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

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My parents and I have had a lot of stays at the Contemporary and here is what I noticed about them when it comes to bus transportation. When going to MGM and AK the bus service has always been ok, so we never had any problems waiting to long for a bus. Last month when we stayed there the bus service was even better, although I guess you can say we got lucky since we did not wait very long. However the bus to Downtown Disney is a different story, it has always been horrible and because of that whenever my parents and I go there we take our own transportation.

 

[mbtileguy]

why do you people just say oh well i will rent a car the point is that you pay big money and should get great service you should not have to rent a car they should fix the problem dont you understand.

 

[crelange1]

I originally started this post and I guess that is my point. I stayed at a value resort that had a designed (not shared with two other resorts) bus to and from each park, and a lot of them. We never waited long to or from any park, even at closing (even DTD). When I went to some of the top of the line resorts and waited a long time, then had to go to two other resorts before reaching my destination, I thought why would I pay 4 times more for this? I guess if I were picking a more upscale hotel, I would pick one with its own bus service.

I don't mean to offend anyone.... everyone has their own reasons for staying where they stay and I am just offering mine.

 

[ElizabethB]

We just got back from GF. Monorail service was very reliable. We didn't bother with the buses, but took our rental car everywhere but MK and Epcot. We gave up on using Disney buses years ago. Everything at WDW is only a 5-10 minute drive away. But, on the buses, it seems to take an hour to get anywhere. I don't care how much I pay for the hotel, we will never rely on anything but our rental car and the monorail for transportation.

 

[Markstudy]

I do a mix

When I walk out and see a bus pulling up... I take it. But after 5-10minutes waiting, we grab a taxi.

Its fun to take a bus in the morning when your fresh, but grab a taxi on the way home.

Sprinkling in a few taxi rides helps cut down on some of the bus frustration.

 

[Kira G.]

why do you people just say oh well i will rent a car the point is that you pay big money and should get great service you should not have to rent a car they should fix the problem dont you understand.

Because no matter how much they "fix" it it's still going to be a form of public transportation - that is, on their schedule, not mine. That doesn't work for everyone. I pay big bucks for my local taxes to underwrite our public transportation system here in Philadelphia as well, but most of the time I prefer to rely on my own wheels to get where I want to go when I want to get there.

At Disney I do rely on their system and have found it to be very reliable and convenient about 95% of the time. When I'm on vacation that's generally good enough for me. If that ever stopped being good enough for me, I would rent a car, and do that as my choice.

That does not mean that people who encounter a real issue with transportation (i.e. an inebriated or reckless driver, getting majorly lost, or a bus wait of 40-60 minutes) should not immediately report it to Disney transportation, and that those issues shouldn't be addressed. They absolutely should and must. Thankfully, I've been lucky and never to run into those situations myself at Disney (but don't get me started about SEPTA - our local transit authority!).

 

[eliza61]

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!

I would probably go with a car then. You can find some really good deals on line and I find it's extremely easy traveling by car especially if you have to deal with strollers, bags and etc.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Thankfully, I've been lucky and never to run into those situations myself at Disney (but don't get me started about SEPTA - our local transit authority!).

My sister thinks it's funny I've nicknamed Disney's bus system 'SEPTA' for years. That's pretty much my attitude towards the Disney bus system.

 

[eliza61]

why do you people just say oh well i will rent a car the point is that you pay big money and should get great service you should not have to rent a car they should fix the problem dont you understand.

Why? Where else do you go on vacation and get free transportation no matter what price you pay. You live near the Jersey shore, spending a week there is just as expensive nowadays to go to Disney and unless you get up at the crack of dawn, the Garden state expressway is horrendous, lets not even get into trying to park at Ocean City or cape May.

95% of the time Disney's free transportation is a great service. IMO

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

why do you people just say oh well i will rent a car the point is that you pay big money and should get great service you should not have to rent a car they should fix the problem dont you understand.

Because its our choice. Yes I think Disney should work on their bus transportation and I think people should make their comments heard. Then maybe Disney will take care of the problem. But if others want and can afford to rent a car they can. I'm sure there are other reasons for most of them renting a car besides the bus service....going to other parks off Disney property, visit other resorts, wanting to eat offsite, grocery & pharmacy stops, want to be able to come and go on their own schedule, want their kids in car seats/seat belts, or they're just control freaks and want to drive.

Whatever - a disney vacation is expensive and I'm not going to get all stressed over bus service and if that means renting a car then so be it. Afterall I'll be a disney world!!!!

