The Buses Take HOW LONG????

[Vacation Mom]

OMG! Do the Buses really take 1 to 1-1/2 hours to get from one place to the other ON-SITE? If that really is the case, then I'm not going to be able to make any of my Breakfast ADR's................
I just can't believe that I have to change all the times of my Breakfast Restaurants, because I can't be at a restaurant at 8:00am, if the Buses don't leave the Hotels until 8 (One hour before parks open). The only exception is the Magic Kingdom area......
If we want to have breakfast in the other Parks, we will have to wait until the park opens. This will cut into our RIDE TIME........... BUMMER!

 

[guitarob]

The buses CAN take up to 1 1/2 hours in a worst case scenario. For example: If you just miss one and have to wait, then have to transfer to a different bus. The only time you would have to transfer is if you were traveling between resorts. You'd have to ride to a hub (a park or DTD) and then transfer to a resort bus going to your destination resort.

Most buses will get you from your resort to a park within about 20 minutes plus whatever time you might spend waiting on the bus to arrive at your resort.

I don't know where you're staying or trying to go, so the best I can speak is in generalities. The most I, personally, have ever waited for a bus has been 15-20 minutes, and that was rare. I don't know if I just have "good timing" or what. I have seen some horror stories, so I can't speak for others.

 

[Vacation Mom]

The buses CAN take up to 1 1/2 hours in a worst case scenario. For example: If you just miss one and have to wait, then have to transfer to a different bus. The only time you would have to transfer is if you were traveling between resorts. You'd have to ride to a hub (a park or DTD) and then transfer to a resort bus going to your destination resort.

Most buses will get you from your resort to a park within about 20 minutes plus whatever time you might spend waiting on the bus to arrive at your resort.

I don't know where you're staying or trying to go, so the best I can speak is in generalities. The most I, personally, have ever waited for a bus has been 15-20 minutes, and that was rare. I don't know if I just have "good timing" or what. I have seen some horror stories, so I can't speak for others.

I am staying @ 2 resorts--Contemporary for 3 nights, and Art of Animation for 2 nights.
I would have to take a Bus from Contemporary to Animal Kingdom Lodge for an 8:00am BOMA ADR, and a Bus from Art of Animation to Magic Kingdom for an 8:20am Breakfast at Crystal Palace. If we don't get there in time, our Reservation will be given away, and we will become "Walk-In's" I don't know if I'll be charged as well as a NO SHOW on my Credit Card.......... Taking a Taxi will cost an additional $22 for each one.........

 

[Mousemom234]

I am staying @ 2 resorts--Contemporary for 3 nights, and Art of Animation for 2 nights.
I would have to take a Bus from Contemporary to Animal Kingdom Lodge for an 8:00am BOMA ADR, and a Bus from Art of Animation to Magic Kingdom for an 8:20am Breakfast at Crystal Palace.

For Boma, it might be quicker to walk, or monorail to MK, and then hop a bus back to AKL - saves a transfer wait. Especially if it's an EMH morning. The trick is getting a bus back. They don't always go back to the same place after dropping off a load.

And from AoA to MK, the buses usually start running about 90 minutes before park opening, and it's only about a 20 minute ride (at least it is from POP). You could always check with Guest Services to find out when they start, and maybe get a suggestion. At least the bus will drop you off at the gate, rather than at the TTC, with another ride still in front of you.

 

[seashoreCM]

Buses start running from resorts to parks at 6:30 AM.

When you get to the park to transfer, see a transportation supervisor since buses back to resorts do not run on schedule that early.

 

[goofy4tink]

I am staying @ 2 resorts--Contemporary for 3 nights, and Art of Animation for 2 nights.
I would have to take a Bus from Contemporary to Animal Kingdom Lodge for an 8:00am BOMA ADR, and a Bus from Art of Animation to Magic Kingdom for an 8:20am Breakfast at Crystal Palace. If we don't get there in time, our Reservation will be given away, and we will become "Walk-In's" I don't know if I'll be charged as well as a NO SHOW on my Credit Card.......... Taking a Taxi will cost an additional $22 for each one.........

Okay, take a deep breath. It is all going to be fine!! The buses start running, to the parks, by 6:30am, every morning. They don't run quite as frequently as the regular buses do though. So, you need to plan accordingly.
So..let's see.... For an 8:00am ADR at Boma, you can be out at the AK bus stop by 7am, then ask the bus driver if there will be a bus, at AK, that goes to the AKL for your Boma ADR. The driver may very well tell you to get on board, he'll drop you off at AKL. If the offer isn't made, you should probably just take a cab over.

Getting to MK for your Crystal Palace ADR is much easier. Just be out at the MK bus stop by 7:30. Even if you have just missed the bus, the next one will still get you to MK in time for your ADR.


