Lowdown on Buses

[slzer0]

Just curious, I've seen both opinions here.. some like the buses and some don't seem to.

I've never used Disney transportation so I wonder what they're like? Are they like city buses? Greyhounds?
Are they air conditioned?

What are the seats like? How many per row? Anyone have pictures?

We will be 3 adults and a toddler. Wondering how we'll end up sitting. I think CSR has it's own bus, so that's a plus?

Where does the stroller go?

I know CSR is in the AKR area so we will be on it for a fair bit. I intend to use it for most of our transportation.

 

[Dano13]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...oGQAg&tbm=isch&client=safari&ved=0CCEQMygDMAM

If you Google disney buses interiors and go to images you will get some decent pictures. The buses are air conditioned and relatively comfortable. They can be very crowded at peak times however.

 

[dansdad]

Just curious, I've seen both opinions here.. some like the buses and some don't seem to.

I've never used Disney transportation so I wonder what they're like? Are they like city buses? Greyhounds?

City buses

Are they air conditioned?

Yes, and the AC works very well on them.

What are the seats like? How many per row? Anyone have pictures?

If I remember correctly there are 2 seats on each side of the aisle, some facing sideways and 4 across in the very back. I don't remember how many rows and don't have any pictures.

We will be 3 adults and a toddler. Wondering how we'll end up sitting. I think CSR has it's own bus, so that's a plus?.

It's always helpful to not have to share with other resorts.

Where does the stroller go?

It will have to fold up and be held by one of you.

I know CSR is in the AKR area so we will be on it for a fair bit. I intend to use it for most of our transportation.

We love taking the buses. Enjoy!

 

[slzer0]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.mouseplanet.com/wdw/compressed/general/bus_interior.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mouseplanet.com/mike/first_timer_mistakes.htm&h=300&w=400&tbnid=80iFOzfkDYpNHM:&zoom=1&docid=DLv73N3fS99gZM&hl=en&ei=75zhU6iGJ4_ZoATdyoGQAg&tbm=isch&client=safari&ved=0CCEQMygDMAM

If you Google disney buses interiors and go to images you will get some decent pictures. The buses are air conditioned and relatively comfortable. They can be very crowded at peak times however.

Google. Duh.
Sometimes I come right here without even thinking if looking it up. Lol
Thank you very much
+1 DIS for being my go-to

 

[slzer0]

City buses

Yes, and the AC works very well on them.

If I remember correctly there are 2 seats on each side of the aisle, some facing sideways and 4 across in the very back. I don't remember how many rows and don't have any pictures.

It's always helpful to not have to share with other resorts.

It will have to fold up and be held by one of you.

We love taking the buses. Enjoy!

Thank you!

 

[wendow]

We have only traveled in low crowd times and still found the buses very crowded just b/c they are running less of them at that time. We have four kids with two still in strollers and we have been on Disney buses so packed that two of our kids were at one end of the bus and us at another. We each had a little one on our lap and balancing a folded up stroller trying to keep it out of people's way.

The buses aren't awful and they are decently comfortable (seats and temp) but we were completely unprepared the first time we went for the length of time you are on the bus, how many stops they make, how many people they pack on them and how many seats are lost if an ECV needs to be put on. So, just telling it to you straight

It is very, very good not to have to share with other resorts!

 

[slzer0]

Lol the question mark after mentioning not sharing was totally a typo but it's nice to hear that it's correct

We use public buses at home and DS2 especially likes them. With 3 adults and one toddler we will luckily be able to manage him and the stroller well I think. It's an umbrella with a shoulder strap.

We will have the car if we decide after a day that we hate the buses

 

[ElizabethB]

My answer to "Should I take a Disney bus?"

No, take a taxi.

I hate the buses. Noisy and crowded with people hauling on kids and strollers. Plus, with stops at several resorts and long waits between buses, they are truly slow boats to China. We once took the bus from Beach Club to MK. It took over 1/2 hour although that is a 5-minute drive. After that experience, we took cabs.

PS -- Seat comfort doesn't matter as you will be standing.

