DTD Doubletree shuttle vs driving

[KalBen]

We are headed to Disney June 16-21 and are staying at the DTD Doubletree. How efficient is the shuttle bus service? We will have a rental car so we could drive to the parks if needed. We plan to hit one park during the day and then hop to another park later in the day with a possible break in the afternoon. Any suggestions as to what would be best?
Could we walk to DTD and take a Disney bus to the parks?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[bluwater]

Good question and I don't have an answer. We are staying there just after you. Would also like the know. Please report back when you return. I'm excited to stay at this newly renovated Doubletree.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

We are headed to Disney June 16-21 and are staying at the DTD Doubletree. How efficient is the shuttle bus service? We will have a rental car so we could drive to the parks if needed. We plan to hit one park during the day and then hop to another park later in the day with a possible break in the afternoon. Any suggestions as to what would be best?
Could we walk to DTD and take a Disney bus to the parks?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

There are two buses that service the DTD Hotels. They visit 3-4 hotels and then go to the parks. Each bus goes to two parks. Usually it's Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom for one bus, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios for the other. They generally come every 20-30 minutes. They start running approximately 90 minutes before the park opens and 90 minutes after the park closes. In the morning, the bus driver should tell you the time for the "last bus". If they don't, you can ask.

The buses at DTD don't go to the parks, they only go to resorts. You would need to go to a resort and then wait for the bus to the park. I would rather drive, although then you need a factor in parking costs, unless you have an AP.

If you want to park hop and have breaks, I would think it might be faster to drive everywhere except MK. At MK, you need to park at TTC and then catch the monorail or boat over to the park. Your other option is to valet park a The Contemporary and walk. It's approx $20 +tip but much faster than parking at TTC

They are run by an external company so be sure to check the schedule. We had a few hiccups with the Hilton bus. We can access EMH at this hotel and twice the bus didn't turn up. it was only running to the park schedule, not EMH hours. This shouldn't be an issue with DoubleTree (no EMH access)

 

[KalBen]

We recently returned from a stay at the Downtown Disney Doubletree. We enjoyed the hotel, and liked the space it provided to a family of 5. The shuttles ran about every 30 minutes and often serviced two parks. We used the shuttles and thought the service was pretty good. Although driving may have been faster, we enjoyed the convenience of the buses. It was nice after a day in the parks to get on a cool bus and relax on the ride home.

 

[HopperFan]

We recently returned from a stay at the Downtown Disney Doubletree. We enjoyed the hotel, and liked the space it provided to a family of 5. The shuttles ran about every 30 minutes and often serviced two parks. We used the shuttles and thought the service was pretty good. Although driving may have been faster, we enjoyed the convenience of the buses. It was nice after a day in the parks to get on a cool bus and relax on the ride home.

To clarify - are you saying that the shuttle only goes to two parks, and if it is not one you are going to that you must then transfer to a Disney bus and go on to that park?

We have stayed at DTS and we always drive to the parks. Between time saved, not waiting on buses, hoping for seats, park hopping and having our car at end of day - was worth it to us.

There are NO buses at DTD that go to parks - only resorts.

 

[KalBen]

To clarify for OP - are you saying that the shuttle only goes to two parks, and if it is not one you are going to that you must then transfer to a Disney bus and go on to that park?

We have stayed at DTS and we always drive to the parks. Between time saved, not waiting on buses, hoping for seats, park hopping and having our car at end of day - was worth it to us.

There are NO buses at DTD that go to parks - only resorts.

While we were there, buses from the Doubletree serviced two parks for each bus. For example, Magic Kingdom/Animal Kingdom bus dropped off at TTC for MK and then at AK. Route back to hotel was MK then AK. Other bus was EP/HS. Sometimes there were additional buses and they only ran to one park. At night there was a bus only for MK mainly because the hours there were longer than other parks.

 

[HopperFan]

While we were there, buses from the Doubletree serviced two parks for each bus. For example, Magic Kingdom/Animal Kingdom bus dropped off at TTC for MK and then at AK. Route back to hotel was MK then AK. Other bus was EP/HS. Sometimes there were additional buses and they only ran to one park. At night there was a bus only for MK mainly because the hours there were longer than other parks.

Thanks for explaining that, it would help others to decide. It does mean additional time on the bus if you were say heading to AK and it went all the way up to MK then back down to AK. Would be good to clarify that at resort as you might want to ride to MK but on AK day drive.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Thanks for explaining that, it would help others to decide. It does mean additional time on the bus if you were say heading to AK and it went all the way up to MK then back down to AK. Would be good to clarify that at resort as you might want to ride to MK but on AK day drive.

The buses have the two parks they are visiting on the front of the bus. Almost always the bus goes to two parks.