Staying at PoP, Drive to Parks or Take Bus?

[blondinkaya]

We're driving down to WDW in March (our very first trip ), so we'll have our own wheels. Would it be better/easier for us to drive to the parks or ride the bus?

TIA!

 

[MOmousefan]

Our experience has been that the bus service is way better than driving. We stayed at PoP in 2005 and this past June http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1484078 and the bus service was great. I think you enjoy this resort is it is new and clean.
We drove the first morning to EPCOT EMH and waited at the gate and watched the PoP bus drive by us and go into the park.
Have a great trip and post a trip report when you return.

 

[Mr. Pig]

There are the two camps - bus or drive - and you will get many good points both ways. I think one agreement is take the bus to MK. Driving means parking lot, then TTC, then monorail or ferry to entrance. The bus leaves you off much closer to the entrance than other parks. POP has just one bus stop but there are (IMO) more frequent buses because of the size of the resort. Having just one stop cuts down on the bus time to get to the parks. There is an actual line queue for a bus so there aren't problems with a mad rush onto the bus when it arrives like at some other resorts. The queue is in the open so if it is raining or very sunny and hot you will suffer. We normally use the WDW transportation but I can see the convenience of having your own car.

 

[Dabelsteen]

Not a big fan of driving over busses ever. I do like to have a car handy but only for heading to dinner at other resorts or off site; not for getting to the parks.

 

[lynn46356]

We were at Pop February 07 and we only took the bus everywhere. We drove down so we also had a car we could use if we wanted. We never waited in line at Pop for more than 5 minutes and each bus got us to the park in a very timely fashion. I didn't time it exactly but I'm sure we were never on a bus more than 10 minutes. One night after Wishes there was quite a line for the Pop bus but three showed up at the same time and loaded quickly. That was probably our worst line and it really wasn't that bad. We're going back this February and I'm sure we'll only use the Pop buses again. Hope this helps.

Lynn

 

[lynn46356]

We were at Pop February 07 and we only took the bus everywhere. We drove down so we also had a car we could use if we wanted. We never waited in line at Pop for more than 5 minutes and each bus got us to the park in a very timely fashion. I didn't time it exactly but I'm sure we were never on a bus more than 10 minutes. One night after Wishes there was quite a line for the Pop bus but three showed up at the same time and loaded quickly. That was probably our worst line and it really wasn't that bad. We're going back this February and I'm sure we'll only use the Pop buses again. Hope this helps.

Lynn

 

[phillyatdisney]

I use my car to get to the parks especially if I am arriving when it opens. This allows me to get a close parking spot to the entrance and with three kids having so much stuff it is easier to drive..... to each his own but driving to me is better than waiting and standing next to so many people on a crowed bus.....

 

[kaytieeldr]

Which differs from standing next to so many people in a crowded park, or ride queue, how?

 

[misricsmith]

We stayed at pop may 07
took the bus for the first 3 day
then drove every day after that!!!!!!!!
I would drive again

 

[spiceycat]

the bus hands down.

I drove the first couple of days - except to the MK.

when we went to wait in line for the MK, I really though it would take a long time. there were a bunch of people waiting. well not only did the bus arrive very promptly - but before he left to go to the parks - there was another one right behind it going to the MK....

stayed at all the resorts (okay not POFQ or CSR yet - also GF but no wish to stay there not my taste at all).

the Pop bus service is way above the other resorts bus service.

everyone kept saying that AKL was great too. Well either they didn't time it (I always time the buses) or they just didn't care. first day - ak was open early - guess what I really don't think they told the AKL bus drivers. got to the bus station at 8:05 it was 8:50 before a bus came. Another words - we missed early entry at AK - why - because the AKL bus didn't come to the AK.

Pop never treated me that way. I love AKL but hate their bus service.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

We always use the bus service - never move the car once it's parked. That's one of the reasons we stay onsite so that we don't have to worry about driving anywhere. Plus you meet alot of interesting people on the buses. I met a few DISers the last time we were at POP.

 

[digskat]

We were at POP early December, and tried the bus a couple of times. We will never rely on the bus again. In 8 attempts, over the past 3 years, I have yet to actually sit on the bus, instead getting to experience holding my DS(6) against me with one hand, and trying to hold the hanging strap with the other. The buses have seating for approximately 25 people, with another 20 standing. We waited for a 3rd bus (25 minutes) at POP this year, during the off-season, and still had to stand.
As far as waiting at the parking kiosk, while a bus rolls by.... you will still wait at the rope drop either way, the bus passengers didn't get into the park any sooner.