 

[Sherrkel]

I have been to CSR twice over the last several years and in my opinion their bus system is pretty good. CSR guests are a mix of convention goers and park goers . . . the convention folks don't go to the parks during the peak times, which is a great advantage to the regular guests resulting in less crowded buses. That being said, there have been a few times of standing room only, not many (we usually travel mid- to - end of February during peak - to- non peak time).
CSR does not share buses with other resorts; however, if I remember correctly one of the routes stops by Blizzard Beach across the street (BB being open during the times I went). I recommend taking a stroller that you can easy open and close; you will have to keep it with you on the bus.
Also, they only have four internal bus stops , which is a plus.
At least you have the option of your rental car if you find you don't prefer the buses!

 

[ronnie2hotty]

Buses is all I've ever used to travel while in WDW.

Sometimes people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to using the buses. I once listed to a woman complain the entire way from DTD to the Poly because the bus was crowded and she felt that since she was staying at a deluxe resort she somehow felt she shouldn't have to stand or be in a crowded bus.

Just be aware of exactly what the buses are: mass public transportation for getting as many guests to and from the parks as possible. Of course it will be crammed. Of course there will be rude people. Of course there will screaming children. Of course it could be slightly uncomfortable. But that is any public transportation.

I've also had fun on a Disney bus. Had many very nice small chats with people from around the country and world. Listened to many a funny conversation between an excited small child and their siblings or parents. Watched many a small child having the time of their life because they were in WDW. I was on a very packed bus once at the end of the night. The radio was on and "Sweet Caroline" was playing. About 80% of the bus who were previously quiet and tired suddenly broke out into the chorus of the song. It was really funny. We were all there to do the same thing: enjoy everything that Disney has to offer with the most amount of fun as possible.

Just remember the buses are just buses, not personal limo services.

 

[epcotmexicopavilion]

Buses is all I've ever used to travel while in WDW.

Sometimes people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to using the buses. I once listed to a woman complain the entire way from DTD to the Poly because the bus was crowded and she felt that since she was staying at a deluxe resort she somehow felt she shouldn't have to stand or be in a crowded bus.

Just be aware of exactly what the buses are: mass public transportation for getting as many guests to and from the parks as possible. Of course it will be crammed. Of course there will be rude people. Of course there will screaming children. Of course it could be slightly uncomfortable. But that is any public transportation.

I've also had fun on a Disney bus. Had many very nice small chats with people from around the country and world. Listened to many a funny conversation between an excited small child and their siblings or parents. Watched many a small child having the time of their life because they were in WDW. I was on a very packed bus once at the end of the night. The radio was on and "Sweet Caroline" was playing. About 80% of the bus who were previously quiet and tired suddenly broke out into the chorus of the song. It was really funny. We were all there to do the same thing: enjoy everything that Disney has to offer with the most amount of fun as possible.

Just remember the buses are just buses, not personal limo services.

Perfect response.

 

[jacknsally19]

If you are used to public transportation at home, you will find the buses totally fine. Actually, the buses are better than public transportation because usually everyone is so nice on the buses! Its really fun having conversations with different people during the bus ride and sharing your experience. If you have a little one, they tend to instantly make friends on the buses.

Personally, I think people that really hate the buses are not accustomed to public transportation and/or really love their car. I live in the city and don't own a car so I'm a big fan of public transportation!

 

[mybestieismickey]

The buses are buses. Sometimes you get a seat, sometimes you don't. It's luck of the draw based on your spot in line, if there is a great demand for a bus at the time, and if there are any ECVs waiting. If an actual seat is important to you, you may have to wait for more than one bus during the busier times of day.

We are bus people. DH spends a good part of his workday driving and he does most of the driving (like 99%) whenever we go anywhere. He likes the break and says it's more like vacation for him. Kinda how it's not vacation for me if I have to cook. So we ride the bus and always make sure to pack our patience.

If you don't mind driving, I would take the car. So much faster. I have considered renting a car and volunteering to drive, but the reality would be that he would end up doing it because he knows how much I hate driving.

 

[cleverdisneyname]

We always use the buses. We don't move our car once we get there unless the husband needs to go to the gas station for cigarettes. We like not having to drive bc disney property can be confusing to navigate, IMO. In our experiences, the buses have been less crowded than the monorail. We stayed at CSR in April and the buses were great. Our son loves the buses so much that he would probably be content to just ride them all day instead of going to the parks lol!

