New Express Transportation: $19/day or $29/week-SERVICE ENDING AUGUST 23RD 2017

[ThistleMae]

Regular buses run for 1 hour after park closing at any given park, so yes, if MK closed at 9:00 they'd still have regular buses departing till 10:00

Oh...good info...thanks. Once I get my FP's booked, I can then look at my schedule and figure it all out.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yeah...I've been thinking that too but it all depends on the park closing times...like if AK closes at 10 p.m. and MK closes at 9 p.m. will the regular buses still be running? This is a big concern for me as well, no matter what we choose. It makes me feel safe that the car will be where we end up. Just a thought.

They continue transportation to get guests back to their resorts. It's the express bus that has time limits and doesn't go more than one bus past closing.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

We are going there next week. These are the times posted on page 1. Are they still valid:

How often will Guests be picked up? When will it start and stop each day? Guests will be picked up every 30 minutes. Service will begin each day at 10:00am Service will conclude at park close each night.
Will Guests be in backstage areas by themselves? No. Whenever stepping into a backstage area, Guests will be escorted by a Guest Relations Cast Member. Similar to the way we currently operate our VIP Tour Services and other experiences, Express Transportation will allow Guests limited access backstage with an escort. This includes no Guest photography in backstage areas.
Is this service available for Cast Members with Main Entrance Passes and Annual Passholders? Cast Members and Annual Passholders may purchase the single-day service for $15 or the multi-day service for $24 (valid for seven consecutive days from day of sale).
SCHEDULE THANKS TO @Good Morning Dewdrop
She made this schedule back in January but it has proven to still be consistent. Make sure to check when you are visiting just in case the changed it
MK - EP 10/40
MK - DHS 20/50
MK - AK 0/30

EP - MK 10/40
EP - DHS 0/30
EP - AK 20/50

DHS - MK 20/50
DHS EP 0/30
DHS - AK 10/40

AK - MK 0/30
AK - EP 20/50
AK - DHS 10/40

Another way of reading the schedule above
If you are in Magic Kingdom
On the hour a bus goes to Animal Kingdom
10Min after a bus goes Epcot
20Min after a bus goes to Hollywood Studios
30Min after a bus goes to Animal Kingdom
40Min after a bus goes to Epcot
50Min after a bus goes to Hollywood Studios

If you are in Epcot
On the hour a bus goes to Hollywood Studios
10Min after a bus goes to Magic Kingdom
20Min after a bus goes to Animal Kingdom
30Min after a bus goes to Hollywood Studios
40Min after a bus goes to Magic Kingdom
50Min after a bus goes to Animal Kingdom

If you are in Hollywood Studios
On the hour a bus goes to Epcot
10Min after a bus goes to Animal Kingdom
20Min after a bus goes to Magic Kingdom
30Min after a bus goes to Epcot
40Min after a bus goes to Animal Kingdom
50Min after a bus goes to Magic Kingdom

If you are in Animal Kingdom
On the hour a bus goes to Magic Kingdom
10Min after a bus goes to Hollywood Studios
20Min after a bus goes to Epcot
30Min after a bus goes to Magic Kingdom
40Min after a bus goes to Hollywood Studios
50Min after a bus goes to Epcot

In each park the service runs until one bus past the closing time.


Thanks in advance

Thank you I can read this much better.

 

[SBWB48]

It does get confusing to figure out with a car. What I was thinking is to drive to the park where I'm going to end up, so the car is there. Then....take Express to the first park I want to visit and make sure I get back to the end park before the last bus. But....if I want to see the fireworks at park closing it does make it more complicated. So, the bottom line is I haven't quite figured out our plan for the car. It just seems like an extra thing we are carrying around...LOL! But I do think it would be way easier to use the Express Bus then moving the car from park to park. The other option is to just take the regular bus at the end of the night, which would be running for EMH....so that could work too. It's all about figuring out the schedule.

THIS. I remember when having a car to get around used to be a luxury ...

I definitely think that using the Express is easier in general for hopping, but gosh it does make scheduling that much more complicated lol! That is def an idea to take the regular bus at night, which would solve half the problem (getting back to the car on PM EMH nights). Now if only AM EMH or just regular closings would be just as easy

Does anyone know if and how long regular park-to-park buses still run after official park closing?

