Please explain the buses from resorts to destinations

[Richard M Nixon]

I'm using the crazy transportation map at wdwfocus to try and plan out some routes and schedules. In particular, I'm looking at bus routes that go from:

• Contemporary to Hollywood Studios
• Contemporary to Animal Kingdom
• Contemporary to Downtown Disney

All these buses seem to hit up lots of resorts and the path often splits in multiple directions. I assume that the map I'm using is not showing real routes, instead showing possible transit paths that may be served by one or more buses. Is that right? If a bus goes from Contemporary to Hollywood, it might stop at one or two more resorts but not all 10+ stops indicated on the map, including backtracking across the whole campus.

Is there a list of actual bus schedules somewhere?

Also, is it reasonable to walk from epcot to the boardwalk for dinner/entertainment? The map indicated a walking path but I can't discern the distance.

 

[grimley1968]

That map seems exhaustive, but getting around WDW just isn't as complicated as some people, or that map, suggest.

All WDW resorts offer at least bus transportation to all WDW parks. Some resorts, especially in the EPCOT area, have more stops en route to parks than other resorts.

Getting from Contemporary to DHS and AK may involve stopping at another resort along the way, but no more than that, and the stops are generally quick. I've never ridden a bus from Contemporary to anywhere, but that's the way it is at the other monorail resorts.

The buses from any resort to DtD are usually less frequent and take longer than buses to the parks. If I remember correctly, they also usually stop at one of the waterparks each way (while the waterparks are open).

Walking from EPCOT to the Boardwalk area is easy. Just exit EPCOT through the "back" entrance at Intl. Gateway and Boardwalk is no more than a 5-minute walk (or boat if you prefer).

I don't know of a list of bus schedules (or even if they follow a schedule like a city transit system).

 

[Richard M Nixon]

Okay that is what I was hoping to hear. Too bad there isn't a rigid schedule I can look at (or at least an approximation) but I guess it's hard to do with the variable nature of resort traffic. I did find a nice site that approximates transit time between any two locations and it had helpful info, like the bus from contemporary to hollywood is way too long and makes lots of stops, to going to the floridian and then to hollywood is more efficient.

 

[Alesia]

I'm using the crazy transportation map at wdwfocus to try and plan out some routes and schedules. In particular, I'm looking at bus routes that go from:

• Contemporary to Hollywood Studios
• Contemporary to Animal Kingdom
• Contemporary to Downtown Disney

All these buses seem to hit up lots of resorts and the path often splits in multiple directions. I assume that the map I'm using is not showing real routes, instead showing possible transit paths that may be served by one or more buses. Is that right? If a bus goes from Contemporary to Hollywood, it might stop at one or two more resorts but not all 10+ stops indicated on the map, including backtracking across the whole campus.

What you're seeing isn't just one route, but all of the routes. There will be many buses on those routes, not just one.

You will get on a bus and (usually) go directly to your destination. You may share a bus with another resort ocassionally.

Is there a list of actual bus schedules somewhere?

No, but there isn't a need for one. Buses run about every 20 minutes; more often if necessary.

Also, is it reasonable to walk from epcot to the boardwalk for dinner/entertainment? The map indicated a walking path but I can't discern the distance.

The boardwalk is literally just outside of the International Gateway.

You may find these maps useful: http://stitchkingdom.com/maps/

Also, looking at the parks on google maps might give you a better idea of the size and scope of WDW.

 

[Alesia]

Okay that is what I was hoping to hear. Too bad there isn't a rigid schedule I can look at (or at least an approximation) but I guess it's hard to do with the variable nature of resort traffic. I did find a nice site that approximates transit time between any two locations and it had helpful info, like the bus from contemporary to hollywood is way too long and makes lots of stops, to going to the floridian and then to hollywood is more efficient.

That sounds like the Our Laughing Place Transportation Wizard. I would not recommend using it because it can sometimes be terribly inaccurate. It will occasionally recommend a route that doesn't exist, which will leave you waiting (and waiting...and waiting...) for a bus that is never going to come.

I would absolutely not recommend going to the Grand Floridian and taking the bus from there. It won't save you any time. If you really don't want to take the Contemporary -> DHS bus, then walk to MK and take the bus from there.

ETA: Funnily enough, I just looked up the Contemporary -> DHS route on the OLP TWiz, and there is a big fat inaccuracy right there:

Monorail to Transportation & Ticket Center
Transfer to Bus to Disney Hollywood Studios
Estimated Time: 36 minutes

There is not a bus from the TTC to DHS.

 

[Richard M Nixon]

Welp, it's good to find out before I try and rely on a broken site, then. Thank you for pointing that out. I'll try to use the map I found earlier as a guide, but I'm sure there will be some sort of transit information given at resorts/parks that I'll stick to once I know what I'm looking for.

 

[Alesia]

Welp, it's good to find out before I try and rely on a broken site, then. Thank you for pointing that out. I'll try to use the map I found earlier as a guide, but I'm sure there will be some sort of transit information given at resorts/parks that I'll stick to once I know what I'm looking for.

I think you're really over-thinking it (which is pretty understandable.) It's virtually impossible to not be able to find your way around once you're there.

WDW transportation is really very simple:

If you're at a resort and want to go to a park, go to the bus stop and wait for the bus that you need (they say where they're going right on the front.)

