Question about the buses from the Boardwalk

[joelkfla]

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!

Well, in the 3 years I've been driving buses, I have never heard of a bus that was stopping at all 5 EC Resorts, starting at BW and finishing at YC/BC. It just doesn't make sense if you look at how the resorts are arranged.

BUT -- maybe there's some crazy route in the system that I've never seen. Over the past couple of years, as they've tried to get this automated system running, some of the routes they've come up with, I would never have expected. Or maybe it was done that way before I started.

The other possibility is that a bus starting at the Swan filled up at BC, or was too full at BW to take on a wheelchair. Then an on-the-ball coordinator might tell the next bus to start at BW to make sure that those guests were taken care of. We do that frequently at the All-Stars, but I can't recall it happening at the EC Resorts. And it would be rare, especially midday.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, in the 3 years I've been driving buses, I have never heard of a bus that was stopping at all 5 EC Resorts, starting at BW and finishing at YC/BC. It just doesn't make sense if you look at how the resorts are arranged.

BUT -- maybe there's some crazy route in the system that I've never seen. Over the past couple of years, as they've tried to get this automated system running, some of the routes they've come up with, I would never have expected. Or maybe it was done that way before I started.

The other possibility is that a bus starting at the Swan filled up at BC, or was too full at BW to take on a wheelchair. Then an on-the-ball coordinator might tell the next bus to start at BW to make sure that those guests were taken care of. We do that frequently at the All-Stars, but I can't recall it happening at the EC Resorts. And it would be rare, especially midday.

I can only go by my own experiences. Last Dec, while at BW, I was on buses that also stopped at YC/BC...midday hours. Same thing last August..on more than one occasion. I know, for a fact, that while at the Dolphin, we also stopped at the YC/BC. Same thing once we moved over to BWV a few days later.
I always worry that the bus drivers aren't going to make that turn into the YC/BC area...can't remember which one it is though....but one of those turns is nasty. I've had more than one driver have to stop and backup a bit in order to get into that area.

I know it's not an across the board type situation, but it does happen to me at least once a stay..and usually more than that. Not sure why. Maybe the drivers know they have a Transportation moderator onboard and want to give me a tour.....

 

[TammyC]

We've stayed Swan a few times and Dolphin once. Usually the route has been Swan, Dolphin, then Boardwalk. On our first Swan stay, I remember the bus also going to Yacht/Beach on occasion.

I vote for car to AK and bus to MK.

T

 

[Magicbus]

Goofy4tink, you've done it again. DTD bus stop #2, and AK #3 includes all 5 Epcot Resorts pretty much all day long. Even MK does it sometimes in the AM when things slow down a little. There is no bus stop at MK that says Epcot Resorts, it's a special route, but the other two locations are designated Epcot Resorts only.

 

[cranbiz]

I can say that I have done the Epcot 5 backwards several times. This was usually due to the last few buses being full by the time they hit YC/BC.

Only in the morning have I done a route that started at BW and finished at YC/BC. It doesn't make sense. However, in the mornings between 6:30 to about 11am be prepared for anything, including buses to Epcot and Studios.

Other than MK, you will not normally have a bus start at BW unless it is a situation that I described above (or like Joekfl a mentioned)

As a rule other than during morning rush,
MK buses do BW,SW,DO and another bus does YC/BC
AK and DTD buses do SW,DO,YC,BC,BW

 

[cranbiz]

I always worry that the bus drivers aren't going to make that turn into the YC/BC area...can't remember which one it is though....but one of those turns is nasty. I've had more than one driver have to stop and backup a bit in order to get into that area.

Yeah, that will be the turn into the YC auxiliary gate. Its tight and if not lined up correctly, is a real PITA. (gotta be a new driver)

 

[goofy4tink]

Yeah, that will be the turn into the YC auxiliary gate. Its tight and if not lined up correctly, is a real PITA. (gotta be a new driver)

Oh man....I seem to get a ton of new drivers. Are you guys sending them over to me just to make me nuts???? I thought it was YC, but wasn't sure.

But you're right....there are some drivers who get there, look at it, back up, turn a bit, and then drive through. But there are other drivers who make you feel like you're on a track....they drive up, slow down a bit, and then right on through. Man, they're good!!

 

[Magicbus]

Oh man....I seem to get a ton of new drivers. Are you guys sending them over to me just to make me nuts???? I thought it was YC, but wasn't sure.

But you're right....there are some drivers who get there, look at it, back up, turn a bit, and then drive through. But there are other drivers who make you feel like you're on a track....they drive up, slow down a bit, and then right on through. Man, they're good!!

We've all gotten together and came up with a plan to drive you nuts so that you won't put us in our place. Just kidding, speaking for myself, Im impressed by your knowledge of the WDW bus system.

What, you're supposed to slow down at that YC turn? I just stop and wait for the gates to go up and ram right through there. I hardly ever hit the posts.

Seriously though, I didn't think that turn was tight. But now that you've jinxed it, I'll probably have a hard time with it. In my opinion some of the OKW turns are tighter. But I guess it's like pizza, very subjective.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

However, in the mornings between 6:30 to about 11am be prepared for anything, including buses to Epcot and Studios.

So are you saying there are always buses to those parks during the times you mentioned or is it only on specific days?

 

[goofy4tink]

So are you saying there are always buses to those parks during the times you mentioned or is it only on specific days?

There are never buses between BW and Epcot or DHS. Now, if there were to be a boat issue that shut down the boats, well perhaps they would run buses, but you can still walk to both parks.
That would be like saying there are buses to MK at CR, Polynesian and GF.

 

[cranbiz]

There are never buses between BW and Epcot or DHS. Now, if there were to be a boat issue that shut down the boats, well perhaps they would run buses, but you can still walk to both parks.
That would be like saying there are buses to MK at CR, Polynesian and GF.

Correct as usual. You will see those buses (Studios and Epcot) when the boats are down. My statement was a preemtive strike attempt to those who will say "well I rode a bus to Studios from YC" It's not normal but does occur from time to time.

Diane, I'll stop sending you new drivers when you bring me Clam Chowder!

 

[RedSonya]

We will be staying at BWV the end of July. One day we will be going to TL. We are ok with multiple stops and the waits, but to help us with our expectations, how long should we anticipate waiting for a bus, and approximately how long does it take to get to and from BWV to TL?

TIA

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

There are never buses between BW and Epcot or DHS. Now, if there were to be a boat issue that shut down the boats, well perhaps they would run buses, but you can still walk to both parks.
That would be like saying there are buses to MK at CR, Polynesian and GF.

Thank you for letting me know that.

 

[goofy4tink]

Correct as usual. You will see those buses (Studios and Epcot) when the boats are down. My statement was a preemtive strike attempt to those who will say "well I rode a bus to Studios from YC" It's not normal but does occur from time to time.

Diane, I'll stop sending you new drivers when you bring me Clam Chowder!

Hmmm, where to buy some good chowdah. I'd have to freeze it, then wrap it up really well. Any place special you want it from???

We will be staying at BWV the end of July. One day we will be going to TL. We are ok with multiple stops and the waits, but to help us with our expectations, how long should we anticipate waiting for a bus, and approximately how long does it take to get to and from BWV to TL?

TIA

I usually allow an hour to get to the waterparks. I'm just not that sure of exact times since I don't head over there too often.

Thank you for letting me know that.

No problem.