Disney makes a poor choice

[boomhauer]

And there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of off site hotels in their area. I can't imagine busses going to all of them to pick up guests for DTD.

Another excellent point.

 

[gigi1313]

i was also going to suggest public transportation... while on a wdw bus waiting to turn into dtd at the light, i saw a public bus pick up and drop off quite a LOT of passengers all heading to dtd... so transport does not have to be a $28 cab ride... there are other options...

also, if the OP is hesitant to use the resort buses to get to dtd as she was told it was for onsite guests only, then a cab from a wdw theme park has to be quite less expensive than one from your nick hotel, so that might be an option...

good luck and hope you are enjoying your vacation

 

[gigi1313]

And there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of off site hotels in their area. I can't imagine busses going to all of them to pick up guests for DTD.

no, but i can imagine that if xyz hotel already provides a shuttle to the four major wdw theme parks plus two water parks, they could add another stop at dtd, for the convenience of their guests...

and re: non-wdw parks providing buses to wdw resorts to wick the guests away... NEVER GONNA HAPPEN! while it may make sense for universal or sea world to offer it, disney would NEVER allow it on their property... why should they?! would you?!

 

[boomhauer]

no, but i can imagine that if xyz hotel already provides a shuttle to the four major wdw theme parks plus two water parks, they could add another stop at dtd, for the convenience of their guests...

I think the post was referring to Disney sending busses to offsite hotels.

 

[ILuvDisney!]

When I bought our tickets online, it stated that we were allowed to use Disney transportation. In fact, here is the quote::::
"Convenient Walt Disney World® transportation - monorails, ferryboats, and motor coaches"
And, we always stay offsite being timeshare owners.

 

[boomhauer]

When I bought our tickets online, it stated that we were allowed to use Disney transportation. In fact, here is the quote::::
"Convenient Walt Disney World® transportation - monorails, ferryboats, and motor coaches"
And, we always stay offsite being timeshare owners.

Where did you buy your tickets from?

 

[ILuvDisney!]

I bought our tickets on disney's website

 

[boomhauer]

When you stay off property, you have to either take the monorail or the ferry to the Magic Kingdom. As for motor coaches, I'm surprised Disney would say that. Of course, they could always be referring to the shuttles that take you from the parking lots to the entrance.

What's being referred to more so here is Downtown Disney Transportation. As was said earlier, what many people were doing, was parking at DTD for free, taking the bus to a resort, then taking the bus from the resort to the park so they wouldn't have to pay.

 

[Robo]

Where did you buy your tickets from?

This has ALWAYS been the case.

That's why this post is so S-T-R-A-N-G-E!!!!!

If you are at WDW, you can ride the transportation... ALL of the WDW transportation quite "legally" with just any theme-park ticket as your "passport".

But, as stated, you are never asked to "prove" you have any ticket or card to ride the buses, monorail or boats.

There's no need to be embarrassed or worried to ride any WDW bus going to where you want to go (or to a transfer-point) and back.

We visit all the resorts via the busses, take the little pontoon boats from POFQ to DTD (we never stay at that resort, but like the gift shop and the BOAT.)

There's never a problem... if there's ROOM on the bus/boat/monorail... you can ride it, and nobody will stop you.

 

[CheshireVal]

I don't understand.

The OPs post made it sound like she wanted transportation from her hotel to DTD, which, quite frankly, is absurd. There's no way Disney would provide a shuttle service all over Orlando that would pick people up for DTD or PI. That would be a logistical nightmare.

I really think it would be hard to stay offsite without a car. I stay onsite so that I can park my car for 7 days and not worry about driving until I check out for home. For me, it's the only choice to make.

People have to make their own choices and deal with the consequences, whatever they may be.

 

[boomhauer]

Yeah, I don't think there's any doubt about this.

What the OP has a problem with, is Disney not providing transportation from her offsite hotel, to Downtown Disney.

As someone else said, there are hundreds of hotels in the Orlando area. Disney can't possibly service all of them with it's own transportation. Her gripe should be with her hotel, not with Disney.

 

[Robo]

Of course, they could always be referring to the shuttles that take you from the parking lots to the entrance.

