Take the Bus!

[billybaruch1]

My apologies if this has been asked before, but I wonder if anyone has taken the public bus from the Orlando airport to WDW?

I found information about this here: http://www.mousesavers.com/groundtrans.html and also here: http://www.golynx.com

It seems if you don't mind lugging your luggage the one-way fare per person is a whopping $1.10. I suppose it varies, but the schedules I see today show a route 51 bus leaving mco about every 1/2 hour, so depending on the wait at the downtown bus station, it may be 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get to WDW's TTC. That doesn't compare very favorably with a towncar limosine, but it may be in the neighborhood versus a Mears shuttle (if you had to wait an hour at the airport). Of course, the price is the key.

Anyone have opinions/comments? I hope this is the right board; I posted this on the Budget board, but now I hope for more of a response here. Thank you.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Personally, I wouldn't recommend it.

It takes 50 minutes to get from MCO to Downtown. 10 minute layover, and then another 55 minutes from Downtown to the TTC. That's 2 hours, plus initial wait time for the first bus.

Then... you need to get to your hotel. If it's not an MK Resort, you'd need to take the Monorail to the MK, and then catch yet another bus.

So ultimatly, you're talking 3 hours. The Mears Shuttle may make stops, but I know it can beat 3 hours, and it's direct. No transfers.


One more thing... LYNX rules limit the amount of luggage you can bring... it's the equivilent of one airline carryon per person.

 

[billybaruch1]

Thanks, Tyler. I was just on the wrong board.

It seems it may be a viable alternative for budget-oriented travelers without much baggage and with a lot of time, or for someone going shopping outside of WDW.

 

[OKSTATE99]

There is no reason to take the public bus. If you can't afford $20 person extra for airport transportation, Disney shouldn't be your first travel opition anyways. Maybe you should drive to Disney so you can have your car with you. I mean its 3 hours your getting paid $7.00 an hour while on that bus it isnt worth it to me.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I didn't read that the OP couldn't afford the transportation, so I won't assume that. It would definately save $$, but....

I don't think it would be convenient, or pleasurable at all though.

 

[inkkognito]

It's not always a question of the money. Some people (like me) are just penny pinchers or have a sense of adventure and like to try something new. I love saving money whenever possible, and if I wasn't in a hurry, I might do something like that as an adventure to see where the bus goes and see some of the town. Of course, I'm very familiar with the WDW transportation system...for someone who isn't and who isn't at a monorail hotel, it could be confusing as Chip & Dale Express pointed out. But there's no way I could make it with only one tiny luggage bag, so I'll stick to towncars!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by inkkognito
It's not always a question of the money. Some people (like me) are just penny pinchers or have a sense of adventure and like to try something new.

If it weren't a matter of luggage, it would be an appealing option for sure. Downtown Orlando is very pretty in places, and the Bus Station is right near Church Street Station, which is a fun place to visit. There's also a GREAT sushi bar near the station... yummy

 

[inkkognito]

Oooo, Tyler, if my husband sees this, we will DEFINITELY be taking the bus someday (or at least checking it out when we have a rental car). He is a major sushi fanatic. Hopefully they have tempura for me...I'll eat raw beef but not fish.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Daisimae]

I found this thread when doing a search and wanted to put my positive two cents in for future readers.

I used the Lynx bus from MCO to the Courtyard at Downtown Disney this last July, (30th), traveling alone. I was fortunate that my plane, (Delta), landed about 20 minutes before the bus was due to leave and my bag was one of the first off loaded from the plane. I had to go get my pullman, then go back up and cross over to the other side of the airport ground transportation area and go down again. The Lynx bus was sitting right there waiting and I was the only one who got on at the airport.

For luggage I had a 25" upright pullman with an overnight bag stacked on the handle. I also had a small handbag that I could wear around myself as a sling, so I didn't have to hold onto it. The driver did not comment on my luggage, and even kneeled the bus so it was easier for me to get on. The bus was quite crowded by the time we got to the transfer point and the driver pointed me to the TTC bus. I did have to wait a few minutes to board it, the only problem I had was trying to figure out how to get my transfer into the machine.

I got off at the TTC and waited for the Village bus. The driver routinely gets off the bus as passengers board and when he saw my luggage he opened up one of the compartments on the side of the bus for it.

I got off at the Courtyard colllected my luggage, checked in and then went back to take the next bus to the TTC to go to MK for the afternoon/evening.

A few details, my plane landed around 11am, it took about two hours to get to the hotel. I had more time than money for this trip so I didn't mind the delay. I couldn't do a grocery stop so I used Netgrocer.com, with a coupon code for water, juice boxes, breakfast food, (poptart pastry), and snacks. My order shipped direct to the hotel. It got there two days before I did, so no problems there.

I transfered to the Dolphin the next day for a convention and used Village and Disney transportation for that. Took the Village bus to Epcot, (This was a mistake, I should have taken it to the Studios.), got a bus from Epcot to the Studios and took the boat from MGM to the Dolphin. I had a tote bag with wheels in my luggage to accomodate the water and food that was shipped the the hotel.

