Question about the buses from the Boardwalk

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Earlier today my family and I decided to extend our vacation at WDW this August, so after we check-out of the Contemporary we are then spending a few days at the Boardwalk. Anyway I was wondering for the buses that go to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom how often do they share with the Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan & Dolphin and what would be the order of getting picked up and dropped off?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Order of stops would vary, but those four resorts virtually NEVER have individual buses. If it's not one bus for four resorts, BW will share with either Dolphin/Swan or BC/YC. If speed is important, it would probably be advisable to either rent a car or plan on using taxis.

 

[DebbieB]

I've used the bus from Boardwalk to MK, it's Boardwalk-Swan-Dolphin. I always get a rental car and drive to AK and DTD. Boat or walk to Epcot or DHS.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank you both for your responses and we will have our own car because we are driving down from Toronto.

 

[Magicbus]

Earlier today my family and I decided to extend our vacation at WDW this August, so after we check-out of the Contemporary we are then spending a few days at the Boardwalk. Anyway I was wondering for the buses that go to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom how often do they share with the Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan & Dolphin and what would be the order of getting picked up and dropped off?

Wait a minute, hold on, this must be an imposter. Aren't you the one that responds to a lot of WDW transportation questions? And if I remember correctly, your accuracy percentage is very high.

 

[goofy4tink]

Wait a minute, hold on, this must be an imposter. Aren't you the one that responds to a lot of WDW transportation questions? And if I remember correctly, your accuracy percentage is very high.

He's pretty correct with all things CR, and that area. So, it's understandable that he would need info on Epcot resort buses.

If it were me, and I was going to have a car in any case, I would just drive to the parks. The buses really aren't all that horrific, and not so very different than the buses at the CR. But, midday, you may find buses to DTD, AK and MK will stop at all five resorts..and that can take a bit of time. Park opening and closing, BW buses will also stop at S/D. I have been on early buses that did not stop at either the S/D simply because they had already been there, and BW was the third and last stop. Doesn't happen often but it does happen. I always give a silent cheer when we zoom right past that right turn and head to MK!!!

 

[Magicbus]

He's pretty correct with all things CR, and that area. So, it's understandable that he would need info on Epcot resort buses.

I always give a silent cheer when we zoom right past that right turn and head to MK!!!

IC, so that's why the CR in his username?

Silent cheer, if it's me, I want to hear it. I'll know it's you.

 

[goofy4tink]

IC, so that's why the CR in his username?

Silent cheer, if it's me, I want to hear it. I'll know it's you.

Oh, terrific. So now, I have to find a front of the bus seat so as to not scare the bejeebers out of the other passengers, and start cheering when we don't turn right into the S/D area. Got it!!!

 

[Magicbus]

Oh, terrific. So now, I have to find a front of the bus seat so as to not scare the bejeebers out of the other passengers, and start cheering when we don't turn right into the S/D area. Got it!!!

Not a problem. With me driving, they'll already be scared.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

He's pretty correct with all things CR, and that area. So, it's understandable that he would need info on Epcot resort buses.

If it were me, and I was going to have a car in any case, I would just drive to the parks. The buses really aren't all that horrific, and not so very different than the buses at the CR. But, midday, you may find buses to DTD, AK and MK will stop at all five resorts..and that can take a bit of time. Park opening and closing, BW buses will also stop at S/D. I have been on early buses that did not stop at either the S/D simply because they had already been there, and BW was the third and last stop. Doesn't happen often but it does happen. I always give a silent cheer when we zoom right past that right turn and head to MK!!!

What about those who say it's still faster to take the buses to the Magic Kingdom since you are dropped off very close to the entrance gates, so you don't need to park at the TTC and then take the Express Monorail or the boat.

 

[skiingfast]

As PP points out, it is true driving to MK is almost always a waste because you have to transfer to the Monorail or ferry.

BTW the buses rarely share in the AM and PM going to parks. It's only during the midday that they combine and this is true for all resorts that are close to each other.

 

[joelkfla]

What about those who say it's still faster to take the buses to the Magic Kingdom since you are dropped off very close to the entrance gates, so you don't need to park at the TTC and then take the Express Monorail or the boat.

They're right!

Especially midday, when you can wait longer for a parking lot tram than for the bus.

When you're going to the MK, you only make 2 extra stops at the Swan & Dolphin.

Even coming back from AK, although it seems like forever, under normal conditions those 4 extra stops add only 12 minutes to your trip. (Now, BB is a whole 'nother problem.)

 

[goofy4tink]

What about those who say it's still faster to take the buses to the Magic Kingdom since you are dropped off very close to the entrance gates, so you don't need to park at the TTC and then take the Express Monorail or the boat.

