For those who complain about Disney Buses

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The only issues we ever had with the Disney buses are the ones which go to and from Downtown Disney, that are for the Magic Kingdom Monorail Resorts. For whatever reason those seem to take forever, which is my family and I always have our own car when going there and when we go to various offsite locations. However we have never had any issues with the buses that go to Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Since an accident in 2008, I now travel with a scooter. OH BOY I don't want to be anywhere near a disney bus. It only takes one impatient or intolerant bus passenger to evaporate pixie dust for us.

Really? I don't let anybody's impatience or intolerance bother me. Being alone (no huge party filling up the bus) and adept (parallel parking on the first try) probably helps.

Also, with the handicapped plackard on the car...we have instant (no charge) vallet

Yeah, I love being able to tip the valet well, both dropping off and picking up the car

I know some like to forfeit the freedom of driving for their vacation,

Forfeit the freedom? What a negative spin to put on "get away from ALL the stresses of life at home, including driving"!

 

[bookgirl2632]

I've been to Disney during the busy Summer and in the not-as-busy Fall. I have never waited more than 15 minutes for a bus. This includes leaving MK after Wishes and MNSSHP and Epcot after Illuminations. Yes, there were times I had to stand, but I don't mind that.

I'm on vacation. I don't want to drive. I don't want to worry about whether I'm going the right way. I don't want to have to park the car and remember where I parked it. And I don't want to shell out the money to rent the car in the first place. Disney can do the driving. It's just fine with me.

 

[Disneyhappy]

I'm sorry you had a bad bus experience in Philly. Septa tries so hard to accommodate all of the influx of people over the 4th. As a previous poster said..between all the people and closed routes etc it must have been a nightmare for the buses. Come back to Philly another time when it's not so crazy and enjoy a quieter city!

I agree - One or two closed routes, not just because of special events but also because of accidents etc., can really mess up the system. We live in the suburbs of Phila and use Septa all the time when going into the City - sporting events, plays, museums, and work. It is not a perfect system but it has always worked better than described by the OP. About 30% of the employees in my office depend on the bus system. There are days when they are a bit late but for the most part, that is the exception rather than the rule. I do recall hearing on the radio that there were delays and alternate routes for the various events over the holiday. DS went to Penn's Landing with friends on the train and it took him over two hours to get home - 2:30 AM. He said there was a 30 minute delay on the departure and then they had to stop on the tracks twice for at least 15 minutes due to other rail traffic. I also agree with a prior poster that Chicago has a great system which is superior to Phila. They are a much larger city so that may have something to do with Chicago being more efficient.

As far as Disney busses, I've had great service and not so great service. Overall, no real gripes. It sure is nice to hop on an air conditioned bus at the end of a long day at the parks. We mostly use it for the MK. We rent a car and drive to the water parks, AK, and DTD. We usually stay in the EPCOT resort area so we use the boats for Epcot and HS.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay people...since TLinden has so nicely moved this over to us.....here are the rules..
There will be NO talk of smelly, stinky, sweaty people on the bus. IF these folks got that way due to the bus, then that would be a different story, but they didn't. You will find hot people everywhere at WDW during the hot/steamy summer months.


As far as the argument as to which is better....car vs bus...
There is no answer. It all depends on what each person needs. I have had a rental car at WDW before, but I am not particularly comfortable driving in less than familier areas. So, I pretty much leave the driving to Disney.
Those who wish to have their own cars, that's your choice. If that works for you, fine. Same for those who choose to use Disney transportation.

There are arguments for, and against, each type of transport. There is never going to be a concensus....and these discussions usually get very heated. So....be advised..if it gets less than pleasant here, it will be closed down.

 

[ValinWV]

And for the OP commenting on buses in Philly. That is hysterical to hear that a hotel gave you a bus schedule as if the buses are following it during holidays. Philly is PACKED during the 4th of July and alot of buses are re-routed due to many major roads/streets being closed due to the festivities. I think the hotel failed to inform you of what to expect. But either way, I hope you had a nice time in spite of the transportation issues. They really had a lot going on this year.

As I had said. I checked the schedule and spoke with a SEPTA worker who verified the schedule and called her office to reverify. Also, as previously stated the particular route we were on and needed to be on were not detoured. Also, this was not on the 4th, but the 3rd and the SEPTA website stated they would be following the weekend schedule for the 4th of July weekend, as verified by the SEPTA worker I was talking too. For the record, I was making a comparison, that even with a schedule buses tend to run late. I just expect more from a schedule, not to run that far off on times. Glad you had a good laugh and find my life so hysterical.

