Buses to Epcot Resorts

[DisneyDad64]

We just got back from a stay at the Beach Club. We love the resort and the Epcot and HS access. The buses however to DD, MK, and AK were a nightmare. Because all of the Epcot resorts are close to another, the bus makes a stop at the Swan- then Dolphin - then Yacht Club - then Beach club and sometimes the Boardwalk before those. The buses seemed to be less frequent than the large resort (POP, All Star, etc). We have stayed at the Beach Club twice and the same issue occurred - We will be getting a car for the other stays. The bus trip to DD was especially bad. The driver made everyone use the front door only. The bus was full, no AC and she drove 25 miles an hour all the way. It took us 30 minutes to get to DD from the Beach Club. Her name was Penny - watch out for her...

 

[inmyis]

We have had similar experiences at the Yacht Club and Boardwalk. Buses to the parks didn't seem too bad but to DD it was always a pain. We usually take a taxi in those cases

 

[kaytieeldr]

* These resorts share buses because, yes, they're smaller - and more convenient to two parks - and because many of their Guests have their own vehicles.
* Buses from the Epcot-area resorts shouldn't be any less frequent than buses from other resorts. Please talk to a resort Manager or Supervisor if you're finding super-long waits for buses.
* All buses going to Downtown Disney, no matter where they start, need to follow the same approach - past Saratoga Springs, so they turn right into the drop area and don't cross over traffic. This is sometimes not the shortest/most efficient route in relation to time.
* The ONLY passengers permitted to board ANY bus through the rear door are passengers using wheelchairs (including strollers as wheelchairs) and ECVs, and their parties. Period. The driver is there at the rear door while they board. Then the driver closes that door, goes back to the front of the bus, and opens the front door. EVERY passenger other than these few are REQUIRED to enter through the front door. Period. It's a safety issue. The OP, who apparently disagrees with this practice, is correct to rent a car in the future; this will give her/him complete control over which passengers enter through which door(s).
* There's a thread on the Transportation board where somebody complains about no air conditioning on a bus. The bus drivers on that board advise to LET THE DRIVER KNOW!!!!! The drivers can't tell if the A/C is working or not - they have the sun glaring on them through that big front window so they're always hot.
* I'm going to go with the assumption that the OP could see the speedometer and just figure that Penny was driving either carefully or the speed of other traffic, or both.

 

[joelkfla]

As Katie said, all passengers are supposed to enter thru the front door.

When there are a lot of guests waiting to board, the driver may ask guests exiting the bus to all exit thru the front door as well, because there is no way to stop guests from entering thru the rear door once it's open.

 

[spiceycat]

all the deluxe resorts have problems with the buses - they only guaranteed quick service - to the theme parks close to them.

for the MK resorts - it is the MK and at times Epcot

for Epcot resorts - it is EPcot and Studios.

the transportation to other theme parks is buses and buses transportation has to deal with the traffic.

Pop is the only resort that does not have other stops or other resorts and so it has the best bus transportation.

there is no way when the bus must stop at WL then Polyn and at times GF - it can be at the AK or DD faster than Pop - which gets its guest and leaves immediately to AK or DD.

the same for the Epcot resorts - oh a good time BW, will only share with Dolphin and Swan - for a back time it will share with Dolphin, Swan, YC, BC and BW.

guests to my knowledge have been complaining about the bus system at both Epcot and MK resorts - since they started this sharing resorts. SO far Disney has ignored it.

when I want MK and Epcot - stay at MK resort. want Epcot and studio stay at EPcot resort.

for AK - have not found any resorts that is great.

so if you want great bus service then stay at Pop.

what has changed at Disney that you think complaining about the BAD bus service that deluxe resorts vs value resorts will work now?

got told before (several times) that the value resorts have more guests and would received more complaints.

the All stars do at times share a bus.

 

[DisneyDad64]

Let me clarify myself ... My issue was not with getting on the bus using the front door - she was making everyone get off the bus using the front door!
The bus was fully loaded with people standing and a double stroller family needed to carry everything all the way to the front past everyone standing.

 

[RMulieri]

I stay at BC all the time now, I think they are as convenient as they can be .I have stayed at the other deluxes, mods and value most of the bus "problems" are the same.I have yet to find the perfect resort Bus other than Pop who does not share with other resorts.I build extra travel time into my itenerary .If that is not an option, than maybe renting a car would be best.

 

[figment_jii]

We had problems with the buses as well, but mostly in terms of getting from DTD back to the Epcot area resorts. Sadly the problem was more to do with waiting for the ECV's to load and unload than anything else. The ECV renters would try to drive their ECV's into the space, but most times couldn't do without having to try several times. It's definitely colored our opinion about catching the buses back from DTD to the resorts. (Travel time ranged from 30-minutes to an hour.)

As for catching a bus at the Beach Club, there were a few mornings when a cast member was stationed at the bus stop that would call for an extra bus if there were a lot of people waiting or if the bus left full.

In truth, I think it would be better if they split the Epcot resorts into two bus sets. That might help alleviate some of the problems.

 

[asdfghjkl13]

We stayed at BC and the buses took forever to get to the hotel! We waited about 30 mins for MK and AK.

