DTD Hotels Transportation to WDW

[jrt1176]

How is the busing service from these hotels?

I know they run every 30 minutes, etc.

Are the buses so crowded you cant get a seat?

How long does it take to bus to the parks? Back to the hotel?

I'm just wondering if its better to stay at one of these hotels and save some money to splurge on other things or if I should stay at the S/D or a WDW hotel and have better transportation.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When going to the Magic Kingdom you will be dropped off in the Transportation & Ticket Center bus parking area, so you will then need to take the Express Monorail or boat when going to the Magic Kingdom. When going to Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, the buses drop you off in a different location with the other offsite hotel buses away from the Disney Transport buses. Finally when my family and I stayed at the Regal Sun Resort (when it was still known as the Grosvenor Resort) we found their bus service to be horrible, so if you want better transportation go with the Swan & Dolphin or one of the WDW owned Hotels.

 

[truck1]

When going to the Magic Kingdom you will be dropped off in the Transportation & Ticket Center bus parking area, so you will then need to take the Express Monorail or boat when going to the Magic Kingdom. When going to Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, the buses drop you off in a different location with the other offsite hotel buses away from the Disney Transport buses. Finally when my family and I stayed at the Regal Sun Resort (when it was still known as the Grosvenor Resort) we found their bus service to be horrible, so if you want better transportation go with the Swan & Dolphin or one of the WDW owned Hotels.

Just out of curiosity, how long ago was that? I know that the bus service from the DTD hotels has changed hands at least twice as Mears has bought out different local companies.

 

[jrt1176]

Yes, from what I have read the buses for the DTD resorts are nicer than WDW's buses.

I guess there are 7 or so DTD hotels and a bus route will service half the hotels and then head to the parks.

I am just wondering if it's easy to get back to the hotel or not for a break before dinner, etc.

Just out of curiosity, how long ago was that? I know that the bus service from the DTD hotels has changed hands at least twice as Mears has bought out different local companies.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Just out of curiosity, how long ago was that? I know that the bus service from the DTD hotels has changed hands at least twice as Mears has bought out different local companies.

That was way back in July 1997, however I had no idea the buses have changed and I assumed the dropp off locations at the 4 parks have not changed.

 

[truck1]

That was way back in July 1997, however I had no idea the buses have changed and I assumed the dropp off locations at the 4 parks have not changed.

Yeah, Mears has been steadily buying out the competiton in the area. Most off site hotels(Carribe Royale, Rosen Plaza, Peabody etc) bus operator "own" a specific parking space at each of the major parks, and Shades and the DTD hotels also service the 2 water parks. When I worked there up till 2002 the DTD busses were purple RTS(older Disney stlye busses)and MCI the nicer tour busses. They lost the contract not long after that and it went to Bethany I believe, then to some one else and I have seen the busses lately, but dont remember who has it now.

The problem with a lot of the off site hotels was/is that they really dont care for their guests. There was one resort that I took a lot of complaints as a bus lead that during the MK extended hours, and even Epcot, their last bus was at the park closing. In some cases before.If it was an RTS style bus that holds 72 at full load and there was say 100 people in the stop, they take the first 72 or however many they can fit and leave the rest. They get to me and the bus op would refuse to do anything about it. Their excuse was that they are only contracted for x amount of busses per day and once they hit that limit they were done.They couldnt care less that there was fireworks or other special event in the park.You missed the last bus, you were on your own.We would even call the op,(had the number meorized) and have the guest chew them out, and even the guest would be blown off.Our solution, take a cab, and give the hotel the reciept and have them pay for it.We told them we couldnt guaruntee it, but never heard that someone from the hotel called and tell us not to do that anymore.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Yeah, Mears has been steadily buying out the competiton in the area. Most off site hotels(Carribe Royale, Rosen Plaza, Peabody etc) bus operator "own" a specific parking space at each of the major parks, and Shades and the DTD hotels also service the 2 water parks. When I worked there up till 2002 the DTD busses were purple RTS(older Disney stlye busses)and MCI the nicer tour busses. They lost the contract not long after that and it went to Bethany I believe, then to some one else and I have seen the busses lately, but dont remember who has it now.

Thanks for posting that update.

 

[AZMermaid]

Is there a separate bus for each park? Do they all run every half hour- so you have 4 buses showing up at roughly the same time?

Do they run more buses at busy times? Or if it is full are you out of luck and waiting another half hour?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Is there a separate bus for each park? Do they all run every half hour- so you have 4 buses showing up at roughly the same time?

Do they run more buses at busy times? Or if it is full are you out of luck and waiting another half hour?

I assumed there was still seperate buses for each of the parks and I remember them running every 30 minutes, however I don't know if they run more buses during more busy times.

 

[truck1]

Is there a separate bus for each park? Do they all run every half hour- so you have 4 buses showing up at roughly the same time?

Do they run more buses at busy times? Or if it is full are you out of luck and waiting another half hour?

At one point there was separate busses for each park. I think they were staggered at the resort, as not only would you have a space issue of 4 50' long busses showing up at the same time, but also the run times to get from the resort to the parks would be different also.It may take 10 minutes to get to the DHS, but may take 25-30 to go to AK due to distance.
I would assume that there would be more busses running during peak times, but it all depends on the contract with the bus operator.

 

[truck1]

Thanks for posting that update.

Welcome. As a former driver its hard not to go onto property and see whos still running and what they have. I still dont like the new Disney Nova busses.(the boxes on wheels). One of the top 2 complaints that we as drivers heard besides what took so long to get here, is why do I always have to stand? The RTS style busses Disney owns, seated between 40 and 50 guests, depending on the interior configuration. The new busses, only about 25 seats. Still hold between 72 and 80 guests.The other seats are lost to the oversized wheel wells since the bus sits so low to the ground.