start time for resort buses running from downtown disney

[Kelly Ann]

Hello,

I have to attend a conference at the Coronado springs resort in may. Because of room costs, I would prefer to stay at a downtown disney area hotel, walk to downtown disney, and then take a bus from downtown disney to the resort each morning. As far as I can tell, there are no buses running directly from downtown disney to parks...only to the resorts. So if the buses start running from downtown disney at 8:30am, that means one of them goes straight to the Coronado at that time? Do they run earlier than that or later?

I am extremely confused and would be grateful for any help regarding the bus start times.

Alternatively, I would be ok with taking a bus from a value resort like pop century to a theme park near coronado, and then taking a bus to coronado. But again, I have no idea if it is possible to do that early in the morning.

Thank you,

Kelly

 

[skelooch]

Buses won't be running from DTD to the resorts until much later than you need, perhaps after 10-10:30 am.
Your best option that early might be a taxi at an approx cost of $14-$16 plus tip. Or you could stay at the All Star Sports resort from which you could walk to CSR albeit a little over a mile and a half or a $6-$8 cab fare.

 

[DVC California]

Hi Kelly - Welcome to the DIS!

FWIW, what you are asking is generally frowned upon. WDW transportation is provided to guests to enjoy the parks, shops, and restaurants on property. Not as a way for folks to circumvent renting a car while on business or pay for parking while staying off site.

I understand that you are trying to save money. Instead of the Coronado, have you thought about staying at one of Disney's All Star resorts? They are more affordable than the Coronado and close enough that a bus transfer would be reasonable. As a WDW resort guest, you will also be provided complimentary roundtrip airport transportation.

HTH, Steve

 

[maxiesmom]

Even if the buses were running from DTD to resorts that early, transfering around like you want to do is going to take a lot of time. Disney states you should leave 90 minutes to make transfers using their buses.

I agree that the best option would be to stay at an All Star Resort, and then take a cab to your conferance. Transfering at the parks would be too time consuming.

 

[goofy4tink]

You are going to best served by either taking a cab, no matter where you stay, or actually staying at CSR. Why? Buses from DTD to resorts aren't at all reliable until around 10ish, and even then they are quirky. With stores opening at 9-10, there isn't much call for return service to resorts. So, you could find yourself waiting a long time for a bus to CSR.
If you stayed at a value resort, again, it's going to be tough. You could take the bus to a nearby park that has EMHs that day. Then you'll have to transfer to the CSR bus...again, that could take longer than usual since there really isn't all that much call for park to resort buses that early.

A cab is really going to be your best bet.

 

[Alesia]

You are going to best served by either taking a cab, no matter where you stay, or actually staying at CSR. Why? Buses from DTD to resorts aren't at all reliable until around 10ish, and even then they are quirky. With stores opening at 9-10, there isn't much call for return service to resorts. So, you could find yourself waiting a long time for a bus to CSR.
If you stayed at a value resort, again, it's going to be tough. You could take the bus to a nearby park that has EMHs that day. Then you'll have to transfer to the CSR bus...again, that could take longer than usual since there really isn't all that much call for park to resort buses that early.

A cab is really going to be your best bet.

I agree, but another option may be to stay onsite at a value resort and take a cab to CSR and then use Disney transportation to get back to your resort in the evening.

The only way to know for sure is to do the math. Compare the cost of the offsite hotel with the cost of an onsite value resort, factoring in the cost of cab rides (which can be found here.)

 

[Kelly Ann]

Thank you all for the great information and tips. This is exactly what I needed to know. I will probably stay at a hotel near the airport the first and last nights and two nights at Coronado. The value resorts closest to the Coronado might work too but I would feel kind of strange there by myself without any family. Thanks again.

 

[DVC California]

If you decide to book CSR, you are entitled to DME roundtrip airport transportation, even if you are not flying in that day.

Just take your airport hotel's shuttle back to MCO and walk to the DME Welcome desk. They will set you up on a motorcoach to Coronado Springs.