Disney's Bus System -Drop Off's and Pick Up's

[kid@heart2]

When we went last May we had reservations one particular day at Tusker House (AK) for Breakfast..about 8:30ish-9:00 ish..after that we planned on going to another theme park (since we had already spent a couple days at AK prior).

When we finished our breakfast, we had a hard time getting back to the resort. No busses came for pick up..we waited like almost 40 minutes to flag down another bus and inquire. Was there something we missed about their bus schedules? I know there's quite a few drop offs at a given park but what about pick-ups? I thought that it was odd..what happened if there was an emergency and we had to get back to our room/resort..we would be able to quickly.

Is there a number or something I could call to inquire?

Thanks!

 

[MikeyNS]

Buses are supposed to come automatically every 20 minutes or so. There are reports of people having to wait quite a while for a bus, while others seem to have no problem. It's a bit of an issue and can be hit or miss. When we were there a few weeks ago 3 buses came at the same time to the Animal Kingdom for pickup at our resort. Needless to say 2 left empty. There was probably quite a wait for those coming 5 minutes after we left. As far as I know there is no number to call.

 

[dancin Disney style]

The buses are on a regular schedule about 20-30 minutes depending on how busy it is. In the mornings when there are big lines they will call in more buses.

It is odd that you waited 40 minutes. My guess is that it was just one of those weird unexplained things.

 

[Cottager]

Despite what people say, if you go against the flow of regular traffic like returning to a resort earlier in the day....you will have to wait longer. I've had this issue many times since I'm notorious for hitting the EMH, jumping on a few popular rides, then switching parks.

There is actually one thing you can do. At each bus stop at the parks, there is a CM assigned to monitor the traffic. AT AKL, they are in that little booth at the end with the dark tinted glass. At HS, they stand there with a clipboard. At MK, they sit in a little van at the bus entrance.

We figured it out after many frustrating mornings waiting over an hour every time!!!!!!!!! You have to walk up to these CM's and ask them when the next bus back to the resort will arrive. They keep track of when you arrive (supposedly) to guarantee a quick turnaround, however, it never works out that way early in the morning. In fact, many times, they've had to call in a special bus (I can't remember the name they put on the front of it but it's used for fillers).

The most irritating issue in the morning is when you're standing there waiting....then a bus arrives from the resort to drop off people...then they tell you that they are not traveling back to the resort....sorry. After the third time that happened to me on the same route....I actually swore at the driver in front of my kids which was so bad and non Disney like....but it was hot and ridiculous.

Oh...and don't expect any taxis to be there in the morning either....they only gather in the evenings.

Grrrrrr.....

 

[ABCanada]

The schedule is every 20 min but they do consider demand. We had a similar issue one morning, I think it was at AK too. The explanation was that they do not expect a strong demand from the parks in the morning. The buses are focused on getting people to the parks.
(Based on my observations this seems true. The resort we normally stay at has a CM monitoring the buses and demand in the morning. If it is longer than 20 minutes they follow up. The CM is there only for the peak morning. Later in the day, when the crowds start leaving, you can see the same tracking at the Parks. At the parks they also balance the line ups for the specific resorts)

If it is longer than 20 min if there is an obvious controller present I would let them know. Otherwise ask one of the drivers. They will generally radio it in.

 

[seashoreCM]

I am waiting with baited breath to hear from the horse's mouth what the policy is on bus transportation back to the resort in the mornings, and what procedures guests should follow.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

By the way, buses usually do not immediately go back to the same place they just came from.]

 

[Cottager]

I am waiting with baited breath to hear from the horse's mouth what the policy is on bus transportation back to the resort in the mornings, and what procedures guests should follow.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

By the way, buses usually do not immediately go back to the same place they just came from.]

Well, we all know that the "official word" is not always what is practiced. Personally, I've had this problem on 8 different trips in the past 2 years.

Just to add another story, my wife had a major argument with one of the CM's at HS after waiting over an hour for a bus to take us back in the early morning in a major rainstorm. The CM stated that she had us marked down as arriving 15 minutes earlier....which was hard to understand how she could make such an error considering that no one else was waiting for a bus and we stood there huddled under the little overhead cover with 2 young kids shivering. I'm extremely tolerant but this one just really disapointed me.

Ranting....off.

 

[kid@heart2]

Thanks for all that information..helps us understand..its good to know that someone else gets stuck in that sort of situation..