DD Hilton.Someone,PLEASE,how is their transportation?

[eeyoresmom]

I'm sure alot of people need to know this with the great rates they've been offering.How is their shuttle service to the parks?do they leave early enough to get you to the parks before opening?Do they run late enough so you don't have to run from Epcot after Illuminations?Any info is greatly appreciated! TIA

 

[stacy6552]

we stayed at the Wyndham palace last spring and they share transportation. It was one of the worst things about the stay. I reccommend you either rent a car or stay with Disney.

 

[Shutterbug]

I stayed there last December. I'm so glad I had a car!
One evening I sat a bar that was near where the people came in from off the bus.

I heard the most undisneylike language about the bus

 

[stacy6552]

picture it:

Mk fireworks are over. you make your way to the TTC with your dog tired feet and family. There in the parking lot is the 3 mile line for the bus.

You drop your gear and start calculating how many busses it will take before you get on one. How many busses times the 20-30 minutes for each bus to arrive........when you hear it. The fight that breaks out because someone is cutting in line. The arguing goes on until the bus arrives and then you see that the cutters actually make it onto the bus and probably scored some seats.

half an hour later youre on the bus, standing in the isle.........

 

[ncgolfer]

I have to second Stacy's comment, the bus service to the DTD area hotels is less than stellar. The location of the hotels are great but either have you car, a rental or spend the extra and stay on property.

Just my .02 cents

 

[Wolfelaw]

But isn't it super crowded getting out of MK (or wherever) by car at closing? I am staying at DTD Hilton and going to the Mickey Xmas thing (can't recall all those initials) -- I thought it would be easier to take the bus that would just drop me of at MK and then pick me up once the park closes and drop me off back at the hotel. I figured that thousands of people would be streaming out of the park and heading for their cars and the exits at closing time, and there would be a giant, frustrating traffic jam -- does this not happen?

 

[Shutterbug]

Wolfelaw,

I attended MVMCP last December and drove. I stayed clear until the very end. When I got to my car I found it all by itself in the area where I parked. I found most of the people started leaving right after the fireworks. I stuck around to see the last show and had no traffic problems what so ever.

 

[stacy6552]

I say better to be waiting in your car, with the kids asleep in the back and music of your choice than waiting in a line holding your kids and stuff and listening to crabby people.............

 

[dgaston]

In two August stays at the Marriott, we have found transportation to be adequate. The buses run on a schedule, and I stood on buses at park closings about as often as I have on Disney buses. Some people waiting would be bitterly complaining about waiting, and then the bus would arrive just as scheduled. Another option is to use Disney transpo if you have a multi-day pass, and walk from DTD (just across the street from the Hilton). DTD buses don't go directly to parks, you have to go to a resort first.

 

[FoodLover]

I think it really depends on the season and how tolerant you are of waiting.

I've stayed at Downtown Disney resorts and used the transportation with no problems at all. The buses picked up every half hour and were not excessively crowded. They ran from well before park opening until well after park closing.

However, I do know some people have reported really frustrating experiences with the DD transportation system, particularly during high occupancy periods and busy times.

At times when I was on the DD buses, I would overhear people complaining about the bus being late. In some cases I had walked up to the bus stop at the same time as the person who was complaining, and the reality was that we'd been waiting only 28 or 29 minutes (because we had just missed the last bus). However, I think a half-hour seems like a long time to some people, especially when they're tired and hot and their kids are whining.

Personally if I were trying to avoid the expense of a rental car, I would try using the DD buses, and if they turned out to be a problem, I'd just call Yellow Cab. Taking a metered taxi from DD to or from one of the parks should be $10 or less. You can do a lot of one-way taxi rides for the cost of a rental car, unless you get a spectacular rental car deal.

I have lots more advice about using taxis on my site.

Mary
MouseSavers.com