POR Bus Stops

[Kirby]

I've read both good and bad reports on the bus stops at POR and that they pick up at POFQ first. We are staying at the POR over Thanksgiving week and was wondering which bus stop would be the best to wait at. We wouldn't mind walking a little to have a better chance to get on a bus. I'm assuming that the bus stop nearest the food court will be the busiest.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

We stayed at the POR in May 2002 and I don't remember any problems with the bus. We went to the main bus stop near the lobby. The buses were ok from there.

Good luck & enjoy!

 

[Luv2Roam]

See what Imean about two guests -- same resort, different versions.
We also were at POR May (end of May) and the bus servoce was the pits. And it's not like we are impatient and think a bus should be there to wisk us away. The bus service was just terrible, from our experience.
Maybe it was bad timing. But timing EACH time, all week long?
We were in the mansions section, with a bus stop right behind where we stayed. We always used the bus stop at the front because the bus service was so bad. We figured we would never get picked up back there, judging by how bad it was up front. We didn't want to risk it. Maybe it would have been better behind the mansions.
However, I know often the buses didn't even go to any other stops because it was so crammed with people from the main stop. (With still just as many, if not more, left behind.)

 

[marn913]

I stayed at POR in 2000. We did not have any problems with the bus. However, we did prefer to take the boat to Market Place instead. Then we could get a bite to eat and catch the bus there!

 

[n2mm]

We stayed there just last month. We don't use the buses much, but only used them to go to MK. I have to admit that I've had bad experiences with the buses at POR before, but on this trip, things were quite different. We usually drove to the main stop and parked our car (so that the mugs were there when we returned). We never had to wait but a minute or two on the several occassions we went to MK and coming home the bus was there within minutes. Actually a bus pulled out while walking to the stop. But by the time we got there, another one arrived shortly after. There seemed to be no logic on the route. One time we went to the main stop first, then the next trip we went around the resort, then to the main stop. Never did the MK bus go to the FQ, even though we came back mid-day. Buses were coming and going non stop. So maybe things are better...Still will drive to the other parks, but getting to MK this way was perfect.

 

[Luv2Roam]

n2mm
It obviously changed due to the letter I wrote POR and park operations management!
Glad others fared better than us.

 

[Hawk]

Here's my two cents - I have been there many times (see signature below) and will be there again in a few weeks. If you want to use the buses get to the bus stops (depots) early in the morning (7am-7:30 am), mid afternoon (2pm-3pm), or mid evening around 7pm.

Be smart and don't act like a first timer. They get to the bus stops at the peak times; right after breakfast, after lunch, and after dinner. They all expect to walk right on a bus with nobody else on it. They cut in line and push out those who have been waiting. However, you are now educated and will have no problems.

For the way home; on the nights you see a show or fireworks- take your time and enjoy the solitude of the parks while the rookies run to the bus and wait in line. On the nights you don't see a show or fireworks - leave early and beat the crowd.

The bus system works the same way EVERY DAY! You need to be able to work the bus system YOUR WAY and not the rookie way. Plan your day and evenings. Know where the bus stops first. The posts are right - POFC is first - POR is second. The main depot by check-in is the first stop. If you are going during peak time - get to that depot; for other times use your nearest depot. On the way home from downtown, PI or West End the downtown stop is the first stop so if possible get there to board for the ride home.

Just a few tips. By the way, when we went to FW we drove. It was great having a vehicle. This time, we are flying and back to the bus system. Its a little more burdensome - but it works if you know how to work it.

Tim.

 

[randbmom]

Kirby, it sound like we'll be at POR at the same time. We are going 11/23-11/30. How about you?

 

[Kirby]

We check in on the 24th and leave on the 30th. I've requested AB, how about you?

Thanks for all the info.

 

[randbmom]

I've requested Parterre Place in the Mansions. Going with my whole family, and my Dad can't get around well anymore. AB too much of a chance of a long walk.
Maybe we'll see you around. I'll be wearing a good ole lime green ribbon!

 

[Goofyish]

We were at POR in October last year and had no problems getting on any busses from the main bus deepo. The busses did pick up and drop off at POFQ first and then headed to the main deepo at POR and then round the circle to the other POR stops.

The only problem we found was getting back to POR from the parks after an evening parade etc. (Fantasmic, Epcot Illuminations and Spectromagic etc.). The lines for the POR/POFQ busses were very long.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Okay... this is how the bus system works for Port Orleans...

In the morning we use MOD... Magic On Demand... busses are "staged" in one of the PO parking lots. From that location, they are dispatched to the various stops, to go to the various parks. Typically, they'll dispatch one bus to FQ, one bus to Riverside South Depot, and another bus to the West, North, and East depots.

When a bus fills up before completing all thier stops, the bus driver will radio the dispatcher, and inform them. Then, the next bus will be dispatched accordingly.

(By the way... this is pretty much how it works for other busy areas as well... All Stars, CBR... etc)

At about 11am, most of the hubs revert back to Standard Routes. All parks except MK combine FQ and Riverside. MK is the only one to split them into seperate busses. Busses will typically run every 15 minutes, and will go to FQ, South, West, North, East. If a bus happens to fill up, the next bus will go FQ, West, North East, then South.

Currently, at the MK (And soon at all the other locations) we are using a new form of dispatching. Formerly, from 11am-park close, we'd use standard routes, with pre-set dispatch times. If a bus returned early to the MK, they'd sit and wait in the load zone until it was time to leave. The problem with this system is that sometimes one bus would be early... and then the next bus would be late... causing a 30 min gap... not good. Our new system is called "Flex Dispatch." Basically, all the dispatch times have been put onto one sheet of paper. As a bus enters the load zones, they get dispatched to the next resort on the list. This way, the busses will remain on time. If a bus goes down, or is late, it doesnt impact service. We actually found that 75% of the busses return 5-10 mins earlier. By utilizing this time, we're now able to provide better service than before.

At night time, during the park's mass exit... we will float. Busses will be coming into the park one right after another... and they get dispatched on point to the load zones based on demand. For heavy areas, we will even put two busses in at once. Yes, the line looks incredibly long, but we can move people quickly.

 

[snowmouse]

Wow, Tyler thanks for the great info. It sounds like the new system you described on board at MK will really improve the frustations that I've read so much about. How soon will this be implemented at the other parks? I'm hoping before the end of October!!

 

[hopskip]

Thanks for the info Tyler! We'll be at POR in Nov. and I'm glad we don't need to be concerned about the bus system. Very informative post!

 

[Hawk]

Tyler - EXCELLENT!

Thanks.

Tim

 

[jaguar9748]

Just back from POR tonight. Saw the MOD that Tyler referred to. We always catch the morning bus at the South Depot because of the crowds. Twice when we got on at the South Depot, the bus was full and did not go to the other 3 POR stops. Both times, I saw buses dispatched from those waiting (in the POFQ parking lot) to go to the other depots.

We had great bus service. The only time the bus was delayed was between POR and MGM when there was a bad accident that caused a Disney traffic jam. Never saw that before.