Busses from BWV

[jandklumley]

Hi-

We are narrowing down our choices (thanks to all who have held our hands alond the way) and preparing to purchase into DVC. DH wants to know all of the Pros/Cons. What is the bus situation for BWV to the parks not surrounding it? I know it is shared. How bad does it get during peak season?

Also-

What are the distances (time wise) using busses from OKW and SSR. We have stayed at AKL before, and although it was further away, the bus rides were great.

Thanks, again!

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

We've stayed at BWV 3 times w/o any bus problems. The buses to MK & AK were always great. However, we usually go off season. We love being able to walk to MGM & Epcot.

 

[Granny]

We stayed at BWV for two weeks this summer and the bus service was excellent...no more than a 20 minute wait for any bus and often less than 10. We always got a seat and were only sharing, for the most part, with the Swan & Dolphin hotels.

 

[jandklumley]

Boy you guys are fast with the info. I think that is the last bit of reassuring I needed to make my decision. Thanks!

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by jandklumley
Hi-

We are narrowing down our choices (thanks to all who have held our hands alond the way) and preparing to purchase into DVC. DH wants to know all of the Pros/Cons. What is the bus situation for BWV to the parks not surrounding it? I know it is shared. How bad does it get during peak season?

Also-

What are the distances (time wise) using busses from OKW and SSR. We have stayed at AKL before, and although it was further away, the bus rides were great.

Thanks, again!

The buses at any of the DVC's should be the least of your concerns. If your decision hangs upon quality of bus service, then flip a coin. Good Luck with your purchase. I would only say what others always say: BUY WHERE YOU WANT TO STAY!

 

[offtheice]

Originally posted by joepoe
The buses at any of the DVC's should be the least of your concerns. If your decision hangs upon quality of bus service, then flip a coin. Good Luck with your purchase. I would only say what others always say: BUY WHERE YOU WANT TO STAY!

AGree.. While it maybe a pain to wait for buses, no one knows from day to day how long they are running .. Yes season has something to do with it,but so does a bus or two breaking down.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by joepoe
The buses at any of the DVC's should be the least of your concerns. If your decision hangs upon quality of bus service, then flip a coin. Good Luck with your purchase. I would only say what others always say: BUY WHERE YOU WANT TO STAY!

ITA.

All of the DVC resorts have had reports of both good and bad bus service. Like most everything else, guest experiences vary and your impression of a particular resort (from reading posts here) will also vary depending on when you visit the boards and which resort happens to be "currently out of favor". Right now, I'd say that one is BCV, but as the long-time readers/posters know, every DVC resort gets its "day (or days) in the "Bashing Spotlight". Seems to go in cycles. Anyone want to bet which resort will get it next?

The quality of resort transportation can easily change. BUY WHERE YOU WANT TO STAY MOST OFTEN!

Best wishes -

 

[Shelly S]

BWV is my home resort since 1999. Have never had a problem with the busses except sometimes from DTD/PI they are slow to arrive. We always get off the bus coming back to BWV at the Swan and walk. This way we don't have to sit through all the stops and can be in the room before the bus arrives.

 

[lenshanem]

Bus service not the best in the World by far, but the resort is so cool I can let that slide...

 

[kweaver]

I don't know...if you plan to use WDW Transportation pretty consistently throughout your stays...I think the bus situation is something to consider (along with many other factors, of course).

I haven't experienced the BC/YC/Swan/Dolphin bus sharing situation first hand, but it doesn't sound like something I'd be thrilled about.

 

[lenshanem]

I must add, too - If you'll be at MK the most I'd skip BCV and BWV and go for another one, I'm sure even OKW and SSR you'll get to the MK much faster.

 

[crisi]

A year ago or so, the bus service was getting a lot of bad reports.

They did some tweaking a few months ago and there seem to be far fewer complaints.

We found it to be "acceptable" but not "impressive" a year algo. We never had to wait longer than we thought, but we did ALWAYS stand as the last stop. As we were traveling with two seniors and two preschooler, we ended up taking cabs when the buses were croweded to the MK at opening. The cab ride was about $12. Had we caught the first bus, I'd have never worried about cabs - but my MIL always runs late - the fact she was only running ten minutes late during our trip shows how hard she was trying to not be a difficult guest! Another thing we did was go the "long way." We'd get "home" via Monorail and then walk through Epcot (leaving some time to take a quick turn through something). We got home from AK by an MGM bus (the resort bus was late, the line was long and it was HOT! - and airconditioned bus was wonderful - and we got lucky and the boat was just pulling up when we got off the bus).

Since bus service is something that is easy for Disney to tweak, what could be great bus service at a different DVC resort could be crummy five years from now. BCV shares the same route - and some people believe that its worse there (on the old route, I don't know about the new one) because the S/D picks up first, and at least BWVs would get empty buses on occation. OKW and SSR are completely dependant on buses (or your own car). And four years ago you the "bad" service at VWL had its own page at allearsnet.

 

[kathleena]

I've stayed there four times and never had a bus problem. Stayed once in May, twice in Oct and once in beginning of Dec. I think the only ones that tend to be an issue (this is based on what I've read here) - are the ones in the AM that are all five of the Epcot resorts. Because they become full at the other resorts first. Maybe sometimes waiting at park close to come back - but just look over at PC and the AS resorts and smile - they are much worse off! We waiting 45 min at the MK for an OKW bus last March - everyone gets it sometimes!

Another recent thread about BCV said that all the buses during their stay were just YC/BC and that the Swan/Dolphin/BW had different buses.

I think any resort is subject to bus issues from time to time, but Disney works to fix them.

So stay there and be happy!

 

[gopherit]

Just got back from our stay there (8/8 to 8/16) -- used busses for DTD and MK. We also stayed at BCV (two days prior) and SSR (for 4 days after) and we have stayed at VWL and OKW before. We thought the BWV busses were just fine. Yeah sure sometimes you get picked up first.... sometimes you don't. It all seemed very fair to us.

I agree with the flip-a-coin approach if bus service is your last deciding issue. Just doesn't seem to differ that much to us except in one area -- DTD. Seems like hardly ANY of the resorts have good timing here -- I think it's because you end up pit-stopping at all of DTD disney, plus TL sometimes too, then maybe other resorts as well. Too many stops in one route. And that's why we like to drive our own car to DTD.... Problem solved!

 

[jandklumley]

Thanks for all of your help. You guys have given us so much info.

 

[gopherit]

Originally posted by jandklumley

What are the distances (time wise) using busses from OKW and SSR. We have stayed at AKL before, and although it was further away, the bus rides were great.

Thanks, again!

Just wanted to add that personally, I found the rides from OKW and SSR always to be quite pleasant, and never longer, than other resorts. I think it's because you get one long continuous ride versus pit-stops at various resorts. It all averages out about the same time -- it's whether you prefer to be in constant motion or standing still!

For now, at least, the SSR service is exemplary -- we often had the bus to ourselves, and never had to wait. Seems like there were busses every minute! And from personal experience, the OKW busses were always good for us. THe only bad bus experiences I can ever recall in our many trips were almost ALL DTD trips and they occurred once at VWL, once at BCV, and once at BWV. Hence -- our decision to drive to DTD! Of course, with SSR so close, you could also walk -- ah, choices, choices, choices.

Good luck deciding!