Greyhound from NYC to Disney World

[Girls1]

Is this a mad idea? I know I am mad. We just returned from out trip and it was great! I am hoping that we could go again early next year. Since it is right around the corner, I have not yet finished paying for this past trip ( I know!-will be done in another month or so!) I was trying to keep costs down. Already decided on 5 day base tickets but I realize I can say about $300 traveling by bus! That could go towards meals or souvies.

I am just wondering how many people have done this. I have searched the board but no one really provides the info I need. Is it stressful sitting on a bus for a day and more? Do the kids get very restless? How comfortable are the seats? How about the toilets? Do they actually flush or are they the kind with that seemingly bottomless hole? Is there running water? How about the class of passengers? I have read things about drug addicts being on the bus and disrupting service. I guess it makes sense that they would choose a long bus ride over a train or a plane. I know these sorts of people can travel by different means, but are the more prevalent on the buses?

Please advise folks. Right now I'm looking at a $450 bus ride (Plus $90 in cabs to and from the hotel) vs $877.60 for a round-trip flight. The few questions I have asked will help so much in my making a decision.

 

[Girls1]

Okay. I got off of DIS and did a Google Search. Will not be traveling Greyhound at all! Too many bad stories. And it makes sense being that it is the cheapest way to travel. It just would not be worth it to subject my kids and myself to that.

 

[1tufgt]

That would be 1 long exhausting bus ride.

 

[LexiC123]

As much as I love Disney, I'd stay home before taking a Greyhound bus to Orlando. The one and only time I took Greyhound was 25 years ago when I was in college, and it was horrible! 10+ hours stuck on a bus with the great unwashed...*shudder*

You couldn't pay me to do that again!

I'd push the trip out 6 months or a year and save for the airfare. Even Amtrak, while not ideal, would be preferable to a bus.

 

[Girls1]

Thanks. It's looking worse and worse. Greyhound is totally out of the question for us!

 

[DC7800]

There's always the train...

 

[Uncleromulus]

Sad in a way--there was a time when Greyhound WAS a great way to travel.

 

[leebee]

Two years ago we took Greyhound from NYC to Boston (4 hour trip) and I swore "never again!" It wasn't the clientele... it was the bus itself. The seats were totally uncomfortable, there was very limited leg room (comparable to or less than on an airplane, for MUCH longer), bathroom (with sink water, chemical toilet) was not pleasant, etc. It was gross and uncomfortable. ON the other hand, we take Trailways from Bangor to Boston (4 hour trip) al the time. Bigger, comfortable seating, clean potties, good leg room, wifi, movie, clean bus. I guess it's just a different company... so don't entirely dis the bus, although there's no way I'd take a bus from NYC to WDW... just too long a trip! I have taken the train from New Orleans to Syracuse, and the NYC/Boston route a lot, and have to say, that's the way to go if you cannot afford to fly and if you have the time.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sad in a way--there was a time when Greyhound WAS a great way to travel.

My dad was a driver, and I spent many a custodial weekend on the bus because he "wasn't given" the weekend off. Back then, it was Union. Now it's not. Now they don't back the drivers, and the drivers have no power. Back "in the day", my dad could put anyone off the bus at any spot for any reason. He put drunks off on the side of the highway. He kicked people off if they were bothering other passengers in ANY way. That just can't happen now.

I'm not usually a big Union banner-waver, but with Greyhound, it seems to have made a *massive* difference.

I went from Yakima, WA to Denver, CO when I was 22, it took 36 hours, it was FREE (my dad has free lifetime passes for him and his family), and when I got off the bus I swore "never again".

 

[lisa-upnorth]

There's always the train...

YEAH,TAKE THE TRAIN