POR bus service is scaring me

[Tomandtammy]

Ok I posted a while back and people told me that the bus service was good, then i read other reports that say the exact opposite. How many people rely on WDW transportation, and who uses their own car?
We plan on taking a afternoon break every day. what do you recommend?

 

[DisneyRocks!]

You need to realize that some people just aren't bus people, even if the bus only takes 5 minutes from point A to point B, they would still rather drive their car.

We have always used WDW transportation at every resort that we have been to in 6 trips, with very few problems worth speaking about.

We enjoy not needing to drive - we find it relaxing.

Just be realistic in your expectations, and allow some time to wait for the bus and for the bus to get to its destination. The bus stops are closer to the park entrances than the parking tram drop offs.

Relax and enjoy your trip!

 

[SouthernBaptist]

We had no problems with POR service last September. If the bus isn't there when some people show up at the stop, they can't understand there is a bus schedule and the don't just come on demand. Go and enjoy your trip and don't worry about buses.

 

[DeeDeeDis]

This most likely will not help you to decide, but we do both.

If we are staying at the Boardwalk area, we usually do not get a car. When we stay at OKW we like to have one available for use during the evening.

Getting to the parks or DTD by bus is no problem, imho, just sit back enjoy the ride and people watch. You may have to wait for a bus, but you are on vacation, relax, spend quality time your gang. I also think it is actually easier to get into and out of the parks (especially MK) by bus than taking your own car, And if your really in a hurry to leave the park, then hire a taxi that one time, its about 10.00.

Now a car is great if you want to visit other resorts or have dinner reservations at another resort. We stayed at Boardwalk in April and had reservations at Trails End Buffet one nite. had to take a bus to DTD, then bus to Wilderness Lodge, then another bus around the corner to Ft. Wilderness, took about an hour. So if you need to go from one resort to another it can be kindof a pain without your own transportation.

 

[TZMOM]

Bus service at WDW is nothing to be scared about. The only time we've had to wait for over 10-15 minutes is usually at a park at the end of the night when everybody & their mother (literally) is trying to leave - a mass exodus. Disney handles the bus service pretty well - don't worry - you'll have a wonderful vacation.

 

[Beachangel]

We never rent a car. W rely completely on Disney transportation. We've stayed a few times to POFQ and never had a problem with bus service - sure you make all those stops at POR but no big deal.

 

[aplejax76]

We were at POR last year in July. We NEVER had a problem with the buses. You will be fine. I hope I don't get flamed here but it seems that some people just don't like to wait for anything. They complain that they have to wait 10-15 mins. Although we never waited more than 5-7 mins last year. I still would not be upset if I had to wait 15. I don't understand what the big rush is you are on vacation!!!!!!!!!! Just my take on it though.

 

[Sandi]

We've stayed at POR several times and have always had good bus service. There was only one instance where the wait for an EPCOT bus was a good 45 minutes. It was first thing in the morning and there must have been a problem with dispatch. The CM at the POR main depot who was supposed to be checking just kept saying "it'll be here in 5 minutes." It was frustrating, but one bad experience out of hundreds of bus rides for us is not a big deal.

I love not having to drive. There will be times of the day when the bus situation is less than ideal -- e.g. after Illuminations -- but plan on it and respond accordingly.

 

[sue1013]

I agree WDW transportation is very good. We enjoy not having to drive for a week. I'm not in a rush on vacation so if I have to wait for a bus it's ok. We enjoy speaking to other guests or just relaxing for a few. But if you are the type that cannot stand to wait, must do everything immediately when you want then drive. As far as the stops around POR I don't think it takes more than 5 minutes to go to them all. Of course at park closings it's going to be packed that should be expected. No different than exiting after a concert or sporting event.

 

[disneysnowflake]

We didn't rent a car last Dec. We only used Disney busses. We stayed at POFQ.
The most we had to wait at the bus stop was maybe 10 or 15 minutes and that's because we just missed the bus we were supposed to depart on. No big deal.
We did have a major problem getting a bus to pick us up at AK one afternoon, but EVERYONE from every bus stop had to wait. Absolutely no busses ran for going on an hour. Then they all showed up in a row.
Even in the evening after the park closed and the lines were long at the bus stop we didn't wait very long.
All our bus drivers were very friendly, too.