 

[thelobstershanty]

If you time your park arrivals and departures the correct way--the buses are the way to go.
If you want to enter and exit the parks at opening and closing times --then you want to consider driving. If you are staying at a value or moderate resort, this becomes more necessary, than if staying at a deluxe or DVC resort.
The value resorts tend to have the longest lines at park closing times; followed by the moderate resorts. Whenever we are staying at a value resort--we leave the parks--at closing times-- as late as we can.
Our favorite resorts are the ones that have easy-- (translation--NO BUSES),access to the greatest number of parks!
Have a great trip!!

 

[georgiapeach]

I think it depends on how much stuff you're hauling to the parks. We went in September with a 2 year old and a 3 month old, including 2 strollers, a diaper bag, sippie cups, snacks, rain ponchos, baby bjiorn, nursing shawl, bottled waters, etc., etc., etc., etc. We quickly found that getting it all on a bus was overly chaotic, and we much preferred taking our van. However, DH and I are going back next September for Free Dining bounceback WITHOUT KIDS and staying at Pop. I think we will take the buses, as it is so convenient and they drop you off so close.

So, for us, it is how much we have to haul that really is the deciding factor.

 

[Tonya2426]

To drive or ride the bus - a dilemma to be sure. I typically drive and end up being happier with my decision. (I've decided I might have control issues. ) Each trip I start off using the buses and then shortly realize that I am not a WDW bus kinda girl and return to driving. I can certainly see the reason to use the bus to get to the MK since you get dropped off at the park entrance - but call me crazy, I like to ride the trams, monorails and ferries. (I have fond memories of a bygone era when you had to begin your MK day on a tram so I guess it is a tradition for me. In fact my mother still thinks working as the tram operator - in the rear of the tram - would be her dream job for a day.)

 

[debbiedana]

The value resorts tend to have the longest lines at park closing times; followed by the moderate resorts. Whenever we are staying at a value resort--we leave the parks--at closing times-- as late as we can.
Our favorite resorts are the ones that have easy-- (translation--NO BUSES),access to the greatest number of parks!
Have a great trip!!

Values have the most people in line because they have the most rooms. They also have the most frequent bus service. Even at park closing, even when I walk up to the Pop bus stop after Illuminations, I have never waited more than ten minutes.

Now ask me how long I waited for busses during our trip at the Poly...and two extra stops... obviously the monorail makes a quick trip of MK and Epcot, but for DHS and AK, wow did I have loooong waits that week in September.

I have been fine with two weeks of Pop bus service and I've never once had the urge to drive. Pop's bus service is one of the main reasons I choose to return there.

 

[blondinkaya]

Thanks for all the replies! I knew there'd be pros and cons of each, and it's so hard to decide what to do, especially since this will be our first time at the World and we don't really know what to expect. Dh is a control kinda person, so I think I'll throw the decision making onto him, lol. Only thing is, he doesn't have a clue as to the extent of this vacation (I'm surprising him and the kids--all he knows is I mentioned going to WDW while we're down there for Sea World. In fact, we're spending 1 day at SW and 3 at WDW, LOL). Is this one of those things that can be decided when we get there, or should I know before hand? I like to plan, but I certainly don't intend to go commando or anything ...

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

This is just me personally but I don't like taking busses. I'm a control freak so I like having my car handy when staying at Pop. I would take the bus to the MK though--much easier. Pop has very reliable bus service and if it came down to the budget, I'd give up renting the car if I was staying at Pop.

 

[thelobstershanty]

Values have the most people in line because they have the most rooms. They also have the most frequent bus service. Even at park closing, even when I walk up to the Pop bus stop after Illuminations, I have never waited more than ten minutes.

Now ask me how long I waited for busses during our trip at the Poly...and two extra stops... obviously the monorail makes a quick trip of MK and Epcot, but for DHS and AK, wow did I have loooong waits that week in September.

I have been fine with two weeks of Pop bus service and I've never once had the urge to drive. Pop's bus service is one of the main reasons I choose to return there.

We have stayed in the value resorts numerous times and are not trying to put them down in anyway.
However, we have found the bus transportation to be more cumbersome from the value resorts than from the moerate resorts compared to the deluxe resorts, etc.
If you have never waited longer than 10 minutes for a bus to a value resort-- at a park closing----you are very, very lucky!!!!
We are Florida homeowners, so we are at WDW quite frequently. We are also DVC members and a family that stays in all levels of WDW resorts at various times times throughout the year. We have never gotten that lucky that we only waited 10 minute for a bus Pop, or any other value resort--at park closing. Our experiences are quite the opposite. At park closings, we find the value resorts to have lines that extend very far--depending on the park. The Magic Kingdom is the worst--from our experience.
But I am glad to know there is a potential possibility of shorter bus waits from Pop Century!!

 

[eeyoresfarmfriend]

Hi, we are headed to DisneyWorld on Feb 2 and plan to stay at Pop and was wondering when you went last year what kind of weather did you have? I know each year is different as this year Florida is having extremes with cold weather but wondered what you encountered. Thanks.