Need some honest feedback about buses in the AllStar resorts......

[loves to dive]

A bus is a bus is a bus, it doesn't matter which resort you stay at, they can be good and bad. There are a lot of factors as to whether you are going to wait for a bus, depends on your timing of getting at the bus stop. I've arrived at a bus stop right when the bus did and hopped right on and I've arrived right when one is leaving and had to wait 20 min. for the next one. I've stood in line leaving the parks for 2 buses because they were so crowded and I've been in line all by myself for about 5 min. and had a special bus ordered just for me. I've stayed at all level of resorts, I've shared buses with BW/Swan/Dolphin, BC/YC, POR, CSR, CBR and I've stayed at places that don't share PoP and I never shared at ASsp. There are just too many factors. The only given is that if you stay at a value resort the bus stops at the resort are not covered and there are actual designated lines. If you stay at a moderate or a deluxe, the bus stops are covered at the resorts and it's a free for all to get on the bus. Heck, I've even seen the bus stops at the parks moved, one trip a value might be in the first line and the next the last.

 

[dancin Disney style]

A bus is a bus is a bus, it doesn't matter which resort you stay at, they can be good and bad. There are a lot of factors as to whether you are going to wait for a bus, depends on your timing of getting at the bus stop. I've arrived at a bus stop right when the bus did and hopped right on and I've arrived right when one is leaving and had to wait 20 min. for the next one. I've stood in line leaving the parks for 2 buses because they were so crowded and I've been in line all by myself for about 5 min. and had a special bus ordered just for me. I've stayed at all level of resorts, I've shared buses with BW/Swan/Dolphin, BC/YC, POR, CSR, CBR and I've stayed at places that don't share PoP and I never shared at ASsp. There are just too many factors. The only given is that if you stay at a value resort the bus stops at the resort are not covered and there are actual designated lines. If you stay at a moderate or a deluxe, the bus stops are covered at the resorts and it's a free for all to get on the bus. Heck, I've even seen the bus stops at the parks moved, one trip a value might be in the first line and the next the last.

That really says it all. I completely agree and have had those same experiences.

 

[4GoofyCrew]

I believe it is also shared returning at least from Disney Springs (although we also shared going), Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

This has very much been our experience at all of the AS resorts. Almost always a stand alone bus going to the parks. Once or twice we were far enough back in line to have to wait for another bus, but it wasn't an insanely long wait.

But, leaving the parks, it was almost always a combine bus. We made the best of it, and honestly, some of the single resorts had lines that were equally as long.

 

[HopperFan]

This has very much been our experience at all of the AS resorts. Almost always a stand alone bus going to the parks. Once or twice we were far enough back in line to have to wait for another bus, but it wasn't an insanely long wait.

But, leaving the parks, it was almost always a combine bus. We made the best of it, and honestly, some of the single resorts had lines that were equally as long.

Last trip I made a point to check all the bus stops at the parks for them because while it was always our experience returning to hotel .... it seems everyone posts that most times they don't share. But on returning they do ... and I'm way more tired waiting then than in the morning. Again, won't sway me, ASSp has kinda grown on me .... but I go knowing I will share on the return trip (except MK).

 

[WEDWDW]

it seems everyone posts that most times they don't share. But on returning they do

Definitely agree-especially from DAK which "almost always" shares.

Magic Kingdom seems to "almost always" be direct buses with Epcot and DHS some of both.

 

[KTR]

You will have no problem at the All-Stars. We stayed there more than half a dozen times last year. We also stayed at the Poly once and the only time we ran into issues with the buses at any time was at the resorts on the monorail loop when the monorail was down because the deluxe resorts don't have designated bus stop spots. They all pull up one after another and you wait until they load for the next one. In many ways the All-Stars have a better bus setup. I will mention that one time we had a ppo reservation in Animal Kingdom and after sitting and staring at the board and watching the first bus time get gradually pushed back until 15 minutes before our reservation time we decided to grab a taxi. Everyone says the buses start running 30 minutes to an hour before the parks open but I have found it is very difficult to predict the first bus no matter how many people you ask. Hope you have fun!

I asked about getting to a MK PPO at Sports concierge the night before. They told me to wait for the bus starting at 7. If by 7:25 the bus hasn't come go into the desk and let them know and they will get us there. We never had that issue so I don't know how it would have turned out, but the manager said they have vehicles moving guests around at all hours of the day and they can arrange us to get to our reservation if the busses aren't cooperating.

 

[maxiesmom]

Last trip I made a point to check all the bus stops at the parks for them because while it was always our experience returning to hotel .... it seems everyone posts that most times they don't share. But on returning they do ... and I'm way more tired waiting then than in the morning. Again, won't sway me, ASSp has kinda grown on me .... but I go knowing I will share on the return trip (except MK).

Even returning it depends. Many times they don't share returning from the park, especially at close when the lines are long enough each resort needs it's own bus.

 

[WEDWDW]

Many times they don't share returning from the park, especially at close when the lines are long enough each resort needs it's own bus.

Except for returning from DAK,which "almost always" shares no matter the time of day.

 

[WEDWDW]

I asked about getting to a MK PPO at Sports concierge the night before.

The first Magic Kingdom bus "usually" starts between 6:00 AM and 6:30 AM with the first bus for DAK,Epcot and DHS "usually" starting somewhere between 6:30 AM and 7:15 AM.

Here are some recent times at All-Star Sports.

First bus for MK.

First bus for DAK/second bus for MK

First bus for Epcot/first bus for DHS/second bus for DAK/third bus for MK

 

[maxiesmom]

Except for returning from DAK,which "almost always" shares no matter the time of day.

It depends. But the All Stars are so close to the Animal Kingdom that it is one of the shortest bus rides possible at WDW.

 

[DM Minnie]

I have a completely different opinion on this. Stayed at movies during feb/march of last year and all evening returns from the all parks were shared. (Before closing and after) some nights it added extra time but it was more people climbing over people to get off at each resort that ended our thoughts of staying at another resort that shares or has multiple stops. Its just not for us.

 

[WEDWDW]

I have a completely different opinion on this. Stayed at movies during feb/march of last year and all evening returns from the all parks were shared.

Bummer-I don't blame you for having a negative opinion.

That is VERY unusual for EVERY Park to share buses at Park Close EVERY night(especially Magic Kingdom)!

 

[HopperFan]

It depends. But the All Stars are so close to the Animal Kingdom that it is one of the shortest bus rides possible at WDW.

DAK is a permanent sign all three together.

 

[DM Minnie]

Bummer-I don't blame you for having a negative opinion.

That is VERY unusual for EVERY Park to share buses at Park Close EVERY night(especially Magic Kingdom)!

That's what I thought the whole time we were there. I have been following these boards for years and went thinking the sharing would just be during slow mid days or certain parks. Maybe it the a time of year we went, which was the week after Mlk week that caused them to make all return buses combined. Going to the parks in the morning were almost never shared.