Port Orleans Riverside Buses

[fleeflicker]

I have heard the the bus service at riverside is a awful. I was wondering if this is true or just rumor? Thanks

 

[OThopeful35]

They were just fine when we were there last August, and we never waited long for the busses. The only time we had a problem was on the way back to the resort from MK one night, but it looked like ALL the resorts were having problems on that night.

 

[tink20]

We went in June 2008, the buses weren't awful, but they weren't great either. Everytime a bus got to us, it was already packed, we stood most of the time going to the park in the am. Rides back to the resort from the park, were better.

 

[fleeflicker]

Would you base it about the same as cbr or different? I have a three year old and I want to stay somewhere where the bus will be ok for him, but I love the por theming

 

[rentayenta]

The lines for the POR/POFQ were by far the longest at each park near the end of the night.

 

[dalt01]

its a big resort so there are more people.......there is a bottleneck at the end of the nite for the return, this is from all the parks.....it is unavoidable.........they will dedicate more busses when this happens....same for all stars.........resorts with more than one choice, boat...monorail... do not have these problems. that can be more offputting than anything............twenty people waiting for WL bus and three of them come while you are dragging your but through a bus line with 300 people in it.......but.....DO NOT avoid this resort because of that...it is what it is and the plusses of this wonderful resort far outweigh the minuses. trust me on that....................

 

[fleeflicker]

Thanks for your input, we visited last july and fell in love with it, the bus story is was scared me.

 

[minnie mum]

Opinions about resort buses are kind of like opinions about resorts, restaurants or just about anything else. You will get a lot of really positives, and a lot of really negatives.

We've stayed at POR several times, always used the buses and never had a problem. But hey- we're just glad to be there.

Some people have a problem if they have to wait more than 10 minutes or have to stand while on the bus. Others have no problem with this. I'm not saying that problems don't sometimes arrise. Just that they aren't an everyday occurrance.

I guess what I'm trying to say is: you just have to check it out for yourself once you get there.

 

[jbuey22]

The disney bus service has its benefits and its flaws. Most people that visit regularly, have had some problems with the busses. You very rarely see a post about the buses that is positive. But I am mostly happy with the bus service over the last 6 visits. I have been traveling with an ecv too, so I have had my issues waiting for buses. The Port Orleans resorts are our favorite, and have never really had a problem. The one problem I did have was at DTD and waiting for a POR bus. It took about 25 minutes for one bus to show and when it did it was aleady mostly loaded and there was no room for another ecv. So I had to wait another 20 minutes. But I am a very patient person, the only reason why this was a pain is because it was during a major down pour. The waiting area for POR at DTD did not have a roof, so I went down to the front where there was a roof and dry waiting area. The problem being that if they do not see people waiting for a bus,(via the camera system) they do not send a bus. That is the reason for the long waits. So that was the only problem we had and it was all justafiable.
I would not worry about the buses, people complain about most resorts and the bus stops. Like I said you never hear a post about the positive things

 

[danceintherain]

Opinions about resort buses are kind of like opinions about resorts, restaurants or just about anything else. You will get a lot of really positives, and a lot of really negatives.

We've stayed at POR several times, always used the buses and never had a problem. But hey- we're just glad to be there.

Some people have a problem if they have to wait more than 10 minutes or have to stand while on the bus. Others have no problem with this. I'm not saying that problems don't sometimes arrise. Just that they aren't an everyday occurrance.

I guess what I'm trying to say is: you just have to check it out for yourself once you get there.

If you looked hard enough, you would be able to find a negative review about the buses at every resort on the property. If you fell in love with POR, then stay there. You might have a good experience with the buses, or a bad experience there's no way to predict that before your trip.

I've found that, when I've stayed on the property, there's usually a "bad" bus. Every time I want to go to that park, or come back from it, I end up waiting. When I stayed at AKL it was the DHS bus. Every other day the DHS bus arrived promptly, but the day I wanted to go there we sat forever. When I stayed at CBR, it was the Magic Kingdom bus (I think...maybe it was Epcot?) It probably has less to do with the actual buses than it does with my timing.

