Shuttle service at offsite hotels

[Gagebre]

I was thinking of changing my onsite reservation to an offisite hotel (to save money) but I haven't been able to find any hotels with a shuttle that runs in the middle of the day. With young kids it would be wonderful to be able to go back to the hotel during the day and return in the evening. Does anyone know of any places that offer this?

 

[Babblin'Boo]

Based on my experience, I'd do my best to change your mind.

I stayed at the Nikki Bird (HJ's) years ago, and it was my last time offsite. The "free transportation" is unpredictable. The buses are nothing like Disney's, they are hot, Laidlaw school buses. You could be ready to go to the parks at 9:00 AM, but your bus comes at least an hour later or so. They run on a schedule, not constantly and on top of it all, they are always at least 30-40 minutes late. Likewise, you could be tired at 3:00 PM and wish to return to your room for a break but your bus does not return until 6:00 PM or so. They leave you far from the gates and at pick up time... good luck! You'll have herds struggling to get in.

By the time you get to get in a bus you'll probably have to travel standing up, as they stop at several resorts to pick up more people and chances are thaat your resort will not be the first stop. It was just not worth the aggravation.

 

[MERVXTC]

WE STAYED AT THE COMFORT SUITES RESORT MAINGATE EAST, NEXT TO OLD TOWN. THE PLACE IS VERY NICE. BRAND NEW RESORT BUILT IN 2001.

THE SHUTTLE SERVICE WAS VERY NICE AND EFFICIENT AND VERY MUCH ON TIME. IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY SAY 8AM SHARP. YOU BETTER BE OUT FRONT WAITING. I MISSED THE SHUTTLE ONCE MESSING AROUND WITH MY KIDS.

I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER EXACTLY SINCE THIS WAS LAST AUGUST. THERE WERE 3 PICKUPS IN THE MORNING AND 3 IN THE EVENING FOR DISNEY, UNIVERSAL AND SEAWORLD. BUSES LEFT AROUND 7, 8 AND LAST ONE IN THE MORNING AROUND 11.

THESE BUSES WERE BRAND NEW, CLEAN BIG BUSES WITH PLUSH SEATS. WE WERE THE FIRST GOUP TO GET PICKED UP, SO WE ALWAYS HAD A SEAT. IT WENT TO 2 OTHER HOTELS ON THE WAY.

WE ALWAYS TOOK THE FIRST BUS OUT SO WE COULD GET TO THE PARK BEFORE THE CROWDS.

RETURNING FRON DISNEY, FIRST BUS WAS AROUND 5 IN THE AFTERNOON. NOW THE BUS FROM UNIVERSAL THE FIRST PICKUP WAS AROUND 3. WHICH WAS PERFECT. WE ARRIVED EARLY IN THE MORNING, BEFORE CROWDS HAD FINISHED THE PARK AROUND 1 IN THE AFTERNNON. HAD A SIT DOWN LUNCH AT CITY WALK. BY TIME WE WERE FINISHED IT WAS TIME TO GET ON THE SHUTTLE. GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL AROUND 3:30. AND RELAXED BY POOL REST OF THE AFTERNOON. THAT WORKED OUT PERFECT FOR US.

I DO ENOUGH OF DRIVING AND SITTING IN TRAFFIC WHEN I'M GOING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. SO, I DON'T LIKE DRIVING WHEN I'M ON VACATION. ONE DAY WE TOOK A TAXI BACK FROM MAGIC KINGDOM AROUND 3 WE WERE REALLY TIRED. IT WAS ABOUT 12 BUCKS FOR 5 PEOPLE. NOT BAD AT ALL.

 

[cenicienta]

OH, THANK GOODNESS for your post MERVXTC! I hope the hotel we choose uses the shuttle company you experienced...

 

[Babblin'Boo]

I'd play it safe and call your hotel to find out before opening a Pandora's box.

My experience was not positive at all and traveling with kids ages 3 and 5 at the time, the bus ride was exhausting and overwhelming to them. Renting a car would have been by far much better.

