Not so happy with Pop buses

[BigKid45]

We hoped for better luck with buses at Pop from what we read on The Dis….sadly our experience wasn’t great. Seems we waited about 20 minutes for each bus leaving Pop and 20+ minutes at each park heading back in the afternoons and evenings. Many times we saw 2 to 3 deluxe resort (WL, GF, Poly) and beach resort buses come to the other stops during our wait for a Pop bus. Our only great experience was coming back from MK 2 nites on EMH…..Pop buses double parked/double loaded and got us on the road quickly.

I think the MK area resorts can’t be beat for quick transportation (bus, boat or monorail) and might be worth the $$ if you can afford it.

 

[AlexDurrani]

Amen to that!!!!!

I stayed at the Pop on serveral trips and my last trip was to the POR resort and found the trasportation services lacking. My trip in December will be the first time I am actually making budget for rental cars because I am not going to depend on Disney transportation again.

Imagine to have this problem with a ECV or a wheelchair, I use an ECV and have had to wait for another bus to accommodate it.

Unfortunately deluxe resorts are just not in my budget for a 10 night trip (my usual length of trip).

 

[maxiesmom]

Twenty minutes is actually right on target for when they plan on having busses to each stop. So Disney is actually doing just what they say they are going to in your case.

I have to say too that I have had the absolute worst bus experiences at the Deluxe resorts. They have more busses run because they share with other resorts. All the MK area resorts share a bus. All the Epcot area resorts share a bus. Staying at the Pop, the busses only go to the Pop.

So the busses are really running just like they should for the Pop. Maybe it just is that the busses are not your cup of tea. They are not for everyone.

 

[goofy4tink]

No one, not one single person it would seem, is happy with their bus service. Those staying at a deluxe will tell you that for the money they are spending, the bus service should be much better. Those that are at POP say they have bad service.....that the values get worse bus transportation simply because there are more people to move, and why don't they put more buses out.

I have stayed at POP about 5 or 6 times now. And, I own DVC at both BWV and BLT. I figure I'm pretty qualified to speak to the bus situation. I have always had good service at POP. I have had shorter waits, at POP, going to a park. But....I don't head to a park in the 30 mins before park opening. I usually take the bus about 15-30 mins after the park opens for the day. It does get busy when the park closes. So...I either hang out for a bit, in the park, or I just take my time and realize it isn't going to be quick getting back to POP. But, I have never had continual waits of 20 mins for buses at POP. Sure, there were times that the bus was just leaving as we walked up...those times the wait could be up to 20 mins. But usually, it didn't work out that way.

Every resort, every level of resort, has some issue with it's transportation system. Believe me, the monorail resorts have bus issues as well.

 

[Magicbus]

We hoped for better luck with buses at Pop.

Amen to that!!!!!

I stayed at the Pop on serveral trips and my last trip was to the POR resort and found the trasportation services lacking.

If you could wave a magic wand and change the WDW bus system, what would you do?

 

[disney david]

One it a free safe service that have nice bus drivers that do there best if you have to wait 20 min then thAt what you have to wait. I bet no one would want to pay for the bus to be 15 min how your bus service at home that you have to pay for are they pleasnt driver friendly safe driver I bet not. I live in new York and bus are late and the driver are rude and aft like they should he some where else atleast Disney you get a hello and a smile and a driver that cares about you and your safety. Every one complains about the buses yes they my take awhile but you have to understand that Disney not doing it on purpose and the drivers are not going out of there way to take longer they are going as fast as they can. Really what else do you want disney to do and no they are not trying to save money by having you wait longer they been oprate the same number of buses they always do at a certain point f the day. In the morning and at night to get basically all the buses they have and as the day goes on bus are taking out to give drivers break and to extra buses just invade they need one to replace a bus. I don't know I like the bus system in disney wish my home bus system would oprate like Disney do. I done here now and the only cms that go out of there way to say hi to you are Disney transport buses drivers I not taking about in buses. If they are walking to rake there break at mk they go out f their way to make sure they way hello. I walked past manager and ther cm and half said hello but the bus driver always with a smile will say hello and ask how are you doing even if there half way in to the backstage area and see you they will cone out and say hi and continue on their marry way. I haven't seen every bus driver so I guess they could be some that act like other cms and have nt ridding own every bus and route so I guess they could he some bad but you have to understand this is a huge property and it takes time to get to places and they have to get you there alive. Sorry if it to long or spelling problems, or gramer problems I don't mean to offend anyone you are all entitled to your own opion good or bad this is just my opion.

