Pop Century Buses

[kar0066]

I just got home today. This was our sixth trip to WDW, and our fourth stay at POP. We had a great time, but Pop transportation was a disaster. On day two of our trip we were fourth in line to go to MK at 6 pm. We waited 43 minutes for the bus. I thought this would be an isolated incident, but four times we waited more than 40 minutes to board a bus. Yesterday afternoon it took 1 hour 20 minutes from the time we got to the bus stop until we unboarded at MK. It got so bad this week that they brought in buses from other bus companies (not Mears or Disney buses). One morning the MK bus line had people lined up way past the AK bus turnstile. It wasn't just the line to MK - they were all bad.

 

[dkrauss]

What was Disney's reason for this disaster? Does POP share buses.........we're staying at AoA in 2 weeks are we in for the same thing?

Doug

 

[kar0066]

What was Disney's reason for this disaster? Does POP share buses.........we're staying at AoA in 2 weeks are we in for the same thing?

Doug

 

[kar0066]

POP does not share buses. I don't think AOA was having the same problem - at night some of the people in the POP line left to get an AOA bus. They said they would rather walk from AOA instead of waiting in the long POP line.

 

[Planogirl]

You should post this on the Pop Century thread on the Resorts forum. Lots of people have trips coming up and it would be good for them to be aware of this.

I wonder what the problem is.

 

[popriv]

We were there the last wek of october and the pop buses were great.
I think its just bad timing. We were lucky all week it seemed a bus would show up just as we walked up to the line..
Just missed one bus going back to pop and a AOA bus pulled up so we took that and walked through AOA to get to pop.

On any givin day there could be a problen but pop does not share busses and has always had good transportation for me.

Bunk

 

[Disneylover99]

That's too bad your bus service was so bad. We've always had awesome service at Pop.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's quite disheartening to hear. One of the reasons we like staying at the Pop Century has been for the great bus service.

 

[MidgeD79]

There's no such thing as bad timing if you're waiting more than 45 minutes for a bus. That's bad service!

 

[pampam]

Perhaps someone on the transportation board can answer.

 

[bear_mom]

I think it is all in the timing. On one of our previous trips we had great bus service, waited less than 10 min most of the time. We did wait a little longer after the night shows. When we got back I read where another diser posted how horrible their bus service was, similar to the OP.

We were there the exact same dates.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I was there a couple weeks ago, Pop had the LONGEST line out of all the resorts (this was from MK). Pop lines were a NIGHTMARE. I understand why, but its still frustrating! There were insane! It was so bad that on my last night there, I walked over to CR and took a taxi. I was so fed up. To be fair though, they did send one bus after the other for pop. They were REALLY good about that. It just frustrates me to see Pop having the longest lines all the time. Thats all.

 

[mom2rtk]

I was there a couple weeks ago, Pop had the LONGEST line out of all the resorts (this was from MK). Pop lines were a NIGHTMARE. I understand why, but its still frustrating! There were insane! It was so bad that on my last night there, I walked over to CR and took a taxi. I was so fed up. To be fair though, they did send one bus after the other for pop. They were REALLY good about that. It just frustrates me to see Pop having the longest lines all the time. Thats all.

Pop Century is a massive resort. I have always seen long lines for them, but they have always moved quickly.

OP's experience sounds very disappointing though. We have stayed at the Pop Century many times through the years and never experienced anything like that.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Pop Century is a massive resort. I have always seen long lines for them, but they have always moved quickly.

OP's experience sounds very disappointing though. We have stayed at the Pop Century many times through the years and never experienced anything like that.

Yes, its a huge resort. This is our home resort and have stayed here many times, so I know what to expect and am not surprised. Its still frustrating for me though!

Only once in all my stays have I had to wait about 40 min for a bus to MK. It was for an 8am ADR at CP. Since then, I always take a cab for early ADRs. The OP situation is different and much worse though....its unfortunate. Not sure what I would've done in that situation.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, its a huge resort. This is our home resort and have stayed here many times, so I know what to expect and am not surprised. Its still frustrating for me though!

Only once in all my stays have I had to wait about 40 min for a bus to MK. It was for an 8am ADR at CP. Since then, I always take a cab for early ADRs. The OP situation is different and much worse though....its unfortunate. Not sure what I would've done in that situation.

Waiting on a bus for an early ADR can be so stressful. Good call to take a taxi. I always budget a couple taxi rides, but usually end up not needing them. We have had great luck even for early ADRs, but I set a time limit in my head. If a bus doesn't arrive in 20 minutes, I grab a taxi. I almost never have to do it, but the plan makes me feel more in control of the situation.

 

[JennyDrake]

Bus service can be ANYTHING at ANY resort at ANY time.

There is no such thing as a resort with "good" service or "bad" service.

The only universal seems to be sluggish transportation to/from DTD, especially at night.

I agree that Pop's lines often seem longer than those of other resorts, especially at parks' closing times.

A 43 minute wait would have exhausted me after the end of a long day! I hope your next experience at Pop is better!

 

[I Love Pluto]

Pop is usually very good with their bus service. I am sorry you had to wait that long!

 

[bookgirl]

We were there the last wek of october and the pop buses were great.
I think its just bad timing. We were lucky all week it seemed a bus would show up just as we walked up to the line..
Just missed one bus going back to pop and a AOA bus pulled up so we took that and walked through AOA to get to pop.

On any givin day there could be a problen but pop does not share busses and has always had good transportation for me.

Bunk

I was there the same week as you and did not have great bus service, it was not a disaster but I've had much better service at other resorts. It is all in the timing sometimes or in the attitude of the bus driver. That's why you should never base a stay on 'bus service'.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Pop Century is the largest capacity resort on property, so it is certainly likely to have longer lines than the other resorts at times.

In my experience it is very rare to have to wait more than 30 minutes for a bus. That is certainly not normal at Pop Century (or pretty much anywhere else).

they've been using extra contracted buses for months.

 

[mom2rtk]

Bus service can be ANYTHING at ANY resort at ANY time.

There is no such thing as a resort with "good" service or "bad" service.

The only universal seems to be sluggish transportation to/from DTD, especially at night.

I agree that Pop's lines often seem longer than those of other resorts, especially at parks' closing times.

A 43 minute wait would have exhausted me after the end of a long day! I hope your next experience at Pop is better!

Some things can happen at any resort. But I like that Pop Century has one bus stop at the resort, so it never arrives already full. And I love that they don't share with another resort. I also love that there's an obvious line. I like the seating at other resort bus stops, but it makes line jumping more common.