Downtown Disney Nightmare

[Hootch]

a similar experience in June. The boat to POFQ was shut down due to lightening in the area. It took us two hours between the time we got to the bus stop and the time we arrived at POFQ.

 

[mollygirl13]

My advice:

take a taxi back

DH and I went there last week after eating at Boma. We had some time to kill so we decided we would head to DTD. Big mistake. DTD was SOOOOOO crowded that we decided to go back to The Dolphin.
The bus stop was a zoo. People were everywhere. There was one CM directing folks to where they needed to be. I was starting to feel panicky when DH suggested we get a taxi.
I didn't care how much it cost. I just wanted out of there. FAST!!!

IF we go back (and that is a big IF) we will go in the morning when it first opens and drive our rental car.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I don't know which is worse, taking the bus or driving and trying to find a parking space. The last few times we've been to DTD the parking situation has been terrible.

 

[SDSorority]

This is why we rent a car and park over by Babycakes....seems like no one parks there.

 

[VLee]

Okay, where is Babycakes located? and if we decide to catch a taxi back this time, are there taxis lined up and waiting somewhere???
Thanks.

 

[GeneralTso]

My knee hurts just reading that story!

They tout that Disney bus system as the best thing ever, but I think your experience is typical experience. I see more meltdowns and upset people waiting for those busses.

We drive to DTD and have never (and I mean, ever) had a problem finding a parking spot. Someone is always leaving. You get a spot.

I love the little boats. I use them as transportation and also just for fun.

 

[ncbyrne]

We always rent a car for this very reason. Once, and only once, did we endure the busses. We always felt like cattle.

 

[ocean134]

I feel your pain! I stayed at POFQ for this first time this past August. My sister, BIL and I were there for a long weekend. My BIL had a yucky cold and we decided that we would go to DTD for a bit. We wanted to take the boat but it was too early so we had to take the bus. We didn't know that the bus stopped at Typhoon Lagoon en route to DTD. So, we left POFQ, detoured to TL then went to DTD. My BIL was feeling miserable so we stayed at DTD for a short time and wanted to head back to POFQ. We waited for our bus (short wait as it was not even noon yet), then had to stop at the second DTD stop, then we went back to TL then we passed POFQ and went the entire way around POR before we got back to our FQ bus stop.

In total, it took us over an hour to make a 5 minute drive from DTD to POFQ. We learned our lesson.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Well, the more I research it, the more stories I find like the ones in this thread. Was considering going for the morning of our non-park day, but the more I read, the more it looks like another trip will go by without a visit to DTD. We'll just relax at the resort instead.

 

[larryz]

Be sure to let Guest Communications know that you eschewed a shopping trip to DTD because of the terrible transportation options. If nobody makes the economic impact apparent, the situation will never improve.

 

[WDSearcher]

Well, the more I research it, the more stories I find like the ones in this thread. Was considering going for the morning of our non-park day, but the more I read, the more it looks like another trip will go by without a visit to DTD. We'll just relax at the resort instead.

That seems silly to me. Places like the DIS and other review sites are very very small samples of the overall Disney Guest population, and it stands to reason that you're going to find more negatives on sites than positives, no matter what you're looking for. People generally don't spend the same amount of time relating their absolutely trouble-free trips to places as they do the frustrating, annoying ones. To choose not to do something because a small group of people out of millions of guests have related bad experiences seems a little overblown.

I've been to DTD many times, using bus, car and taxi transport. I generally don't go at night because it's always more crowded then, and I'm usually there to shop as opposed to eat or just "hang out". I've had good and bad transportation experiences, same as pretty much any other route (don't get me started on getting out to Pioneer Hall). But it's really no different than anything else. Do you avoid all of the things people complain about? Of course not. You just go into those things knowing what the challenges will be and then work around them.

If you do choose to go one morning, my guess is that you'll get to DTD and end up wondering why you've been avoiding it all these years!

 

[Iris]

We always rent a car for this very reason. Once, and only once, did we endure the busses. We always felt like cattle.

Same for us...my husband calls me a "bus snob" as I refuse to endure the buses. Too many times have I been waiting forever and it was not just at DTD. I will never forget the time that my girls and I decided to head to MK while DH slept in. It was June, about 100 degrees and my girls were still very young. We were staying at the Boardwalk and about midday we decided it was too hot and headed back to the room. We were the only ones waiting for the bus for 45 minutes! Finally after about an hour, another bus pulled up at the stop next to ours and got out to ask us just how long we had been waiting...he had seen us waiting more than 30 minutes ago during his last run. He took pity on us and called in a change since his bus had no one waiting and took us to the Boardwalk! It was terrible, we were so dehydrated from the heat that we felt sick later that evening.