 

[texasteacher35]

I love the monorail resorts! They appeal to me over other deluxe hotels because of the monorail factor!

 

[MissionMouse]

We have never encountered bus issues at the GF, PR or CR. We have gone at times with friends who have stayed at bus exclusive transportation resorts and they have frequently stated the bus stations were almost always overwhelmed with people and often they were left waiting for a second bus.

More than anything I think this all comes down to Disney Bus schedules are altered at any point or time in the day by the shift supervisors. Attempting to manage spikes and low utilizations around the Disney property. For every well intended action to alter the plan to get guest around Disney there will be a reaction (good or bad) down the line of the schedule for the bus altered.

Guest behaviors and movements is a thankless job to manage. It is not uncommon to see supervisors at the parkk bus ques to consolidate guests from multiple resorts ques to one bus and direct the other buses to other areas of the resort in attempt to keep everyone moving. This will impact bus schedules of the resorts no matter what level of resort you are staying at.

 

[eliza61]

My sister thinks it's funny I've nicknamed Disney's bus system 'SEPTA' for years. That's pretty much my attitude towards the Disney bus system.

Except for Septa, you PAY ( I think Philly still has the highest transit cost in the nation). Disney's is free.

 

[Marthasor]

Quite frankly, I don't like the buses from ANY resort!!! We stayed at Poly a year and a half ago and the buses were ok we did AKL and MGM in one day, so the wait wasn't so bad - exept getting back after Fantasmic. Last year, DH and I stayed at BWI. I had heard from the disboards that the buses were really slow, so we just decided to rent a car - it was FABULOUS!!! We valet parked it every day - cost $7 a day, all other parking was free and we got everywhere SO FAST! We were always able to park very close to the park gates and TTC. And loved the fact that we could pick up and go anywhere at a moment's notice without relying on an unknown bus schedule. We will probably do this from now on when we visit WDW.

 

[Kira G.]

Except for Septa, you PAY ( I think Philly still has the highest transit cost in the nation). Disney's is free.

Yes sir, it is the most expensive in the country! And they still can't balance their budget! It would be funny, except that many many people have to totally rely on it to get to their jobs.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

We just returned from 10 days at the GF and thought the buses were fine. They share with the WL, but the GF is the second stop so getting to the parks is quicker than getting back. We never waited more than 10 for any of them (5 was more like it- even for the water parks and DTD).

That being said, there is something to walking out of your hotel room at 7:40 am and being seated the Crystal Palace at exactly 8:04 am....

 

[RJD]

I agree with OP. We stayed at Sports and also had some meals at CR and Poly. Compared to All Stars I found the bus service there very slow. That said, I think the plusses of the monorail resorts far outweigh the slow bus service.

 

[MissionMouse]

... just an observation... The fact that all three resorts share busses makes for long travel time. ...We got around the world faster from our value resort which had its own bus.

I will consider it a personal observation coupled with an opinion based upon your experiences. Our observations and experiences clearly differ (zero to 15 minute waits)...and that is OK. I would hate to see all the guest bandwagon together and fight over getting reservations over one or two resort favorites.

Deluxe resorts are normally connected to a park. Moderates and value up to this point in time are island resorts...not 'connected' to an adjacent park. The exception would be the AKL, which because of this has dedicated bus service.

Deluxe resort guest often have location as one of their top reasons for selecting one deluxe resort over another. These resorts do not solely rely on bus to get you to parks, but offer walking paths, water launches, monorail (MK Resorts), and bus (with exceptions). This provides deluxe guest great flexibility and relief in getting to and from their resort during spike periods like closing.

 

[honeymo78]

The pricing in a deluxe resort also includes larger rooms and more hotel services (turn down, room service, etc). I don't look at staying deluxe paying for "better/faster" transporation to all parks. When I stay at CR I know I am getting deluxe ammenites (according to disney's definition) plus multiple methods of transporatation to the MK. To be honest, we've never had serious issues with CR's bus transportation - never more than 20 min which is what disney states is normal time b/w pickups - excpet for DTD which is an issue at all the resorts we've stayed at, dating back to the 90s.

 

[Cool-Beans]

why do you people just say oh well i will rent a car the point is that you pay big money and should get great service you should not have to rent a car they should fix the problem dont you understand.

It's public transportation. The bus leaves when the bus leaves. The bus goes where the bus goes. It's like that everywhere.

If you want to get where you're going as quickly as possible, you drive.