Dumb bus service question...

[Juliet0778]

So, I was just on Disney's site, and they said resort buses only start 45 minutes before park open. But we have a breakfast reservation one day nearly an hour before park open, meaning we would have to leave well before they say the buses are running. So...will there be a bus or do we need to figure something else out?

 

[WEDWDW]

Despite Disney saying that,the first Bus to Magic Kingdom "usually" starts between 6:00 AM and 6:30 AM with Epcot,DHS and DAK "usually" sometime between 6:30 AM and 7:15 AM.(NOT a dumb question at all!)

Here Is The First Bus Time For Magic Kingdom From One Day At All-Star Sports

First bus for DAK/second bus for MK

Third Bus For MK/Second Bus For DAK/First Bus For Epcot,DHS

 

[Juliet0778]

Okay, cool, thanks. We are coming from AKL, but I assume similar. Was hoping to catch a bus around 7:30.

 

[bffdisney]

Plan earlier rather than later because the buses are much less frequent at that time!

 

[maxiesmom]

Okay, cool, thanks. We are coming from AKL, but I assume similar. Was hoping to catch a bus around 7:30.

Keep in mind Disney recommends you allow 90 minutes to make it to an ADR using their transportation. As bffdisney stated, plan earlier rather than later.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Okay, cool, thanks. We are coming from AKL, but I assume similar. Was hoping to catch a bus around 7:30.

If you have an 8:05am ADR, you really need to plan to be at the bus stop absolutely no later than 7:00am and I'd really recommend being there closer to 6:30am. If you are planning to be at the bus stop at 7:30am, you are almost guaranteed to miss your ADR. Remember you have to build in time to go through bag check and the walk from the park entrance to the restaurant.

 

[Juliet0778]

If you have an 8:05am ADR, you really need to plan to be at the bus stop absolutely no later than 7:00am and I'd really recommend being there closer to 6:30am. If you are planning to be at the bus stop at 7:30am, you are almost guaranteed to miss your ADR. Remember you have to build in time to go through bag check and the walk from the park entrance to the restaurant.

Yeah, that's a big no. I am not getting to the bus station at 6:30! Worst case scenario, we'll have to grab an Uber or something. We never needed an hour plus to get anywhere last visit.

 

[DaisyJ]

Yeah, that's a big no. I am not getting to the bus station at 6:30! Worst case scenario, we'll have to grab an Uber or something. We never needed an hour plus to get anywhere last visit.

Buses do not run that frequently in the early morning before opening. It is a 15-20 minute bus ride from AKL to MK. You still have to go through security, the tapstiles and walk to your ADR. There is no way you will make it on time by getting to the bus station at 7:30.

 

[WEDWDW]

There is no way you will make it on time by getting to the bus station at 7:30.

Unless the ADR is at Tusker House.

 

[DaisyJ]

Unless the ADR is at Tusker House.

Yes, you're correct. I mistakenly assumed the ADR was at MK.

 

[Juliet0778]

Yes, you're correct. I mistakenly assumed the ADR was at MK.

No, it's at Hollywood Studios...which should only be 8-10 minutes away hopefully. That's why I was thinking if we could be ON a bus at 7:30 (maybe getting to the stop at 7:15) we'd be okay. Plus, HS isn't *as* big, so I figured it wouldn't take long to walk it once in. But getting my son and husband up even that early is going to be a challenge.

 

[maxiesmom]

No, it's at Hollywood Studios...which should only be 8-10 minutes away hopefully. That's why I was thinking if we could be ON a bus at 7:30 (maybe getting to the stop at 7:15) we'd be okay. Plus, HS isn't *as* big, so I figured it wouldn't take long to walk it once in. But getting my son and husband up even that early is going to be a challenge.

Honestly, if you want to take Disney transportation, you would be better off bumping back the ADR if at all possible. You do not want to be late. You risk being told you missed your spot and being charged as a no show.

If sleep is precious (and it is to me too at WDW) plan on using uber or taking a taxi. Even so, you need to be getting into that taxi at 7:30 at the very latest. And that will be cutting it close.

 

[brooke789]

Okay, cool, thanks. We are coming from AKL, but I assume similar. Was hoping to catch a bus around 7:30.

We stayed at AKL last summer. The buses were notoriously non-existent in the mornings. We were at the bus stops before 7am every morning. Two of our days we missed rope drop. The first time it happened we were told the bus service starts 45 minotes before opening and if we needed to be there before say 8am on the dot we needed to use our own transportation. We asked specifically about PPO ADRa and we're told you needed to let the front desk know you had those the day before to make sure a bus would none available to get you.

I'm not saying any of this is actual policy but we had a very bad experience with buses about half the time. Being out in the early morning waiting and waiting for buses that never come is very very frustrating and we did not have early ADRs. Our experience was so bad we were given two sets of anytime fast passes for the parks after talking with someone.

 

[Juliet0778]

So had a discussion with my husband last night and went over all of thus and he said "Okay, then. We'll just got an uber." Problem solved, I hope. Although, since we've never done that at Disney...where are we picked up?

 

[kaytieeldr]

So had a discussion with my husband last night and went over all of thus and he said "Okay, then. We'll just got an uber." Problem solved, I hope. Although, since we've never done that at Disney...where are we picked up?

See the "Everything About Über and Lyft" thread on the Transportation Forum.