Shuttles to parks

[pwdebbie]

How are the shuttles to the parks if you stay offsite? Are most of the offsite lodgings reliable with their shuttles and have a good schedule or are the shuttles a nightmare? What are the better places to stay for good shuttle service?

 

[Paulagrav]

I'd love to hear feedback on this question, too.
We're planning on staying offsite in Oct 2010, and would love to hear other's opinions. There will be 3 adults, 3 kids...staying onsite is too expensive.

 

[crusoe2]

We've never actually used offsite shuttles since we drive to Orlando. I have looked into it tho to see how feasible it would be for us to split up - sometimes part of the family is ready to go back to the hotel sooner than the rest. So far what I've found is that it varies some depending on where you're staying. But usually the shuttles don't run nearly as often as the Disney buses and they normally drop off and pick up out in the middle of the parking lot rather than at one of the bus stops. Keep in mind, this is just what I've read - others who've actually used them may have better information. But we've avoided using them for these reasons.

 

[TaraPA]

I used an offsite shuttle last year from a Marriott property - and don't ever want to do it again! It ran 3 times per day to Epcot - 8am, 9am & 10:30am, then returned from Epcot at 5pm, 6pm or 10:45pm. It was first come, first served & you had to sign up in the lobby the night before taking the shuttle. The early shuttles were full immediately, so if you were in the parks & not there right at sign up (5pm I think) you missed out. I was solo - so it worked fine for me, but there's no way I'd want to have to rely on it with the kids. It was a shared bus between 4 other hotels, so it was a LONG ride (almost an hour) and over-full at all times. It only dropped off & picked up at Epcot - and waiting in the offsite bus pick-up at 10:30pm wasn't a fun thing to be doing. That area is WAY out past the Disney transportation, and the taxis, on the far side of the Epcot parking lot. I can't see doing that with kids, having to ride an hour to Epcot, then transfer to a bus for another park, and then vice versa at the end of a long day.

Just my experience, I'm sure some other hotels have much better shuttle service!

 

[pwdebbie]

Tara, that's what I was afraid of. I do not want to be committed to staying at the parks all day. One big plus of the Disney transportation system is that it is so easy to go back to your room for a break.

 

[Paulagrav]

Tara, thanks for replying.
It seems like it's almost worth it to pay extra money to stay at the park so you can actually get there easily.
Or pay for parking at each park. I hate that.

 

[tednvon]

Hello, I think if you would look back over the years many people have posted about these shuttles and you would find that most folks agree that they are notoriously unreliable, not on time, and can be a poor use of precious time during the week.

Most of us old timers would recommend hopping in the car and parking in the lots. It is a very easy commute these days with all the different Disney entrances that have been finished in the last 5 years.

Except Christmas week and New Year's the traffic flows very well out of the parks at closing and you are home in less than 25 minutes tops to most any home or condo in the area. Less than 25 minutes in most cases. Taking a break in the middle of day is even easier as traffic is at a minimum.

Have fun, the saving of staying in a condo will more than offset the cost of parking, and remember parking is good for all day at any parking lot.

Enjoy....Ted

 

[Darcy03231]

Most off-site shuttles only run a few times a day, usually early in the morning and later in the evening. Some also pick up at several hotels, not just one. We stayed at an off-site hotel that had one. Shuttle ran three times in the morning and three times in the evening. It picked up and dropped off at all four parks. NIGHTMARE! We ended up renting a car. After that experience I always recommend renting a car if you decide to stay off-site.

 

[Brian Noble]

I would rent a car. To be fair, I also almost always rent a car on-property as well.

As much as I enjoy staying offsite, if you are flying in and absolute rock-bottom price is important to you, it is very hard to beat staying at a Disney Value resort. For me, offsite is really about getting a lot more space for a little more money---it's not about saving money in absolute terms.

Assume a rental car plus gas and theme park parking will cost you at least $300 for a week, and probably closer to $350. That $50/day can push even the cheapest offsite option to something comparable to a Disney Value resort, especially if you can snag a discount, and with the Disney resort, you've got a minimum quality level that is probably not matched by the cheapest off-site alternatives. Remember that even if you go the hotel shuttle route, you still have to pay to get your family to and from the airport, and that could easily be $100 with tips.

Again, you can do a lot better for a little more money offsite, but if budget is your primary concern, I really think onsite is the way to go unless you are driving down.

 

[tednvon]

Well said, Brian...
sometimes the math makes all the sense.

Ted

 

[Brian Noble]

I'd love to hear feedback on this question, too.
We're planning on staying offsite in Oct 2010, and would love to hear other's opinions. There will be 3 adults, 3 kids...staying onsite is too expensive.

Paulagrav: in your case, an offsite condo, townhome, or pool home is probably going to be your least expensive choice---but you will absolutely require a rental car. Onsite, your cheapest alternative for a party of six is two Disney Value rooms, and in October, that's easily going to run you $180/night even with generous discounts.

For a total of about $1000 +/-, you could get a week in a condo and pay for a rental car and theme park parking, and that would still leave you with money left over compared to the least expensive onsite alternative. The condo would also have a kitchen, and possibly even a private washer/dryer---so you could have breakfasts in, and maybe pack more lightly and save on luggage charges.

 

[Paulagrav]

Brian, thanks so much for your response!
It really makes a lot of sense...

Our last trip down in '06 we stayed in Kissimmee, and it took an hour door to door from the condo to the park. I'll keep looking, and get something closer, but still offsite.

Your advice was great.