Monarail Resorts...Don't think I would stay there

[MrsJ Henry]

Yes AKL has great bus service. We stayed there two times and were very happy with the busses overall. It is the one resort that does not share a bus.

 

[lovmy2girls]

I agree the bus is slow at the Poly. We are last to be dropped off which stinks when you are really wanting to get back to your room.

We always take our car to MGM and AK now when we go there, much quicker. Going too, they stop at a water park too, so that really took up time.

We found we love the option of taking our vehicle.


We love the monorail resorts, a lot. Stay there, but use your own transportation if you can.

 

[Missus Toad]

I have never had a good experience getting to DTD from any of the resorts I've stayed at. I think it's because there are 3 stops once you get to DTD, and depending on what resort you're staying at, multiple stops on the other end as well. The worst experience I had was going to DTD from BW. It got to be so ridiculous, from the wait for the bus (45 minutes) to all the stops on the way to DTD, S/D and YC/BC, I thought we'd fallen into a hole in the time/space continuum and would never see our resort again. Once you actually make it there, you're still not out of the woods, because yawning before you is another black hole-- the unholy trip back.

 

[simonkodousek]

When we stayed at the Polynesian in July we really enjoyed the conveince of the monorail, but hated the bus service. We waited 45 minutes for a bus to the Animal Kingdom and waited about 60 minutes for a bus to Downtown Disney.

Returning bus service from the Animal Kingdom was fast and easy, but was a HUGE hassle from Downtown Disney. We waited for 60 minutes for a bus back to the Polynesian!!

 

[dijid]

We just got back from the Contemporary and were pleaseantly surprised by how good the bus service was. We waited less than 5 minutes andabout 8 minutes for our two rides to MGM. The AK bus wait was 12 minutes. Retrn buses to the resort never took more than 10 minute wait. We never shared with more than 1 other resort.

The longest wait we had was for a bus from the AKL to MK after eating at Boma. That was a nearly 20 min. wait

 

[Dis Ohana]

How is taxi service from the resorts and DTD? We are going to the HOB Gospel Brunch on our first day there, I don't really want to have to wake up very early to make the time, and after reading this thread it sounds like taking the bus might not be the best way. Is the taxi service to and from reliable and easy to get to?

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

WOW - I didn't want to be reading this stuff about the Poly bus service!!! I just finally decided not to rent a car and now I'm wondering if we should. Auuuggghhhhh!!!!!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

It's all about timing. If you are at the Polynesian, and you get to the bus stop for the MGM bus, but one just pulled away, then you are going to have a longish wait..up to 30 mins in my experience. But, if you get to the bus stop 5 mins before the MGM bus pulls in, you're going to think the bus service is terrific!
Any time you have alternate transportation options, other than the bus, you are going to find that the bus service at that resort is going to suffer. The monorail resorts have the monorail and boats to get them to the MK, and they can all access the TTC easily to get the Epcot monorail line. But, bus service to DTD, AK, and MGM can be nasty.
At the Epcot resorts, they all share a route with another resort. That sharing depends on the time of day. Early morning/evening, BW shares with the S/D, but mid-day the bus goes to all the Epcot resorts. This happens with the DTD/TL bus as well, but that bus seems to share all the time, at all those resorts.
The best bus service? POP and AKL. Yes, there are a ton of people at POP, but they run more buses to and from there. I've stayed there about 4 times now and the bus service is the best. The only thing bad about it is that you have to wait in the hot sun and most of the park bus stops are far away. But, last resort built tends to be on the ends of the bus stop areas.

So, yes, the buses can be time consuming. If you plan correctly, you shouldn't have any trouble. But, if you think you'll only need 20-30 mins to get someplace, you may run into trouble. If this is going to cause you angst, then you may be better off renting a car.

 

[amashstat]

You have to remember that this is a "free" service. All in all, 30 minutes isn't really so bad to wait. An hour is, though! My sympathies to those people!

I think it's easy to become impatient. I'm the same way...I want to be on the move, and get where I'm going. However, remember that it's a free service. Renting a car will cost more money, and if you look at the time it takes to load up, walk out to the parking lot, park far away at your destination, walk in from parking lots, etc., then you'll probably find that the bus wait isn't so much after all.

We're traveling with small kids, so I'm not looking forward to the wait in line for buses. But think of it as a good time to decompress. Take along some cards or stickers. Before you know it, you'll be there.

I hope I'm not annoyingly positive, because I really do understand the frustration of waiting. But all you can do is cross your fingers and hope for good timing. (And talk to Disney. With enough complaints, maybe something will eventually change.)

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

We're traveling with small kids, so I'm not looking forward to the wait in line for buses. But think of it as a good time to decompress. Take along some cards or stickers. Before you know it, you'll be there.

This is my biggest concern! When DH and I went to disney prior to kids we didn't care how long the bus took we sat & talked. But w/3 young kids - one of which is very inpatient - I am concerned. I think we could make a good time of it w/the older two but DD2 has a short attention span and no patience whatsoever and there is no reasoning w/her at all. We have to make the most of her "good mood time" you know what I mean. So I'm undecided AGAIN!

 

[Kira G.]