It means ALL the transportaition.
It always HAS meant all the transportation.
For the entire time WDW has been open (and I was there the first year) it has always meant ALL the transportation.

We never used to stay on-property. There were only 3 Disney resorts back then, anyway. But as they added resorts, theme-parks and bus routes... anyone could ride them... it was designed to make it easier to navigate WDW... without forcing so many guests to DRIVE and PARK at so many locations.

i.e., You can take the little boats to and from the Poly and GF even if you're not staying there.
You can take the BIG boats to and from WL, FtW and CR, even if you're not staying there or ANYWHERE on WDW property.

This is getting SILLY.

 

[bicker]

When I bought our tickets online, it stated that we were allowed to use Disney transportation. In fact, here is the quote::::
"Convenient Walt Disney World® transportation - monorails, ferryboats, and motor coaches"

Precisely. Off-site guests are guaranteed access to the MK express monorail, the MK ferry boat, the Friendship boats inside Epcot, and between Epcot and D-MGM, and of course, the park-to-park busses (except when parks have reached capacity, of course).

 

[boomhauer]

Sorry - It doesn't mean that anymore.

Disney reserves the right to limit it's transportation strictly to resort guests. (except obviously for park hopping). That is their policy.

HOWEVER - It's not enforced much in the least bit. The monorail and ferry boat are givens to the general public, as you can't get to the Magic Kingdom any other way.

As someone else said, this was not always the policy, but too many offsite guests were cheating the system, parking at Downtown Disney, taking a resort bus, then going to the parks from the resort.

 

[peter11435]

As of now, Universal and Sea World do not offer free transports from Disney Resorts.

Disney wouldn't allow them to do that anyway.

 

[boomhauer]

Disney wouldn't allow them to do that anyway.

Honestly, I'm somewhat surprised they allow Lynx on Disney property.

 

[peter11435]

It means ALL the transportaition.

Im sorry but that is wrong. While you CAN do it, and they will not stop you. The fact is that Resort to park and resort to DTD transportation is for resort guests only. And while they very rarely do it, they can check your resort ID card to make sure that you are a resort guest, and that you are staying at the resort you want to travel to.

 

[boomhauer]

Im sorry but that is wrong. While you CAN do it, and they will not stop you. The fact is that Resort to park and resort to DTD transportation is for resort guests only. And while they very rarely do it, they can check your resort ID card to make sure that you are a resort guest, and that you are staying at the resort you want to travel to.

Exactly.

Off-site Disadvantages:

Getting to and from the parks may be more difficult. This is more important if one plans to take afternoon breaks from the parks.
On very crowded days Parking lot(s) at WDW might be closed.
Quality of the rooms varies; as does service.
Off-site guests must pay for parking at Disney theme parks if they drive unless they have an Annual Passport.
Shuttle service is limited at many hotels, some hotels share shuttles making the service very slow and/or crowded, and some hotels charge for using their shuttle service.
Hotel staff may be less familiar with Disney property.

On-site Advantages:

Getting to and from the parks is generally easier. This is more important if one plans to take afternoon breaks.
Immersed in Disney Magic 24 hrs a day.
Disney resorts offer wonderful theming.
Disney staff provides excellent service.
Properties are always clean and well-maintained.
Priority on tee times on Disney golf courses.
Room-charge privileges throughout WDW.
Ability to purchase Magic Your Way tickets.
Merchandise delivery to your Disney hotel.
Access to WDW's closed circuit TV information channels.
Unlimited use of WDW transportation system.
Magical Express transportation to/from airport to WDW Resort (free thru 12/06)

 

[Robo]

Sorry - It doesn't mean that anymore.

Well, we're going to disagree on this.

 

[umaangel00]

$87.00 a night, bet you paid more for your off site hotel

pepe you are quite wrong on this. You paid 87.00 a night for a hotel room when you can stay offsite and pay at little as 29.00 a night. Also I rent a condo when we come down to stay in. It's a 3 bed 2 bath 1500 sq foot condo. It has a full kitchen, living room and laundry facilities right in the condo. I only pay 350 for a week for that condo. You CAN NOT beat that.