How much time really to allow for bus?

[Andsco]

I'm not sure if this on the boards, it probably is and I'm too lazy to search lol. But how much time do I really need to allow to use the busses to get around WDW? My family and I are going to be staying at Riverside and this is the first time we have stayed onsite and use only Disney transportation. We have heard to use the bus an hour before we need to be somewhere, just in case, to make sure we get there on time.

Now is this really what people do? Get to the bus or bus line 60 minutes before they want to be at a park?

Also, we will need to get to Ohana at 9:55am for our reservation, so that means taking a bus from Riverside to Magic Kingdom to Monorail to Poly right? What time should we get to the bus for that?

Thanks for your help!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Yes. Best to allow 45 minutes to an hour to get to parks in order to factor in possible wait time. You might have to wait, or you might not, but you won't know.

Allow an hour and a half to go between resorts.

 

[AngiTN]

I'm not sure if this on the boards, it probably is and I'm too lazy to search lol. But how much time do I really need to allow to use the busses to get around WDW? My family and I are going to be staying at Riverside and this is the first time we have stayed onsite and use only Disney transportation. We have heard to use the bus an hour before we need to be somewhere, just in case, to make sure we get there on time.

Now is this really what people do? Get to the bus or bus line 60 minutes before they want to be at a park?

Also, we will need to get to Ohana at 9:55am for our reservation, so that means taking a bus from Riverside to Magic Kingdom to Monorail to Poly right? What time should we get to the bus for that?

Thanks for your help!

Yep, it is what people really do. 90% of the time I'd venture to guess you make it to your destination early. But because of the 10% of the time you don't, you have to be prepared. Most of the time you make it to where you are going in 30 min.

Resort to Resort is the worse though. With a very few exceptions (monorail loop or between Epcot resorts) we always use Uber/Lyft/Minnie Van. Never Disney transportation. Taking a transfer to a 2nd mode makes it too much of a PITA.

 

[Andsco]

Thanks for the response! We will aim to be at the busses around 45 mins before we want to be at the parks. And I think we will try to use the Minnie Van or lyft for the day we go to Ohana. Can you take the Minnie Van from any resort now? Do they provide car seats?

 

[goofy4tink]

Disney will tell you to allow 90 mins to get from point A to point B!!! That's been true for me about 3 times!! Here's how you have to figure it....if you're going from your resort to a park, you get to the bus stop as the bus you want is just pulling away. No, don't try to run after it, once the door is closed and that bus is in Drive, they won't stop for a guest. So, you now face a 20+ min wait for the next bus. If you're at a resort with multiple stops, it could take up to 15-20 mins to just get off resort property!!! Then ride the bus to the park, 10-20 mins. Then through bag check and into the park.
I usually allow an hour...just to be safe. If the park opens at 9:00, and I want to be there for rope drop (which I usually want to miss!!!), I'll be at the bus stop by 8:00.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks for the response! We will aim to be at the busses around 45 mins before we want to be at the parks. And I think we will try to use the Minnie Van or lyft for the day we go to Ohana. Can you take the Minnie Van from any resort now? Do they provide car seats?

Minnie Vans do have car seats (2) but at this time access to add them to the Lyft app is still only available for guests at the Deluxe Resorts and Villas. Once you have the access added to the app, you can use them no matter where you stay on property. There are some guests who have had success in going by the Bell Services counter at one of the resorts and requesting it to be added, even if they are not a guest at a participating resort. Success of this is mixed, sometimes they will add it, sometimes they have said no. I'm not sure why other than they do have to limit the number of users due to number of vans available at this time. They may have a set number of non-resort guests they can manually add each day. No idea, just my guess

 

[Andsco]

So I can still use lyft though from Riverside? The Minnie Van would have been fun, but maybe not worth the hassle.

 

[AngiTN]

So I can still use lyft though from Riverside? The Minnie Van would have been fun, but maybe not worth the hassle.

If you need a carseat no, they will not have one and are not supposed to accept a rider that needs to be in a seat.
Uber Family does have an option to provide 1 car seat, it must be selected at the time you enter the request and costs a slight up charge. However, they are phasing this out and there is a very limited number of vehicles with car seats available now. You could have a wait
How old is the child? FL has some very low ages for requiring a car seat and while it doesn't mean it's safer it will at least be legal

If you don't need a car seat, yes, Lyft can come right to your building at Riverside

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

The ones that don't leave that much time, end up back here posting how crazy it is that Disney couldn't get them to their reservation in time.