So based on this thread bus service at the value resorts is either "horrible" or "the best" and at the Poly it either stinks or works just fine, etc, etc.!

I think the best thing to realize about the buses at WDW is "your mileage may vary." You simply can't generalize from your personal experience, whether it was good or bad. And one truly awful experience (like the bus driver getting lost! - yikes!) can color how you feel about everything else, even if it was mostly OK.

After reading posts over and over about how awful POR bus service was, we had a terrific experience when we were there 2 weeks ago. But I am sure that there were people at the same resort at the very same time whose experience was very different.

It would be great if Disney would add more buses (might happen), or train people better (I'm sure turnover is high, but they could work to overcome that), or use technology more effectively (they're trying, but the jury is out on its effectiveness), but ultimately I don't think it will ever work much better than any decent public transportation system. Disney certainly works better than Philly public transportation!

Free Disney transportation will be work well for you or not based on many different factors - your resort is only one of them. What park you are going to on what day, what time of day you are traveling, etc. will all impact your waiting time and the crowds you will encounter. Some aspects of your experience are completely outside Disney's control, like your own personal tolerance for waiting around, and sharing space with a lot of other sweaty strangers!

We have never been more than slightly inconvenienced by relying on Disney's transportation. However, I also know from reading these boards that there have been some real bus "horror stories"! Given how often we go to Disney, I'm sure that we will eventually have one of these ourselves. If I decide that I am unwilling to risk being inconvenienced or having a true transportation disaster, than I will start renting a car for my visits.

But I will try to refrain from generalizing and saying that "POR buses are great" or "the transportation from POP stinks", and simply report MY experiences so that others can make up their mind about what works for THEM.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

My 2 cents or my experiences.....

I always say everyone's experience will be different, I may have been lucky.
POP.....never had issues with buses..it was great...
POLY/GF...monorail great, dont recall issues with the buses, but its been a few yrs and we did spend alot of time at MK...
YC....never had issues with buses at all...on the way back from AK they stopped at ALL Epcot resorts...however DD was sleeping, it worked to our advantage, got a nap in
The monorail is great, however I loved the amenities of YC , and the convenience of getting to Epcot and MGM..folding up a stroller to get on the bus was no big deal...I grabbed baby and bag DH grabbed stroller....
So I guess there are just trade offs based on what resort you choose....hey..I am just happy there IS a bus service for guests!!!

 

[Disneydenise]

We always rent a car and stay at the Poly. It is our family fav. We did try to take the bus once to AK but it was a 30 minute trip and of course DH was in commando mode. He can't relax enough to wait. I would never stay at a value resort but I think that I have been spoiled by years of the Disney original resorts. I think it is just what you get use to doing.
Our children are grown now so we mostly do island vacations and I have gotten use to lovely large rooms with beautiful views.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I always rent a car and consider the short monorail ride to the MK a bonus. If I'm staying in a Poly building close to the monorail, I'll take that to Epcot if I'm not leaving at closing. Otherwise, I drive to Epcot.

 

[eliza61]

Personally, I think you have equally as good of a chance to get bad transportation at all the resorts. I've stayed at every level and every now and then had issues with the busses. For as many posters who say they have had to wait 30 minutes you will have a poster who never had to wait more than 15.

 

[amashstat]

Of course, if you are traveling with small children, that involves a whole new thing of car seats. If you don't rent a car, you don't have to worry about car seats....hauling them to Florida or worrying about whether they'll be available at the rental car place. However, if you don't plan on doing car seats, you're pretty much at the mercy of the bus system.

 

[disneyag]

I agree with Kira G--time of day, day of week, etc. all seem to influence bus service. My SIL and I stayed at the Poly last October and never waiting more than 12 minutes for a bus. In June 200, my kids and I stayed at CR--the bus to DTD took 35 minutes, but all the other busses arrived within about 20 minutes. I know people who have waited longer at all the other resorts, so it might just depend on a variety of factors and I wouldn't let that one occurrence make my decision.

BTW, the AKL had GREAT bus service.

 

[aljack33]

Oh my. We always stay at the Poly and the GF and we absolutely LOVE the bus transportation. I actually won't stay anywhere else because we are so spoiled by the transportation. I wanted to go cheaper for our upcoming April trip but just can't do it because of the nightmare bus service I have heard of from the other resorts. We are staying at the BC for three days and plan on just doing MGM and Epcot.

For transportation, I don't think the Poly can be beat. A lot of friends stay at moderate or value and all they do is complain about the bus system.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Sometimes it's all in how you are experiencing things at the time

If you are with a sleeping baby on the bus, you may be glad it is taking a little longer and you don't care
On the other hand if your baby is screaming and having a hard time that bus ride is going to seem like the longest and worst ride no matter how long it takes.

If you have one stroller and it folds up neatly the bus is not a big deal.
If you have a double stroller, your all tired and you are getting on a crowded bus the it is again the worst experience.

If you are just adults and you are relaxing and chatting etc.. not a big deal on how long the bus takes.
If you have kids and are already dealing with ten different things then yes it is going to matter.

even if you are in a good mood or a bad mood at the time will effect how you percieve the busses (or anything else for that matter)

 

[DisneyBride'03]

MrsJ Henry....
perfectly stated