Is the bus THAT bad?

[LaurenMic]

I agree that the longer trip is the best choice. I've stayed at POR many times and loved it. Also, for me the Disney bus is just part of the experience. Now that they have started playing music on the buses that changes depending on your destination, it's even more a part of the magic. My DBF makes fun of me for calling a bus ride magical but a true disney dork can't help it

 

[luna99]

The busses at POR are not that bad! Certainly not so bad that I would consider cutting my vacation by 3 days to avoid them!

I completely agree! I've always stayed at moderate/value resorts which only use the busses and have only one time had an issue with them.. and that was when I was catching the bus from DTD back to my hotel. (long story and I won't go into it here).

If the only reason you would be staying at the Poly is to cut down on transportation time (and in the process lose 3 days of vacation) then I think that's a mistake. POR is a beautiful resort with lots of fun things to do and the busses are just fine. Sometimes (not too often though) you might even get a fun bus driver who talks to everyone on the bus and asks disney trivia quesitons. I like taking the busses because you really get to see the layout of the disney grounds and it's relaxing to me.

have a great trip no matter what you choose!

 

[ntsammy5]

My DBF makes fun of me for calling a bus ride magical but a true disney dork can't help it

That's a good point. If your attitude is positive, everything else is much more fun!

 

[sassyat30]

One of the funniest/saddest things I saw last summer at Disney was this: Mom, Dad, 2 little ones, maybe 4 and 6 or 7? Dad ranting, waited for bus, oh, maybe 5 minutes...red faced...blustering. Mom and kids, just fine. Kids were excited about the bus, Mom ignored Mr. Agitated, and just talk to the kids about the great day they were going to have. We all got on, and the kids chose their seats, loved the posters on the walls...they were just, happy...the bus was just another Disney experience for them.
(This was at POR, by the way.)

Ya know, I saw the exact same thing on our vacation.

I was really tempted to say "Dude! Sit down, shut up and RELAX!! You're ruining your children's vacation."

But, luckily, in our situation, the mother/wife was ignoring him, too and the children were asking why Daddy was acting like that. The mom replied, "oh, Daddy needs a nap."

 

[lilyv]

Ya know, I saw the exact same thing on our vacation.

I was really tempted to say "Dude! Sit down, shut up and RELAX!! You're ruining your children's vacation."

But, luckily, in our situation, the mother/wife was ignoring him, too and the children were asking why Daddy was acting like that. The mom replied, "oh, Daddy needs a nap."

Gotta love that Mom!

 

[JB2K]

...where are you planning to spend the majority of your time on WDW?

If it's MK and Epcot, then the POLY/Monorail is the way to go!

Spending more time at DHS/AK? Then, one of the resorts off the monorail loops might be worth a go.

However, I have to disagree with a previous poster -- at the end of the day when you're worn-out from park exploring, a Disney bus ride is just that -- another bus ride.

In that regard, the monorail is far more enjoyable (and, yes, magical).

DISCLAIMER: My recent stay was at SoG, and I used the POLY monorail station quite frequently, as it's only a short walk away.

 

[LoraJ]

We always rent a car, but would sometimes take a bus to Pleasure Island. One day when we stayed at CSR we decided to do the bus thing. What a waste of time. Especially when park hopping. We had to wait 30 minutes for each bus. We haven't taken a Disney bus since. So to us, yes, the bus is THAT bad.

But, I wouldn't spend less days at WDW just for the monorail. Maybe look into getting a rental car.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Hi there!

I have stayed at Coronado Springs, and depended entirely on the bus, and at the Polynesian as well.

As far as resort theming.....go POLY....seriously, its my favorite resort.

As far as transportation:

POLY:
- you can take a monorail directly to MK
- you can walk to the TTC and take a monorail directly to Epcot
- Disney Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and Downtown Disney are all buses.

POR:
- you will take the bus to ALL locations

My experience with WDW buses has been mixed. I've had fantastic moments where the bus I want pulls up as i walk to the bus station. (Mostly this is the case for *going* any of the 4 theme parks) But you can wait up to 20 minutes. The tricky part is the waterparks, downtown disney and returning from the theme parks.

Coming home from the theme parks I've waited up to 35 minutes for my resort bus. Coming home from Typhoon Lagoon, I waited 45. And going to Typhoon I waited 45 minutes as well. To me, that is just the luck of the draw.

My suggestion:
If you spend a majority of your time at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, then the Polynesian will be more convenient for you. However, if you like to visit all over property it really will be a toss up because you will rely on buses either way.

One more thing to consider; Coronado Springs DOES NOT share buses. Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside share. The Polynesian shares with the Grand Floridian, and sometimes Wilderness Lodge. That makes a 15 minute or 20 minute bus ride into a 25 to 30 minute ride.