If you're at a park and you need to go to a resort, go to the bus stop for that resort ( there are signs to guide you) and wait for the bus. The exception is MK <--> Epcot, where you would take the monorail (transferring at the TTC.)

If you're at a park and want to go to another park, go to the bus stop and wait for the bus.

If you are at a resort and want to go to DTD, go to the bus stop and wait for the bus.

If you're at a park and want to go to DTD, you'll need to transfer at a resort. If you can't figure out what resort is closest to where you are, just transfer at Pop Century.

That's pretty much all you need to know. It seems overwhelming now, but it really is very simple once you're there.

 

[Richard M Nixon]

I guess I really am overthinking it. I was hoping to try and know what to avoid, lest I get on a bus and it takes an hour to get where I want to go.

 

[bumbershoot]

I guess I really am overthinking it. I was hoping to try and know what to avoid, lest I get on a bus and it takes an hour to get where I want to go.

Well, that can happen no matter how well you plan. Or it might not happen. Some people have a terrific time with transportation around WDW. Others don't. Some drive and experience backups getting out of a park. Others don't. No real way to plan for the glitches.

 

[Richard M Nixon]

Well, that can happen no matter how well you plan. Or it might not happen. Some people have a terrific time with transportation around WDW. Others don't. Some drive and experience backups getting out of a park. Others don't. No real way to plan for the glitches.

No way to plan? Never! My spreadsheets will be immaculate!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

The Disney bus system is fluid and flexible. It varies based on time of day, number of guests, traffic, even weather. They do not provide any schedule other than to say buses run regularly to all parks and DTD. At the Contemporary there will be times you have a dedicated bus, and others where you share with the Poly and Grand Flo. The general recommendation is to give yourself no less than an hour, but more like 1.5-2 hours to get somewhere by bus.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I think you're really over-thinking it (which is pretty understandable.) It's virtually impossible to not be able to find your way around once you're there.

WDW transportation is really very simple:

If you're at a resort and want to go to a park, go to the bus stop and wait for the bus that you need (they say where they're going right on the front.)

If you're at a park and you need to go to a resort, go to the bus stop for that resort ( there are signs to guide you) and wait for the bus. The exception is MK <--> Epcot, where you would take the monorail (transferring at the TTC.)

If you're at a park and want to go to another park, go to the bus stop and wait for the bus.

If you are at a resort and want to go to DTD, go to the bus stop and wait for the bus.

If you're at a park and want to go to DTD, you'll need to transfer at a resort. If you can't figure out what resort is closest to where you are, just transfer at Pop Century.

That's pretty much all you need to know. It seems overwhelming now, but it really is very simple once you're there.

Ok, how about resort to resort? (In my case POFQ to Poly and to Contemporary). Why is that so complicated? I have breakfast ADRs at these. Is this where you throw your arms up and take a taxi?

 

[Kristina4109]

POFQ to Poly - take a bus to the TTC and walk OR take the resort monorail

POFQ to Contemporary - take a bus to the MK and walk OR take the resort monorail

 

[msb578]

POFQ to Poly - take a bus to the TTC and walk OR take the resort monorail POFQ to Contemporary - take a bus to the MK and walk OR take the resort monorail

There is no bus from any resort to the TTC. I think even Shades of Green is no longer there. Use MK as a transfer point in either case.

You could do POFQ to Epcot by bus. Then monorail to TTC and take the short walk to Poly.

 

[PinkBudgie]

There is no bus from any resort to the TTC. I think even Shades of Green is no longer there. Use MK as a transfer point in either case.

You could do POFQ to Epcot by bus. Then monorail to TTC and take the short walk to Poly.

Ok, thanks.

 

[msb578]

Ok, thanks.

I guess this isn't going to make things sound any simpler- but what time are your ADRs? While the buses start running at 6:30 am, the monorails don't, necessarily. There are certainly many strong advocates of the Taxi on the DIS, and for good reason

 

[PinkBudgie]

I guess this isn't going to make things sound any simpler- but what time are your ADRs? While the buses start running at 6:30 am, the monorails don't, necessarily. There are certainly many strong advocates of the Taxi on the DIS, and for good reason

Arggh! Poly is 10am, Contemporary is 8am. Maybe a Taxi is easier. And still cheaper than renting a car the entire time.

 

[Alesia]

Ok, how about resort to resort? (In my case POFQ to Poly and to Contemporary). Why is that so complicated? I have breakfast ADRs at these. Is this where you throw your arms up and take a taxi?

Easy. Just take the bus to MK and transfer there. If you mention where you're going to the bus driver, they may offer to take you there directly if they have time.

Or you could just take a cab if you want to save time.

 

[siskaren]

Ok, how about resort to resort? (In my case POFQ to Poly and to Contemporary). Why is that so complicated? I have breakfast ADRs at these. Is this where you throw your arms up and take a taxi?

Because with over 20 resorts, it would be impractical to have buses that go directly between every combination of resorts. Getting to the MK resorts from another resort is probably the easiest scenario, though.

 

[Alesia]

Arggh! Poly is 10am, Contemporary is 8am. Maybe a Taxi is easier. And still cheaper than renting a car the entire time.

You can make them using WDW transportation.