 

[skelooch]

I don't have any major problems with Disney Transportation simply because I seldom use it. There are those that love it and those that hate, each is equally entitled to their opinion, and I'm not trying to chance anyone's opinion. I'm just sharing my thoughts, so no flames please.

I'm sure everyone here wishes their vacations could be longer, I certainly do. And we all know vacations at WDW costs a lot of money, maybe three, four or five thousand dollars, for some probably more. If a rental car costs me $200-$300 week (I've seldom have ever had to pay more), that's a small percentage of the overall cost, to maximize my families enjoyment of our vacation. To us it's the old saying of not being penny wise and pound foolish.

I calculated once based on our typical vacation, using the recommended transportation times of 1 to 1 1/2 hours, getting to and from Parks, going resort hopping, getting to and from resorts for dining, going to the golf course, water parks, mini golf or DTD, that we conservatively save 3 to 4 hours a day having a car and that's allowing for driving time, parking, trams, monorails etc.

So that means we gain at least 21 to 28 hours over the course of a week that we can be doing things we enjoy, (waiting for and riding buses is not one of them).
We also like the convenience of being able to dine off site, making to trip to the grocery.

As I said earlier I'm not saying our way is the only way to enjoy your WDW vacation, it's just the way we maximize our vacation time. Some may say they never thought of it this way, and I'm sure others feel using Disney transportation enhances their vacation experience.

As far as the comment about how Disney could improve upon the current system, I honestly can't think of anything they could do much better without doubling the size of the bus fleet. And I don't think that will happen unless they double the number of rooms.

So that's my thoughts on Disney transportation.

 

[ancestry]

Well, we stayed Deluxe the past two years -- Beach Club last year and GF this year and from our perspective POP seemed to have the most buses running. We often waited close to 20 minutes (but never longer) for a bus to show up, meanwhile several POP buses would pick up people from the parks while we were waiting for our first bus.

Honestly I think it is hit or miss and changes depending on your perspective. When you stay deluxe it seems that the values have more frequent service. When you stay value it seems the deluxes have most frequent service. You know that grass is always greener thing......

 

[AlexDurrani]

I think that Disney really needs to phase out the old buses that they have in their fleet. The old ones hold less passengers per mile then the new ones. My December trip is going to be a test on my patience on driving at park closing.

 

[goofy4tink]

If you could wave a magic wand and change the WDW bus system, what would you do?

Ooohhh, oohhhh, pick me, pick me!!! 'If' I had a magic wand, and could do anything with transportation at WDW...I would hire more drivers. I would hav buses running every 10 mins, at park opening and closing....about an hour prior to and an hour after..from both resorts and parks. The buses would service a resort each. BW would get a BW bus. S/D would be combined..no other stop. YC/BC would have their own bus route. Maybe Polynesian and GF could share a route. Same with WL and CR. But no more than two resorts per route.
During the less busy, peak times, the buses would revert to every 20 mins.
I would like to see que's at each resort for bus service. Having a que at POP is wonderful. There isn't an all out dash for the bus as soon as it comes into view. Would make boarding much simpler. Same at DTD...boarding buses there, at night, is seriously dangerous to life and limb.
I would allow ECV/wheelchair boarding only if that person was already waiting, in the appropriate area, as the bus came up. No more making everyone wait whilst the ECV bound person gets to the bus from a distance. Or having one come up during the boarding process, having the driver make those seated already, move so as to allow the late comer boarding access. Fair is fair.....being ECV bound shouldn't be a fast pass for the buses..nor should it allow your entire group of 10 to preboard with you...forcing those who have already been waiting, to not be able to board due to no more room being available.

Ummmm, what else. Nothing I guess. That should be enough to hold us for a bit. Go ahead guys...trample all over my wishes and desires...have at it. Just remember....politeness and sensitivity.

 

[disney david]

I think that Disney really needs to phase out the old buses that they have in their fleet. The old ones hold less passengers per mile then the new ones. My December trip is going to be a test on my patience on driving at park closing.

Your 100% right Disney needs to get rid of the old bus they are slower and the new buses are easier to get onto. This is one of the best suggestion they are replacing them all but should do it at a faster pace.

 

[disney david]

If you could wave a magic wand and change the WDW bus system, what would you do?

Want to know what I would do as the head of transportion for disney is put together a panel of drivers to come up with away to improve because they are the only one who would know what to do. You guys/women drive this route everyday so mybe yo know a faster way. If they listened to the drivers they would atleast get first hand advice mybe they need more buses or more drivers. I don't think they could improve the system with out imput from the drivers but knowing disney they won't listen.

