Pop Century bus

[krysmas]

We usually rent a car but this time we may use the bus to get to and from the parks. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons especially at closing. We are staying at pop and going 11/6 to 11/12. Thanks so much

 

[AprilFool]

It is nice that they are free, but at closing WILL be very crowed. No one is polite enough to give up their seats either (they pretend that they don't see you)....even when you are trying to hold your sleeping child and hang on with the other hand.

 

[Mr. Pig]

Of course the biggest CON at closing is the crowds. You will be there at a slower time but it is always crowded at closing. I think Disney does a good job routing the buses so that there are more available but you will still have a long line and might have to stand.

Otherwise the PRO's include not having to drive yourself. At MK you don't have to take monorail/ferry and then tram to the parking lot. POP also does not share buses so IMO they seem to be more efficient at going back and forth.

And despite what PP says I have seen people give up seats to elderly and those holding small children. It doesn't always happen and it can be tough on a crowded bus but I won't open that can of worms.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

We've done POP twice. Generally, the buses work well, but I agree with a PP who said that closing can be bad. I've found that leaving somewhat early or hanging back quite a bit can help. Linger at the stores, sit and watch everyone leaving.

 

[goofy4tink]

Every single resort bus line is nasty at park closing. I've stayed at POP, Music, POR, CR, Poly, BC, S/D, BW, OKW..they all have long bus lines. The worst I've had??? AKL last Dec.
Generally speaking, POP can have long waits. However, when I was at POP in Dec, I had to wait through 3 buses before getting on a bus..it was in fact park closing. BUT...that wait was only about 20 mins total...from the time I got to the back of the line until the time I actually boarded the bus. Not too bad at all.

Please, can we not go down the 'people never give up their seats' road?? No one can say for certain whether or not someone needs that seat more than you do. Everyone is free to wait for the next bus in order to be assured a seat. The vast majority of people do get up and offer their seat to someone who appears to need to be seated more than they do. We are not going to have a debate here.

 

[MICKEEP]

To answer the pro & con question I have to say that POP has one of the best bus transportation of all of the resorts for the single reason that it only has one stop and does not share with another resort (FOR NOW). This means that all bus rides are direct with no stops. POP is now the only resort that has that from all the parks, all day.

 

[nytimez]

Hang back after closing and you'll be fine. You can stroll main street, sit and watch the castle, hit the stores, and some food -- like Casey's and the bakery -- usually remain open. Leave after the so-called "Goodnight Kiss" and there might still be a line for your bus, but it won't be as mobbed.

It seems to me that the bus service to Pop might be more frequent than to some of the other resorts, probably due to the larger size of the resort.

 

[pooch]

It is nice that they are free, but at closing WILL be very crowed. No one is polite enough to give up their seats either (they pretend that they don't see you)....even when you are trying to hold your sleeping child and hang on with the other hand.

Leave the park while your child is still awake and alert!

 

[NewEnglander]

This means that all bus rides are direct with no stops. POP is now the only resort that has that from all the parks, all day.

During the day, I thought the buses from PCR to AK stopped at BB first.

 

[NewEnglander]

This means that all bus rides are direct with no stops. POP is now the only resort that has that from all the parks, all day.

During the day, I thought the buses from PCR to AK stopped at BB first.

 

[skiingfast]

Using the bus Pros:
Simple, no trams and walking to car
Drops you near the gate of MK
Free
Easier than having to drive.
Simpler if you have a stroller

Cons:
You aren't gaurenteed a seat
Harder to get to DTD and Waterparks tranfers/long travel time.

Leaving the park at closing is no easier or harder on bus or car. Busess run more often and the trams take longer to load when they are completly full.

 

[kaytieeldr]

During the day, I thought the buses from PCR to AK stopped at BB first.

That's true of all the resort's buses. There are no dedicated Blizzard Beach (or Typhoon Lagoon) buses.

Guests going to BB or AK from any resort - except maybe AKL - share a bus. Guests going to TL or DTD from any resort share a bus. But Pop buses don't stop at any other resort; if you're going to/from any of the four major parks, the buses are all express.

 

[NewEnglander]

if you're going to/from any of the four major parks, the buses are all express.

Just to clarify in my own mind. By saying express, you're saying the bus doesn't stop at any other resorts, but it does make a stop at BB, correct?

 

[goofy4tink]

Just to clarify in my own mind. By saying express, you're saying the bus doesn't stop at any other resorts, but it does make a stop at BB, correct?

Yes. But every resort bus heads to BB when going to AK as well. It's like heading to DTD..the bus goes to TY as well..if I remember correctly.

 

[pgumiela]

For us personally there are little or no pros to using the bus system. It's just not us, we are ok driving around. Two years ago we flew and just used the bus system. At the end of the night we'd be waiting in a really long line with two boys, a stroller, a diaper bag, whatever stuff we accumulated through the day, water bottles, etc... and we had to get all of it on the bus while taking up as little space as possible because it would be literally standing room only on the bus. Our youngest was a little under 2 at the time and would usually fall asleep while we were waiting in line so we would have to hold him, sometimes while standing trying to lean on a pole for some stability, while keeping the folded up stroller in place so it didn't hit anybody.

It just wasn't us, last year we drove to orlando so we had our car. It was great, we never parked far from the gate. We had booked through AAA so we had their parking pass, and most times were in site of the main gate. At the MK we never even needed the tram. And we could keep a cooler with ice and water in it for when we left at night. And we had also rented a double stroller so it was much easier to toss it in the back of the minivan than to wrestle it onto a bus.

Now if it were just DH and I, the bus would probably be a better option, or if our kids were older, but for now it is more hassle than it is worth.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It just wasn't us, last year we drove to orlando so we had our car. It was great, we never parked far from the gate. We had booked through AAA so we had their parking pass, and most times were in site of the main gate. At the MK we never even needed the tram.

Understood - but even many advocates of driving to the parks agree using the buses to Magic Kingdom is smarter, and faster. The buses drop off and pick up mere yards from the MK gates, while Guests who drive need to use a monorail or ferry to get between the TTC and the gates. In the morning, not so bad. At park closing, that monorail line is lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng. And steep.

 

[pgumiela]

lol... that walk up the monorail platform is long at night, I definately agree. It about whooped me one night.

 

[smidgy]

pop has a dedicated line, as opposed to the other 3 value resorts. we have stayed there often, and been very happy with the bus transportation.
yes, you might have to stand. (or, as previously stated, let others ahead of you so you are assured a seat on the next bus)
also, most of the rooms are close to the bus stop (if you are in the 80s or 90s, it might be quicker to walk through the parking lot area).
with little kids, I would either get preferred rooms, or request the 50s section. the bowling pin pool is like a feature pool.. really big.
I think you will be hapy there... have fun!

 

[bear_mom]

On our last trip Pop had wonderful bus service. Granted at closing the lines were long, but all the resorts did. Other than that and waiting 15 minutes at DTD, we never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus.

My great story: we were on our way to Epcot on our departure day when dd realized she didn't have her money with her. She thought she left it on the bed at the hotel, and we had already checked out . We decided that I would go back to the resort and look for it. I figured it would take me FOREVER, leaving a park before park opening? It was 8:45 when we got to Epot. I made a round trip, Epcot - Pop - Epcot in 45 minutes. The only thing I missed was a ride on TT and Mission Space (which I wouldn't ride anyway).

Emily

 

[iluvdizknee]

We love POP, everything about it including the bus service. No problem waiting, never more than 15mins. Since it is the biggest value resort, I believe they have more buses and they do not share a bus with any other resort.