I think it is time to close this thread before I say something you or someone else may take as offensive.

 

[Uncleromulus]

A bus is a bus is a bus---no matter WHERE you ride it.
Public Transportation.
So many good reasons to drive at WDW, most of them already stated.
Here's our usual first day itinerary:
Drive directly to OKW from the airport. Head to DD to pick up AP and TIW cards, lunch at Paridiso. Head to nearest Publix to grab come coffee, donuts etc for our stay. Drop off the food etc at OKW, then off to Fantasia (or Winter/Summerland) for some minigolf. Back to OKW for a swim before showering and heading off to dinner at California Grill.
Try that on Disney Transportation!!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We have been riding Disney buses for 20 years now and never had no real issues. Sure we have to wait extra sometimes and they are crowded late at night . I'm on vacation so who cares. The last thing I want to do is have to hop in my car every time I want to go to one of the parks.

 

[Disneylvr]

It is all a matter of preference. Some guests don't mind driving to the parks (we are in this group) and there are others who do not want to drive on vacation and love the buses. My problem with the buses is when they pack guests on them and you are either standing or you are seated and having standing guests up against you. Not exactly what I enjoy after a long day in the parks. But once again, that is my preference. If you don't mind it then yes I understand why don't complain about Disney buses.

 

[torinsmom]

I was always terrified the bus would have an accident or a fire while we were all crammed on there like that. Just going around the curves was enough to mess up my balance when I was standing. We always tried to wait for a bus where we could sit, but then someone holding a baby would get on and give us that look like we should get up. We stopped using the buses last time we stayed onsite, and found we got to the parks more quickly and more relaxed. And we could leave our mugs in the car.

Now we stay offsite and it is really easy to drive to the parks. The walk from the car to the tram and from the tram to the entrance is about the same as the walk from the bus stop. Well, except for MK, but I love the monorail, so I don't mind that.

If you are a bus-lover, be glad some of us love to drive, or you would have to wait even longer for that bus, LOL

Marsha

 

[Brian Noble]

It is all a matter of preference.

I often ask people which sounds like a better vacation: never having to wonder which way to turn to get where you are going, or never having to wonder when the bus will come or if you'll have a seat?

 

[torinsmom]

I often ask people which sounds like a better vacation: never having to wonder which way to turn to get where you are going, or never having to wonder when the bus will come or if you'll have a seat?

With GPS, I didn't have to worry about either, LOL

 

[TamaraQT]

As I had said. I checked the schedule and spoke with a SEPTA worker who verified the schedule and called her office to reverify. Also, as previously stated the particular route we were on and needed to be on were not detoured. Also, this was not on the 4th, but the 3rd and the SEPTA website stated they would be following the weekend schedule for the 4th of July weekend, as verified by the SEPTA worker I was talking too. For the record, I was making a comparison, that even with a schedule buses tend to run late. I just expect more from a schedule, not to run that far off on times. Glad you had a good laugh and find my life so hysterical.

I think it is time to close this thread before I say something you or someone else may take as offensive.

I found the humor in THE HOTEL passing out schedules during one of Philadelphias most celebrated events. And as usual, Philadelphia begins their celebration almost a week BEFORE July 4th. Most of the street closings and re-routing was done on Saturday the 3rd. You may not have been aware of that, so you could only rely on the information you were given. I apologize for making you feel bad as that was not my intention.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I often ask people which sounds like a better vacation: never having to wonder which way to turn to get where you are going, or never having to wonder when the bus will come or if you'll have a seat?

Great way to put it. Since we're both really good with directions, never having to wonder when the bus will come, whether or not we'll have a seat, or if we'll make it somewhere on time sounds like a more relaxing vacation to us! I understand that others don't like to drive, especially in new places, and that's okay.

 

[Missytara]

It's buses

Actually, it is acceptable to spell it busses or buses.

 

[seashoreCM]

Bus/buss, plural busses usually used to refer to electrical trunk lines or long contact strips.

Bus, plural buses usually used to refer to transit vehicles.

Supposedly the WDW bus drivers are kept advised via radio of traffic problems and of alternate routes to take especially if there is a known road closure such as a marathon.

From the looks of the parking lots and exit roads, buses themselves get out with equal or less difficulty during park closing. Some time ago a comment was made that it took him two hours to get out of a parking lot after New Years Eve fireworks.