To everyone reading this.......You need to understand the way transportation works at WDW when booking ADRs. Too many people grab those early, or very late, ADRs with no idea how to get there. They just assume that Disney will get you there. And that isn't the way it works. I seldom make an early ADRs at resorts unless I can get there, via my own two feet or such. I can get to ADRs at the MK resorts easily. I can get to Epcot resorts easily, via DHS if not staying at one of those resorts.
You need to be informed. WDW is a huge property. And the transportation system works great, but it isn't one size fits all.

 

[mlamanna1701]

I am staying @ 2 resorts--Contemporary for 3 nights, and Art of Animation for 2 nights.
I would have to take a Bus from Contemporary to Animal Kingdom Lodge for an 8:00am BOMA ADR.

I don't believe there is a bus from CR to AKL. The buses from the resorts only go to the parks or downtown Disney. I made the mistake last year and made a dinner reservation for Boma thinking it was in the AK. Luckily, we had planned on visiting the park that day. We had to leave park a little earlier than expected to in order to make the reservation. We must have missed a bus leaving the AKL because we had to wait at least 40 min for he next bus. It was a very long wait. That was the longest I ever waited for a bus.

 

[NotUrsula]

Go get your cell phone, and create a contact for this phone number:
(407) 422-2222. That is Mears Taxicab dispatch, and you are guaranteed to get a licensed metered cab if you use them.

The simple answer is to use a cab if you want to go from your resort to another resort first thing in the morning; they will get you there in about 15 minutes door-to-door. Bell Services at your resort can call a cab for you if there are none waiting outside the main building (there are always one or two waiting at the deluxe resorts, IME; at the other resorts they are not always waiting there for fares.) Still, I find it is better to have the number programmed in so that you can call them yourself any time that you need a cab.

The buses will get you to the parks in the morning, but don't depend on them to transfer you to another resort at that time of day; it can be a headache.

 

[PAcpl]

Go get your cell phone, and create a contact for this phone number:
(407) 422-2222. That is Mears Taxicab dispatch, and you are guaranteed to get a licensed metered cab if you use them.

The simple answer is to use a cab if you want to go from your resort to another resort first thing in the morning; they will get you there in about 15 minutes door-to-door. Bell Services at your resort can call a cab for you if there are none waiting outside the main building (there are always one or two waiting at the deluxe resorts, IME; at the other resorts they are not always waiting there for fares.) Still, I find it is better to have the number programmed in so that you can call them yourself any time that you need a cab.

The buses will get you to the parks in the morning, but don't depend on them to transfer you to another resort at that time of day; it can be a headache.

This!!

I learned real fast if you are going from resort to resort this is the BEST way to go.

 

[Vidia1975]

we actually ran into a situation last year. we stayed @ BCCL and walked over to HS to catch a bus to AKL for bkfst @ Boma. The problem was, we didn't know that there was no bus to AKL that early in the morning from HS. The CS @ the gate was nice enough to get a bus driver to take us over anyway and we made our reservation w/35mins to spare. same thing happened w/bkfst rez @ 1900 Park Fare. We bussed over to MK and the monorail was down so CS got a bus driver to drive us over to GF @ 730am. in my experience, they try to be accomodating in the morning.

 

[SaraJayne]

I am staying @ 2 resorts--Contemporary for 3 nights, and Art of Animation for 2 nights.
I would have to take a Bus from Contemporary to Animal Kingdom Lodge for an 8:00am BOMA ADR, and a Bus from Art of Animation to Magic Kingdom for an 8:20am Breakfast at Crystal Palace. If we don't get there in time, our Reservation will be given away, and we will become "Walk-In's" I don't know if I'll be charged as well as a NO SHOW on my Credit Card.......... Taking a Taxi will cost an additional $22 for each one.........

There is no bus from the Contemporary to Animal Kingdom Lodge. The transfer points for buses are parks or DTD.

So you'd have to take the Animal Kingdom bus from Contemporary and then take the Animal Kingdom Lodge bus from Animal Kingdom.

A taxi would be much easier and much faster.

 

[ParrotBill]

Here's another vote -

No breakfast at other resorts unless you can walk, monorail, or you are willing to take a Taxi. Costs about $15.

Breakfast at the Parks: Buses are at 1/2 hour intervals. Be out early and don't but it too close. Be at your bus stop one hour before your time. You might end up waiting 1/2 hour, plus 20 min ride, plus 10 min walk.

Carry your reservation number. We've run into several times the turnstile did not have our names on their list and we were let in only with the confidence of a list we had printed out showing date, time and reservation #.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

Agreed. Resort breakfasts are wonderful, but they are the biggest hassle to get to. I'd swap the Boma breakfast for the breakfast with Lilo and Stitch at the Polynesian, or Crystal Palace at MK, and just take the monorail over from the Contemporary.