Never again will I use the buses if I can help it. And the monorail is starting to get on my hit list as the last several times it has broken down, or we had to wait because another needed to be serviced, etc.

 

[JLS]

What a nightmare. Sorry for your ordeal. I could not agree more that it pays to rent a car even when staying on Disney property. Parking is free for resort guests, so I would much rather get out of a park like Animal Kingdom, get into my car and be back to the Beach Club in 5-7 minutes from there, than do wait however long for a bus, then stop at Blizzard Beach, Swan, Dolphin and Yacht Club before getting back to Beach Club 45-60 minutes later depending on bus wait times, not to mention enduring packed busses, possibly having to stand, etc. And we always always drive to DD. I also prefer to leave when we want to leave for the airport rather than taking Magical Express 4 hours before our flight time and killing hours at the airport.

 

[ireland_nicole]

At busy times parking is just as bad- last trip we circled the lot for 30 minutes

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

After reading these stories I am so glad we drive! I can't imagine dealing with those waits after already waiting in the parks all day!
As far as DTD, we love it there, go every trip, and have never had trouble with parking!

 

[luvmy2babies]

That seems silly to me. Places like the DIS and other review sites are very very small samples of the overall Disney Guest population, and it stands to reason that you're going to find more negatives on sites than positives, no matter what you're looking for. People generally don't spend the same amount of time relating their absolutely trouble-free trips to places as they do the frustrating, annoying ones. To choose not to do something because a small group of people out of millions of guests have related bad experiences seems a little overblown.

I've been to DTD many times, using bus, car and taxi transport. I generally don't go at night because it's always more crowded then, and I'm usually there to shop as opposed to eat or just "hang out". I've had good and bad transportation experiences, same as pretty much any other route (don't get me started on getting out to Pioneer Hall). But it's really no different than anything else. Do you avoid all of the things people complain about? Of course not. You just go into those things knowing what the challenges will be and then work around them.

If you do choose to go one morning, my guess is that you'll get to DTD and end up wondering why you've been avoiding it all these years!

I'm aware of how this population compares with the general population that goes to Disney every time I grab a fast pass and see people waiting in an hour long line.

Believe me if I was determined to go, or if it was just me, it wouldn’t matter. Most people I know told me I was crazy to even take my children to WDW or on any other vacation on my own but I do it. If I went by everything that was said on here, I’d probably never see a parade at Disney or ride the bus, but those things are worth it to me to take the chance on. The fact of the matter is, DTD it is not important enough to me to take the chance, at least not at the ages my children will be when we go next time.

 

[W.E.D.]

WOW! So sorry you had that experience, OP.

I learned the first time I stayed on site what a nightmare the DTD busses can be, as we had close to the same experience one night.

That was one reason we stayed at POR, so we could use the boats for DTD. I was so thankful for them last trip.

 

[delaneyc52]

Well, the more I research it, the more stories I find like the ones in this thread. Was considering going for the morning of our non-park day, but the more I read, the more it looks like another trip will go by without a visit to DTD. We'll just relax at the resort instead.

Please don't let all this deter you!! DTD can be a lot of fun with unique shopping and great food! I think if someone goes in expecting the bus may be a long wait, it won't be as bad and you'll be prepared mentally for that -- and if the wait is short, then all the better.

 

[merlee76]

So sorry to hear all that. It would have been even worse if the kids were with you.

we are staying at POFQ and will stick to the boat if we head to DTD. We do have a car, but that may be bad

 

[luvmy2babies]

Please don't let all this deter you!! DTD can be a lot of fun with unique shopping and great food! I think if someone goes in expecting the bus may be a long wait, it won't be as bad and you'll be prepared mentally for that -- and if the wait is short, then all the better.

Thanks, but it is really not important enough to me for me to take the chance. I've waited 90 minutes to get on a bus before. We were at MK after Wishes the Sunday before Thanksgiving and we were staying at ASMo. It was worth it to me to have seen Wishes.

I'm thinking on another trip we'll stay at either POR or POFQ, whichever one has the Royal Room. We'll see DTD then.