Buses from SSR to Parks

[faithhelen]

I've read some mixed reviews about the bus service to the parks from SSR. We are going to be there Nov 29, 2009 - Dec 5, 2009 with our 2 kids (23 mo, and 5 mo by the time of the trip). So here's my question. Have any of you had the same experience and would it be worth it to rent a car the entire time? We are going to be in FL from 11/25-12/5, but only planned on a car for when we were off property (11/25-11/29).

Thanks for the advice!

 

[pnyltwk]

We were at SSR 12/29-1/2 this year. I do not think that we had any issues with the bus service. I would say that we waited no longer that 10-15 minutes for any bus coming or going to or from the parks. I have read many disgruntled post about bus service at SSR. But I did not expereince any problems that I felt were bad enough to complain about. Some people are always going to find something to complain about. I would also add that parking at the parks are now $12.00 a day.
The only issue that I would mention was for the DTD bus. We stayed at Congress Park and I did not realize that the return trip from DTD would take me to every stop before Congress Park. Of course it is normally easier to walk to DTD from Congress Park than to take the bus.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

The buses work fine for most people most of the time. But they don't always work great. And when they don't work, people complain.

For me, I'm too cheap - and don't want to deal with the hassle - so I would never rent a car to avoid the buses. But if you are the kind of person whose vacation would be really negatively impacted by a bad bus experience or two, go ahead and rent the car.

 

[murcor]

just returned from our 5th SSR trip Dec 27th - Jan 9th. We never had any complaints about the bus system. The bus transportation is one of the reason why we would stay on site and then bought DVC. I would never rent a car!

 

[DiznyDi]

We've never experienced bus difficulties either. One of the reasons we purchased DVC was the very fact that once you're in MCO, Disney takes over and you don't need a vehicle. They even deliver you back to the airport. We've stayed in all areas of SSR except Carousel and bus service has been fine.

I wouldn't rent a car unless we were going off-property. We enjoy all aspects of the provided transportation services: buses, boats and monorail too much to consider a vehicle.

 

[Brave teacher]

Glad to hear about the bus service at SSR. We'll be staying there in 41 days for our first DVC trip.

 

[nhdisnut]

We also just returned from an SSR stay (12/27/08 - 1/3/09). SSR busses were fantastic! No wait more than 10 minutes. Because it was such a busy week, we did have to stand occasionally, but that was to be expected. We waited longer for the monorail from Epcot to the TTC after Epcot closing than we did for SSR busses.....

All together, we have no complaints about the bus service at WDW. Sometimes timing is everything, but we have had good luck!

 

[Disneypirate85]

Been hearing more and more complaints bout long delays getting back to SSR from the Parks, seems more and more folks parking at DTD walking over to SSR and riding bus's to avoid parking fee's.

 

[ont/ohana]

Been hearing more and more complaints bout long delays getting back to SSR from the Parks, seems more and more folks parking at DTD walking over to SSR and riding bus's to avoid parking fee's.

I agree with this, we were there December 30th to January 8th and there was twice in the middle of the afternoon we had to stand on SSR buses. People were asking the driver where to get off for DTD. Both times our bus from the park met up with the DTD at the Grandstand stop, the first time 17 people in one party got off and the second time 12 got off. I think with our dues going to cover partial cost of the buses that the drivers should ask to see a valid resort id to board that bus, I would have no problem ever showing mine to use buses back to resorts.

 

[pnyltwk]

I think with our dues going to cover partial cost of the buses that the drivers should ask to see a valid resort id to board that bus, I would have no problem ever showing mine to use buses back to resorts.

I agree with that.

 

[culli]

No different than any other Disney property we have stayed. But if you are getting a rental anyway I might at least see what it would cost for the extra days. Regardless of where you are the busses are hit and miss.

 

[DVCAmy]

Only bus problems we ever experienced at SSR were when the resport 1st opened. Many trips since then and never a problem!

Enjoy your trip!

Amy

 

[AUTigerFan]

Isn't theme park parking free to resort guests? If I'm correct, that may cause people to go ahead and drive. I always use the bus service. We were at SSR right before Xmas and were happy with the wait times. We were in the Grandstand section, and it's my opinion that the Grandstand is the best for busses. It's the first stop for most buses.

