Q re: on-site resorts guests with young children and no car

[metivier]

Question for on-site resort guests with young children and no rental car:

I read here often that if you do not want to take a bus that you can always call a taxi -- say, from a resort to DTD. However, taxis do not have car seats for young children. Is there another option for inside the World transportation for those that do not want to take the bus and do not have a rental car? For example, are there private car services that will pick up a family with young children and have car seats to transport from a resort to DTD or to AK?

Thanks in advance!
Karen

 

[goofy4tink]

Sure but it isn't going to be cheap. Could you just bring a carseat with you and use it in the cab? If you are thinking of using a car service you might just be better off renting a car and getting a car seat with it.
Is there a reason you don't want to use the buses? They are incredibly safe.

 

[metivier]

I am concerned about the length of time to wait for and ride the busses between our resort (the Poly) and DTD as well as AK. My DD is 4 so would only need a seat belt but my DS is 2 and therefore would need a car seat in a taxi.

I read about 45 minute wait times for busses from DTD to go back to the Poly, and that would be fine with just DH and I, but with the kids, that could be "trouble"!

 

[Disney_1derland]

I am concerned about the length of time to wait for and ride the busses between our resort (the Poly) and DTD as well as AK. My DD is 4 so would only need a seat belt but my DS is 2 and therefore would need a car seat in a taxi.

I read about 45 minute wait times for busses from DTD to go back to the Poly, and that would be fine with just DH and I, but with the kids, that could be "trouble"!

I will be the first to say that it's difficult at best to get to DTD but 45 minutes??? I've NEVER waited that long at WDW for a bus to/from anywhere. The longest we've ever waited was 25 minutes and that was near closing when the busses were just nuts and the line was long and we had seen 4 busses in that amount of time. The bus system isn't perfect but it's about as close as you can get with that large quantity of people using it. DTD is a bit of a pain because the bus stops are at one end or the other and nowhere in between. But, I've never waited longer than 20 minutes for a bus there, usually no more than 15.

Our kids were 4/2 on the last trip and it was never a problem. We bring snacks and small toys to occupy them with and they are fine.

 

[metivier]

I will be the first to say that it's difficult at best to get to DTD but 45 minutes??? I've NEVER waited that long at WDW for a bus to/from anywhere.


But, I've never waited longer than 20 minutes for a bus there, usually no more than 15.

This is SO GREAT to hear! I have absolutely no experience with taking the busses to/from DTD because the last time we went we rented a car and parked at DTD. This time we are using ME and DD is very excited about riding "the princesses' bus" (who knew??? ) but I read such bad things about the busses at DTD that I figured we would have to come up with an alternate plan. She just learned about the My Little Pony setup at the toy store and she is so excited to spend "her money" at DTD for her own "special pony".

Thanks so much for the reassurance!!!

 

[Disney_1derland]

This is SO GREAT to hear! I have absolutely no experience with taking the busses to/from DTD because the last time we went we rented a car and parked at DTD. This time we are using ME and DD is very excited about riding "the princesses' bus" (who knew??? ) but I read such bad things about the busses at DTD that I figured we would have to come up with an alternate plan. She just learned about the My Little Pony setup at the toy store and she is so excited to spend "her money" at DTD for her own "special pony".

Thanks so much for the reassurance!!!

Just to let you know that they have the ponies other places than just DTD. I travelled all the way down there only to find them numerous places in the following days! The store in Toontown had them too, that I know for sure, saw them a couple other places but can't think of where right off hand. The busses are such a nice break from driving, it's one of our favorite parts of the trip, when you get home and haven't driven in a week, it's really weird to get back in a car!

If you are early risers, catch the bus early so you don't hit the morning crowds. If you are the stay up late type take your time leaving parks around closing because chances are the lines for transportation will be really packed for a while and it's much more fun for the kids to run lose in a mostly empty park than it is for them to wait at the bus stop. But, having been 4 times this year we have never waited more than 25 minutes. From the Poly your bus ride to AK should be about 15 minutes. And, the busses are fairly entertaining, lots to look at it keeps the kids entertained! Have a great time

 

[GEM]

Well, I am a big fan of the Disney busses - even with a baby in tow! We've never had any problems with the busses, and we've stayed just about everywhere.

However, if you want to use a taxi, they do have them with carseats. We've used them several times for various things. If you are catching the taxi at your resort, just ask the valet to call for one with a carseat. If you pick up a taxi at Downtown Disney or a park, just go to the first taxi you see and say that you want one with a carseat. They will get you one there ASAP. Usually it's the van taxi's that have the carseats available.

 

[metivier]

Just to let you know that they have the ponies other places than just DTD. I travelled all the way down there only to find them numerous places in the following days! The store in Toontown had them too, that I know for sure, saw them a couple other places but can't think of where right off hand.

REALLY???? WOW!!! We will have to keep our eyes open! DD has been rattling off a list of her friends at preschool that she has to get "special ponies" for. Now I can tell her we can look in lots of places.

Thank you for the tip about the ponies and about riding the busses. We tend to be early risers (well -- DD and DS help that happen!) so we'll catch the bus early to head to DTD and AK.

Thanks for the great help!
Karen

 

[metivier]

However, if you want to use a taxi, they do have them with carseats. We've used them several times for various things. If you are catching the taxi at your resort, just ask the valet to call for one with a carseat. If you pick up a taxi at Downtown Disney or a park, just go to the first taxi you see and say that you want one with a carseat. They will get you one there ASAP. Usually it's the van taxi's that have the carseats available.

WOW! I had no idea!!! Thanks for the great info! I think we'll stick with the busses if we can (now that I learned so much here!) but now we also have a great "plan B" for the taxis.

Thanks so much for your post!

 

[goofy4tink]

I also have to say that while I've had longer waits at DTD than at the other 'parks' the waits haven't been awful. No more than 25 mins. I would say. If you can get to DTD early in the day, then leave early afternoon, you should be fine.
The other thing that might be fun to do, if you have the time, is take the boat from DTD to POR. It's a nice, relaxing trip and the kids seem to really enjoy it. Then you can take a bus to one of the parks and either go to that park or change buses and go back to your resort.

 

[cruiseonmagic]

I've found that some guests forget how to read a watch when they get to WDW. I spoke with a guest one day as I walked onto the dock to get my boat. He said he had been waiting at least 45 minutes for the boat! He went on to complain about all of the transportation. In the middle of his rant, I broke in to restate his complaint about waiting 45 min. He once again said in a louder voice YES 45MIN. In a calm manner, I pointed to one of the cruisers going through the water bridge channel, and another one that had just turned out of the dock area, and asked "Sir, why didn't you just get on one of those when they were here?" OOPS---Busted! He started laughing when I told him "admit it--you just got here late. Your wife is waiting for you, and you want to blame somebody...anybody" Everyone got a kick out of that!

When we got to FW, his wife was on the dock waiting. I made an announcement over the loudspeaker that ****was actually on time for the boat, the boat was the slowest one there, we were attacked by pirates, etc. I made a quick call to the restaurant to say that they were on the way and everything was good once again.

Wait 45 min? Nope.