 

[ntsammy5]

One more thing to consider; Coronado Springs DOES NOT share buses.

Neither does CBR.

 

[Aliceacc]

But neither sleeps 5.

I'm guessing that the OP was choosing between POR and Poly because both can accomodate a larger family.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've stayed at POR (DxL) three times now, Polynesian once. The bus service at POR is not bad at all. All resorts, makes no difference what level, experience longer waits with more crowded buses at peak vacation times. But normally, POR buses are fine. Yes, it may take you a bit longer to get to MK...the bus makes a total of 4 stops on POR property before heading to MK. And you may have to wait 20 mins or so if you just missed the previous bus to MK. But it has never taken me more that a total of 45 mins to get to MK...wait time included with 15-18 min drive to MK.
With the Polynesian, I had the longest waits for AK and DHS that I have had at any other resort. Waits for DTD were horrendous! Yes, you can get to the MK via the monorail as well as small ferry boat. The walk over to the TTC to get the Epcot monorail is about 10 mins, then the possible wait for the monorail and then the 15 min monorail ride.

Me? I will always take the longest vacation I can get!!! I liked the Polynesian, I really did. But, not enough to go back and spend that kind of money. But, many others disagree with my feelings...good thing there are so many types of resorts at WDW!!!

 

[leighe]

DH and I don't mind the buses at all. When we stay at a moderate we always walk to the main building and catch the bus there. I would definitely do bus + 3 days!!!!

Oh - and I agree with the PP. Some of the worst bus service I have ever experienced was at the Poly and the Beach Club.

 

[YolantasKids]

We stayed at POR last year and thought the buses were just fine. The only time that we waited a long time for a bus was to go to DTD (and I realize that we could have taken the boat!). It seemed that the buses to the parks were coming one after the other. I'd do POR for 8 nights instead of cutting my vacation short.

In fact that is what we are doing next year. We could have stayed deluxe for a shorter vacation or 9 nights at the AsMu suites... No brainer!

 

[tara lynn]

Personally, I wouldn't even have to think about it. A longer vacation always wins in my mind. I've been to Disney many times and have never had a really big problem with the buses. Sometimes the line is long and buses don't show up as frequently as you would like, but it doesn't put a damper on your vacation. Also, I've taken the monorail only once and I wasn't impressed.... the wait seemed just as long as the wait for the buses and it smelled disgusting in the car we were in.

 

[Disneylvr]

We had to make the very same decision for our trip this year. We chose 5 nights at the Poly over 7-8 nights at a moderate. Our reasons may be different than most families though. We have a daughter with autism and she would have major issues on the buses. Since we spend most of our time at MK and Epcot, a monorail resort works out perfectly for us. And honestly, I HATE the buses and will never use them again. We drive to the other parks. And the theming at the Polynesian is perfect for our DD, very soothing and calming. When she is a little older, we will return to the moderates and longer vacations.

Will you have your own stroller? Even though DD is 5 she has some gross motor issues and sometimes needs a confined space to retreat to, we bring a stroller. They can just roll on a monorail but must be folded and carried onto a bus.

 

[kileybeth]

I have stayed at POLY and at POR. You need to take bases from both locations depending on where you are going. While the monorail is awesome and it was excellent not to have to fold two strollers each time we went to MK or Epcot we still did fold them for AK and DHS. sooo. . .

longer vacation vote here. or maybe split stay and do MK/Epcot while at POLY and AK and DHS while at POR!

better ask me again tho when I return from our trip next week at POR, this time we will have all 4 kids with us and 2 strollers. last time at POR was just DH and I!

 

[Reginak]

First of all, we like the busses: we use them even when we have our car (also when she was three the busses were my daughter's favorite ride). And, yes, the monorail is a lot better, but not three days of WDW better. I would stay at POR and watch for a deal at the deluxes, if you get one then you can always upgrade. Consider a split stay; before DVC, we would spend two nights in a value followed by three in a deluxe. Also worth looking into: renting DVC points - you can stay at the BCV or BWV for the price of a moderate and take a boat or walk to DHS or Epcot.

Regina

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I have stayed at POR in November - Thanksgiving week and I do not remember the busses being that bad. We were in one of the plantation rooms and the bus stop was not far from our room. I would take more days no matter where I had to stay.

 

[Belle_20]

Did any of the buses feel freezing cold to anyone else?

 

[chickenskin]

We've stayed at both POR and Poly, and while we love POR it would be no contest for us, take the Poly with the monorail. Funny thing, we love Disney as much as the next DIS'er, but we've found that 4 days is enough and we'd rather take two shorter trips each year over one long stay.