 

[francie57]

We are just back from the BW and we never had an issue with the buses. We took the bus to MK - actually went straight to MK from BW since it was full. We also took the bus to DD and didn't make any stops after we were picked up. They actually had a CM at the bus stop at the BW tracking where people were going on the bus, so maybe they are trying to come up with another solution. We have been staying at the BW since it opened and we have never had any trouble with the buses. On the return trip from MK we usually get off at the S/D and walk over the bridge instead of making the rounds.

 

[maxiesmom]

We stayed at BC and the buses took forever to get to the hotel! We waited about 30 mins for MK and AK.

That was my experience too. It really put a damper on wanting to return to the Beach Club. Put me at the Poly any day, where I can just hop on a monorail and be at MK or Epcot in just a few short minutes.

 

[DisneyDad64]

From a Bus prospective POP is the best since the buses are frequent and only go to POP. We love the beach club but they need to improve the bus situation considering the cost.

 

[disney11fan]

Stayed at the pop and the bus wasen't bad....except going to downtown disney. The trip should be no more than 10 minutes. It took abt 24 min. On average. We also just got back.

At least pop has its own bus and even the magical express to the airport was direct.

 

[Chaoticsweetness]

Stayed at the Values & Moderates in the past, the buses were fine going to the parks. Matter of fact they were RARELY ever full, usually just me & my sister. But going to Downtown Disney is a different story. It always seemed over crowded, I don't know why that is. Maybe everyone decided to go to DD at the same time?

 

[MickeyT]

We were at the Dolphin bus stop in July when full DTD bus pulled up. They were packed. The driver had to let x amount of people off and x amount on. He was struggling to mantain control.

I'm sorry but..... but when people are paying $200++++ for rooms and transportation (bus or otherwise) is part of the price then it needs to be effcient. Sure any of the route may have a problem at any given time but when something keeps reoccuring, you fix it! And DTD buses seem to be a reocurring problem.

As a side note.....while we were at BC bus stop we heard a gentleman say as much as he was paying he didn't understand why they didn't have the monorail there (and he was serious!)

 

[goofy4tink]

There is little difference between the buses at the Epcot resorts and other deluxe resorts. Your resort cost has nothing whatsoever to do with bus service. It does have to do with the ability to get to certain parks without taking a bus. At the Epcot resorts, you don't take a bus to Epcot or DHS...boat or walk.
The buses there do not always go to all 5 resorts. That is not a common occurance. If you take the buses to AK, MK or DTD during the day, at less peak times, then yes, the bus may very well stop at all 5 resorts. The bus to DTD routinely will do that in any case.
But, in the busy times, park opening/closing, the buses go to S/D and BW, and to YC/BC. Two different buses, two different routes.

I have had no better bus service anywhere else on site..other than at POP. Every other resort has it's bus issues. In 30+ stays at WDW resorts, I have had maybe 4 less than stellar experiences with buses. And that is staying at...CR, Polynesian, BLT, POR, POP, ASMusic, AKL, Kidani, S, D, BC, YC, BW, OKW and WL. And I have taken buses to almost every resort as well...just not stayed there. I really have no issues with the buses at WDW at all. For what they do, they do an amazing job.
Those that don't like to wait, or share a bus, are really better served by renting a car.

 

[WizardLarz]

During my stay at BWV in May, the bus shared with just the Swan & Dolphin on most mornings. On just one of about 5 afternoon pickups did the bus stop at all of the Epcot resorts.

 

[Tiffany]

We just got back from a stay at the Beach Club. We love the resort and the Epcot and HS access. The buses however to DD, MK, and AK were a nightmare. Because all of the Epcot resorts are close to another, the bus makes a stop at the Swan- then Dolphin - then Yacht Club - then Beach club and sometimes the Boardwalk before those. The buses seemed to be less frequent than the large resort (POP, All Star, etc). We have stayed at the Beach Club twice and the same issue occurred - We will be getting a car for the other stays. The bus trip to DD was especially bad. The driver made everyone use the front door only. The bus was full, no AC and she drove 25 miles an hour all the way. It took us 30 minutes to get to DD from the Beach Club. Her name was Penny - watch out for her...

We found out long ago that the buses to DTD are the worst and have not taken one is many many years. We always rent a car and use it to get to DTD, other resort for dining and to the AK when we are not staying at the AKL.

When we stay at an EC deluxe resort we usually walk to EC, take the boat to DHS in the hot weather and will walk it in the cool months, drive to AK and to DTD. The only bus we endure is to the MK in the morning and since it is just the two of us we do not spend that much time at the MK any more.

 

[spiceycat]

for DD - go with SSR or OKW - you can walk to DD.

for stays these days decide before hand which parks will do - epcot and mk - then MK resort

epcot and studio - then Epcot resorts

ak - either don't do or half day - so it could be added to either of the above - and sometimes drive there.

 

[MickeyT]

In 30+ stays at WDW resorts, I have had maybe 4 less than stellar experiences with buses.

We had one trip to WL where we used bus transportation to every park except MK. Every time we walked to the bus ramp the bus to the park we were heading to would be pulling off! We thought if this had been our first experience with the buses what would we have thought. But like most things at WDW you can choose to be upset or enjoy . We choose to enjoy!

We have met some wonderful people and heard some great stories on the buses!