If you stay off-site, can you use Disney buses?

[torinsmom]

OP here...

In the first place, I never asked about parking at the resorts and taking the resort buses to the parks. I asked about the buses from DTD(because I didn't realize they didn't go to the parks.) DTD is for everyone, even people who don't have park tickets to WDW.

In the second place, if I have a reservation at Chef Mickey's(or just want to walk around there), you better believe I will be getting on YOUR resort bus to the Contemporary. And I will ride the monorail there if I want as well, and around and around the loop if I feel like it.

Man, it takes so little for people to get fired up here. Seems like some of the Deluxe people always think everyone wants their "perks". I for one think it's a perk to stay at Pop and spend the extra $200/day to pay for another trip, because I rarely set foot in the rooms during my stays, and when I do, Pop is fine for me!

Marsha

 

[GoofyTraci]

Disney transportation is available to everyone with a park ticket.

It is not exclusively a "resort perk."

WELL IT SHOULD BE WITH the money that we are spending to stay on property. I will have to call disney and ask because we were told in sept 06 that it was for resort guest only.

 

[WillCAD]

WELL IT SHOULD BE WITH the money that we are spending to stay on property. I will have to call disney and ask because we were told in sept 06 that it was for resort guest only.

A) You were told wrong - WDW transportation is provided to anyone with a park pass. You really think WDW would sell someone a park-hopper ticket and then tell them that they are not allowed to use the Disney bus to park hop?

B) It does benefit some on-site Guests to have off-site Guests using the busses, because those who do stay on-site but have a car would not enjoy having the 'Ohana and Chef Mickeys throngs taking up all of their parking spaces.

C) Just because Disney advertizes the transportation system as a benefit of staying on-site does not mean that it is limited to on-site Guests. "Complimentary" and "Exclusive" are two completely different words. EMH is exclusive. Room charging is exclusive. Package delivery is exclusive. Free parking at the theme parks is exclusive. Transportation is not exclusive - it's complimentary.

D) OP - Don't worry too much, most of the ire in this thread is not directed at you; I understood, and I think most responders understood, that you were not looking for a way to cheap out on the $10 parking charge but were looking for a way to simplfy your transportation needs.

BTW, my opinion is that driving yourself is faster and more convenient than the WDW transportation system in most, but not all, situations, whether you're staying on-site of off-site. I ride the boats, I ride the monorails, sometimes I even ride the busses, but I ALWAYS have a car with me at WDW.

 

[seashoreCM]

From a Disney brochure such as used to be found in racks in off site motels and restaurants (approximately): "Once you are on Disney property, Disney transportation will take you wherever you need to go."

From Corey Sandler's Econoguide book (1998 edition) "Disney quietly [ed: without advertising] sells a transportation-only [ed: day] ticket for $2.50."

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[goofyernmost]

If I might jump in here for a second, I would like to address two of the things mentioned here.

1. Showing a room key to gain access to the buses is logical because that would stop people from parking in the resort lots and taking a bus to the parks.

2. The idea that bus transportation is only for the resort guest is impossible for me to understand. Disney parks are completely separate from Disney Resorts. They are self standing. You can go to WDW without staying on-site but you cannot not go to WDW when you are in a Disney Resort. Because it is also a part of WDW, and why would you be there if you weren't going to go to at least one park? You pay to park in the parking lots. Part of that cost is to cover trams, monorails and buses from one spot to another.

 

[torinsmom]

Well, you can't even get into the value lots without staying there or for another good reason, so I don't know why they would need to check room keys. Getting on the bus takes too long as it is. Can you imagine having to wait for people to get out their keys?

Marsha

 

[marciemi]

That's what I was going to say too. Last couple trips at Moderates, we were always stopped at a gate on the way in and made to show our keys and parking pass. I think last time at Coronado they had a more automated one sometimes where you just put it in but they were doing a lot of construction at the time and I know it changed a couple times while we were there. I'm assuming that the deluxes have even more security so I agree that showing a room key would just be overkill since few non-guests could get in there anyways.

 

[cabanafrau]

MEOW Torinsmom! I guess you have a kitty in your sig for a reason, huh?

