First Experience With the Bus Issues

[Inkmahm]

Question - can you drive to the MK on Early Morning Hour days? Can you get in the hour early if you drive? I am likely to do this next time.

Thanks,
Diane

Yes, you can. We did this both in March and April. Very few people do though so we were in the front row both times in the parking lot! Perfect for leaving at the end of a long day.

I hate riding buses. We always have a car rental and very rarely use the Disney transportation system.

 

[crisi]

I don't think Disney is cutting back on bus service to save fuel - it's more likely that they had trouble finding enough drivers or that more buses than expected were out of service. Anyway, I think it is a problem that they know about and will fix as soon as they can. JMHO. YMMV.

Add in their "new" dispatching system (they seem to have been working on that for years).

Additional costs for stroller rentals means more strollers.

Additional gas costs may mean more families let Disney drive.

ME puts fewer rental cars in the hands of the guests to even drive.

I think they may have the perfect storm of "buses are going to be crowded" going.

 

[Mtnman44]

I'm curious - if it is true that average bus wait times are around 20 to 30 min, how much actual time is saved driving yourself?

I picture: walking to the car, driving time, lines to get into the parking lot, time to park, walk to tram station, wait for tram, ride tram to the front. Is all of this significantly less than 20 to 30 minutes?

 

[DVCSAMNH]

Well, the morning we gave up on the bus and drove to Epcot so that we could make our Gardens of the World Tour the drive from SSR to Epcot took less than 10 minutes. At 8:40AM we were probably in the 7th row back in the parking lot. So, I would say we saved a great deal of time by driving.
Like the busses time of day will play a part with driving times. And driving to the MK is a pain. But, so is fighting at the Grandstand to get off a bus that is bursting at the seams. It's a pick your poison kind of thing.

 

[jade1]

Bus elimination whenever possible has always been a high priority with us, and staying at BCV or BWV has been very helpful for EPCOT/DHS. We also plan to add on at BLT and concentrate on MK while we stay there a few nights for the same reason.

 

[ammo]

I'm curious - if it is true that average bus wait times are around 20 to 30 min, how much actual time is saved driving yourself?

I picture: walking to the car, driving time, lines to get into the parking lot, time to park, walk to tram station, wait for tram, ride tram to the front. Is all of this significantly less than 20 to 30 minutes?

You are leaving something out of the equation -- the time spent on the bus after it picks you up and before it deposits you at the park. I had this problem with BWV in March. After lengthy waits for a bus, the bus would leave BW and stop at the Swan and Dolphin (two separate stops) and occasionally at the BC/YC before heading on to the parks. So the ride could take as long as the wait at the bus stop. That usually tilts the time scales in favor of driving, with the possible exception of MK due to the intermediate stop at the TTC if you drive (the buses drop you near the MK entrance).

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

You are leaving something out of the equation -- the time spent on the bus after it picks you up and before it deposits you at the park. I had this problem with BWV in March. After lengthy waits for a bus, the bus would leave BW and stop at the Swan and Dolphin (two separate stops) and occasionally at the BC/YC before heading on to the parks. So the ride could take as long as the wait at the bus stop. That usually tilts the time scales in favor of driving, with the possible exception of MK due to the intermediate stop at the TTC if you drive (the buses drop you near the MK entrance).

Also don't forget the comfort factor. We were far more comfortable riding in our own air conditioned mini-van with my son safely buckled in his car seat then trying to stand like sardines on a bus full of people (the later in the day the smellier that option got!) while trying to clutch a squirmy 1 year old and balance his big clunky stroller and diaper bag.

For us a rental car was a no-brainer after trying Disney transportation.

 

[Mike]

You are leaving something out of the equation -- the time spent on the bus after it picks you up and before it deposits you at the park.

Oh details, details .....

We often travel with other families and there have been numerous times where we left the park at the same time - my family by car the other by bus. We have always made it back to the resort before them - sometimes by a long margin. I remember one time specifically 2 years ago that we returned to the resort, got to our room, got drinks and a quick snack, changed into our bathing suits and passed the other family as we were heading to the pool and they were walking to their room after just arriving by bus.

We are returning with a family this year who always swore by Disney Transportation. After our last trip together, they are now renting a car this year.

 

[SueM in MN]

Oh details, details .....

We often travel with other families and there have been numerous times where we left the park at the same time - my family by car the other by bus. We have always made it back to the resort before them - sometimes by a long margin. I remember one time specifically 2 years ago that we returned to the resort, got to our room, got drinks and a quick snack, changed into our bathing suits and passed the other family as we were heading to the pool and they were walking to their room after just arriving by bus.

We are returning with a family this year who always swore by Disney Transportation. After our last trip together, they are now renting a car this year.

We've had the opposite experience many times though too (our entire party leaving the park at the same time, part traveling by car, part traveling by bus). The bus people always got back quicker. A lot depends on whether you are lucky and get a bus right away and what time you are leaving.

