I've seen two buses back to back going to the same park while we wait for our park.

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually, in all honesty, Pop and AoA have the best bus transportation. When you board the bus, there are no other stops. You go directly to the parks. And because these resorts are sizable, buses tend to come a bit more frequently.
There really isn't a big difference in buses at the resorts. Deluxe resorts don't have 'better' bus transportation.

 

[buzznina]

We have also stayed at all levels and will agree with previous posters that there really is no difference and truthfully it has a lot to do with luck. I have had trips that seemed like the bus was our personal vehicle and each time we got to the bus stop one pulled up. Then there has been a few times where we waited 40+ minutes for one. Also, you have to use common sense. If you are leaving MK right after fireworks with thousands of other guests, well guess what? you are going to have a long wait.
I really believe a lot of the people that complain about the buses are not public transportation people in the first place, I have talked to some that actually thought it was going to be like the ME bus or a charter bus and were surprised/shock that it was a standard type bus. LOL

EDIT: I forgot to mention that even though we drive to WDW and have our van, we rarely use it and really have no issues with the buses.

 

[Hopefully]

Disney transportation is Mass Transit - just like any major US Metropolitan city. It does a good job, for what it is. But I agree with PP, It is just luck as to whether you have just missed the bus or one is just pulling up.
If waiting up to 20 minutes for what might be a 20 - 30 minute ride is unacceptable to them they have 2 options. They can Uber/Cab or they can rent a car.
Good Luck

 

[WEDWDW]

Many of the resort bus stops have boards showing approximate waits going to the various Disney locations.

LOVE the Bus Boards!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It's possible to have long bus waits at any resort.

and I've been enough and in enough different resorts to know that bus waits always seem longer for the one YOU are waiting for, no matter which one it is.

It sounds to me like the OP's friends are not used to waiting for mass transportation, and may benefit from a rental car or an Uber app, wherever they end up staying.

 

[Disneylover99]

Pop's buses have always been the best for me over multiple stays. AOfA and Music were also great. Moderates/Deluxe I've experienced the longest waits.

 

[ottawamom]

Hi all,
I'm posting this for a friend. She went two years ago, first week of December, stayed at Pop Century. She and her husband hated the waits for the buses and felt that every other resort had buses come more frequently. I told her that I am not sure that the deluxe resorts get better service from the buses than the value or moderate resorts. Mind you, they have seldom taken public transportation and are not accustomed to waiting for buses. Could someone who has stayed at Moderates or Deluxes chime in here? Thanks so much!

I was actually at Pop Century as well two years ago the first week in December. I thought the bus service was great. We did have some waits when exiting the parks after fireworks but I don't remember having issues with the buses that week.