? transportation around WDW

[Raci]

Hi all!

I am considering changing our planned DLP trip in summer 2010 to WDW instead.

We have been to DLP twice and love it!!!! One of the best things is that everything is within walking distance of the hotel.

I do not drive so if we came to WDW we would be completely reliant on the resort transportation (we would stay onsite). This seems amazingly complicated and slow from what I've seen online so far, and the transport could make or break our decision about WDW versus DLP.

Could anyone give me any info on how good/bad the transport system at WDW is and how long journeys tend to take?
Also we would like to have evening meals at several different hotels if we came to WDW, how complicated would transport be for these journeys?

All extra help and advice would be appreciated!
Thankyou

 

[jen_uk]

Overall, the transportation is very good. I have stayed onsite 6 times and always used the transportation as I have never driven there. The bus service is good, the buses come about every 15 mins, yes sometimes you may have to wait longer but that only happens occasionally. At peak times more buses will run so that if there are large queues waiting buses will keep coming quickly to clear the queue. Most buses take about 10-15 mins to get to each park depending on where you stay. WDW is so big, much much bigger than you expect that you do so much walking you will be glad that you cannot walk to the parks from your hotel!!

 

[Curious Yellow]

The buses, when you stay onsite, are excellent. Best times i had were on the Disney buses haha

They take u back to your hotel from anywhere on disney, you can park hop to and from each park.....Just be sure to stay in a Disney resort, if you're not driving (and even if u do get a car) the buses are one of the perks and make it so much easier to get around. Plus, if you wanna go back to the hotel for an hour *** of heat or just want a nap lol its so easy to do so.

Oh and if you thought DLP was good.........WDW is just awesome!

 

[Curious Yellow]

how come the word c o s has been starred out? is that a swear word i dont know about

 

[Curious Yellow]

Also we would like to have evening meals at several different hotels if we came to WDW, how complicated would transport be for these journeys?

All extra help and advice would be appreciated!
Thankyou

easy to get to different hotels. just get bus to any disney park or downtown disney and jump on that hotels bus

 

[wickesy]

how come the word c o s has been starred out? is that a swear word i dont know about

If I remember rightly it's because it's the same as some sort of American organisation that was causing problems so it's filtered out on here.

 

[tink too]

We can drive and just choose not to when we're on vacation. We've never had a major problem using the WDW transportation. We were late once for an ADR due to the monrail being stuck for 20 minutes, but the CM's at the restaurant were very understanding.

As others have said, when going from resort to resort, you'll need to take a bus to any park or DTD then get the resort bus you need from there. If you're dining at any of the restaurants on the monorail loop, take the bus to MK, then use the express monorail from there.

 

[Shazzie B]

how come the word c o s has been starred out? is that a swear word i dont know about

So glad I'm not the only one-started to feel old had to check with my DD that the slogan on a T-Shirt I was buying for my son wasn't 'rude'

 

[anthony2k7]

The transport is good for some people and not for others.

For me, generally, the transport is fantastic.

some things to consider:

Pros:

Both of us being able to enjoy a drink at meals

Being able to put 100% into our day - so what if you fall asleep on the bus, you cant do that when you have to drive!

WDW is huge, and its possible to get lost even if you have satnav - not an issues on the buses though!

The bus drivers are also quite entertaining themselves

You can get from anywhere to anywhere from an hour before parks open until very late at night.

Riding the monorail is just something thats gotta be done!

Cons:

Early breakfast ADRs may be impossible to get to without driving

It takes time... You can expect to wait 15 minutes for a bus if you've just missed one (30 minutes isnt unheard occasionally), 10 to 20 minutes on the road, and 10 minutes queuing to park at the bus station (sometimes more at MK).

 

[elkvideo]

We have been been twice with out a car and it was fine. We used the disney buses and monorail and boats, no problem! The only time we found a problem was when you watch the fireworks at magic kingdom and everyone leaves at the same time. we always walk over to the contemporary hotel and grab a cab. it does not cost much. when we want to go out of disney we used to grab a cab there and back, no problem.The buses in disney are easy to use and come quickly in my opinion.I think the disney transport system is really good and all in with the price. You will be fine!

 

[Raci]

Thanks everyone!

Am considering Port Orleans or Wilderness Lodge at the moment, not sure yet because of the price difference.

If we were having an evening meal at Chef Mickey's, for example, roughly how long would it take from leaving the restaurant to getting back to the hotel?
Also on holiday we like to be up and about early, if the buses only start running 1 hour before the parks open doesn't that mean the first buses will be packed as everyone wants to get there for opening?

Decisions, decisions, decisions!

 

[wickesy]

You'll probably find that relatively few people who stay on site actually get to the parks for opening so the buses won't be that bad.

From Chef Mickey's your best bet would be to walk over to the Magic Kingdom (about 10 minutes) and get a bus from there which would take maybe another 10 minutes (? never done it by bus so I'm guessing, but it's not that far from MK). You could also get a boat from MK to Wilderness Lodge (which again wouldn't take that long).

Not sure on Port Orleans but again no more than about 10-15 minutes by bus from MK.

 

[comingtodisney]

have to agree with wickesy. when we went last august we were up and ready to go at 8 in the morning, never a lot of people at the bus stops. arrived at the parks and had most rides done by dinner time, we would go back to our hotel about 2 have a swim, lounge around and then get changed for the night time. only once did we have a problem with the busses and that was on the day we were leaving, waited for a bus for about half and hour to hollywood studios, everybodys favourite park, otherwise never waited more than 10 mins, most of the times when we got there in the morning busses for all the parks were pulling up within minutes of one another.

 

[comingtodisney]

just noticed that you are looking at going in the summer of 2010, when i was looking on the disney uk site for august 2010 they are offering the dining plan, if you book a moderate such as por this is with the qsdp, they are offering at the moment old key west and saratoga springs, which are dvc deluxe at the moderate prices but with the regular dining plan. if you are planning a diy it is worth taking a look at.

 

[Curious Yellow]

If I remember rightly it's because it's the same as some sort of American organisation that was causing problems so it's filtered out on here.

haha oh good i had my Book of Cool New Slang Words at the ready then

 

[Raci]

Thanks all for your help.

Thanks Andrea, I'll go take a look.