BWV -- how are the buses?

[MicheleC]

We have rented a car every single visit to Disney. We have been DVC members for 3 years now and really enjoy taking the boat from BWV to MGM and we usually walk to Epcot. But we use our rental car to drive to MK and it just seems like such a pain to park in the TTC and all that jazz. We were going to attempt the buses for the first time but decided to continue using the car on our last trip (2 strollers and all that seemed rough for the bus). We are trying to decide if we can skip the car rental next year and use the buses. How are they really?? Does it take really long to get everywhere and is it a pain to get the kids, strollers and gear on board?? Any advice, experiences would be appreciated--thanks!

 

[AEN]

I am surprised that nobody responded to this yet. When I was down there in 2002, the buses at BW were terrible. The BW was the last pick up after, Swan, Dolphin, Beach, Yacht. Too often they were too full to get on. Occassionally the buses wouldn't even stop because they were full already. I voiced my concern during my stay and after. Hopefully some other posters will give us an update.

 

[DeeP]

I know there are those that complain horribly about the buses but I must say after many, many trips to BWV, with the most recent trip just 3 weeks ago--I think the bus transportation at BWV is no better or no worse than the bus transportation is at any of the other deluxe resorts. From my experiences the best bus transportation by far is at the value resorts---go figure!! We have had an excessive wait for a BWV bus maybe 3 times over the years and many trips to this resort. The great thing about BWV is you only have to worry about taking a bus to MK, AK, water parks and DTD, as opposed to having to rely on the bus to get everywhere.
Would I like to see BWV have their own buses--of course I would. But in all honesty I have had much longer waits for buses at GF, Poly and Contemporary then I have had at the Epcot resorts which of course includes BWV.

 

[pmcpmc]

the car with little children to cut costs pickup in resort for less days

 

[RWishbone]

We got the BW every January and I have 4 kids - now ages 2 thru 9 - and we never had a problem with the buses. I find them much more convenient then taking a car to the TTC and then the monorail to the MK. Some times we have to wait longer then other times but nothing to compain about. We do always get off at the SwanDolphin on the way back and walk across the bridge but again that is not a problem. We would never go back to renting a car....Rich

 

[DISNEYWORLDBORN2SHOP]

I know there was a thread a few weeks back about BWV busses and I even posted that I agree BWV should not have to share the bus with all those other resorts. In the meantime, I took my boys for a 5 day trip staying at the ASSp November 21-26 on an AP rate. That is the first time I have ever decided that driving my own car would be quicker than the bus. One morning there were enough people in line for the bus to fill 4 buses and after waiting 30 minutes only one bus came leaving 3/4 of the line still standing there. We went and got the car and still no other buses had showed up. I think we always think the grass is greener on the other side. I have stayed and many of the resorts more than once and sometimes their bus service is great and sometimes not. Sometimes it is all in your timing.

 

[crisi]

Our experience with the BW buses in October was that we never had to wait more than 20 minutes for a bus, but if traveling at peak times to or from the parks, we did usually have to stand and the bus was crowded. The new buses just don't have that many seats. My MIL didn't leave for the MK until after 10:00 and they had no problem with sitting down - the buses were empty. We never found it took a long time to get anywhere. BW is generally the last stop - so you pull out and head straight to whereever you are going (we did have one bus that stopped at the Swan/Dolphin after the BW - strange). However, its also the last stop coming back, so the ride home is a little longer.

Since we had two seniors and two preschoolers with us - we opted to use a cab on several occations rather than waiting for and risking standing on the bus. The occational cab can suppliment buses nicely - and may cost less overall than a car rental. For instance, if you leave MK after Spectro - you may wait a long time for a ride on a crowded bus - the buses operate pretty full - walking over to the CR and picking up a cab back to the BW will cost you around $15.

This is a matter of expectations. If you expect a bus to be waiting for you at the stop with empty seats, you will be disappointed. If you expect a bus within 20 minutes with room to stand, more often than not, one will show up (although I do believe that there are occational problems with the 20 minutes - I'm not telling those people who waited 40 that they didn't wait).

 

[pmcpmc]

FOR BUSES IS A TEST OF YOUR ABILITY TO WAIT IN LINE IN THE PARKS

 

[Dopey Sharon]

We just got back, last week, and used Disney transportation everywhere. We had no complaints about the buses. Never had to wait more than 5-10 minutes for a bus! And, we only had to stand once, coming back from the MK. But, it was just DH and myself. I'm not sure if I would use them if I had two kids in strollers. We checked out other resorts and found the worse bus service at the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge, believe it or not!

 

[RichAyers]

When we leave MK after the fireworks, we take the Monorail to Epcot and catch the Illuminations fireworks there (if the MK fireworks are at 7pm)...then it is just a short walk to BWV, BCV, etc......much more entertaining than sitting on a bus for 30 mins....
Rich

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks so much for asking this question!
Last Sunday morning , as I sat on my balcony right across from the bus stop, I did a survey of buses at BWV. In one hour 22 buses came, the most to MK, least to DTD. The longest wait for a bus to a single location was to DTD, 20 minutes (in all fairness, remember this was 8:45-9:45 and the stores there don't open until 9:30). No one appeared to wait long and no buses seemed to be very crowded. The rest of the week, I was at BCV, which shares with BWV. No very crowded buses, no long waits, overall it was a good transportation experience.