 

[Silver Queen]

We were at SSR Dec. 8-12 and were very pleased with the bus service. There was only one instance when we had a long wait for a bus to DHS. the other waits were about 10 minutes. Several times we met bus supervisors at the bus stop monitoring the bus flow. We would never go to the expense and trouble to rent a car. As a previous poster said we love arriving at MCO and letting Disney do the driving ( and DBF is the type of guy who always likes to be the one to drive).

 

[airman]

We were there in October (springs section) and probably had 1 wait longer than 10 minutes to go to the parks. Heading back was a little longer some times (not any different from any of hte other resorts we have stayed in, in the past), but not a big big crowd for the busses. We tried to get to the bus stop on the top of the hour or the :30, which might be a reason we didn't have much of a wait. A transportation CM was camped out at our stop, if they are there when you are vacationing ask them what part of the hour the busses usually show up and time your walk to the bus stop for those times.

 

[kiingor]

I was there last March and bus was horrible. Between 30 to 45 min. for buses. Then I was there the 2nd week of Dec. again- It has improved tremendously- 10 to 15 min. and even notice somebody there at times taking notes of the schedules. I usually drive there and use the buses to theme parks, But like to use my own car going to DTD. Hate to take 1/2 hour bus ride when it's only 5 min. away. Between all the SSR stops and pleasure island, and wait time- sometimes took me more than 30 min. just to get back to the resort.

 

[tomandrobin]

We go to WDW about 25-30 days each year, for the past 4 years. Overall our bus experience at SSR has been terrific. We just got back from our NYE trip (12/17-1/4) and we never waited more then 10 minutes for a bus. Most of the time the bus arrived within 5 minutes. Our only bus problem on this trip was waiting for a Magic Kingdom bus at the Dolphin. We waited over 30 minutes and gave up, took a taxi so not to miss our dinner reservations.

 

[Starr W.]

We've been happy with the SSR bus service(3 Thanksgiving trips), but this year gosh it was the best ever. I don't think we waited 20 min for a bus all week.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We've been happy with the SSR bus service(3 Thanksgiving trips), but this year gosh it was the best ever. I don't think we waited 20 min for a bus all week.

We stayed in the Grandstand Dec 21-24, we did not use the busses, but I noticed that they were now staging 2 busses in the GS traffic circle, ready for dispatch. They were there all day everyday.

I was very impressed that DVC would take the complaints so seriously to basically have 2 busses sitting idle like that. I knew then that the reports of bus service over Christmas week would be greatly improved.

We stay at SSR often and have had great bus experiences and have never had a complaint. You won't find ANY resort or vacation experience that includes your transportation so Im always impressed that WDW does this.

As far as DTD, I would much rather walk or take the boat than drive. Parking is a bear and the lots fill quickly. Yes the busses make stops and the boat is slow, but the lots are huge and you could end up walking just as far or taking just as much travel time by driving. At least the bus/boat/walk is leisurely and less stress.

 

[Starr W.]

We stayed in the Grandstand Dec 21-24, we did not use the busses, but I noticed that they were now staging 2 busses in the GS traffic circle, ready for dispatch. They were there all day everyday.

I was very impressed that DVC would take the complaints so seriously to basically have 2 busses sitting idle like that. I knew then that the reports of bus service over Christmas week would be greatly improved.

We stay at SSR often and have had great bus experiences and have never had a complaint. You won't find ANY resort or vacation experience that includes your transportation so Im always impressed that WDW does this.

As far as DTD, I would much rather walk or take the boat than drive. Parking is a bear and the lots fill quickly. Yes the busses make stops and the boat is slow, but the lots are huge and you could end up walking just as far or taking just as much travel time by driving. At least the bus/boat/walk is leisurely and less stress.

We always walk to DTD. I would never drive over in a car and the bus is slooww. Have taken the boat though.

They were also staging buses at AK over Thanksgiving, 2 CM's look like they were keeping track of when a bus for a resort should arrive, if it was late they were dispatching one of the staged buses.