The fact we choose to hang our ears @ the Poly while in the world does not indicate A - feelings of entitlement or superiority or B- financial mismanagement of our vacation budget. It also doesn't entitle you to belittle us. Disney offers lots of options for different tastes for good reasons, it keeps us coming back.

As far as the busses go, we were told for years that the busses were for the use of resort guest & frequently had to flash our passes while boarding (last visit I'm sure of was '97.) Perhaps the policy has changed in recent years & that's why no one is ever asked about the passes anymore when boarding, but Disney certainly still does leave somewhat of an impression that they are an exclusive perk of on-site guests. It really doesn't seem to be such an important issue for the most part -- although I certainly wouldn't look forward to spending much time in such a small, enclosed space w/ folks who don't seem to have much of an interest in minding their manners so that everyone can do what they came there for, have a wonderful time in the happiest place on earth.

 

[torinsmom]

I would assume that the buses at Pop, or WL or Poly are mainly for the guests at the resort(or people going to that resort for dinner, etc), but the ones at the parks are for anyone with a ticket. For instance, the buses at TTC that go to the different parks should be for whomever needs to go to AK, MGM etc. Would you think that those are only for on-site people too?

I'm trying to figure out how I belittled someone? I was only trying to defend myself from people complaining about me and the other riff-raff LOL wanting to take "their" buses, when "their" buses are identical to the one I had at Pop.

BTW, I rode on the WL bus in August, went from DTD to WL(for a dinner), then changed my mind and tried to go back to DTD. We were on the bus FOREVER and stopped at two other resorts. I'll take Pop buses anytime.

 

[goofy4tink]

Before this gets any more heated.....a few points...
I've been going to WDW since '99 and I've never had to show a room key/ID to get on any form of Disney transportation, ever! There is no way that Disney is going to do that. What would happen to those people that are off-site guests but want to check out the on-site resorts, or eat there? That's is exactly what Disney wants to happen...they stay at a Holiday Inn, but head over to the Polynesian for lunch and fall in love with it, and book it for their next trip.
People did abuse the free parking at DTD...Disney stopped running buses to the parks. Pretty much ended that abuse.

So...whether or not you feel 'entitled' as a paying resort guest, the transportation is free and available to anyone holding a park pass..plain and simple. There are few people that are heading to the values or the moderates to get a bite to eat or to shop in their giftshops, so checking room keys is easy. It's at the deluxes, with the character meals, and the easy access to theh parks that make them more appealing to those in cars. You can drive to the CR for your CM's meal, then leave your car there while you go to MK. and that's where the problems start.

 

[WillCAD]

Before this gets any more heated.....a few points...
I've been going to WDW since '99 and I've never had to show a room key/ID to get on any form of Disney transportation, ever!

I have, a few very rare times - sometimes in the early morning there are CMs at those fancy gates at the TTC checking park passes before letting anyone go to the monorails and ferry landing. Why they check park passes AFTER you pay the $10 parking fee to get into the MK lot is completely beyond me, but there it is.

Other than those odd, isolated occurences, I have never been asked for a room key or park pass to board Disney transportation.

 

[goofy4tink]

If it's very early, say an EMH morning, they will check resort ID at the TTC before allowing you to hop on the MK ferry or monorail. I guess it prevents having to chuck people out, at the turnstyles, if they don't have resort ID that entitles them to early entry. But, that would be just about the only reason I can think of.

 

[frayedend]

I would assume that the buses at Pop, or WL or Poly are mainly for the guests at the resort(or people going to that resort for dinner, etc), but the ones at the parks are for anyone with a ticket. For instance, the buses at TTC that go to the different parks should be for whomever needs to go to AK, MGM etc. Would you think that those are only for on-site people too?

I'm trying to figure out how I belittled someone? I was only trying to defend myself from people complaining about me and the other riff-raff LOL wanting to take "their" buses, when "their" buses are identical to the one I had at Pop.

BTW, I rode on the WL bus in August, went from DTD to WL(for a dinner), then changed my mind and tried to go back to DTD. We were on the bus FOREVER and stopped at two other resorts. I'll take Pop buses anytime.

