POP Bus Concerns

[cgorn]

When I first decided to book a room at POP, I said, "oh, goody -- there's only one bus stop." But then I realized that there are over 2000 rooms, and I started to worry that the bus station will be endlessly packed, and at the wrong time we'll always be waiting for 2-3 busses to go by before we can get on. This is my nightmare.

Are the POP busses any more frequent than other, smaller resorts? Has anyone had a problem with huge crowds at the resort bus stop? I have read about the long lines at park closing, so I know what to expect and have plans for that.

Thanks!

Chad

 

[Kitikat]

We were at Pop mid aug and never waited more than 10 mins for a bus. Usually we were running to catch the one waiting. We always got the bus in the morning between 7:15-7:45. Now the bus coming back to the resort at the closing of the parks are always crowded if they were to full we would wait for the next one which pulled in after the packed bus left. I say the buses are something you don't have to stress about.

 

[JustinS]

I have read peoples' complaints about the POP busses, but personally I never experienced an issue with them. Go, have fun! Don't stress

 

[pixiegoose]

When we stayed at Pop Sept. 2007 during free dining, we did have problems with the buses. There were many times we had to wait for 2-3 buses before we could finally get on to go to a park. Even during the day leaving parks there were times we still had to wait for another bus. We rarely actually got a seat on any bus (well, there were times we actually got seats but we try to be nice and let parents with sleeping kids, etc. have our seats) which can get very frusturating. Overall, we weren't impressed with Pop's buses and it's one of the reasons we won't be staying there again. But I know other people swear by Pop, so I'm guessing other people might not have the same problems with the buses.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Just got back. Never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus and 95% of the time NO WAIT at all. Even if we missed one, there was another within 5-10 minutes. At the end of the night there was usually 2 busses at a time for Pop. MK had 2 stations set up. The only time we had a wait was coming home from DTD. That was the wait. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Pats Dragon]

We have stayed at pop many times and think the buses there are better than anywhere else. The only negatives are that the stops are far away from the parks. If you wait until 9 on a holiday to get in line to go to mk you might have to wait for a 2nd bus but it won't be a long wait.

 

[plutos_pal]

I've stayed at POP twice now, and am planning to stay again in December. I've never had any complaints about bus service TO the park. If you are coming back from the parks right at closing, especially at MK, I've found you may need to wait for a bit (20 minutes or so) as the line can be somewhat long. However, none of the waits ever put a damper on my overall enjoyment of my stay at POP.

I'd say put your worries to rest, and have a great time!

 

[TimandTanya]

Another thread about Bussing system at PoP.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2281946

Hope this helps!

 

[goofy4tink]

To give you some frame of reference, these are the resorts I've stayed at..
Pop, POR, BWV, BCV, Polynesian, Contemporary, ASMusic, S/D, OKW. I have to say that POP has the best bus service of any resort. If you head to a park about 30-45 mins before park opening, you are going to face huge numbers of people at the bus stops...doesn't matter where you stay. Yes, POP has a lot of rooms, but so do other resorts. The buses at POP seem to run a bit more frequently. I have never had to wait for a second bus. And one time, when my family got to the bus stop, there was a bus there loading, but I remembered I had forgotten something back in my room. So, everyone got on the bus, and I went back to the room. It took me about 8 mins to get to my room, and return to the bus stop. There was a bus pulling up to MK...got on and met my family at MK...only took an addtl 10 mins. So, obviously the buses come pretty frequently there.
I would have no issues recommending POP based on it's bus service.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

When we stayed at Pop Sept. 2007 during free dining, we did have problems with the buses. There were many times we had to wait for 2-3 buses before we could finally get on to go to a park. Even during the day leaving parks there were times we still had to wait for another bus. We rarely actually got a seat on any bus (well, there were times we actually got seats but we try to be nice and let parents with sleeping kids, etc. have our seats) which can get very frusturating. Overall, we weren't impressed with Pop's buses and it's one of the reasons we won't be staying there again. But I know other people swear by Pop, so I'm guessing other people might not have the same problems with the buses.

This was our experience every single time we've stayed at POP. We've stayed different times of the year so it can't be blamed on FD & the resort being packed. No matter what time or what park we tried to go to we had to wait for 2 or 3 buses to cycle through and then more often than not be wedged in standing room only on the bus.

Our best bus service has been at AKL and ASMu!! Worst buses were @ POP.

JMHO.................with over 25+ stays onsite.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Just got back. Never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus and 95% of the time NO WAIT at all. Even if we missed one, there was another within 5-10 minutes. At the end of the night there was usually 2 busses at a time for Pop. MK had 2 stations set up. The only time we had a wait was coming home from DTD. That was the wait. Enjoy your trip.

I was just at Pop last weekend and this was my experience as well. I don't think we ever waited more than 5-10 minutes for a bus except midday at DTD, then it was about 15 minutes. At park closing at Epcot and MK, one bus would pull up, load, and another bus was immediately behind it. At MK there were even two areas for Pop.

 

[Disneynut322]

I just returned from POP 8/27 to 9/5 during free dining; I was skeptical about staying at a Value for the first time. I have stayed at Poly, YC, BC, CBR, POR, CSR and I must say that POP had the best bus service, HANDS DOWN, of any resort I have stayed in!!! Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

We LOVED POP and will be returning in the future. And the bus service has a lot to do with it!!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I never had a problem. The only time we really had to wait was at the Magic Kingdom closing, we probably had to wait for 2 buses to fill to get on. EPCOT was much quicker. We never had to wait for the next bus to get to a park, ever.