Ex. We parked at DHS (which closes at 9pm) in the morning, and end at AK, leaving at AK park closing (9:30pm). Will there still be a regular bus that runs from AK back to other parks that have officially closed?

*May try to ask this in a separate thread too.

ETA: Didn't realize you asked the same question shortly after! LOL. Reading is fundamental...although did I misunderstand that in my above scenario, there WOULD be a regular bus that goes back to MK from AK even though MK has closed? Or are PPs referring to buses that go back to resorts? In that case, makes MK easier since you could always take the Poly bus and walk to TTC to get the car if MK was your first park and you ended up elsewhere...

 

[hill6]

Wow...this is great. Thank you. I copied your in "Plain English" times to keep.

I printed out about 5 copies to take with us and I emailed them as well.

 

[AngiTN]

THIS. I remember when having a car to get around used to be a luxury ...

I definitely think that using the Express is easier in general for hopping, but gosh it does make scheduling that much more complicated lol! That is def an idea to take the regular bus at night, which would solve half the problem (getting back to the car on PM EMH nights). Now if only AM EMH or just regular closings would be just as easy

Does anyone know if and how long regular park-to-park buses still run after official park closing?

Ex. We parked at DHS (which closes at 9pm) in the morning, and end at AK, leaving at AK park closing (9:30pm). Will there still be a regular bus that runs from AK back to other parks that have officially closed?

*May try to ask this in a separate thread too.

ETA: Didn't realize you asked the same question shortly after! LOL. Reading is fundamental...although did I misunderstand that in my above scenario, there WOULD be a regular bus that goes back to MK from AK even though MK has closed? Or are PPs referring to buses that go back to resorts? In that case, makes MK easier since you could always take the Poly bus and walk to TTC to get the car if MK was your first park and you ended up elsewhere...

yes, the buses continue to run from park to resort till everyone is where they need to be. I'm not sure how long park to park buses continue to run. Good question

 

[ChloeChipper]

This is the most amazing service ever! We used it a lot and it really shaved hours off typical transportation times if you park hop often!

We visited 4 parks in 1 day our first day. Left Pop at 9 am. took normal bus to AK. Rode our Fastpass rides, Stayed until noon, took Express Trans over to HS (2 other people on the bus), lets you off right at Rock N Roller Coaster. Rode single rider there. Walked around a bit, left that park about 2:30 used Express transportation to go to Epcot (2 other groups of 2 on the bus). Lets you off right next to Spaceship Earth. Walked around a bit, rode Soarin' and did a quick walk through the countries, left the park about 6. Rode the Express transportation to MK (only ones on the bus). Drops you off right at Buzz Lightyear. Stayed until close and took normal transportation back to our hotel. The rides take 10-15 minutes between parks. You do not have to go through security, you do not need to go through the entrance lines, or fight the front of the park crowds. It is amazing!!!!

Over the 5 days we used it every day at least once, except for our last day. We never had more than 8 people on the bus, and 2 times we were the only ones on the bus. Its a full-size normal bus. The drivers just go back and forth between those two parks. The bus always left on time. We would arrive 5-10 minutes before the scheduled departure time and were walked right over to the bus.

I HIGHLY recommend using Express Transportation if you like to park hop! Worth every single penny!!! (cant say that about many Disney offerings)

 

[wareagle57]

Do these buses take different route from the public?

I'm worried about getting to MK from Epcot on July 3rd, and also worried about any backup/delay thus throwing the timing off. What time does traffic get bad for the fireworks? Does the 3rd ever have phase closures or is it just the 4th? And would the express bus passengers be exempt from phase closures?

 

[AngiTN]

Do these buses take different route from the public?

I'm worried about getting to MK from Epcot on July 3rd, and also worried about any backup/delay thus throwing the timing off. What time does traffic get bad for the fireworks? Does the 3rd ever have phase closures or is it just the 4th? And would the express bus passengers be exempt from phase closures?

