off site shuttle experience

[PrairieFrozen]

I'm having a bit of an issue finding reliable information on shuttles and amount of runs online. Looks like you have to reach out directly to hotel staff for detailed information. How likely is off site hotel shuttles to support a full day at the parks? Like being on time for rope drop at a park and at park closing times.

I had received a copy of current times from Wyndham garden Disney springs hotel and that seemed relatively reasonable. The Blue Tree heron resort had posted times but the timings are horrible.

 

[HopperFan]

I'm having a bit of an issue finding reliable information on shuttles and amount of runs online. Looks like you have to reach out directly to hotel staff for detailed information. How likely is off site hotel shuttles to support a full day at the parks? Like being on time for rope drop at a park and at park closing times.

I had received a copy of current times from Wyndham garden Disney springs hotel and that seemed relatively reasonable. The Blue Tree heron resort had posted times but the timings are horrible.

If I were staying off site I would not depend on shuttles, especially now that COVID has altered everything. Most have very limited times, some charge fees, most require reservations, some share with other hotels so it's not just a straight shot, many don't work with rope drop or closing a park down .... and MK goes to TTC.

Disney Springs pre-COVID had a very regular reliable bus system so I would hope they are working back towards that but ..... at least at the end of the night you could take the bus to Saratoga and walk OR Disney might have buses going back to DS at some point like they used to (after 4 pm, one way only).

If you op for OFF site, then I would consider an uber budget.

 

[k5xs]

I agree with Hopper. Shuttle reliability and consistency has to be one of the worst aspects of off-property stays. The shuttles are unpredictable in some cases, and the multiple-hotel routes are the worst.

 

[Disney.Dreamin.Dee]

I certainly would not rely on shuttles.
Rent a car or take Uber/lyft.

 

[PrairieFrozen]

Thanks for the advice on this.
Back of the napkin math assuming same value of hotels. off site + transport costs roughly equal to staying to onsite then and using disney transportation.

Just another factor to decide.

 

[Lilsia]

Thanks for the advice on this.
Back of the napkin math assuming same value of hotels. off site + transport costs roughly equal to staying to onsite then and using disney transportation.

Just another factor to decide.

Over the years I have priced it out many times. Depending on how many are in your party, it usually comes down cheaper to stay at at Disney value hotel then an off site one. It is most definitely more convenient. Now with no magical express, it might change things a bit. But I would never rely on those off site shuttle services, as someone already explained. If you don't want to drive then I would stay on property.

 

[PrairieFrozen]

Over the years I have priced it out many times. Depending on how many are in your party, it usually comes down cheaper to stay at at Disney value hotel then an off site one. It is most definitely more convenient. Now with no magical express, it might change things a bit. But I would never rely on those off site shuttle services, as someone already explained. If you don't want to drive then I would stay on property.

Thanks for that. First ever trip to Disney as an adult and doing the planning. We could easily drive but the challenge of a new city and being extremely tired after a long day of the parks. It may not be worth it to drive off site. Especially if there isn't any real savings for the effort.

I don't really see a difference in the loss of magical express. Haven't experienced before so it's not a big deal. I'd have pay for my method of transport to the an offsite place so that's a complete non factor to me.

 

[Brian Noble]

Back when I was making this comparison (and before the days of ME), it was usually cheaper to stay in a Disney Value taking a cab to/from the resort than to (a) book a halfway decent offsite hotel (b) rent a car and (c) pay for theme park parking.

However, it is also usually possible to rent a condo, townhome, or pool home, plus rental car and theme park parking, for something between what a Disney Value and a Disney Moderate would cost.

At that point the decision is: stay onsite in a single hotel room, or stay offsite in much more space. We usually did the latter.

 

[Lewisc]

Precovid the DS hotels had excellent transportation to the parks

 

[jimmymc]

The hotels I've seen have been offering scheduled shuttles in the morning and set pickup times at night. So you could probably get to a park by rope drop, but you won't be able to come back in the middle of the day and may not be able to stay until closing, depending on the park.

 

[Bete]

Please keep in mind the pick up and drop off points for many of these shuttles is out of the way and even awkward. It can be bad enough that they drop you off at one park and you have to the use Disney transportation to then get to the other parks.

Timing is poor, too. You don't have the same options as Disney transportation with when you can do the shuttles.

Some of these shuttles share with other resorts, too which means it will take you much longer.

 

[Lilsia]

Please keep in mind the pick up and drop off points for many of these shuttles is out of the way and even awkward. It can be bad enough that they drop you off at one park and you have to the use Disney transportation to then get to the other parks.

Timing is poor, too. You don't have the same options as Disney transportation with when you can do the shuttles.

Some of these shuttles share with other resorts, too which means it will take you much longer.

The way we look at it is that time is money too. You are saving a few bucks, but you are also loosing so much time value just on transportation. I never recommend for anyone to use off site hotel shuttles. If you stay off site, rent a car.

 

[kathy884]

The way we look at it is that time is money too. You are saving a few bucks, but you are also loosing so much time value just on transportation. I never recommend for anyone to use off site hotel shuttles. If you stay off site, rent a car.

Uber and Lyft have worked great for us offsite in Orlando too. We have a car for our next trip, but are doing different things on some days and uber /lyft will be our friend for some in our party of those days.

 

[Lilsia]

Uber and Lyft have worked great for us offsite in Orlando too. We have a car for our next trip, but are doing different things on some days and uber /lyft will be our friend for some in our party of those days.

This is something that I would price out also. Depending on how far away the hotel is and the cost of rental cars at the time. It might come out cheaper to rent a car then use Uber. Plus there are people that do not feel comfortable using ride share or don't like that they have to wait for one during busy times of the day, etc.

 

[PrairieFrozen]

This is something that I would price out also. Depending on how far away the hotel is and the cost of rental cars at the time. It might come out cheaper to rent a car then use Uber. Plus there are people that do not feel comfortable using ride share or don't like that they have to wait for one during busy times of the day, etc.

Is there much delays in using rideshare services? Never ever use them. Plus I wonder how much a premium you can add for any surge pricing. I'd expect surge pricing would be in effect close to opening/closing of a given park.

 

[Lilsia]

Is there much delays in using rideshare services? Never ever use them. Plus I wonder how much a premium you can add for any surge pricing. I'd expect surge pricing would be in effect close to opening/closing of a given park.

The only time that I use ride share is at WDW. I use Lyft and they most definitely can get backed up during busy times, like dinner time. It can take a while for someone to pick up a ride. I don't know about park open and close but I imagine that is a busy time too.