Yes, this survey took an hour. Such a hardship-it gave me an excuse actually to sit on my balcony in beautiful weather sipping my morning coffee. I was hoping someone might ask for info like this!

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by Simba's Mom
Thanks so much for asking this question!
Last Sunday morning , as I sat on my balcony right across from the bus stop, I did a survey of buses at BWV. In one hour 22 buses came, the most to MK, least to DTD. The longest wait for a bus to a single location was to DTD, 20 minutes (in all fairness, remember this was 8:45-9:45 and the stores there don't open until 9:30). No one appeared to wait long and no buses seemed to be very crowded. The rest of the week, I was at BCV, which shares with BWV. No very crowded buses, no long waits, overall it was a good transportation experience.

Yes, this survey took an hour. Such a hardship-it gave me an excuse actually to sit on my balcony in beautiful weather sipping my morning coffee. I was hoping someone might ask for info like this!

This has always been my experience with the BWV buses for 99% of the time over many, many stays at this resort. Every once in a great while we have had an long wait but those times have always been few and far between.
BTW, the DTD buses increase in frequency as the day goes on with the greatest frequency in the evening.

 

[DownNeckBoy]

I would take the bus service. I agree that the parking situation takes up too much time at MK.

Having said that, I must add that I don't think that the problem is with the frequency of bus service. As many have posted before, to have to stop at each of the Epcot resorts seems out of line with those resorts being considered "deluxe." My last trip to WDW I stayed at BCV first then at BWV. I truly dreaded being the "last stop" on the line and my experience in that regard, unfortunately, met those expectations. It is a LONG ride "home" after a day at the parks.

I don't know if Disney will ever do something about this, but it is interesting to see that the new POP Century resort will have its own set of buses. Maybe someday the Epcot hotels will get the same benefit as this value resort.

 

[crisi]

When I stayed at WL several years ago the bus loop was WL, CR Poly, GF - A lot of stops (and a lot of distance between the WL and the GF). And Disney's flagship resort was the final stop. Also a long bus ride and also Deluxe resorts (they have changed the loop now, I believe and WL shares with Ft. Wilderness).

My guess is that they figure the number of guests needed to be serviced by the buses as well as what makes a convienent loop. The Value resorts have a lot more rooms per resort than the Deluxe resorts. And - I'm guessing that the Deluxe resorts are more likely to have guests who have cars and drive themselves. The Swan/Dolphin and Boardwalk Inn are all convention hotels, further driving down then number of guests expected to be taking buses into the parks.

 

[Patricia721]

We just returned from BWV yesterday (12/13). For the most part, bus transportation was fine. We were always able to board the first bus that was going to our destination and never had to stand on the way to the parks or DD (we stood once or twice on a return trip). The MK bus route was YB/Boardwalk. The DD bus route was Swan/Dolphin/YB/BW. We never waited long at the BW bus stop - it seemed that busses came along every 20 minutes or so, although one day there was quite a long time where no busses at all came. Our only hitch was returning from the MK Mickey's Christmas party where we waited 45 minutes for a bus (we got to the bus stop about 9:30pm). As it turned out, there were two disabled people with motorized scooters, apparently they need the special handicapped bus to anchor the scooters and that was the hold-up. Unfortunately, we were waiting with a tired/sleepy 6 month old who needed his nightime bottle and cereal. It took us nearly 90 minutes to get back to the BW that night.

The boat ride to MGM was OK - but both times, we just missed the boat and had to wait for the next trip - this, of course, make the trip seem longer. Of course, walking to EPCOT was a breeze!

 

[manning]

You think the wait is bad? Try the bus service in Chicago. Once we walked up to a bus stop and there was an old man waiting. He claimed he was in his twenties when he started waiting.

 

[ahoff]

We have not had to wait very long for a bus, but I think it is all in how lucky you are in getting to the stop at the right time!

And, even though the bus is shared with the other resorts, I like that we are the last stop so that you go right to wherever you are going. Sort of the same reason we get off at the Swan, as I would rather have the short walk than sit on the bus for four more stops.

I also think a car is beneficial for going to DTD.

 

[MicheleC]

Wow...such mixed responses...don't know what I will do yet.
Just want to understand something. BWV is the last pick-up
it sounds like (on the way to MK) so that is good. On the way
back from MK, where is the first stop. If the first stop is Swan/
Dolphin, that would be o.k. because we would just get off and
walk from there. We walk from the boat back from their sometimes which we don't mind. Thanks for all the great responses!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I was just wondering....
Is the issue the WAIT or the length of time it takes to get to the MK and the crowding on the bus? I guess the crowding is what I have heard folks here mention most.

 

[AEN]

Based on these posts, it sounds like the busing has gotten better. I had waits in excess of ha half an hour for all parks. That was back in 2002, so I will defer to the recent visitors.

I believe the DTD bus services Typhoon Lagoon. If so, there should be more bus service during the morning.

The worst thing about being the last stop is the late nights and the tired kids. You have to wait on line for the bus then have to make 5 stops.

I think BY and BW should be combined and Swan and Dolphin should be separated. If Swan and Dolphin have room then they can roam over.

Maybe we can FastPass the buses.