I can see the people staying at BW or BC may have additional stops which can be time consuming.

 

[mittelst]

Given the current bus scheduling situation, I was thinking about using the yellow cab service, most specifically when we plan to go to the MK.

Mousesavers has some good info on cabs, and the price seems reasonable, when you consider the alternative of waiting for 45min-1hr.
http://www.mousesavers.com/taxi.html

Does anyone know if cabs can let you off at the MK, or would we have to go via the TTC?

Thanks!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Given the current bus scheduling situation, I was thinking about using the yellow cab service, most specifically when we plan to go to the MK.

Mousesavers has some good info on cabs, and the price seems reasonable, when you consider the alternative of waiting for 45min-1hr.
http://www.mousesavers.com/taxi.html

Does anyone know if cabs can let you off at the MK, or would we have to go via the TTC?

Thanks!

Cabs are expensive. The fare was $14 from the Poly to PORS plus tip. Cabs can not drop you off at the MK.

 

[crisi]

Does anyone know if cabs can let you off at the MK, or would we have to go via the TTC?

Thanks!

TTC, but you can go the the Contemporary and walk.

 

[mittelst]

Cabs are expensive. The fare was $14 from the Poly to PORS plus tip. Cabs can not drop you off at the MK.

In the grand scheme of things, if I only need the 1 cab ride to get the the MK in a stress-free fashion, it's worth it!

TTC, but you can go the the Contemporary and walk.

Thanks... that's a great idea. We could even get the monorail from the Contemp to the MK if we wanted to arrive "in style" (and save a few steps!).

 

[DisFlan]

We rent a car. We occassionally use the buses, but they take so LONG to get anywhere - and the waiting at BWV has become a real problem. We learned many trips ago that a car is just easier for us.

We once made the mistake of taking buses (plural) from OKW to the Poly for dinner. My DS referred to it as the "forced but complete tour of all Disney's properties".


DisFlan

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

According to the bus coordinator that I spoke to, it's a love smitten computer.

Why am I not surprised at a love affair between the computer bus dispatch and EPCOT? I can just see it now... a new attraction in Innoventions.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

In the grand scheme of things, if I only need the 1 cab ride to get the the MK in a stress-free fashion, it's worth it!

That is what we thought too then the cab seemed so much more convenient so we would wait for a bus and when we hit 30 minutes waiting we would then take a cab. We spent $75 in 1 day on cabs on 1 trip to the grocery store and then just getting to the parks and back and forth from our resort to another resort for our dining reservations.

 

[gkrykewy]

I've always loved the buses - don't even have a car at home, and have no interest is using one on vacation when there's a viable, more environmentally-friendly (and free) alternative.

I'm sure they'll get the kinks worked out soon.

 

[Disneyhappy]

We always have a car with usand have found that it is much faster except for the MK. We always take a bus to the MK if we are not staying on a monorail resort. One time we had no rental car and we felt like we had a lot of wasted time waiting, including waiting for the bus to arrive, or waiting for the bus to fill up before departing, or waiting while the bus stopped at other resorts before our stop. We can usually find a great rate for a rental and it is so worth the expense for our family. After one time w/o a car and completely relaying on WDW transportation, DH said never again. Having a car also allowed us a lot of flexibilty in ADRs at other resorts without having to plan at least an hour to get there and another hour back to our resort. Disney does seem to have a decent system, we just do not have the patience for the wasted time. There is so much we always want to do at WDW that saving an hour travel/day is worth the expense to us. On the other hand, when we go to Univesal Studios Florida, I have no problem not using a car. Everything there is a short walk or a quick boat ride away as it is not nearly as spread out as WDW.

 

[itsreally4mommy]

I can verify it is not an isolated problem. The bus situation was awful @ Pop last week. We would cross our fingers to get to stand on the second bus. It sure would be nice if they could extend the monorail. I know it is an expensive upfront cost and electricity. But I would think longterm it would be so much more efficient and less maintainence. Not to mention a bit greener.

My DH and I spend a lot of time driving and that is one hassle we don't want on vacation. Not knowing the area, finding parking, and I can't fathom the traffic after a fireworks show.


I would think it would be in their best interest to really look at this situation more seriously. A big reason we stay "on site" is to avoid such hassles. If I have to rent a car anyway, I might as well save money and rent a room or house off property. And then since I'm out there, might as well shop and dine off site, and perhaps trek over to Universal.

 

[Mtnman44]

good point.

You are leaving something out of the equation -- the time spent on the bus after it picks you up and before it deposits you at the park. I had this problem with BWV in March. After lengthy waits for a bus, the bus would leave BW and stop at the Swan and Dolphin (two separate stops) and occasionally at the BC/YC before heading on to the parks. So the ride could take as long as the wait at the bus stop. That usually tilts the time scales in favor of driving, with the possible exception of MK due to the intermediate stop at the TTC if you drive (the buses drop you near the MK entrance).