Absolutely true. I suppose there can be times when it may be faster to drive the car...you walk right out to it, get in, drive right to TTC, get a close parking spot, or get on the waiting tram, and then the ferry is right there waiting as you walk up. But, the stars seldom align that perfectly!!!
Most people would rather take the bus to MK. Especially if that bus isn't going to make several stops along the way. Midday, the bus can stop at BW, then head to the S, then D, then drive around to the YC, finishing up at the BC and finally going to MK. Those extra stops add up timewise!!!

But the vast majority of the time, it is faster to take the bus to MK..especially at park opening.

 

[Janell]

We have stayed at Boardwalk twice, Nov 03 and May 08. The busses for MK and AK aren't bad. If you want a water park or DtD, those busses don't come as often as they should. We have waited up to an hour and half for a DtD/TL bus.

Both stays, Boardwalk was the last stop on the route. May time, buses were full. I would suggest going over to YC or BC for breakfast and get on the bus there. We did that once and we were the last to board the bus, it was full and never went to Boardwalk. The bus driver also never called it in to say he wasn't going to BW.

 

[Topper]

Thank you both for your responses and we will have our own car because we are driving down from Toronto.

Will you and your wife split up the driving? Do you have any
driver age children who can help? That is quite the haul!

 

[joelkfla]

We have waited up to an hour and half for a DtD/TL bus.

That should never, ever happen. Either something was very wrong, or people were not doing their job.

I would suggest going over to YC or BC for breakfast and get on the bus there. We did that once and we were the last to board the bus, it was full and never went to Boardwalk. The bus driver also never called it in to say he wasn't going to BW.

In the a.m., most theme park buses that stop at YC & BC are not supposed to stop at BW.

Midday, the bus can stop at BW, then head to the S, then D, then drive around to the YC, finishing up at the BC and finally going to MK.

Also should never happen. Either the bus has already been all the way around and BW is the last stop, or BW is the first stop and the bus stops only at Swan & Dolphin before proceeding to its destination.

 

[Janell]

That should never, ever happen. Either something was very wrong, or people were not doing their job.

I agree. I would have thought it was a one time thing, but the wait for an hour and half was in May 2008 and the trip before that we waited for the same bus (DtD/TL) the wait was 45 min in Nov 2003.

We keep calling on the phone at the bus stop each trip and it still took that long. We will no longer stay at Boardwalk due to this.

What is really sad is in May 09 we stayed at Pop, we never waited more then 10 min for a bus to any of the parks. What a difference. lol BW, we paid $300-500 a night, Pop $82-92. Just shows you the cost of the room doesn't guarantee you better buses.

 

[goofy4tink]

That should never, ever happen. Either something was very wrong, or people were not doing their job.


In the a.m., most theme park buses that stop at YC & BC are not supposed to stop at BW.


Also should never happen. Either the bus has already been all the way around and BW is the last stop, or BW is the first stop and the bus stops only at Swan & Dolphin before proceeding to its destination.

I know that in the morning, park opening hours, the bus from BW stops pretty much only at BW, S/D. BUT....I can't tell you how many times I have been on the bus, midday, trying to get to MK or AK, and that bus has stopped at YC/BC as well. There is a reason that I get excited when we don't make the right turn to the S/D in the morning when headed to MK....it just doesn't happen too often. I do realize that the bus has already been to the S/D..hence the people already on the bus when we got on at BW!

 

[Hoopfamily]

We stayed at the Boardwalk a few years ago, and my big problem with them is that you shared a bus with the other resorts. Ridiculous I say. It was convenient to walk to EPCOT though. But don't even get me started on the friendship water taxis.

 

[goofy4tink]

I own DVC at both BWV and BLT. I stay primarily at BWV though. So, I figure I'm pretty conversant when it comes to the buses. Are they perfect? No. But, other than POP, the buses at all resorts are imperfect. And even then, there are those who feel that they have to wait too long for POP buses to come along.

All resort buses, except for POP, make addtl stops before heading to a park. Now, your particular bus may be the last stop on the route. But, that also means your bus will also make stops on the return trip.

It gets tiring hearing that the Epcot resort buses are awful. They aren't. CBR buses make about 4 stops within the resort, POR has about 4, same with CSR. Staying at WL?? Your bus is going to make addtl stops. Same with the Polynesian, CR and GF. AKL buses make two stops...Jambo and Kidani.
So, BW buses making stops at the Swan and then the Dolphin aren't so bad.

I'm not sure what people's expectations are. I know that when I've stayed at POR, I hated getting on at the first stop, and then having to make at least 3 other stops along the way, before heading to FQ if that was to be included in the route that day. Drove me nuts. I guess that those who pay deluxe resort rates feel that they should have better bus service. Sure, it would be nice, but it isn't going to happen any time soon.