Yes, they go back stage, where public vehicles are not allowed
MK hasn't reached a point where anyone but 1 day ticket buyers are excluded from entering in years and years. You have nothing to worry about

 

[FastPasser]

They keep on running till not needed/park is empty. Usually well more than 1 hour.

Yup, at MK, depending on the time of year, it can exceed 2 hours. I recall more than once at Epcot idling in the bus lot, close to midnight, waiting for the all clear even though it closed at 9. What are those guests doing in there, pleeeease go home already.

 

[lampshadehead]

Forgive me if this has been answered, but if I have a package booked currently, can I add this now, and how? TIA

 

[rteetz]

Forgive me if this has been answered, but if I have a package booked currently, can I add this now, and how? TIA

You add it when you get to the resort.

 

[AngiTN]

Forgive me if this has been answered, but if I have a package booked currently, can I add this now, and how? TIA

No and you don't want to add it now. The "use clock" starts as soon as you buy it. Don't purchase even 1 day before you intend to use it, unless your stay is 7 days or less, then it won't matter when you buy it.

 

[wareagle57]

Yes, they go back stage, where public vehicles are not allowed
MK hasn't reached a point where anyone but 1 day ticket buyers are excluded from entering in years and years. You have nothing to worry about

Thanks! That gives me some peace of mind. I tried looking at google maps to figure out where the special roads running between the parks are and I just couldn't find any. It looks like they have to take World Drive between Epcot and MK just like everyone else.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks! That gives me some peace of mind. I tried looking at google maps to figure out where the special roads running between the parks are and I just couldn't find any. It looks like they have to take World Drive between Epcot and MK just like everyone else.

If Disney doesn't think the buses can make the published times to get between the parks they will discontinue them for that day. This is why they delay their start on Marathon (and half) days.

They go down the road alongside FW to go between Epcot and MK, it is a regular public road

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks! That gives me some peace of mind. I tried looking at google maps to figure out where the special roads running between the parks are and I just couldn't find any. It looks like they have to take World Drive between Epcot and MK just like everyone else.

Yes, they are out on normal roads for the main travel. I think the reference was to the entry to the parks where they go backstage so they start hitting roads not generally used by the public and then into roads that are used by park personnel only.

 

[SgtTibbs]

If Disney doesn't think they buses can make it between the parks they will discontinue them for that day. This is why they delay their start on Marathon (and half) days.

They use a lot of extra buses on race day. I think it's more logistics, number of buses and drivers in use, rather than traffic that caused the delayed start on race day.

 

[AngiTN]

They use a lot of extra buses on race day. I think it's more logistics, number of buses and drivers in use, rather than traffic that caused the delayed start on race day.

Maybe part of it. But I saw the traffic on the SW Half day last month and wow, no way could the buses have made it between the parks on time during the early morning.

I could well be mis-remembering but I think they had some other days where they delayed or otherwise altered the schedule for something other than a race

 

[Mopedmom1]

Is the one bus after closing a new thing, or actually confirmed? We were there early March and left Fantasmic early to catch what we were told was the last bus to Epcot. We arrived at 8pm, official closing time for DHS, missed the bus and we were out of luck - no other bus was scheduled for the night.

Despite this one glitch we LOVED this service. By-passing the security at subsequent parks was amazing, and having a guaranteed seat was a nice perk. There was NEVER more than a total of nine passengers on any of our rides.

Our last full day we had a goal of hitting each park to have a drink (minus MK), and trade a pin. Mission accomplished quite handily.

I hope this service is still available on our next trip this coming December.

 

[AngiTN]

Is the one bus after closing a new thing, or actually confirmed? We were there early March and left Fantasmic early to catch what we were told was the last bus to Epcot. We arrived at 8pm, official closing time for DHS, missed the bus and we were out of luck - no other bus was scheduled for the night.

No, it's always been 1 last bus. But, this is the one bus that is always unclear. If you read back, it's been asked, since the bus to Epcot from HS leaves at the top of the hour, which is at closing, probably means there isn't 1 more bus. This isn't an issue at the other parks since their buses leave before closing, it's just the one at the top of the hour that seems to be the odd bird in all this.