 

[lake queen]

We have had good luck with the Pop buses.

Except for the end of the day at Mk, when you are dog tired, and you walk an eternity to reach the Pop bus, there seems to be NO other lines at the other resorts, but the Pop waiting area is full!! You just want to cry, then you realize that you are the adult. So you put a smile on your face and endure!

Other that that-- a ok!

 

[cat83]

We stayed Pop once. I was DREADING the busses. But actually, it was probably our the best luck we've ever had with the bus system in several trips (minus 2 instances).

A lot of it really was pure luck- walking up just as a bus was approaching, and either having no line or short enough of a line that we had a spot (not necessarily a seat).

I did have 2 major problems a few nights at the end of the day- both EMH and non-EMH nights. I remember the absolute worst was leaving Epcot after EMH. (Just noticed you said you're prepared for end of day- so no worries)

The crowd was so angry, I honestly thought there was going to be a riot. That night they were running separate busses for All Stars (I've never stayed there but read that they share a bus many times). We saw so many busses for all 3 AS resorts come and go, mostly empty.
We waited well over an hour, and behind us the line snaked through the Pop Century waiting area, and back past the other 3 or 4 bus stops, and around the corner (I couldn't see the end).

I thought maybe this was a fluke, or something had happened- but the same thing happened to us a few nights later at DHS. Again- there was no line in any of the other resort lines that we could see, and we waited over an hour (this time less patiently, having been struck twice)

Oh another thing we noticed, so just be prepared: Pop's bus stops seemed to be the furthest from the parks. I can remember specifically this is true at MK and Epcot. I want to say at AK it wasn't that bad, and can't picture DHS. But if you are in a hurry, give yourself the extra time to walk to the end of the bus stops.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We've stayed at Pop three times at various times of year. The bus service has always been reasonable. Not ever much of a wait that I can remember going to any park. The only thing you have to brace yourself for (and it sounds like OP has) is the tidal wave of people waiting for a bus at park closing, especially MK.

 

[CleveRocks]

When I first decided to book a room at POP, I said, "oh, goody -- there's only one bus stop." But then I realized that there are over 2000 rooms, and I started to worry that the bus station will be endlessly packed, and at the wrong time we'll always be waiting for 2-3 busses to go by before we can get on. This is my nightmare.

Happily, I can report that you are over-analyzing the situation. Pop isn't the only bus system that has to handle over 2000 rooms.

For example, Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside share buses, and combined they have over 3,000 rooms. Now, you may say, "Sure, but between them there are 5 bus stops." To which I'd answer, "Yes, so while no one bus stop may be super-mobbed, the fact is that there are still MORE people competing to get on a bus, and therefore you'd have better luck at Pop than at the PO resorts.


Caribbean Beach Resort has 2,112 rooms. Yes, 7 bus stops within the resort, but that just means 7 smaller crowds to fill a bus rather than one large crowd at Pop. Same thing. Same number of people, and if all want to go at the same time, there won't be enough rom for everyone. So whether that overflow crowd waits at 1 stop or 7 stops, the bottom line is that there won't be enough room for everyone.

Same with Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, and Bay Lake Tower ... combined about 3,000 rooms, so their buses to Downtown Disney, Disney's Hollywod Studios and Animal Kingdom aren't going to give guests at those more expensive resorts any advantage over people staying at Pop.

The list could go on, but you know what I mean. You'll be fine.

 

[dclfun]

I have had immense problems at all the value resorts, mainly during FD. I use a power wheelchair and for some reason, more and more guests are also needing the w/c ramps and lifts so there have been HUGE lines of w/c guests waiting to board. I have a service dog so don't enjoy having her wait in the sun on the hot concrete through 2-3 busses so that I can keep my place in line. I like the value resorts otherwise but will never, ever choose one again during popular times due to the bus wait times. This is no one's fault either- busses did come frequently and other guests using scooters and w/c's need the ramps/lifts just as much as I do, but I've never seen so many of us needing that accommodation all at once ( one day I waited behind 5 families with a guest using a rental scooter and another using a manual w/c). We are DVC members and I've never had the same issue at the DVC resorts- don't know why there are so many more mobility aid users staying at value properties, and esp. during FD. I felt they were on top of ordering plenty of busses, but if you are using a w/c, each bus can only take 2. I'm not sure if I'd enjoy standing with a sleeping baby either- my adult kids gave up their seats almost every night at closing to a tired Mom or Dad holding an infant who needed the seat more than they did.---Kathy

 

[Kion10]

We had no problem at the bus stops at Pop. You have to remember that there isn't just 1 Magic Kingdom bus. They send them on an as needed basis. You won't have any troubles, I'm sure of it. I've seen more Pop busses running, then any other hotel.

Most of the other hotels share a bus. Ick.

 

[MomBoyd]

In the morning I would plan to arrive at the bus stop an hour before park opening. If you have reservations before the park opens 45 minutes before your reservation time should be safe.

For returning to POP I woud suggest leaving an hour or more before the park closes. If you want to shut the park down I would stay around, enjoying a snack and the quieter park, for at least 1/2 hr. after the park closes.

In the middle of the day you should not have any problem going in either direction.