Dinsey resort transportation for those staying offsite (need a quick answer)

[penguinande]

Someone told me that you aren't supposed to use the busses from the resorts to the parks and vice versa if you're staying offsite - that you can only use non-resort Disney transportation. Is that true? If it is, it kinda ruins my whole game plan.

 

[cranbiz]

Your paid park admission gives you the right to use all of WDW's transportation on the days that you use your ticket. Therefore you can use Disney transportation on any day that you visit a park.

 

[Lewisc]

You're NOT allowed to park in ANY resort parking lot unless you're a registered guest at that resort. If you are visiting the resort you're allowed to park there for your visit but not as an alternative to theme park parking. Not sure that's your game plan but it might be the game plan of others reading the thread.

I've read that technically our hopper passes allow us to go between parks but that it doesn't permit transporation to resorts.

 

[dizplanner]

If you are planning on using the transportation to go to a resort for a meal or something similar, I don't think anyone would have a problem with that. However, if you are trying to avoid paying for theme park parking by parking at a resort or DTD and using the resort transportation, then that is not appropriate (not to mention it will take you longer and waste your precious time).

 

[penguinande]

Let me explain what I had in mind. I'm staying offsite, near DTD, and won't have a car. I thought that, rather than taking the shuttles from my hotel, which don't leave very often, I could walk to DTD to catch the bus. I asked several questions about this on the Transportation board a while back (including whether it was ok for offsite guests to use Disney transportation) and the answer that I got was that all Disney transportation is available to everyone holding theme park tickets. I got quite a few responses and no one said that I would not be able to use the resort busses (actually several people suggested the SSR bus specifically because there are direct lines to all the parks). Anyone know for sure? Calling Tyler...

 

[prncess674]

Where are you staying offsite. Walking to DTD could entail a VERY LONG walk.

 

[seashoreCM]

Even resort guests are not supposed to park cars at different resorts as a convenience to get to theme parks.

Non-resort guests are not permitted to use resort swimming pools. Resort guests are not permitted to use pools other than at their own resort. (Port Orleans and All Star guests may use pools in the sister resorts).

Aside from this, visiting (other) resorts by bus or boat or monorail is OK most of the time. Rarely, most likely late in the evening when security is of concern, or during peak travel periods, resort ID's may be checked before you can board buses or the MK resort monorail line.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[JodyTG]

Let me explain what I had in mind. I'm staying offsite, near DTD, and won't have a car. I thought that, rather than taking the shuttles from my hotel, which don't leave very often, I could walk to DTD to catch the bus. I asked several questions about this on the Transportation board a while back (including whether it was ok for offsite guests to use Disney transportation) and the answer that I got was that all Disney transportation is available to everyone holding theme park tickets. I got quite a few responses and no one said that I would not be able to use the resort busses (actually several people suggested the SSR bus specifically because there are direct lines to all the parks). Anyone know for sure? Calling Tyler...

***putting on my "flame-retardant" suit*** This is exactly the problem that people are having that own at SSR (like me). Too many people are walking from DTD to SSR to catch a bus. Our member dues pay for these buses, not WDW themselves. This is going to raise our dues and we are doing everything that we can (which isn't much besides griping) to try to stop this. It's not fair to the people that are staying in a WDW hotel for outside guests to clog up our transportation to the theme parks. It's just not right to do this just to save a buck. It's especially not right to do it at a DVC resort. Again, the DVC members of that resort pays for the bus service, so it's not free to us.

 

[penguinande]

Where are you staying offsite. Walking to DTD could entail a VERY LONG walk.

I'm close; SSR is a little more than a mile from my hotel.

 

[penguinande]

***putting on my "flame-retardant" suit*** This is exactly the problem that people are having that own at SSR (like me). Too many people are walking from DTD to SSR to catch a bus. Our member dues pay for these buses, not WDW themselves. This is going to raise our dues and we are doing everything that we can (which isn't much besides griping) to try to stop this. It's not fair to the people that are staying in a WDW hotel for outside guests to clog up our transportation to the theme parks. It's just not right to do this just to save a buck. It's especially not right to do it at a DVC resort. Again, the DVC members of that resort pays for the bus service, so it's not free to us.

I'm sorry if it's causing a problem. Really the question that I'm asking isn't whether it's right or wrong, but whether Disney allows it. All the info, I'd received suggested that it would be no problem, so I figured it would be ok. I just want to know what the official DIsney policy is. If it's against the rules, I won't do it.

 

[prncess674]

I'm close; SSR is a little more than a mile from my hotel.

do you really want to walk an extra 2 miles (1 mile there and 1 mile back) when you will do so much walking in the parks? Why don't you just take your hotel provided transportation or just take a cab. I personally wouldn't waste my time walking to a resort only to hop bus. From exiting your hotel room door to hitting the park entrance could well exceed an hour.

 

[penguinande]

do you really want to walk an extra 2 miles (1 mile there and 1 mile back) when you will do so much walking in the parks? Why don't you just take your hotel provided transportation or just take a cab. I personally wouldn't waste my time walking to a resort only to hop bus. From exiting your hotel room door to hitting the park entrance could well exceed an hour.

