BWV ~ Crowded Busses???

[Lisa0503]

I have been reading several threads on these boards lately about crowded busses and was wondering how bad are they REALLY? We will have 3 adults and 2 small kids with a big double stroller so I would like to avoid crowded busses as much as possible... We will be staying at BWV in September so I guess it is good that we can walk to Epcot and MGM (if the boat is too crowded). We plan on going to AK & MK for their opening ceremonies on non EMH mornings so we plan to be at the bus stop an hour before the park opening. Will the busses be crowded this early? We also plan on leaving the parks early afternoon to go back to the resort for a swim/rest before heading to WS for dinner almost every night. Should I anticipate any problems getting back to the resort early-afternoon?

We do plan on staying at the MK one night for Wishes/Spectro so that night we plan to take a taxi back to the resort since it will be a late night for the little ones and I can only imagine what it is like with everyone leaving the parks at the same time....

Anyway, any tips or advice would be welcome!

 

[DebbieB]

My niece and I took the bus last night from BWV to MK. Stopped at the Swan and Dolphin. The bus right after Wishes was very crowded, we were the last ones on and were standing in the front. The problem with a taxi is they are at the TTC. Which means you have to take either the monorail or the ferry to get to them.

I have a rental car, paid $105 for the week from National. We only take the bus to MK at night when it's hard to get out at closing. We used the car tonight to go to the outlets and Downtown Disney. Used it to Animal Kingdom.

 

[jjohnson]

I can't say I was too thrilled with the buses on either of our Epcot resort trips. There was always a long wait for the proper bus to show up or we were incredibly unlucky & just missed ours each time. I'm trying to convince DH to rent a car for our next trip.

The strange part was the MK bus. It picked us up then went to Coronado Springs then back to Swan/Dolphin then finally off to MK. 30 min trip not including the time waiting.

I also wanted to add that I thought the buses were crowded but it was Memorial Day weekend.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

I can only relate my own family's experience. We stayed at BWV's during Food & Wine Festival and we didn't find the bus service bad at all. With the exception of park closing time the buses ran pretty good and were never so crowded that we had to stand. This was a fear we had as well and figured we'd have to use our own cars but fortunately things turned out better than we thought. Whether this is the norm I'm not sure but from all I have learned F&WF is a pretty busy time for the Epcot area resorts.

 

[crisi]

October 2003: Horrible buses. Never sat, always stood. Waited a long time. Took a lot of cabs. Often the buses would fill everyone at the bus stop had loaded. Buses ran the Y&BC, BW, S&D route.

October 2005 (last year): Dream-like bus transportation. Always had a seat, buses appeared magically when we got to the bus stop (longest wait was maybe five minutes). Buses ran the BW, S&D route (the Y&BC was running seperate buses - at least during busy times).

 

[deerh]

We were there from June3-9, and had not a problem with any buses! The avg wait time was maybe 5 min! Don't sweat it! If the boat is not in yet, hang by or go into the store and wait in AC, and keep a look out for the boat. When it pulls up, leave the AC, and go onto the boat, and no waiting (per se)!!

The only thing I DO NOT like is the trip to MK. We have to make 19 (seems like) stops to BC, YBC, Swan, Dolphin, etc... takes too long, but the bus is AC!!

DeerH

 

[donnahead]

Isn't it possible to walk over to the Contemporary or Polynesian and get a taxi back to the Boardwalk?

 

[deerh]

It is not possible to walk from BWV to Poly. That would be a 7 miles trip or so..

You can take a taxi from any park to the hotel, but why spend money? I would just take the bus system... Enjoy the sites--You are on vacation!!
Besides, the best people are on the buses.. I talked to a couple from England about gas prices, etc and we talked until we were at the park in no time!!

DeerH

 

[castleri]

Yes you could walk to the contemporary and get a taxi there to take you to the BW after exiting the MK.

 

[Lisa0503]

Yes you could walk to the contemporary and get a taxi there to take you to the BW after exiting the MK.

This is what we plan on doing after our MK Spectro/Wishes night since I am sure the busses will be crowded then and I would want to get the kids back to BWV as quickly as possible with as little stress as possible. Would it be better to walk to the Contemporary or take the Resort Monorail? (the Contemporary is the first stop right?)

 

[PVA]

We have stayed at BWV the last four summers, the week after July fourth each year. This is supposedly one of the busiest times of year according to the various crowd indexes. We are early risers and always at the openning for whichever park we are going to. We have never had a problems making it on time. Once in a while the wait is a little longer than it feels it should be (every other park bus going by while you wait), but once the bus arrives the three of us always get seats (although I give mine up to kids and ladies by the end of the loop, chivalry is not totally dead, and some other men do as well, just not as manny as my mother would have hoped when she beat her southern manners into me). If you stay 'til closing it can be more problematic. We generally just take a last leaisurely stroll through the shops, get to the bus after teh first wave or two and are on a bus and on our way home in a reasonable time. Never once have we had a problem with the boats to MGM or Epcot being too crowded, but we do usually walk hime from Epcot. Have a great time!

 

[jade1]

We will have 3 adults and 2 small kids with a big double stroller so I would like to avoid crowded busses as much as possible... We will be staying at BWV in September so I guess it is good that we can walk to Epcot and MGM (if the boat is too crowded).

You picked the perfect spot for this. If the kids fall asleep-you just stroll back to the room avoiding all the crowds after Illuminations/Fantasmic while the other resorts stampede for the buses, pick the kids up and hold them in one hand and the stroller in the other, have the lights flip on 4 times, then get out and set up the stroller again and go back to the room. You get to simply take the elevator up and set them in bed-and likely before the others have even boarded a bus.

We plan on going to AK & MK for their opening ceremonies on non EMH mornings so we plan to be at the bus stop an hour before the park opening. Will the busses be crowded this early?

No busier than the other buses from the other resorts (except VWL to MK).

We also plan on leaving the parks early afternoon to go back to the resort for a swim/rest before heading to WS for dinner almost every night. Should I anticipate any problems getting back to the resort early-afternoon?

No, afternoons are pretty quiet plus your stroll back at night to WS is so nice because you can time your trip without worrying about waiting for a bus or any of the unforseen issues that slow you up-also you enter through WS which is closer to most dining than coming through the front.

We do plan on staying at the MK one night for Wishes/Spectro so that night we plan to take a taxi back to the resort since it will be a late night for the little ones and I can only imagine what it is like with everyone leaving the parks at the same time....

Again every DVC Resort is in the same boat except VWL for this. Yes it will be very busy but this should be your only super busy trip back to BWV. Never have done a taxi.

 

[crisi]

We've done taxis - walk if the kids are in a stroller - monorail if they aren't. Its about a five minute walk (you'll wait that long for the monorail after Spectro). I think its a great idea for the few times you KNOW buses will be crowded and you don't want to deal with it.

It should run about $15 unless cab rates have changed.

 

[castleri]

This is what we plan on doing after our MK Spectro/Wishes night since I am sure the busses will be crowded then and I would want to get the kids back to BWV as quickly as possible with as little stress as possible. Would it be better to walk to the Contemporary or take the Resort Monorail? (the Contemporary is the first stop right?)

The walk to the CR won't be any longer than the walk and wait for the monorail-I would walk to CR. I just don't know where the taxi pick up would be once you get there. Maybe you can call the CR before you go to Mk that day and find out.

 

[twotoohappy]

It should run about $15 unless cab rates have changed.

Cab fare from WL to BW was $20 my last trip (so probably the same from the Contemporary to BW)- I'd rather take a cab w/ small kids then to deal with the hassle of the bus