Disney Buses, good or bad?

[WDW Newsletter]

Here is my weekly blog. I would be curious as to your thoughts.

It seems that this mode of transportation will have just as many success stories as it does negative ones.

Disney has buses that will transport you from the parks to your resort and back. This is the main mode of transportation to get guests around the World. Check with your resort for up-to-date information. Buses traditionally run every twenty minutes or so thus providing guests with normally no longer than a half hour wait time at the most. Obviously if you are traveling during the peak seasons, the bus wait times may vary slightly. Buses will start their routes about an hour before each park opens and up to two hours after closing time. Again this varies from season to season. Buses also travel to Downtown Disney (DTD) and the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) near the Magic Kingdom. If there is no direct link between where you are and your destination, you can take a bus to either location, and then make a connecting bus route. For example, Disney does not run buses from one resort to another, so you would need to connect at Ticket and Transportation Center or Downtown Disney. Another option is to take a bus from your resort location to a nearby park, then take a bus from that park to another resort.

With all this being said, the time of year you go may play a role in how frequently buses pick you up. If you are traveling at a non-peak time (February or September) there may not be as many buses on the routes as compared to a peak season like the summer or Christmas week. The problem with a peak season is that even if buses come more frequently, they will be more crowded. Many people think that if you stay at a deluxe resort the busing situation is better than at a Value resort. We have found that really it doesn’t matter where you stay. It is truly the luck of the draw. If you happen to be walking to your stop and a bus is there waiting for you every time, you lucked out. Another individual could go to the same stop that you do about 2 minutes after you are there and miss the bus every time and have to wait.

What happens is that each person is getting s different view/experience of Disney’s Transportation. The bottom line is that most of the time a bus will arrive about every 20 minutes. We have seen times where our wait has been more than 40 minutes and we have also seen times when as soon as a bus leaves, another one arrives going to the SAME place as the one that just left. I believe that you just have to relax, be glad that you don’t have to mess with the traffic, and enjoy your trip.

 

[iheartaladdin]

How are the buses that go from park to park? As in how long does the trip take? I'm going for a day trip next week and am park hopping. I've never done this before and am curious as to other people's experiences with buses?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Thanks for your post. For years, we stayed offsite and drove to the theme parks and Downtown Disney. Three years ago, we had our first stay at the CBR and I was blown away with the Disney transportation system.

Blown away bad? or Blown away good? GOOD!

Each of our Disney transportation system experiences were great. We never waited long for a bus. I think the longest we waited was about 20 minutes and that was when we jjjuuusssttt missed the Epcot bus. It also wasn't during "rush hour". We had slept in one morning and decided, around 10:30 or so, that we wanted to head over to Epcot. We were, literally, walking across the parking lot when the bus pulled out of the bus stop.

In the evenings, we would wait for some of the crowds to leave the park before we ever made our way to the bus stops. I guess that's why our waits weren't long.

After riding the bus to the Magic Kingdom for the first time, I swore I would NEVER EVER EVER drive my own car to the Magic Kingdom again. It was so nice to bypass the TTC and ferry or monorail. We were dropped off at the bus stop which was just a very short walk to the Magic Kingdom turnstiles. It was so nice!

This year, we are staying at Pop Century. It's our first stay at a value resort. I'm a little nervous about our stay.....not about the transportation. We were originally booked at Wilderness Lodge before the IRS knocked one our door and I was actually more concerned about the transportation issue there than at Pop Century.

Like the original poster said, we are happy to be at WDW and if we miss a bus or have to wait a bit, it's okay 'cause we are still at Mickey's House!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Overall I think the Disney buses are good. The only time we don't use them is when going to Downtown Disney, because for whatever reasons the buses from the Magic Kingdom Resorts seem to take the longest. By that I mean waiting forever for them to arrive at your Resort and at Downtown Disney Marketplace or Pleasure Island bus sections. So because of that whenever my family and I go to Downtown Disney we will always have our own transportation.