I like the buses at Disney. It means I don't have to drive. I hate driving.

 

[ancestry]

We are planning on staying at POR for the first time this December. DH and I just stayed at CSR earlier this month, our first stay at a moderate in over 10 years. While the buses at CSR were actually really good, we did come to the conclusion that when staying at any of the mods with the kids we would plan to rent a car.

 

[creativeamanda]

Park closing time is the only time there has ever been a problem with POR and buses. The whole thing is what is is--unavoidable. The best way, imo, to combat that is location in the resort. Don't get the preferred rooms--it's the last drop off in the night and that's what can be miserable. I prefer a building near the (I believe) West Depot. Close enough to walk to the main building and be there in the morning. First drop off at night.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you looked hard enough, you would be able to find a negative review about the buses at every resort on the property. If you fell in love with POR, then stay there. You might have a good experience with the buses, or a bad experience there's no way to predict that before your trip.

Exactly!!!!!

Never pick a resort thinking that you will have better bus service than at another resort. Because the way things go, that is when the resort that has supposedly better service will have some big bus snafu. Stay at the resort that appeals to you.

 

[OKW Lover]

Bus service at POR is no worse than any of the other resorts. It all depends on how lucky you are to get to the bus stop just as the next bus arrives. Service to all resorts is on the same schedule so none of the resorts have an advantage as to frequency.

 

[anorman]

Don't get the preferred rooms--it's the last drop off in the night and that's what can be miserable. I prefer a building near the (I believe) West Depot. Close enough to walk to the main building and be there in the morning. First drop off at night.

I was wondering about this........
In the mornings, if I want to be where the buses do their first pick-up at POR, would that be at the main bus stop? I don't mind standing but I would really hate not being able to fit on the bus at all and have to wait for the next one.

Alternatively, in the evenings, where do they usually do the first drop off? Is it the bus stop behind the Mansions?

 

[KatieCollette]

We never had a problem with POR buses. We got to sit down most of the time. I think the only time we had to wait in line for the next bus was at the end of the day at MK, right after wishes. The only warning that I have is to take note of which bus stop you have to get off on, because with 4 stops you can sometimes get off at the wrong one when it's late at night and your tired. And then you can look forward to a nice long walk through the resort to get where you are really supposed to go. Not that I know from experiance or anything

 

[nkereina]

Didn't read the whole thread but I'd say that's a matter of opinion. I always stay at POR and never found it to be bad. There's always a bus depot nearby to where you are in the resort, and I've never had to wait an exceedingly long amount of time. I have heard that AKL bus service is bad since it's "out of the way" but I wouldn't rule it out to stay at until I tried it myself. Also - I think the time of year you're there plays into this, based on occupancy levels of the hotels.

 

[dandydad12]

I have heard the the bus service at riverside is a awful. I was wondering if this is true or just rumor? Thanks

Lets keep this all in prespective .
1) If you leave early in the morning get to the bus stop a little earlier or you
could wait until the crowd has cleared .
2) The same holds for the evening return most people rush out of the parks to catch the bus , I did this with the kids for years , it finally dawned on me to take or time exiting the parks and this way you do not get on one of the busses that is packed .

As others have said all of the resorts have there transportation issues .
I have stayed at POR 12 times through the years and was never put off with the transportation just learned to be a little more patient . Have a wonderful vacation .

 

[fleeflicker]

Thanks everyone for your wonderful replies. I got the much needed feed back I needed. I work in a grocery store and it sounds to me like the bus system is like the checkout counter. Hit or miss, or a stroke of luck. People can stand at the meat counter and talk 45 minutes but just as soon as they hit the checkout stand, they want to get checked out immediately

 

[Okh]

We were there 5/4-11 and for the most part the service was outstanding when it wasn't really good. Then again, we're New Yorkers and used to awful commutes