How Bad Are the Bus Loops?

[Dizzy Lizzie]

I'm currently researching a future trip for my boyfriend and I. We went last year with my family and had a great time. We stayed at POP which was okay, but I have no desire to stay there again. I'm currently looking at the mod resorts and maybe a few deluxe resorts mainly Wilderness Lodge. I feel like out all of the deluxe resorts WL we might be able to swing. We have no set dates. I'm just researching.

As I'm reading the reviews for the mod resorts the one thing that always comes up is the bus loop for POR, CBR, and Coronado. The bus loop is always listed as a con on these reviews. So how bad is the bus loop? I would like to read people experiences. Personally I didn't mind taking the bus when went last year. I think the only time I waited for awhile was catching a bus to Disney Springs. Grant it POP only has one bus stop and sometimes we used AOA because the resorts are right next each other.

 

[Her Dotness]

Can't answer your question but do encourage you to keep considering WL.

It's so lovely and restful there after a hectic day of parkgoing. The cheapest of the Deluxes, too. Beds are generally more comfortable in the Deluxes with better quality mattresses and pillows.

Besides the bus, you can ride the WL-MK boat to get to the MK monorail station or the ferry boat dock. Either gives you access to the Epcot monorail, though the big ferry will usually get you to the TTC faster. And, if you're headed for a meal or some shopping at the Poly or GF, the MK-GF-Poly boat route can often get you to either faster than getting onto the resort loop monorail at the MK gate area.

It's also hard to beat the QS open-air lounge, Geyser Point, at WL for a late meal or drinks and snacks. Yummy sandwiches and sides. It's a terrific place to watch MK fireworks with some "potent potables."

 

[Stratman50th]

The MK-GF-Poly boat route.....

Those boats are no longer running. The boat from WL only goes back and forth to the MK. Same with the other resorts. It doesn't look as though the boat loops will return any time in the near future.

 

[Dizzy Lizzie]

Can't answer your question but do encourage you to keep considering WL.

It's so lovely and restful there after a hectic day of parkgoing. The cheapest of the Deluxes, too. Beds are generally more comfortable in the Deluxes with better quality mattresses and pillows.

Besides the bus, you can ride the WL-MK boat to get to the MK monorail station or the ferry boat dock. Either gives you access to the Epcot monorail, though the big ferry will usually get you to the TTC faster. And, if you're headed for a meal or some shopping at the Poly or GF, the MK-GF-Poly boat route can often get you to either faster than getting onto the resort loop monorail at the MK gate area.

It's also hard to beat the QS open-air lounge, Geyser Point, at WL for a late meal or drinks and snacks. Yummy sandwiches and sides. It's a terrific place to watch MK fireworks with some "potent potables."

WL is definitely my dream resort. It looks so beautiful and the price point doesn’t seem too bad. I’ve seen the rooms and I love the update.

 

[Her Dotness]

Those boats are no longer running. The boat from WL only goes back and forth to the MK. Same with the other resorts. It doesn't look as though the boat loops will return any time in the near future.

You seem to be thinking of the MK-CR-WL boat route which was discontinued pre-pandemic. We've been told more than once since then that it's unlikely ever to return.

The MK-GF-Poly one is a whole 'nother route, fairly new. Started in 2018 or 19 if I recall correctly. We rode it often on our last trip in mid-May.

 

[Newsies]

I have two very different experiences with resorts that have bus loops I can share. First was at OKW -- and will likely never stay at OKW again. Waiting for the internal bus to come around for the Parks/to take us to the front of the hotel was horrific, the buses were often full and there were two different instances in one weekend where I can remember having to wait for two different Magic Kingdom buses to pull around. To me, the worst part about staying at a resort like this was not the fact that we had to wait so long for Park buses, but the fact that I needed an internal bus in general to just get to the lobby if I wanted to eat, use the pool, do window shopping, etc. THAT drove me nuts, felt like grabbing a snack and a cup of coffee was a "whole thing" that took me 45 minutes rather than just a pleasant walk to the lobby and back.

We stayed at CBR last year and requested to be "close to transportation." We were placed in Aruba, which was the closest building to Riviera. So we ended up using the Skyliner from Riviera to Hollywood/Epcot, and on the two mornings where we went to Magic Kingdom & Animal Kingdom, we ate breakfast at the Riviera and used their buses to get to those parks, eliminating my party's need for the internal bus loop that trip entirely. I will say that in general, I would go back to CBR: it was only a 10 minute walk from my building to the pool/lobby area, was very happy with the QSFB and pool, as well as the casual bar dining area. Cast was very pleasant as well and we were thrilled with having access to the Skyliner.

Would also echo @Her Dotness' sentiment to continue looking at the Wilderness Lodge (very lovely), but out of the moderate resorts, I highly recommend CBR from my experience with transportation and with the resort in general.

 

[Lewisc]

So how bad is the bus loop? I

Guests who board at the first stop may spend up to 20 mimutes touring the resort. Guests waiting at the last stop may see a full bus skipping their stop

POFQ has one bus stop. Sometimes dedicated service and sometimes shared with POR

 

[ak517]

One thing to note is that often the Deluxe resorts will also share buses with one another. For instance, Contemporary and WL often share a bus. I like to use this to my advantage when visiting or staying in the Crescent Lake area from a park or Disney Springs, and I just get off at the first stop (Yacht, I think).

 

[DisArmyWife215]

Deleted

 

[SteveH]

While we really enjoyed our stay at Coronado, with the new tower I would not be high on my list due to busing. Really the only Mod for me is POFQ, because it's either the 1st stop if shared or it has it's own bus.