After the last time we tried to get from BCV to the Poly for a breakfast reservation, I said, "NEVER AGAIN." We ended up waiting a long time for a bus to MK and then the group wanted to take the boat over to the Poly. We very nearly missed our reservation.

 

[NotUrsula]

There is no bus from the Contemporary to Animal Kingdom Lodge. The transfer points for buses are parks or DTD.

So you'd have to take the Animal Kingdom bus from Contemporary and then take the Animal Kingdom Lodge bus from Animal Kingdom.

A taxi would be much easier and much faster.

You're right about the cab, but from the CR to AKL the better choice would be to walk from the CR to the MK bus dropoff area and take an AKL bus from there.

Of course, first thing in the morning this works only with the kindness of a transportation CM, because first thing in the morning the buses don't return to the resorts on a consistent schedule.

 

[seashoreCM]

If transportation takes unduly long I vote for seeing someone in charge such as the maitre d' (and if necessary, Guest Services) and making a case for honoring your reservation if you are late.

 

[kda]

I know your reservations are already made, but is it possible to change the Crystal Palace reservation to one of the mornings you're staying at the CR? Why travel the distance from AoA when you're a 10 minute walk to the MK when at the CR.

Boma's is closer to AofA and a cab would cost less than $22, if you're able to change that reservation to one of the days you're nearer by.

Good luck and hope you have a great trip1

 

[joelkfla]

To get to an early resort breakfast, you should always go the park nearest to your destination resort, which has transportation from the front of the park to that resort (which excludes Epcot for BC, etc.)

• For the monorail resorts, go to the MK and take the resort monorail, which starts up every morning @ 7 (when it's not broken.)
• For WL, go to MK; there will be a bus to WL
• For the Epcot resorts, go to DHS. If the boats haven't started yet, a bus will be provided.
• For AKL, go to AK and there will be a bus to AKL.

When you get to the park and need a bus:

• Stand in the load zone for the resort you are going to (if there is one)
• Look for someone in the load zones wearing an orange vest, or a white shirt & black pants, and tell that person where you are going. They are there to help you.
• If you don't see someone like that in the load zones, tell a bus driver (or 2) where you are going, so they can point you out to the dispatcher.

Always tell the driver on the bus to the park, that you are going to whichever resort for breakfast. They may be able to drop you off directly, or at least alert the dispatcher that you need transportation.

And yes, you should allow 90 minutes for resort-to-resort transportation, at any time of day.

 

[NKOTB311FAN]

Alright, now I'm starting to freak out about my reservations!! I'm the kind of person who plans everything out well in advance. I planned our families meals around where we'll be and the 2 year old that will be with us. Bear with me...I'm not down with all the abbreviations yet We are staying at AoA in early December. I think i can handle the dinners without too many problems, but breakfast is stressing me out We have a 7:35am reservation at Chef Mickey's on Friday morning and a 8:00am reservation at Tusker House Sunday morning. What would be the best way for us to get there? Or do I need to reevaluate our plans??

 

[mlamanna1701]

Alright, now I'm starting to freak out about my reservations!! I'm the kind of person who plans everything out well in advance. I planned our families meals around where we'll be and the 2 year old that will be with us. Bear with me...I'm not down with all the abbreviations yet We are staying at AoA in early December. I think i can handle the dinners without too many problems, but breakfast is stressing me out We have a 7:35am reservation at Chef Mickey's on Friday morning and a 8:00am reservation at Tusker House Sunday morning. What would be the best way for us to get there? Or do I need to reevaluate our plans??

Wow! I do not know the transportation that well, but that seems like it will be tough, if not impossible to do unless you get up really early. I would think your best bet would be to avoid Disney transportation and take a taxi. I will no longer make reservations unless I can get there with only one direct Disney transportation or by walking. I would say the best thing would be for you to reevaluate your plans. You should try to avoid making a reservation at another resort, unless you are staying at one of the monorail resorts and going to another resort along the monorail, or the other resort is within walking distance from the resort you are staying at.

 

[Alesia]

Alright, now I'm starting to freak out about my reservations!! I'm the kind of person who plans everything out well in advance. I planned our families meals around where we'll be and the 2 year old that will be with us. Bear with me...I'm not down with all the abbreviations yet We are staying at AoA in early December. I think i can handle the dinners without too many problems, but breakfast is stressing me out We have a 7:35am reservation at Chef Mickey's on Friday morning and a 8:00am reservation at Tusker House Sunday morning. What would be the best way for us to get there? Or do I need to reevaluate our plans??

Easy peasy.

For CM you can be at the bus stop by 6:30 and take the bus to MK and walk to the contemporary.

For Tusker House, be at the bus stop by 7:00 and take the bus to AK.

Or you could take a cab if you want an extra 30 minutes of sleep.