I really just wanted to do this when I was already at DTD; I thought we'd be going there to eat, since it's so close. I also really wanted to go to SSR to catch the bus to my early character breakfast (because I don't think my hotel will have shuttles that early) and to go to Typhoon Lagoon (because the hotel doesn't have waterpark transportation). I wasn't going to use the Disney transportation to get everywhere.

 

[Lewisc]

Actually you may have it backwards. Doesn't DVC pay WDW for a level of bus service based on number of guests at SSR? Disney runs extra buses to handle the demand. Non-SSR guests don't clog the buses but rather causes Disney to run extra buses. As long as DVC isn't being charged on a per bus basis you come out ahead.

It doesn't make a lot of sense to walk a mile to DTD to take a bus to SSR to take another bus to the park. A few taxi rides during rain or excessive heat will offset a lot of the savings compared to a DTD or even Disney hotel. Paying for airport transfers will eat away even more of your initial savings.

If you're going to stay offsite you really need a car.

***putting on my "flame-retardant" suit*** This is exactly the problem that people are having that own at SSR (like me). Too many people are walking from DTD to SSR to catch a bus. Our member dues pay for these buses, not WDW themselves. This is going to raise our dues and we are doing everything that we can (which isn't much besides griping) to try to stop this. It's not fair to the people that are staying in a WDW hotel for outside guests to clog up our transportation to the theme parks. It's just not right to do this just to save a buck. It's especially not right to do it at a DVC resort. Again, the DVC members of that resort pays for the bus service, so it's not free to us.

 

[penguinande]

It doesn't make a lot of sense to walk a mile to DTD to take a bus to SSR to take another bus to the park. A few taxi rides during rain or excessive heat will offset a lot of the savings compared to a DTD or even Disney hotel. Paying for airport transfers will eat away even more of your initial savings

You misunderstand; SSR is walking distance. It is located in DTD, in the marketplace area, which is maybe a mile from the hotel. I originally wanted to take the bus from DTD to the waterpark and my PS, but got several suggestions that I could walk to SSR, which is in the same area.

 

[dizplanner]

I guess if you are asking if you will be denied boarding the bus if you were to walk from your hotel to SSR, the answer is no. They don't check ids so the driver won't know if you are staying at SSR or not. I would recommend that if you do this, that you do not say anything while you are on the bus or you might get some glares from some of the SSR people. Currently I don't think SSR buses are crowded, but if you find they are, I really recommend that you think twice about doing this. I would hate for a SSR family to be denied boarding a bus because a person from a non-Disney hotel decided to ride the bus.

 

[bootc3]

You will have no problems. I have never seen ID's checked to get on a Disney bus. People do not know if you are staying at the resort, visiting the resort, or what you are doing there. Keep your plans as they are. Hope you have a good trip.

 

[D&DDisney]

We are very familiar with the DTD area and off-site hotels like the Days LBV. The maps can be deceiving (as some have mentioned). Here's how our walks to this area have gone.
It's about .5 mile from the Days to the entrance to DTD area hotels. It's another .5 mile past all the hotels to DTD shops. Then you can tack on another .75 mile or so to get through DTD, Pleasure Island, etc. From the map, it looks like SSR is further past this area, so tack on another .5 mile or so. Then you have to get on the SSR bus to head out to MK for your reservation. This may be more work than pleasure.
What time is your reservation for? Have you tried calling Days to see what the earliest time their bus leaves? I'd also check with a few neighboring hotels to the Days like the Double Tree Club Hotel LBV or the Sheraton Safari Hotel (much shorter walk) to see what times their buses leave. I'm bet if you explain your situation they might be willing to be "good neighbors".
Also, we bought 4 day park hoppers last year before the change and were told (and it is written on our hoppers) that "Disney transportation is included". It does not state which type of transportation is included or excluded. Good Luck!

 

[penguinande]

We are very familiar with the DTD area and off-site hotels like the Days LBV. The maps can be deceiving (as some have mentioned). Here's how our walks to this area have gone.
It's about .5 mile from the Days to the entrance to DTD area hotels. It's another .5 mile past all the hotels to DTD shops. Then you can tack on another .75 mile or so to get through DTD, Pleasure Island, etc. From the map, it looks like SSR is further past this area, so tack on another .5 mile or so. Then you have to get on the SSR bus to head out to MK for your reservation. This may be more work than pleasure.
What time is your reservation for? Have you tried calling Days to see what the earliest time their bus leaves? I'd also check with a few neighboring hotels to the Days like the Double Tree Club Hotel LBV or the Sheraton Safari Hotel (much shorter walk) to see what times their buses leave. I'm bet if you explain your situation they might be willing to be "good neighbors".
Also, we bought 4 day park hoppers last year before the change and were told (and it is written on our hoppers) that "Disney transportation is included". It does not state which type of transportation is included or excluded. Good Luck!

Thanks for the suggestions. We will probably try to use our hotel's shuttle as much as possible, if it will save time, but don't really mind the walk, either.

 

[Deb & Bill]

SSR guests are already complaining about non-resort guests using their bus to get to and fron the parks and I hope Disney is listening. Disney transportation is available to non-resort guests to go between the parks and to dine at the resorts. Not to use the resort transportation to get to the parks. SSR buses are for the guests to go to their hotel and the Disney parks. Guests can use the bus to visit the spa.

I wish they would fence the resort and require a SSR room key to open a gate at DTD. Or post a guard at the path to SSR from DTD and require a guest to show a room ID from SSR.