Buses vs Minnie Vans

[Matthew Caito]

I am traveling to WDW with my 5 month old( not born yet due in June YEAH!!!) in November. I am currently staying at POR(looking to rent points at a monorail resort, so far not so much luck) However I wanted to know if the trips to the parks and back to this resort are rather lengthy or if they are relatively quick. I know that some buses around WDW are notorious for taking sometimes up to an hour to get back to a resort from a park or to a park. This is my first time stating at POR, usually stay at a monorail resort and I do not want to waste an hour or two of our day transporting back and forth on the bus. Is the minnie van worth the fee's back and forth? It could end up being a few Hounded $$$ when its all said and done. Oh, btw I'm staying for 5 nights. I could imagine if a baby has had enough at the end of a long day that we will not want to spend another hour on the bus.

Help Please Thanks!

 

[Searc]

I am traveling to WDW with my 5 month old( not born yet due in June YEAH!!!) in November. I am currently staying at POR(looking to rent points at a monorail resort, so far not so much luck) However I wanted to know if the trips to the parks and back to this resort are rather lengthy or if they are relatively quick. I know that some buses around WDW are notorious for taking sometimes up to an hour to get back to a resort from a park or to a park. This is my first time stating at POR, usually stay at a monorail resort and I do not want to waste an hour or two of our day transporting back and forth on the bus. Is the minnie van worth the fee's back and forth? It could end up being a few Hounded $$$ when its all said and done. Oh, btw I'm staying for 5 nights. I could imagine if a baby has had enough at the end of a long day that we will not want to spend another hour on the bus.

Help Please Thanks!

There is no bus on property that takes an hour to get back to a resort from a park or vice versa. NONE. The ride to POR takes no more than 15-20 minutes to any of the parks. It is about a 7 minute ride to Epcot, 10 mins to DHS, 15 to MK and 15 to AK (all dependent on traffic).

 

[kaytieeldr]

I know that some buses around WDW are notorious for taking sometimes up to an hour to get back to a resort from a park or to a park.

Only if the driver gets hopelessly lost.

Just stay at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[joelkfla]

There is no bus on property that takes an hour to get back to a resort from a park or vice versa. NONE. The ride to POR takes no more than 15-20 minutes to any of the parks. It is about a 7 minute ride to Epcot, 10 mins to DHS, 15 to MK and 15 to AK (all dependent on traffic).

But you need to add up to 15 minutes to make all stops at the resort, particularly if there are any scooters on the bus.

 

[Matthew Caito]

There is no bus on property that takes an hour to get back to a resort from a park or vice versa. NONE. The ride to POR takes no more than 15-20 minutes to any of the parks. It is about a 7 minute ride to Epcot, 10 mins to DHS, 15 to MK and 15 to AK (all dependent on traffic).

Buses returning to resorts from parks or disney springs can yes take a long time. I have been on a bus from Disney springs to the GF and it took over about 55 mins with all the stops.

 

[Searc]

Buses returning to resorts from parks or disney springs can yes take a long time. I have been on a bus from Disney springs to the GF and it took over about 55 mins with all the stops.

Huh. I took a bus from DS to GF Thursday evening (March 28th) and it didn't take anywhere close to 55 minutes. It stopped at one other resort, the Poly.

 

[sponica]

But you need to add up to 15 minutes to make all stops at the resort, particularly if there are any scooters on the bus.

I must have repressed that part of my memory staying at POR, I literally don't remember multiple stops or maybe I just got off at the first one and walked?

 

[Searc]

I must have repressed that part of my memory staying at POR, I literally don't remember multiple stops or maybe I just got off at the first one and walked?

POR has four bus stops, which is why I don't stay there.

 

[sponica]

POR has four bus stops, which is why I don't stay there.

I know they do, but it must not have been a big deal for me. Because it doesn't stand out in my memory. I probably wouldn't have experienced it on the way out, because I was in a preferred room (and I think that stop is the last stop in the circuit). I should have on the way back, but maybe we just got off at the first stop and walked? I literally don't remember.

