Off-Resort Shuttles to WDW - Are they reliable?

[cobeetle]

For budgetary reasons I need to spend some time at a cheaper motel off-resort. The only thing I am wondering about are the shuttles. Are they reliable? Are some really horrible? Are some really good? I am thinking about the Howard Johnson Maingate East, and one review just reams them on this very item. Any advice?

 

[Mary Anne]

My knowledge them is that they are very ridgid. They drop you off in the morning at a set time and pick you up in the evening at a set time. I'm sure some are good but I've never heard anyone rave about them.

 

[CarolA]

Overall this tends to be a problem with the 'buget" offsite options. Shuttles run when they are scheduled. No flexiblity and if the shuttle is full you may or may NOT get another run.

 

[fla4fun]

Plus, many of the shuttles only have one on property stop. Some drop you at TTC regardless of where you are going. Some drop you at Epcot regardless of where you are going. Some only make one or two runs in the morning and one or two in the evening. It would be a good idea to have cab fare as a backup in case you miss the bus.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If you're going to have you're own transportation, I would recommend using that and not using the Hotels shuttle service. In July 1996 on my families very 1st trip to WDW we stayed at the Hampton Inn on 192 East (which is now the Lexington Orlando Sun Resort) we were planning on using their transportation when going to WDW. However since we drove down we decided that it's better if we used our own transportation, because we could leave the parks whenever we wanted and we did not have to rely on their transportation.

 

[Brian Noble]

In a word, "no".

Unless I was staying at an onsite resort, or MAYBE a DTD resort, I would never, ever visit without a car---either my own or a rental.

 

[spiceycat]

just kept in mind you are on their schedule not yours.

go get at the bus stop at least 20 minutes (okay maybe 10) - and it could be 20 minutes late - so now you have wasted 40 minutes to an hour.

same coming back.

also most of the off site shuttles don't allow you to see the night shows. Ask - but I would be surprised if they did. So be prepared to leave before the night shows (which I think is the best part of WDW trips)

if you are flying - then you will have to provide your own transportation to these hotels. another expensive.

So I would drive and stay offsite. Now if you live too far to drive to WDW. then definitely try to rent a car. they aren't that expensive in Orlando.

 

[Aimerskoeh]

We stayed the Ramanda Maingate West and it was my only compliant about the place. The shuttle schedule was horrible.
It had 2 runs in the morning one at 8 I believe and one at 10 am, and than another run at 6pm I believe than one at 10pm I believe.
Which would make you miss the fireworks, spectromagic,etc...
We ended up having to just cab it to the parks since it was not far it was not that bad of an extra cost.