 

[disnut8]

I'm not the best person to give an opinion because I am inpatient to the point that it's easier for us to just drive to the parks.

But - here is what my daughter-in-law said on her first trip to Disney World. We stayed at the Fort Wilderness Cabins and use Disney transportation while on Disney property. "I don't understand why people complain about Disney's transportation. It's free, it works and it's fairly simple to figure out."

 

[wilde_oscar]

The WDW transportation system is the most advanced in the world... other cites and countries, the olympics, etc. try to emulate their success. That being said, most people need to set their expectations to realistic... then the parks close, the transportation system is moving some 50,000 people every half hour. So imagine an average size american city being moved to 40 different distinct destinations in a half hour. a 20-40 min wait is common most of the year at park close, during the day a 20 min wait is avg. The reason you hear about the horror stories is that, when things go wrong everyone wants to complain... my luck with Disney transportation has been excellent for over 20 years.

Another topic that comes up often... is which resort has the best bus service, or is the closest to the parks, or has the shortest rides... statistically there is no difference in the avg wait time and ride time between the various resorts. There are cases where monorail loop resorts have such low transport time to the MK, but then there is a slightly higher avg time to the other parks... it all comes out in the wash. Don't let a perceived difference in bus service impact your choice of resort... as all the buses are operated by WDW transportation.

 

[christa112]

I have only ever used the WDW transportation and really the only complaint I have is when we stayed at the ASMo and we had to share the busses with 2 other resorts the busses are night were really crowded and it is very annoying when you have a child sleeping in your arms and someone does not offer up their seat. I am sorry, but I would if I had the seat and there was a poor parent trying to stand, balance while the bus takes a corner all while holding a sleeping child.

The next yr we tried CBR and didn't have that happen. We are going again in Sept and our trying out the POP this time around, so we shall see what happens this time.

 

[loonytoony]

Good

 

[wilde_oscar]

I have only ever used the WDW transportation and really the only complaint I have is when we stayed at the ASMo and we had to share the busses with 2 other resorts the busses are night were really crowded and it is very annoying when you have a child sleeping in your arms and someone does not offer up their seat. I am sorry, but I would if I had the seat and there was a poor parent trying to stand, balance while the bus takes a corner all while holding a sleeping child.

The next yr we tried CBR and didn't have that happen. We are going again in Sept and our trying out the POP this time around, so we shall see what happens this time.

when the parks are closing, the buses will be crowded... WDW has no control over someone offering you a seat. You would leave the parks earlier, or drive your self or take a cab to ensure plenty of room and a seat.

 

[christa112]

I never said WDW was to blame for the busses in my post. I was just stating what happened in my situation and my past experience at ASMo busses.

when the parks are closing, the buses will be crowded... WDW has no control over someone offering you a seat. You would leave the parks earlier, or drive your self or take a cab to ensure plenty of room and a seat.

 

[RllngRckBrw]

The only time I have found myself frustrated was late at night after the fireworks rush lets out and I am watching bus after bus go to another resort. We dont have any issues in waiting for a bus and dont ever remember waiting for maore thatn 15 or 20 min and that was uncommon. I find Disney busses to be a huge convienience because I dont have to rent a car or worry about getting lost etc. This helps to make my visit less stressful.

 

[Wendybird55]

I'm from NYC and commuting on buses, subways, ferries is an every day occurance and so is waiting, delays, re-routes, stuck in tunnels, no AC, rude people, people who dont' bathe, homeless people trying to get some sleep, pan handlers, violin players, odd smells and constant rushing and crowding.

So in my opinion, the WDW transportation system is excellent. The buses are clean, I can't remember a time when the AC didn't work when you desprately needed it and except for the one year I stayed at POR, the waits aren't that long. Plus the drivers a curteous and helpful if you have a question.

I think it's more convenient to use the WDW tranportation system then yor own car.

 

[MickeyDee]

I loved the buses. We really had no problems at all. And despite being the most impatient person in the world (WDW and otherwise I found myself pretty relaxed while waiting for the buses and while riding them.