 

[Luv4Disney]

That was one our biggest problems the one and only time DH and I stayed at Pop. We waited over 45 minutes sometimes and that was with buses constantly coming and going. It was ridiculous and DH vowed to never stay there again. We're DVC members now, so we won't have that issue, but if we ever did, he's stay at one of the All Stars instead.

 

[skelooch]

That was one our biggest problems the one and only time DH and I stayed at Pop. We waited over 45 minutes sometimes and that was with buses constantly coming and going. It was ridiculous and DH vowed to never stay there again. We're DVC members now, so we won't have that issue, but if we ever did, he's stay at one of the All Stars instead.

What makes you think you won't have to wait 45 min for buses at DVC resorts, members don't get any special treatment. You could have to wait that long at any resort, and rest assured you probably will have to wait that long again from time to time.
The only way you can guarantee not having to wait for buses is to have your own transportation. Then you have control of where you go, when you go, and a very good idea of how long it will take.
Once you learn your way around and the short cuts it's amazing how fast you can get from one place to another.

 

[Hunclemarco]

That was one our biggest problems the one and only time DH and I stayed at Pop. We waited over 45 minutes sometimes and that was with buses constantly coming and going. It was ridiculous and DH vowed to never stay there again. We're DVC members now, so we won't have that issue, but if we ever did, he's stay at one of the All Stars instead.

Being DVC members, we have waited over 45 min on some occasions...especially from the park to the resort. We've noticed that if we're the only ones in line waiting, and there are many waiting to return to another resort, that resort will receive the extra bussing. I can't speak for which resort we stayed at since we've stayed at many DVC resorts.
We also have the mind set of being early for dinner apts and such. If we try to get to places last minute, something eventually goes wrong, and then first reaction is to blame Disney for it, when the blame could be our own. Being DVC members also gives us the mindset that we will be back to see the mouse often, not going commando all the time, taking things slow works better for us, and even giving ourselves 1+ hr or so to get to planned events. If we get to the events early, we're happy and just explore and relax in our new surroundings.
Personal opinion here, but if some get upset with the bussing situation, rent a car, then they have more control of their individual situations that way. Bussing is a convenience Disney offers (yes, i'm sure we pay for it in some way either through dues, or ticket price) but all the same, it's still a convenience, not a guarantee that we'll get there quickly.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I have stayed at Pop twice and not had a problem with the busses. We usually only take the bus to the MK and drive to the other parks. I hate to wait for a bus in the morning - or have to add in extra travel time in case we need to wait for the bus. Last year at CSR we added 20 minutes to our travel time just in case, and the bus pulled up as we were walking to the stop. We waited at the MK for 45 min. before it opened - in the August heat - yuk!

 

[AlexDurrani]

Being DVC members, we have waited over 45 min on some occasions...especially from the park to the resort. We've noticed that if we're the only ones in line waiting, and there are many waiting to return to another resort, that resort will receive the extra bussing. I can't speak for which resort we stayed at since we've stayed at many DVC resorts.
We also have the mind set of being early for dinner apts and such. If we try to get to places last minute, something eventually goes wrong, and then first reaction is to blame Disney for it, when the blame could be our own. Being DVC members also gives us the mindset that we will be back to see the mouse often, not going commando all the time, taking things slow works better for us, and even giving ourselves 1+ hr or so to get to planned events. If we get to the events early, we're happy and just explore and relax in our new surroundings.
Personal opinion here, but if some get upset with the bussing situation, rent a car, then they have more control of their individual situations that way. Bussing is a convenience Disney offers (yes, i'm sure we pay for it in some way either through dues, or ticket price) but all the same, it's still a convenience, not a guarantee that we'll get there quickly.

Trust me when I say that the number of guests waiting will dictate the number of buses that go through the bus stops. I've seen lines for POR and POFQ get really long before even one bus showes up. Disney does try and acccomodate the crowds by bringing in buses from Mears to help during the evening times. I saw that happen during my last two trips.

 

[Allison]

I've always had very prompt bus service when I have stayed at Pop, most recently in July.

 

[pdes70]

We have stayed at the Poly during President's Day week the last two years. The buses were OK, but we had to wait more than 30 mins. on quite a few occasions. This year we are staying at the Pop and we are going to rent a car and see if that saves us time.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you could wave a magic wand and change the WDW bus system, what would you do

Use dedicated routes rather than share between resorts, and increase the number of buses active at any one time. The 20 minute "target" intervals are okay, but we've all seen waits significantly longer than once in a while, particularly at some resorts, where the reports of long mid-day waits are common. Yes, I'm looking at you, OKW.

It's not rocket science, it's just spending more money. But, I recognize that WDW is not likely to do this at a time when their operating costs are already growing faster than revenues.