Let's talk about Caribbean Beach buses

[dansdad]

This it took us 45 mnutes once just to do all the stops. There were multiple ECVs getting off/on at every single stop.

Wow. That's definitely a rare experience. From looking at my notes the longest it's ever taken to do the full loop is 15 minutes. And that was with multiple ECVs getting off and on. Without ECVs the average is 8 minutes.

 

[saskdw]

This it took us 45 mnutes once just to do all the stops. There were multiple ECVs getting off/on at every single stop.

That seems almost impossible to believe unless there was some kind of mechanical issue.

 

[cruisingtwins]

No mechanical issues It was crazy making we were in the last stop and evey single stop had people loading/unloading ECVs It was a few years ago I understand now they divided the route in 2 to help this issue.

 

[Kevin355]

That seems almost impossible to believe unless there was some kind of mechanical issue.

Buses can only hold no more than 4 ECVs. I agree with you. Almost seems impossible.

 

[maxiesmom]

Buses can only hold no more than 4 ECVs. I agree with you. Almost seems impossible.

Note that they said loading AND unloading. Not impossible.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

That seems almost impossible to believe unless there was some kind of mechanical issue.

It could be a mechanical issue, or an "I have no idea how to drive this thing" issue. On our last trip it was quite painful to watch a lady attempt to maneuver her ECV. She had clearly never been on one before. We had to wait a ridiculous amount of time for her to get on, then, because she was at Kidani and we were at Jambo, we had to wait a ridiculous amount of time for her to get off. By the time she was nearly off, everyone on the bus was either openly complaining or laughing at her incompetent driving (That might not have been the case if she had not been standing beside the ECV while her children played on it as we were waiting for the bus to come). Sometimes the ECVs load quickly, and sometimes they can take a very long time.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Whenever we have had an 8:00AM ADR, we are at the bus stop by 6:40. The first bus usually pulls pulls into CBR by 6:45. With the last seven 8:00AM ADRs, the latest we've ever gotten to MK security is 7:25.

 

[dansdad]

 

[KonaKaiTom]

What @dansdad said! We always allow 90 minutes for an ADR -- most times we arrive at least an hour early, but it is Disney, is that a bad thing? We've stayed at all of the moderates except POFQ, the buses are, as PP have noted, pretty much the same -- there's a lot of bus stops, there are families with either strollers and young kids or mobility challenged with scooters and wheel chairs, sometimes it takes longer to load the bus than it does to get to the park -- but, if you plan on the transportation as what it is, you won't be disappointed. Remember, every family there thinks the bus is going to roll up just as they walk up to their stop, and pull away immediately after they board and have no traffic going to their given park. Enjoy your trip!

Tom

 

[KrazeeK120]

I stayed at CBR in May 2015. I was there for the (now defunct) 24 hour day. We got to the bus stop at 5:40 AM (we were running a little late and understood we would probably miss rope drop). There were a lot of people at the bus stop, more than I would have thought. Then I heard a guy on his cell phone telling someone they'd been at the bus stop since 5 AM and hadn't seen a bus. As soon as I heard that, we turned right around and got in our rental car. On our way out, we had to pass one other bus stop and it, too, had a large group of people waiting.

We took a break later in the day, and when we went to return to the park, we waited a few minutes at the bus stop. A bus pulled up (there were a lot of people on it) and let a few people off but wouldn't let anyone on. I figured I had no way of knowing when a bus would come that we would be able to board so, again, we drove.

I didn't attempt the buses after that. Too much frustration. I feel bad for the people who missed rope drop after being at the bus stop an hour ahead of time.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Listen, I am one that is pretty vocal about not liking the bus situation at CBR. But to describe the situation as a "horror story" would be quite a stretch. The buses came frequently enough. That was not the issue. The issue was the multiple stops inside the resort that got really old after day one there.

I wouldn't rule CBR out based just on that situation. If you know what to expect and prepare for it, you'll be good to go.

 

[smallworld101]

Whenever we have had an 8:00AM ADR, we are at the bus stop by 6:40. The first bus usually pulls pulls into CBR by 6:45. With the last seven 8:00AM ADRs, the latest we've ever gotten to MK security is 7:25.

Our first trip to Disney is in 2 weeks and we are staying at CBR. I have ADR at BOG at 8:30. So I should certainly be on time with the buses. So you said first bus CBR 6:45 and your at MK at 7:25 - so start to finish I need to give myself 40 minutes atleast? With my 8:30 ADR I should plan on being at the bus at 7:30 and to get to MK by 8:10, then to BOG by 8:30? I had read sometimes they let the 8:30 ADR in w/ the 8:00 ADR at the gate, so if so, should I then say 7 am for the bus departure? Thanks for any help you can give on timing - I know it's important part of getting your day off to a good start - Thanks!

 

[frisdis14]

Our first trip to Disney is in 2 weeks and we are staying at CBR. I have ADR at BOG at 8:30. So I should certainly be on time with the buses. So you said first bus CBR 6:45 and your at MK at 7:25 - so start to finish I need to give myself 40 minutes atleast? With my 8:30 ADR I should plan on being at the bus at 7:30 and to get to MK by 8:10, then to BOG by 8:30? I had read sometimes they let the 8:30 ADR in w/ the 8:00 ADR at the gate, so if so, should I then say 7 am for the bus departure? Thanks for any help you can give on timing - I know it's important part of getting your day off to a good start - Thanks!

We have an 8:30 BOG and plan to be at the bus stop at 6:40 like dansdad was saying. You'll line up with everyone that has a pre-park breakfast. They let them all in together. Some will take more time getting to their restaurant. You can take your pictures then go ahead and check in at BOG.

 

[smallworld101]

We have an 8:30 BOG and plan to be at the bus stop at 6:40 like dansdad was saying. You'll line up with everyone that has a pre-park breakfast. They let them all in together. Some will take more time getting to their restaurant. You can take your pictures then go ahead and check in at BOG.

Thank you!!!!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

All of our stays at CBR have been during Free Dining when the resort is at capacity and the buses have never been an issue. The buses are no better or worse than any other WDW resort. We actually like the CBR bus situation more than other resorts because every village has its own bus stop so you'll never be far from one.

We've also stayed twice at CBR, once during the 4/3 deal and once during FD, and both times the buses were great. I've never waited longer than 15 minutes for a bus and that MAY have been once. I have no complaints.

 

[maxiesmom]

Our first trip to Disney is in 2 weeks and we are staying at CBR. I have ADR at BOG at 8:30. So I should certainly be on time with the buses. So you said first bus CBR 6:45 and your at MK at 7:25 - so start to finish I need to give myself 40 minutes atleast? With my 8:30 ADR I should plan on being at the bus at 7:30 and to get to MK by 8:10, then to BOG by 8:30? I had read sometimes they let the 8:30 ADR in w/ the 8:00 ADR at the gate, so if so, should I then say 7 am for the bus departure? Thanks for any help you can give on timing - I know it's important part of getting your day off to a good start - Thanks!

Disney tells you to allow 90 minutes to make it an ADR using their transportation.