 

[MERVXTC]

WHAT I DID, A MONTH BEFORE WE LEFT, I CALLED MY HOTEL, COMFORT SUITES MAINGATE RESORT EAST, WHILE I WAS AT WORK. THEY HAVE THE BUS SCHEDULES PRINTED OUT FOR GUESTS. THEY FAXED ME THE SCHEDULES AT WORK. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS VERY FRIENDLY. EVEN WHEN WE ARRIVED THEY WERE SO HELPFUL ANSWERED ALL OUR QUESTIONS.

I WOULD ASK THEM WHAT BUS COMPANY THEY USE. BECAUSE HOTELS USE DIFFERENT SHUTTLE SERVICE BUSES.

OUR BUS DRIVER WAS ALSO NICE AND PROFESSIONAL. WHEN HE PICKED US UP FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS. HE SAW WE WERE ALL SO TIRED AND HOT. HE TOLD US TO SPREAD OUT ON THE BUS AND TAKE OUR SHOES OFF AND RELAX. HE TURNED THE AIR UP AND TURNED ON SOME SMOOTH MUSIC. WE ALL STARTED LAUGHING AND WAS SAYING THANK YOU. HE GOT A BIG TIP FROM ALL THE PASSENGERS ON THAT PICKUP.

I HOPE YOU LUCK UP TOO LIKE WE DID. I REALLY CAN'T STAND DRIVING WHEN I'M AWAY FROM HOME IN AN UNFAMILIAR AREA.

 

[cenicienta]

bump

 

[robinb]

I would recommend that if your stay off-site that you rent a car. I'm not sure how much it will add to your total cost since you will have to pay to get from the airport to your hotel. I have a 2 year old and really like the freedom of being able to go when and where I want. Without your own transportation you are at the whim of the bus system and limited to the restaurants that are in or near your hotel.

 

[terry budnik]

Stay at the Comfort Suites Maingate East, a brand new property located next to Old Town. This place is fantastic. It has free scheduled transportation to WDW and a huge free breakfast. The facilities are first class. Check out a great rate at www.HotelmartUSA.com..This hotel is well worth staying at and you can save some money

 

[baba]

Hi,
Mervxtc...your Comfort Suites experience sounds wonderful. We booked at Super 8 Main Gate. Do you recall if this was one of the shuttle stops? I may rebook after seeing your rave review!
Thanks!

 

[MERVXTC]

BABA, I'M SORRY BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER IF WE STOPPED AT YOUR HOTEL OR NOT.

BUT IF I WERE YOU I WOULD SWITCH TO THE COMFORT SUITES RESORT MAINGATE EAST. IT IS RIGHT NEXT TO OLD TOWN.

THE HOTEL WAS A WONDERFUL 3 STAR HOTEL. BRAND NEW. YOU WONT FIND ANY BAD REMARKS ABOUT THIS HOTEL ON THE BOARDS.

WE WENT IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR. AND WE GOT IT FOR UNDER 70 BUCKS. (INTERNET RATE) CHECK THE CHOICE HOTELS WEBSITE.

YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY.

 

[t groome]

Having done both I would never stay off site again, the convenience of just hopping back to the room for a break was worth every extra penny.When your tied to times an hour can seem a life time, (if the kids are ready to go home, thier ready to go home) Also we found the hike to the Transportation centre seems miles at the end of a long day.

 

[Tiger926]

We stayed at the Marriott Village last year (very close to Disney - Downtown Disney hotels are across the street). Their shuttle service is fantastic! They use brand new buses (with Disney & Marriott Village painted on the sides) - not school buses, but Greyhound buses that play Disney movies and have very cold airconditioning. They have a very extensive shuttle schedule with late stops and pickups to Downtown Disney. I know from hearing from other people that if you stay at budget properties such as Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Econolodge, etc... the shuttles are very unpredictable and pretty much leave in the morning and come back at the end of the day. At the Marriott Village the shuttle buses depart and return from very early in the morning, until very late at night. I would call your hotel first like the others suggested in order to plan accordingly - but we have done shuttle services the last 3 years (because we did not feel like fighting with traffic and parking since we are on vacation) and have had no problems whatsoever. Good luck with your decision!

Tiger

 

[kylara]

You could try for a reservation at one of the hotel Blvd. hotels. Their shuttle service runs all day.