 

[Cplofdisneynutz]

no need to worry, we've had great experiences...including having a bus to ourselves with 1 other couple....it was very enjoyable, the driver's have fun and make the trip pleasant!! Your at Disney......you are there to relax

 

[MinnieSummer]

I agree with deedeedis. We've been to WDW more than 60 times since 1999 and always use bus transportation. We've never really had a problem. There have been times that we have had to wait almost a 1/2 hour but those times have been very few and far between and usually caused by the bus letting off or loading a wheelchair -- hardly a big deal and necessary. The only time we use a car is when we eat dinner at one of the other hotels. Getting to them is very time consuming by bus -- it could feasibly take over an hour so in that instance we drive -- but with proper planning even that isn't an issue.

 

[gigi1313]

We were at POR last year in July. We NEVER had a problem with the buses. You will be fine. I hope I don't get flamed here but it seems that some people just don't like to wait for anything. They complain that they have to wait 10-15 mins. Although we never waited more than 5-7 mins last year. I still would not be upset if I had to wait 15. I don't understand what the big rush is you are on vacation!!!!!!!!!! Just my take on it though.

no flames here... and 10-15 minute waits do not faze me in the least, i'm rarely in that much of a hurry... 45 minute waits under the blazing august sun do make me nervous... thanks for the reassurance!

 

[freakylick]

I hope I don't get flamed here but it seems that some people just don't like to wait for anything. They complain that they have to wait 10-15 mins... I don't understand what the big rush is you are on vacation!!!!!!!!!!

Don't take this as a flame b/c that's not what this is intended to be...rather, just an explanation of the other side of the fence. There are a million and one things to wait for at Disney and I am paying a pretty penny for all of them, including the "free" transportation. I have a finite amount of time to do all of the things that I pay for. Because of that finite amount of time, I don't want to spend a chunk of it waiting for a bus. I understand that they have a lot of people to move and thus things do take time...but I don't want to spend my time waiting more than 10-15 minutes for a bus. If I find myself sitting at a bus stop for 15 minutes at a place like Disney, I find myself thinking of all the exciting things that I could have spend that 15 minutes doing. That being said, I fully admit that I am not a patient person and that is partially where I am coming from. But at the same time, if I want to "relax", I would not vacation at Disney. Like I said, that's just my personal feeling...if others like the relax time that they get a bus stop, that's great for them...It's just not me.

So..when I am staying at POR-R in October, I will probably test the busses the first day or two and if I feel that I am waiting too long, I will drive during the rest of my stay (much to the pleasure of the other POR-R guests )

 

[brentalex]

We never rent a car when we stay onsite, it is a part of vacation and I admit it was a few years ago when we stayed at POR. And it was a very busy time of year, April school vacation. But the waiting was not the worst part of the buses. The worst part was always being picked up after the bus stopped at POFQ and almost never getting a seat. We are a family of 4, at the time my kids were 10 and 7. We could not leave them sitting in a seat by themselves if we had to move to the back of the bus to stand and allow others to fit on the bus. Did not feel right to stand by a seat where they were and force others to squeeze by us to get to the back. So we all stood. it just seemed like there were times in the morning when a separate bus sent first to POR would not have been too much to ask. even though our room was closer to one of the outer stops, we always had to walk to the main stop in hopes that we would get a seat, or even get on the bus. The first few times, before we learned better, we waited at the north depot and watched the full bus go driving by. Maybe things have improved, hopefully they have, but I will never stay there again.

 

[WDWendy]

We had the worst time trying to decide whether or not to rent a car when we stay at POR. Finally, we have decided to start with Disney Transportation and if we find that we really don't like it, I am bringing coupons to rent a car at Disney. I have a feeling we will be fine without one, but it's good to have a backup plan in case for whatever reason we decide it is not for us.

We are also going to get cabs for going to the Richard Petty Driving Experience and Hoop-Dee-Doo.

Have a great trip!

 

[DebbieB]

I always rent a car. It's a personal choice, I just don't like busses. It's not so much the waiting but the fact that many times they are jammed full. You may have to stand or if you get a seat you may have someone standing practically on top of you. One time I had a kid throw up on my shoes. No thanks, I'll take the car. I can usually get a car for about $100 for the week using National Contract codes & an entertainment coupon.

 

[ciera321]

We were just at POR May 26 - June 3 and had no problems with buses. There was always at least standing room and usually we sat. Longest wait (one time) was 15 minutes, mostly 5 - 8 minutes...There will always be snags in the bus service at any of the resorts, it just happens. You'll be at Disney World, so don't be bothered by little issues...Just enjoy yourself!!!