It only takes being late once to make you a believer.

 

[Andsco]

My son is 2 1/2 and about 36 in.

 

[AngiTN]

My son is 2 1/2 and about 36 in.

I'd say you'll have to have a car seat then. I'm thinking that's too small for a Bubblebum portable booster. But, you may want to check the specs on them and see, it's close/borderline. If that can fit him, it gives you a great option since it inflates for use and then rolls up small and can store right in the stroller between car rides.

If you can't use the Bubblebum I would stop at one of the Deluxe resorts before you need to use the Minnie Van and ask them if they can add the service to your app. Explain you have a need to come to the resort with a child in a car seat and maybe they'll add it. I think it would be great if they'd add it for those who need car seats, and ask, vs. those who just want to use it *but don't NEED the car seat, if that makes sense. If they add it for anyone not at the Deluxe resorts, it needs to be those with kids. JMHO

 

[sponica]

I'd say you'll have to have a car seat then. I'm thinking that's too small for a Bubblebum portable booster. But, you may want to check the specs on them and see, it's close/borderline. If that can fit him, it gives you a great option since it inflates for use and then rolls up small and can store right in the stroller between car rides.

If you can't use the Bubblebum I would stop at one of the Deluxe resorts before you need to use the Minnie Van and ask them if they can add the service to your app. Explain you have a need to come to the resort with a child in a car seat and maybe they'll add it. I think it would be great if they'd add it for those who need car seats, and ask, vs. those who just want to use it *but don't NEED the car seat, if that makes sense. If they add it for anyone not at the Deluxe resorts, it needs to be those with kids. JMHO

The only reason I'm dreading my 750 @ Ohana is because of the car seat. A minnie van at POFQ would make life SO MUCH EASIER. I'll probably just call Mears and book a cab with a car seat.

 

[AngiTN]

The only reason I'm dreading my 750 @ Ohana is because of the car seat. A minnie van at POFQ would make life SO MUCH EASIER. I'll probably just call Mears and book a cab with a car seat.

I'll give the same advice. If at all possible, go by Poly before hand and ask. Explain that you have an early ADR at Ohana and would like to use Minnie Van for the car seat option and is there any way they can add the service to your Lyft account. I would at least try/ask. Unless of course, it's impossible to get by Poly first. If you can get by ANY Deluxe resort, ask there, but I'd ask Poly if possible, since that's where you are going.

 

[sponica]

I'll give the same advice. If at all possible, go by Poly before hand and ask. Explain that you have an early ADR at Ohana and would like to use Minnie Van for the car seat option and is there any way they can add the service to your Lyft account. I would at least try/ask. Unless of course, it's impossible to get by Poly first. If you can get by ANY Deluxe resort, ask there, but I'd ask Poly if possible, since that's where you are going.

Unfortunately we arrive LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE the night before. Well not obscenely late (we land at 720) but by the time we make our way to DME and then get to POFQ....however my early bird daughter thinks that people should wake up at 6 AM, so she'd be itching to go on that 630 bus. Not sure how my inlaws and husband would feel about that.

 

[AngiTN]

Unfortunately we arrive LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE the night before. Well not obscenely late (we land at 720) but by the time we make our way to DME and then get to POFQ....however my early bird daughter thinks that people should wake up at 6 AM, so she'd be itching to go on that 630 bus. Not sure how my inlaws and husband would feel about that.

Ah, yes, it would be quite difficult to get by there. Could you head on the early bus with the kids just let the adults who want to sleep in come along a little later? They can go without the car seat option in regular Lyft

 

[tobikaye]

Ah, yes, it would be quite difficult to get by there. Could you head on the early bus with the kids just let the adults who want to sleep in come along a little later? They can go without the car seat option in regular Lyft

This would be my suggestion as well. You can make it a bit of an adventure for her. I know that last year when my cousin and I took the 6:30 am bus to MK, we were the 3rd group to arrive. It was quite interesting to see everything so quiet and just "waking" up.