Torinsmom, you didn't belittle anyone. They just feel belittled because they feel entitled. How dare you suggest that you are equal to them and use the busses? They are the rich deluxe people that probably payed for concierge and don't want you or your children possible taking a seat from them on the bus.

So all I can say is that my next trip will be at the boardwalk. And if you happen to be going at the same time I will gladly meet you outside the resort, give you my room key to get into the parking lot, and then give you my seat on the bus Because, you see, the buses are for all of us and I don't get a car when I stay on site. So my parking space is available.

 

[oogieboogie]

this is I have to say a discussion that's blown out of proportion.

Disney buses are there to transport people. Of all the times I've ridden a disney bus, they've never ever once checked IDs, park tickets, passes, whatnot.

As to the OP's question, I'd personally recommend driving from park to park. The time it takes you to go to take the tram (if you need to), go to your car, drive to another park, park again, and walk/take the tram to the front gate is still going to be faster than taking the bus. It's just not worth it. Paying $10 a day is worth it.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

We all have our own opinions but there was a period of time that room keys were checked at the deluxe resorts....Just the facts.

 

[cabanafrau]

Yep, ya got me. Stay @ the Poly every time & dare to love it.

Oops, looks like ya missed me & hit yourself. Not rich. No concierge. Only feel my choice of resort indicates personal taste, nothing else. I guess if we loved GF or All Star Music just as much, that's where we'd be. It's only a RENTED room for goodness sake, not a crown & throne.

I don't judge people by their choice of resort & 99.9% of the time have no idea where other passengers on the busses are staying, more often I find myself talking w/ people about where they actually live. Met some really nice people that way.

For years we had to show our hotel pass to ride the busses. Realize that has changed in recent years, yet somehow still had the impression the busses were for resort guests. Haven't had an issue about who is or isn't on the busses & certainly haven't done any complaining about it either. I don't seem to be the only one clueless about the policy change, but I seem to have committed a tragic faux pas by entitling myself to stay (far too infrequently for my taste) @ my very favorite resort.

Oh well, at least I understand the bus policy better now.

 

[frayedend]

Yep, ya got me. Stay @ the Poly every time & dare to love it.

Oops, looks like ya missed me & hit yourself. Not rich. No concierge. Only feel my choice of resort indicates personal taste, nothing else. I guess if we loved GF or All Star Music just as much, that's where we'd be. It's only a RENTED room for goodness sake, not a crown & throne.

I don't judge people by their choice of resort & 99.9% of the time have no idea where other passengers on the busses are staying, more often I find myself talking w/ people about where they actually live. Met some really nice people that way.

For years we had to show our hotel pass to ride the busses. Realize that has changed in recent years, yet somehow still had the impression the busses were for resort guests. Haven't had an issue about who is or isn't on the busses & certainly haven't done any complaining about it either. I don't seem to be the only one clueless about the policy change, but I seem to have committed a tragic faux pas by entitling myself to stay (far too infrequently for my taste) @ my very favorite resort.

Oh well, at least I understand the bus policy better now.

I guess the "belittling" part of my post sort of singled you out and I apologize. But I don't think the OP said anything that sounded belittling and my point was that if you feel belittled by those comments then it is probably more out of guilt.

The part about the rich snot nosed people didn't necessarily mean you. But it was a stab the people that have posted suggesting that those that are not resort guests should not be able to use the buses and it's just kind of sickening to see that level of contempt. The policy has changed and from the sound of it, it changed quite a while ago. So people need to stop stating that "back in 97 we had to show resort ID's" Who cares, it's not 97 anymore, get over it.

Again, I'm sorry that my post seemed more targeted to an individual but I still don't think the OP was belittling anyone and she did not deserve that comment.

 

[goofy4tink]

Disney's policy on bus usage has been that if someone holds park passes, they are entitled to use of the buses...period. No 'checking room keys at onlyh the deluxes' no difference at all.
The only time you may have to show a resort ID before boarding a bus/boat/monorail is if the park is close to capacity and only resort guests are allowed in. Hard to believe, I know, but there are actually some people that, knowing a park will be at capacity and only resort guests are allowed in, will head to a resort and get on their bus in hopes of not having to 'prove residency' so to speak.

