Staying Onsite

[dioxide45]

Okay it has been many years since we stayed on site and used Disney transportation. We have stayed offsite many times and have always rented a car. We will be at WDW for five days in October and relying on Disney transportation the whole time. Trust me, I am not looking forward to it, but we are trying to make this a budget trip. Already saved a bundle on our flights and using AAA on our room, will see if our Annual passes will save us more when they release those rates.

I have lots of reading to do about DME and the busses. Any tips from those who have always stayed offsite and will now be doing an onsite trip?

 

[iluveeyore]

Our biggest part of relaxing when staying onsite is using the Disney transportation - don't have to worry about figuring out how to get somewhere, remembering where I parked, getting into a boiling hot vehicle at the end of a long day and so on.
The ME bus is great - no need to worry about tolls, traffic, etc.
Which resort are you staying at? I know many people complain about buses, but it's really not that bad. We love the ability to leave a park mid-day and go back to our resort for a swim, nap, change of clothes or whatever. Buses are usually empty when we leave mid-day. And if you're worried about the hordes of people at park closings, just chill out and hang back for about half an hour after park closing - each park is really pretty at night, and it's so nice to wander out after the masses have dispersed and get an actual seat on a bus.
Relax, enjoy and have a great trip!

 

[Brian Noble]

Disney transportation is perfectly adequate, though infrequently frustrating. Mostly it works. We normally rent a car, but for an "extra" budget trip we skipped the car too and it was fine. Not my preference, but if you're cuttng back, this is an okay place to do it.

 

[goofy4tink]

You can expect DME to take an average of about 70 mins, from deplaning to resort checkin. Most of my trips have been shorter than that but one was decidedly longer..but only once.
As far as the Disney buses go...they are fine. Yes, it does take longer to go from resort to resort using the Disney system vs your own car. But, resort to parks is very good. It is mass transit and they do it well.

 

[GranddadTom]

In my opinion, the Disney buses work fine. I think that where people get frustrated is when they make unreasonable reservations without realizing how big WDW is. You're doing the right thing by factoring transportation into you plans.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think that where people get frustrated is when they make unreasonable reservations without realizing how big WDW is.

Perhaps, but when it takes more than an hour from walking into the bus stop to getting to MK, that's really not acceptable---and that happened to me twice on my last OKW stay. But, those were my first two "too-long" waits---generally it has been good.