Met up with my Sister for the convention and when we left FL six days later we did go back to MCO, from ASMo, via Tiffany Town Car as she had used them when she came in, the day after me, and had a round-trip ressie.

This year hubby and I are going and we will probably use the Lynx bus to and from MCO and Pop Century. It is longer, but if you have the time, it's not bad.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Glad to hear it wasn't too bad. For those who have the time, and are used to public transit, I don't suppose it's a bad option. But I know there are those out there that think the 14 minute ride from AKLodge to Magic Kingdom is the longest ride in the world, so I don't generally recommend the Lynx Airport bus.


Just a reminder about Pop Century... when you get to the TTC, you'll need to catch the Ferry or Monorail to the Magic Kingdom (or Epcot) to catch the Pop bus.

 

[Poohbear123]

Can I get a Bus from the Amtrak Train Station in Kissimmee to WDW area? If so, what # and how many busses do I have to take? Thanks.

 

[Daisimae]

Yes you can get the bus from the Amtrak station. Originally, I was supposted to go Amtrak and asked the transportation rep at Lynx for a route. This is what they sent back to me:

Board link #40 inbound from Amtrak to downtown Orlando at 12:55 PM .
You'll arrive downtown at 1:05 PM . Transfer to link #50 departing
downtown at 1:15 PM .
Arrive Disney (TTC) at 1:57 PM .

My train would have been leaving NY around 2pm the previous day but you can look up the schedules for the time your train comes in or have a rep look up your exact route with times at www.golynx.com. Florida/WDW is usually the only place where I use busses, so it was like a little adventure for me. The WDW system works so well, I figured the Lynx couldn't be that bad, and it wasn't.

 

[Daisimae]

Originally posted by Chip 'n Dale Express
Just a reminder about Pop Century... when you get to the TTC, you'll need to catch the Ferry or Monorail to the Magic Kingdom (or Epcot) to catch the Pop bus.

Yes, I figured we would take the monorail to Epcot, that way we could get a little "preview" of the park. Our plane should be coming in around noon and we have nothing planned except for the 9:30 Hoop-Dee-Doo show. So there is plenty of time.

Do you think we will have time for the 8pm Hustle at PC and to get to Fort Wilderness on time? Usually I would be leaving for the HDD around 7:45, but would really like to see the Hustle too. This first day may be our only chance. I know we will have to take the PC bus to the MK and then get on the FW bus. Or this year we had to take a bus to Wilderness Lodge from the TTC and then get on a FW bus. I think, but I do remember we had to go to WL.

 

[becjlek]

I have used the Lynx system to get from MCO to WDW just fine.

 

[seashoreCM]

Not only do you have to change buses and the buses travel slowly through city streets, but you go way out of your way to downtown Orlando.

I do use public transportation from airports most of the time when it is possible, but I probably won't use the Lynx buses from MCO to Disney.

 

[Poohbear123]

Doesn't sound feasable to me, I will continue using my Cab company.

 

[tinaluis]

We're used to taking public transportation and always up for an adventure so we appreciate the information. Perhaps we'll try it on our next trip. Thanks!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by Daisimae
Do you think we will have time for the 8pm Hustle at PC and to get to Fort Wilderness on time?

Well... it seems to have been moved to 6:00pm... however, they've been having challenges with the VGM (or what I call the big MP3 player)... the system is set up on a randomizer, so its hard for them to play a specific song at a certain time. But it should be going on at 6:00pm from now on.

The Porte Cochere (luggage area) is usually where the most people dance, depending on how busy we are.

 

[movingtoorlando]

Originally posted by Daisimae
Yes you can get the bus from the Amtrak station. Originally, I was supposted to go Amtrak and asked the transportation rep at Lynx for a route. This is what they sent back to me:

Board link #40 inbound from Amtrak to downtown Orlando at 12:55 PM .
You'll arrive downtown at 1:05 PM . Transfer to link #50 departing
downtown at 1:15 PM .
Arrive Disney (TTC) at 1:57 PM .

My train would have been leaving NY around 2pm the previous day but you can look up the schedules for the time your train comes in or have a rep look up your exact route with times at www.golynx.com. Florida/WDW is usually the only place where I use busses, so it was like a little adventure for me. The WDW system works so well, I figured the Lynx couldn't be that bad, and it wasn't.

hang on there, the link 40 is a downtown Orlando route, not sure where it goes but I know it services the downtown bus station. the poster was asking about the Kissimmee Amtrak station. I'm not sure if that station is serviced or not consult www.golynx.com for more info.

the luggage policy well that depends on the driver there are 300 to 400 drivers for lynx the last time I checked maybe more some are easy going so will enforce the rules.

also keep in mind lynx is in the somewhat final stages of building a new downtown bus station, when this opens it will affect the times of some routes, not to mention be a huge help in Florida storms.

Downtown Orlando is very pretty in places, and the Bus Station is right near Church Street Station, which is a fun place to visit

also there is a bus route in downtown Orlando called the LYMO it’s a free ride and runs around downtown Orlando in dedicated lanes (bus does not get stuck in traffic)