What deluxe has the BEST transportation

[Freiden8]

ok.. who has the best overall transportation?

Frankly, the thought of sharing a bus with 5 resorts (if we stay at the Yacht Club) is NOT pleasent sounding..

 

[becka]

I may be wrong here but I believe AKL is the only deluxe that has committed busses for just that resort - the rest all share with at least one other deluxe resort. However, all park transportation there is by bus unlike the other deluxes that have various options and not just the bus (monorail, boat, walking, etc.).

I think it really depends on which parks you will spend the most time in. If you are going to do MK and Epcot the most then a monorail resort would be great and you would only have to ride a bus to get to MGM and AK, water parks, etc. and if you stayed at the Polynesian I believe you can just walk to the TTC to get busses as well as catching them from the resort. If you want to do more Epcot and MGM then the Epcot resorts are still probably your best bet even with all the bus sharing for the MK and AK routes, etc.. If you really don't want to share transportation then try AKL.

Hope this helps...

 

[ducklite]

That entirely depends on which theme parks you'll be visiting the most.

We prefer the BW area resorts, as we spend most of our time in Epcot, and the least amount of time in the MK.

Just an FYI--last year when we stayed at the Polynesian, and the year before when we stayed at the GF, they both shared a bus--with the WL as well!

The AKL seems to have the best bus transportation, you don't share with anyone, they run very regularly, and are very seldom crowded.

Anne

 

[KellyJ]

In my opinion, the MK resorts have the best transportation choices. You can use the monorail to go to Epcot and MK and the buses to MGM and AK share with only 1 or 2 other resorts. They also have water transportation to the MK. The Contemporary was particularly pleasant, transportation wise, and offers the choice of being able to walk to and from the MK.

The Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin do share their buses but you can easily use the water taxi or walk to Epcot and MGM. I don't remember the exact order of which picks up or lets off first, but I think the Yacht Club was right in the middle of the order, which shouldn't make things TOO bad, unless you're going at a very busy time of year.

Really, it kind of depends on which park you'll spend the most time in.

Kelly

 

[milmore104]

AKL has the best bus transportation. We never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus. they were never crowded so NO STANDING. This is my DH favorite resort not only because of the resort but because he has the easiest time getting on and off with our 2yro DD "SUV" of a stroller and all her bags that come with her!

 

[TerriP]

I agree with the majority here...AKL has the best bus service. But keep in mind that other deluxe resorts offer more *types* of transportation (Bus, Monorail, Boat) and if you like pulling up to MK or MGM in a boat you can't get that from AKL.

Funny and TRUE story. My husband's boss and his wife (both in their 70's) went to WDW for the first time a couple years ago. They stayed at the Yacht Club. On their first day of "doing the parks" they got on a bus to take them to MK. When the bus stopped, they got off...assuming they were at MK. They were still at the Yacht Club. So, they got on the next MK bus to come along. Rode it to the next step and got off. They were now at a different resort (don't know which one...Beach, Dolphin, Swan). His boss finally asked the next MK bus driver if the bus "really" went to MK or not!

 

[P'colaFla]

The only resorts I can give an opinion on are YC, BC, and BWI. We are EPCOT fans (we have no children) and we like DStudios too so these were wonderful. We love the walk to EPCOT so the transportation didn't come into play much. However, I have to say that the bus transportation to AK and MK was awful! Especially from the BWI. After our trip this past May we couldn't believe how long our trips to these parks took. It really made us want to stay at EPCOT and Studios the whole time. We were the last to get on and the last to get off. Although there is only one bus stop at BWI (which is bad anyway, too crowded) we had to stop at all other stops. I think that's why they justify the "sharing". I have to say that we usually opt to stay at moderates because the transportation is so much better....and its cheaper. :-> Don't get me wrong we love the Deluxes for everything except the bus transportation. It sounds like AKL would be a good choice. We may have to try that one as well one day. Good luck with your decision.

 

[soccer mom]

Another vote for AKL! We hated the BC transportation. I don't remember where the BC was in the line up but too many buses pulled up and were so full we didn't even get on. The Poly would be our second choice only to the MK. Any other park took just as long as anywhere else.

 

[Kimberle]

Transportation was excellent when we stayed at CR. Monorails to MK & Epcot. Buses to AK & MGM. We always had our own bus, except for 1 time (stopped at WL). The buses were never crowed (Aug) & we always had a spot. We never had to wait long, but then, we did ask when the buses ran.

 

[XStAnt]

My vote is the Poly, especially if you're going to MK and Epcot the most. To MK take the monorail 2 stops or take a boat. To Epcot take a 5 minute walk to TTC and hop on the Epcot monorail (if you take the resort monorail from Poly you have t5o take the entire loop: GF, MK, CR, TTC, before transfering to the Epcot monorail). For MGM and AK it's buses. I know they supposedly shere the buses with one or two other resorts (the arrangement changes often) DW and I were there over Xmas last year and did not have any problems.

CR may be second best b/c you walk to MK (and take monorail 1 stop back). For Epcot you take resort monorail 1 stop to TTC and transfer to Epcot monorail (it's too far to walk from CR to TTC).

As others have said, AKL has direct buses to each park, but it only has buses. Plus, AKL is a little isolated from most of the parks and other resorts. It is the farthest deluxe from MK, and therefore the longest bus ride (but the shortest ride to AK ).

The Epcot resorts (BWI, BC/YC, S/D) have boats to MGM and Epcot, or you can walk. Depending on which resort and which park the walk could be tiring on a hot day. The boats are comfortable, but don't get you there very quickly because they stop at all the resort. Howver, the Epcot resorts seem to be in the middle of everything and very centrally located.