 

[KathylovesPooh]

We've always been happy with the service (stayed at CS, POR and CBR). Just like other posters - sometimes you catch a bus right when you walk out, other times you wait 20 minutes. I always plan it will be the 20 minutes and am thrilled when it is sooner.

Last trip based on what some DISers had said, we drove to AK for EMH AM. I am sure we would have made it back to the resort quicker had we taken the bus (waiting for the tram to take us to the car, etc.)

 

[Mom_of_3_Pirates]

I will admit that the WDW transportation was one of many factors in convincing us that it was worth staying on-site. As was stated above, you can wait for a long time, especially when the fireworks are over, or you can get on one right away without hardly waiting at all.

I will admit that the buses at the AS resorts do have a tendency to get more crowded at a faster pace since they do stop at all 3 resorts.

If you have a bus driver that entertains, that's even a bonus.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I think the WDW bus system is great. Yes we've had to wait a little too long a time or two but overall the bus system is very efficient. I remember we were leaving MK right at closing time. We were staying at POP, they que line for POP is all the way at the end of bus stops. The line was backed up past the que line for the All star resorts, which was 2 bus ques ahead of ours, and I don't mean single file line either. People were standing 4 and 5 people wide. I told DH we would be there for an hour or more. We were on a bus I believe in 20 minutes. Busses for POP just kept coming in, they were loading two busses at a time. I was impressed.

 

[tomerin]

in all of my trips to wdw i really cant complain much about the bus system. well the only problem we have had are the buses leaving epcot. for some reason it seems we always have to wait quite a bit for buses leaving from there.

i think disney buses works very well in accomplishing it main task, moving massive amounts of people all around wdw. if they didnt have this system think of how bad it would be getting in and out of the various parking lots.

we have never rented a car and dont ever intend to. living on long island n.y. i do so much driving that when i go on vacation i also want to go on vacation from my car too!!

 

[bear_mom]

Buses also travel to Downtown Disney (DTD) and the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) near the Magic Kingdom.

We are just back, and this wasn't true while we were there. When we wanted to go to Typhoon Lagoon and again when we wanted to go to DTD both from MK we went to the TTC and both times (I forgot after the first time) we were sent to the Poly to catch a bus.

Emily

 

[CleveRocks]

Here is my weekly blog. I would be curious as to your thoughts.

Buses will start their routes about an hour before each park opens

Buses also travel to Downtown Disney (DTD) and the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) near the Magic Kingdom. If there is no direct link between where you are and your destination, you can take a bus to either location, and then make a connecting bus route.

I'm curious where you are getting your information for your blog you are hoping to help people with, because as I bolded above, you are giving out FALSE information.

At least for parks that offer early morning character breakfast ADRs, buses start running well before one hour prior to park opening.

But your most glaring error is that buses from resorts DO NOT go to the TTC. Period. You are going to disappoint and anger people and waste their precious vacation time if you "inform" them that they can take a bus from their resort to the TTC to then transfer to wherever they want to go.

The only Disney Transport buses that serve TTC are buses to/from DHS and buses to/from AK.

The above is a matter of fact. Now, for one opinion .... DTD is usually an inefficient place to use as a transportation hub. The only time this should be advised is late at night if other more convenient parks are closed. During normal park operating hours, someone needing to transfer buses should tae a bus to the theme park (or DTD) that makes the best geographical sense to use as a transfer point. For example, if you are staying at CSR and need to get to WL for a dinner ADR, transfering at DTD would be much less efficient than transfering at MK.

 

[Ratpack]

How are the buses that go from park to park? As in how long does the trip take? I'm going for a day trip next week and am park hopping. I've never done this before and am curious as to other people's experiences with buses?

I didn't see an answer to your question, but if it has been answered I apologize. The only bus I have ever been able to take from one park to another is between DHS & EPCOT. Other than that bus, I am not aware of any buses that run from park to park. All run between park and resort or DTD or TTC.