 

[ryggmom]

After driving our first 2 trips to WDW, we finally used the bus system our last trip in 2012, since we were flying. The kids loved it! Loved the music they play driving into the parks, and arriving back at OKW every day. I was travelling alone with 3 kids, and it was rarely crowded enough that we had to stand. If we did, my oldest and I would stand, me holding the stroller, and the 2 little ones would curl up together in a seat and fall asleep!

Never thought I would like the bus there, but we loved all the transportation--it was part of the fun! We did not do nighttime shows, however, so I am sure it would be SRO on all the buses at night. I'm also sure it can vary by resort--many more families probably drive to the parks from OKW, because parking is right outside the villas.

 

[LJSquishy]

We loved the efficiency of Disney buses! It was awesome not having to drive anywhere while on vacation. Even when a bus took a little longer than normal to arrive, it was relaxing to us and we would chat about our plans for the day or what our favorite things were that day.

We stayed at CSR when we were there and I remember people saying how far away the resort was from everything but AK....TIME GOES BY SO FAST! What may be a 15 minute bus ride is very quick. We were closest to the first bus stop at CSR so once we boarded we had to stop at the others (3 others if I remember correctly). The drivers make it as fast as possible...they are good at what they do, so it's not like each stop takes 5 minutes. The only downside is when someone tries to board the bus with an ECV who isn't very good at driving it. It's not their fault, they look really difficult to drive into the bus because there is limited space to maneuver around. We stood on the bus back to the resort a couple of times so kids could sit down but didn't mind even though our feet were tired. We knew it would only be for 15 minutes. Also, at the end of a long park day it was great to just stand in another line waiting to board a bus than to try to find a rental car and then drive it to the resort.

We are staying at AKL next year which is even a little further from CSR so clearly we were pleased with the bus service! It was 95% fabulous when we were at CSR...the other 5% of the time there were glitches with a bus not being on its way to/from a park but problems were quickly fixed. I don't expect perfection either, so maybe that's why little issues didn't bother me.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

I hate the busses and try to avoid them at all costs but that's just me. They are nice busses, air conditioned and clean but I simply hate having to cram into one with standing room only. Even worse is waiting in line at the end of the night, wait longer for them to load a scooter and then you have to stand for umpteen minutes until you get home.

That aside, if you have kids and there is standing room only, someone usually gives up their seat or the driver will ask someone to. The stroller has to be folded and you have to hang onto it. On a past trip, my little cousin said the bus was her favorite ride in Disney World.

 

[mevelandry]

Yes, and the AC works very well on them.

I would like to add that since it's very COLD inside and you are like me, sitting in the back of the bus helps a lot (I think the motor is closer that is why it is a bit warmer.

My husband and I are always trying to get those seats because we're not crazy about the A/C.

They are city bus but since you don't have to ride it more than 15-20 minutes (and that it the longest time it took us), it's confortable.

Sometimes you might have to stand up, not as confortable but really not that bad.

 

[mevelandry]

Lol the question mark after mentioning not sharing was totally a typo but it's nice to hear that it's correct

We use public buses at home and DS2 especially likes them. With 3 adults and one toddler we will luckily be able to manage him and the stroller well I think. It's an umbrella with a shoulder strap.

We will have the car if we decide after a day that we hate the buses

If you use public buses at home, it should be very different than what you already know.

At home, the bus I take every day is always packed (like sardines), 9/10 I have to stand up and we don't even have A/C in busses.

So... to me Disney Transportation is a breeze.

 

[Sherrkel]

I've also had fun on a Disney bus. Had many very nice small chats with people from around the country and world. Listened to many a funny conversation between an excited small child and their siblings or parents. Watched many a small child having the time of their life because they were in WDW. I was on a very packed bus once at the end of the night. The radio was on and "Sweet Caroline" was playing. About 80% of the bus who were previously quiet and tired suddenly broke out into the chorus of the song. It was really funny. We were all there to do the same thing: enjoy everything that Disney has to offer with the most amount of fun as possible.

Where's my LIKE button?