In all honesty, no resort has the "best" transportation for every situation. Whatever resort you pick will have the "best" transportation to 1 or 2 parks, and another resort will have better transportation to other parks. But none of them are bad. You get to the park in comfort and with ease no matter where you stay.

 

[Tikiman]

Going by the facts that I have experienced the Polynesian has the best.

You have access to:
The monorail to the MK
The motor launch (boat) to the MK
The ferry to the MK
It is the only resort where you can walk to the TTC and get a bus or the monorail to Epcot
We have always had good luck with busses to other destinations from the Polynesian.

Now as far as our experience (not speaking for everyone) we waited for ever every place we went from the AKL. We saw many busses come to the Animal Kingdom park and it took for ever before we saw a AKL bus. At Pleasure Island we saw 4 Polynesian busses come before we saw an AKL bus. I know others have had good experiences with the busses there but I will take the monorail over a bus any time. I know it only goes to 2 parks but half the parks is better than none. We can get over to Epcot in less than 15 minutes from our room at the Polynesian.

 

[Tinkbell]

I"ve stayed at Contemporary, WL, GF and AKL. AKL wins in the transportation department, hands down!

 

[Demosthenes]

Transportation at WDW is an interesting thing for me (and obviously lots of other people). I’ve stayed at every deluxe, and each one has its pros and cons as far as transportation goes. AKL definitely has the best bus service. It is probably quicker to get to most destinations at WDW via a bus from the AKL than any other hotel. In act, it may be quicker even to take a bus from AKL to MK than it is to catch the resort monorail from the CR to MK (maybe). But somehow, I prefer the monorail. I know it is faster to get to Epcot from the AKL than the monorail resorts, but again, I prefer the monorail ride (including the transfer). I genuinely enjoy the ride on a monorail or boat, but definitely not on a bus. Even when I stay at the CR, I prefer the monorail ride to MK over the walk (and I’m a runner!) There is just something magical about taking the “highway in the sky” or riding on the boats that is part of the magic of Disney. I don’t get that from the cough inducing smoke machines that, while more efficient, are certainly less thrilling.

 

[Tikiman]

I have video of many of the transportation and walking distances that I use to figure out how long things take. The ride from the TTC to Epcot took 8 minutes. I think a bus ride from AKL would be hard to beat the 8 minutes but maybe. I agree the ride on the monorail is much better even if it were longer.

Here are some other times I recorded because I always get asked how long things take.

Time to walk from the Yacht Club building where we stayed which was right above the marina to the YC pool was 3 minutes.

Yacht Club to the Beach Club's first building was 5 minutes.

Yacht Club to the gates of the International Gateway was 10 minutes.

Yacht Club to England was 12 minutes.

Now remember in the morning none of this is open so you still are not anywhere near something you can go on.

Yacht Club to the begining of Future World along the edge of the lake was 17 minutes with no crowds to walk through.

Now lets take a look at the Polynesian time.

From Hawaii longhouse to the TTC was 5 minutes.

From the TTC to Epcot monorail station the ride took 8 minutes.

From the monorail station through crowds to the same spot along the lake in Future World as the walk from the Yacht Club was 4 minutes.

The totals are 17 minutes for both resorts but 8 minutes of the trip from the Polynesian was not walking and add crowds to the walk from the YC and the Polynesian would win. So how is it that the Epcot resorts are better for Epcot and the Polynesian is only good for going to the MK? This is what I hear all the time.

 

[susy]

I grew up going to WDW, so riding on the monorail/boats is no big thrill to me. We stayed at AKL over Labor day Weekend and never had a probelm with the buses. Several times we were the only ones or with just a few others. Never had to stand and never waited more than a few minutes. The times to the parks are fast- about 15-20 min to MK, 10 min to Epcot and MGM and 5 to AK. I guess it depends on what is more important. If you are just looking to "get there wihtout hassles or stopping", AKL is great. If you are looking for a monorail ride or ambience from a boat, you are better off somewhere else.

 

[Tikiman]

This is all I have to say on this subject since I have stated my opinion and facts. I am not against the AKL as a resort to stay. It would be equal for being my favorite resort in WDW with the Polynesian if it were not for its location and the transportation issues we encountered during our stay.

I must add that since I have never found the busses at any resort to be very good (but best transportation to me includes access to all WDW transportation) we now rent a car for things we can not get to by monorail, boat or walking.

 

[Momof2boys]

I think it would all depend on what your plans our. My kids are little and we spend most of our time at the Magic Kingdom, so I love to stay at a Monorail resort when we stay Deluxe. We are staying at CR in June 04. However, if you will spend more time at Epcot and MGM then the YC/BC/BWI would be a good choice since they are within walking distance. Also, I have never stayed at AKL, but since they don't share buses with any other resort, I would think their bus service would be great.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

There are a few things that I would like to clear up:

AK Lodge:
This resort may be at the far corner of property, BUT it takes no longer to get to the parks than any other resort. Obeying all speed limit laws, I can do AKL to MK in less than 13 minutes. Epcot in less than 9. The only area that might take a minute or two longer would be DTD. (and ONLY a minute or two)

Epcot Resorts:
Contrary to popular belief, these resorts DO NOT always share. It is NOT always all 5. During morning MOD, routes are dynamic and based on current demand. In the afternoon, MK splits them S/D and Y/B/BW. DTD splits the Boardwalk at night.

MK Resorts:
Morning routes may differ from afternoon routes...

AK all day/Studios AM routes
CR -> PO
WL -> GF
FW

DTD all day/Studios PM routes
CR -> PO -> GF
WL -> FW

Epcot all day routes
WL -> FW

 

[Campingbuddy]

This is another vote for the AKL buses. We were there n early June and the bus system was great. No complaints here.