OKW buses - are they that bad ?

[LooneyIAm]

We're due to arrive at OKW on 8/3. We are driving down from PA and one of things my husband likes the best about staying inside Disney is that we can park the car and he doesn't have to drive again until our departure day! (We are not DVC - are paying cash). I've been reading different posts - some saying the busing was terrible - very long waits. Others say they returned recently and had no problem. Is it just a matter of opinion - (I've also been reading posts stating it was terribly crowded in the parks and then another stating the same day wasn't crowded at all) or should I start preparing DH that we might be doing a lot more driving to the parks than he had wanted to?

Paula

 

[PamOKW]

If you have used the WDW buses at other resorts, the OKW bus system is the same. Sometimes you hit it just right and you get to the stop, jump on a bus and you're off. Other times, you just miss a bus and then have to wait for the next one. There is also the chance of hitting a real problem. This has happened to me but it has happened at every WDW resort. I've even been stuck on the monorail for extended periods.

As you mention, people have different experiences and sometimes even different perceptions of the same experience. I wouldn't be concerned about the OKW buses. Sometimes the driving just feels like you are saving lots of time because you are moving instead of sitting at a bus stop. I'd be curious what would happen if two people left at the same time.....I'll have to try that someday.

Going resort-to-resort is when you might want to drive unless you have time and enjoy "exploring". If you just want to get to Whispering Canyon at WL for dinner, go ahead and drive and you'll be there in 10-15 minutes. If you want to navigate the WDW transportation system you better leave 1-1 1/2 hours. But, that's true of taking the bus resort-to-resort from every WDW resort.

 

[bres@westernMA]

Personally, I HATE to wait for any bus. During our last visit to OKW, we waited for a MK bus for more than 45 minutes at 8:00 in the morning. OKW actually had a CM recording the waits for busses since there had been so many complaints. After returning from my vacation, I complained about the bus service and was told it was being studied. While at OKW, I like the boat ride to DD and will always take the bus to MK. I usually drive to any of the other parks (especially the smaller parks) and always drive to any other resort. I like having access to my car to allow me to get off the grounds to hit a grocery or non WDW store or attraction.

 

[Allan]

We were at OKW from 7/13-7/18 and had no problem at all. The longest wait we had was about 15 minutes one morning going to Epcot.

 

[Doctor P]

We rode the bus from OKW every day from 12/27-1/3 and we had a great experience, even on New Year's eve. Longest wait for a bus was about 10 minutes and only one bus was real crowded the whole time we were there. The buses were also very efficient in their routes and stops.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have stayed at OKW many times and have always felt the bus service is just fine. One time we had a long wait for MK because the driver ran out of log time and had to return and send a different bus out. That was all explained to us. Mostly you wont wait more than 10 minutes ever, and if you inquire about the bus schedules for the time you are there, you will wait even less.

 

[travelbug]

We stayed at OKW over Easter week last year and were very satisfied with the bus service all week. Generally a 10-min. wait or less. The only exception was when we accidentally missed the last boat back from DD to OKW and had to take the bus. We waited forever for a bus to come and when it finally did, it made a number of stops before OKW. So we learned NOT to miss the last boat back from DD!

All other bus service was great, especially considering that it is a busy time of year.

 

[yasuern]

We had no problems with the OKW bus service - I know others have - as I just posted on another thread we never waited more than 10 minutes. I believe we were told that the buses came through every 1/2 hour and so at 4:55pm or 8:55am we would just be at the bus stop and within 10minutes the buses to each of the different parks/destinations came one right after the other. Hope you have our luck!

 

[wdwsos]

I just posted in another thread that I'm a big fan of OKW transportation. The only time we waited for longer than 10 minutes in June was when we walked over to the stop a few seconds after the bus pulled away.

One nice advantage to the OKW bus system is that you don't share the bus with other resorts.

If you happen to be near the Peninsular Road bus stop, it's the first stop coming into the resort from all locations except DD. If you miss the bus there, it's only a few minutes walk to the Hospitality House, where you can board that same bus on the way out of the resort. It may be a good location request for your husband if he needs to feel like he's moving.

Dotti

 

[Dreamfinder2]

We didn't have a hitch at OKW a couple of weeks ago, but it seems to be all about timing, 'cause obviously if you just missed a bus, you're gonna have a wait.

There's a facinating section in the Unofficial Guide that compares Disney transportation time vs. taking your own car. While I wouldn't spend my touring time doing that kind of research, other folks must.

No bus complaints here.

 

[MAC3]

I Agree with Dotti! We were just there. We never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus. What we didn't realize was that Hospitality House is last stop though. But you can also get off at the 1st stop and walk. It is faster.
Enjoy your stay @ OKW. It is my DH's favorite and I ended up falling in Love with it myself while there.

 

[mikesmom]

We've always believed the stories from folks who complained about bus service and so we always used the car. This last trip I had to stay in the room for a bit as there was a crisis I had to handle back at the office. I caught up with the rest of the family by bus. What a revelation! 5 minute wait, 10 minute ride, and I was there. So, DH and I proceeded to use the bus for the rest of the trip and it was great!

I suspect if you use the bus as the park closes, there will be a bad wait. But have you ever tried leaving with your car as the park closes? Believe me, it is NOT a quick trip. Between the hike, shuttle or ferry to the parking lot and then the wait in lines of cars to get out of the lot you will be a long time getting back to the resort. I'd just as soon sit back and let the bus driver take me.

Now, that being said, I'd still use the car when going resort to resort, as all the switching would be a pain. We also will use the car for grocery runs (we NEVER get it all done with 1 trip - teenagers!!)

 

[SueM in MN]

In 9 years as DVC members at OKW, we have had very few bus problems either.
I think a lot of it is luck and some is perception. You will see posts from people who were at a resort at the same exact time and one posts that the bus waits were terrible while the other one said it was great.

 

[winjos]

so far, the buses have been very convenient. The longest wait we've had was at the Animal Kingdom. We watched as every bus but the OKW bus passed by. We waited approximately 15 minutes.

Buses - no problem
Now - the humidity is another story!!!

 

[tax58]

We were there the week of 7/13-7/19 and we had a great experience every wait was less than 10 minutes, except for one 15 minute wait at Animal Kingdom. No reason to drive when the service was that good.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just another testimonial about the buses. On New Years Eve 1999/2000, we had several of us together at Epcot for the countdown and fireworks. Needless to say, it was PACKED! Half of our group took the bus back and half drove. Those of us on the bus were back 1 hour BEFORE those who drove!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

We have only had two instances of having to wait more than 10~15 minutes for a bus at OKW, and one of those cases was our "fault".

On our last trip ( June 2002 ) we waited 30 minutes for a MK bus before we said "heck with this" and took an Epcot bus. This was what we did : bus to Epcot --> monorail to TTC --> ferry to MK. All in all, we probably should have waited a few more minutes for the bus .

The case that was our "fault" was over last New Years. Several of us were waiting for a DD bus at the Hospitality House when two ladies with a sleeping child and several packages got off a bus. Unfortunately, their room was at Turtle Pond ! We were staying at building 63, so I offered to walk over to get my van and drive them to their room. While I was gone the DD bus came and went - but they needed to get that child to bed more than we needed to get to Downtown .

 

[madcoco]

Buses were just fine on this past trip.Hospitality house is the last stop except on the Downtown Disney bus it is first.