 

[pixiedustedme]

The bus rides themselves don't take that long. It's the waiting for the bus, loading scooters, etc. that takes a long time. With a baby, I'd stay close to the primary park you're visiting.

 

[Wild4Walt]

I agree with @pixiedustedme - the wait time and loading is really what would take the most time staying at POR. The ride to the parks is about 15 minutes for MK, 10 for Epcot, 15-20 for HS and DS. AK is the furthest away - I don't remember the ride being overly long - maybe 30 tops - you're very close the the main artery for all the parks.

 

[LoveSnadwich]

Recently (within the past year or so) they've added a middle-lane in many of the large roads in Disney for Disney buses only. This has cut some of the longer bus rides down significantly. I stayed at All-Star Movies this past vacation (which is quite a bit further away from all the parks than Port Orleans) and my longest bus ride was 40 minutes and this was to Magic Kingdom with multiple wheelchairs and strollers, so I don't consider the buses to be a bad option at all. My only concern would be the fact that buses can get quite crowded which may be stressful for an infant, but Port Orleans is a moderate resort so it's buses are less crowded than those of the All Star Resorts. I personally would recommend using buses for the majority of the trip but perhaps using a minnie-van on nights that are especially crowded or when you guys feel especially tired.

 

[R2Dude]

Recently (within the past year or so) they've added a middle-lane in many of the large roads in Disney for Disney buses only. This has cut some of the longer bus rides down significantly. I stayed at All-Star Movies this past vacation (which is quite a bit further away from all the parks than Port Orleans) and my longest bus ride was 40 minutes and this was to Magic Kingdom with multiple wheelchairs and strollers, so I don't consider the buses to be a bad option at all. My only concern would be the fact that buses can get quite crowded which may be stressful for an infant, but Port Orleans is a moderate resort so it's buses are less crowded than those of the All Star Resorts. I personally would recommend using buses for the majority of the trip but perhaps using a minnie-van on nights that are especially crowded or when you guys feel especially tired.

Only one section of one road has a bus lane and it is BVD by Disney Springs

 

[LoveSnadwich]

Only one section of one road has a bus lane and it is BVD by Disney Springs

Oof! Thought it was a couple, my bad! I get turned around quite easily so perhaps I counted that lane a few times >.< I still have found it be pretty helpful with the traffic!

 

[joelkfla]

Only one section of one road has a bus lane and it is BVD by Disney Springs

Yes, but DHS now has a bus only entrance and exit, and the MK toll plaza flyover, while not exclusive, makes for faster bus travel to and from MK and on some routes to/from FtW.

 

[kaytieeldr]

but Port Orleans is a moderate resort so it's buses are less crowded than those of the All Star Resorts

Mmm, not necessarily. POR has more rooms than any one All Star (which share a bus infrequently, i.e. only sometimes and only during low demand), about half of which hold up to five people each.

 

[jhoannam]

Buses are a good option, no need to drop hundred on a Minnie van, unless you want to. We always use buses to the parks, only to Uber/Lyft when we need to go resort to resort. Going resort to resort can take over an hour considering you have to go to a park first.

 

[GoofyCoaster]

The advantage to Minnie Vans with an infant is the car seat is included and the drop off is at the MK entrance. The Uber/Lyft option requires selecting a driver that has the car seat option and you may get dropped off at TTC and need to ferry or monorail to MK. If you read the boards, some Uber/lyft riders have luck getting dropped off at the Contemporary and walking over; others have been turned away by the guard if they lack a hotel or dining reservation.

While the actual bus ride time may only be 15 min, the wait time for the bus is the wild card. I have waited 40+ minutes a couple times. Other times, the bus arrives within 5 minutes. Leaving the parks is tougher to predict because they don’t post the bus times the way they do at the resorts.

Enjoy baby’s first trip to WDW!!