Again, I will say....Disney hopes that those staying at the Vistana, for instance, will hop on a bus at MGM and head back to the Polynesian for lunch...hoping that they will fall deeply in love and not want to stay off-site ever again.

Non-resort guests, using the resort buses to and from the parks, are not that big an issue people. At the times the buses may be overcrowded, I don't think you'll find non-resort guests trying to hop on....they would more than likely be using the buses more mid-day for dining or such.

 

[cabanafrau]

Very nice of you to apologize Frayedend & I very much appreciate it. Nope, don't feel guilty about where we choose to stay & I doubt few beyond the folks who swipe our cards for dining credits have any clue about where we're staying when we're there (unless the big dopey grin on my face gives it away).

I do think it's belittling to refer to other guests as DELUXE people & imply that it somehow confers self-superiority to choose to stay @ a deluxe & that those who do have a problem w/ non-deluxe resort guests using busses from a deluxe resort. I merely was under the impression that you had to be a RESORT guest to use the busses & I stand corrected. I still have no desire to be trapped in the close confines of the bus w/ people who like to be in your face w/ others for choices that are nobody else's business. Give me a bus full of people having the time of their lives any day -- that's the kind of bus I don't mind standing room on.

Sorry if '97 seems like ancient history to you -- like I said, we don't get to visit as often as we'd like & that's the last visit I can genuinely remember showing our passes on the bus & I was trying to make sure I was accurate in my statements. If you notice, some folks on the thread seem certain that there was never a requirement to show passes for the busses. I merely tried to accurately represent our experience. Whether showing passes was only for deluxe busses in the past I can't say because we have always stayed at only the one resort. (All of the resorts weren't even built when we first started staying there.)

Thanks again for answering. This board is a great place for learning things & dreaming about trips we hope to take soon!

 

[frayedend]

Very nice of you to apologize Frayedend & I very much appreciate it. Nope, don't feel guilty about where we choose to stay & I doubt few beyond the folks who swipe our cards for dining credits have any clue about where we're staying when we're there (unless the big dopey grin on my face gives it away).

I do think it's belittling to refer to other guests as DELUXE people & imply that it somehow confers self-superiority to choose to stay @ a deluxe & that those who do have a problem w/ non-deluxe resort guests using busses from a deluxe resort. I merely was under the impression that you had to be a RESORT guest to use the busses & I stand corrected. I still have no desire to be trapped in the close confines of the bus w/ people who like to be in your face w/ others for choices that are nobody else's business. Give me a bus full of people having the time of their lives any day -- that's the kind of bus I don't mind standing room on.

Sorry if '97 seems like ancient history to you -- like I said, we don't get to visit as often as we'd like & that's the last visit I can genuinely remember showing our passes on the bus & I was trying to make sure I was accurate in my statements. If you notice, some folks on the thread seem certain that there was never a requirement to show passes for the busses. I merely tried to accurately represent our experience. Whether showing passes was only for deluxe busses in the past I can't say because we have always stayed at only the one resort. (All of the resorts weren't even built when we first started staying there.)

Thanks again for answering. This board is a great place for learning things & dreaming about trips we hope to take soon!

That's all good. I didn't think you felt guilt over where you chose to stay. I thought it was because you thought lower of people not staying on site (I realize that isn't true, so don't take offense. I am only stating what I thought, not what I now think). I think the OP was simply finding a way to refer to the people who stay in the deluxe resorts and while Deluxe people may be a bad choice in words, I really don't think she meant any harm in it. I don't really see the OP or others being in your face about the choice of resort. I think it just seems that the deluxe resort guests complain about things like who is using the buses more often than others.

In the end it really all boils down to the fact that Disney isn't always clear on the rules. Maybe this is intentional, maybe not. But the uncertainty of any rules will always help to fill these boards (heck just check out the dining plan board)

Anyhow, all is well and I'm gonna go see if I can pool hop, and refill my mug at all the resorts and parks...