Which is the best hotel for using a "bus" for transportation? Easiest?

[leahannpen]

What hotel consistantly has the easiest, or best (efficient) bus service, that you've noticed? I'd like to take my son who's going to be 5. (DH isn't interested in going again. I'd probably go with a friend and her child.)

We did the All Star last time, and to be honest, I just didn't like it this time around. I'd like to do a Moderate, but I'm not sure which one might have the easiest (best) bus service.

Has anyone noticed a trend in easy, fast, not "too" crowded "every single" time you get on the bus, service?

We'd probably frequent the MK, so maybe I'll just check out the Contemporary, but if it won't fit the budget, I'd go moderate.

 

[puffkin]

All of the moderates have multiple stops at the resorts, usually 4 or 5 stops. So, it could take awhile once you get on the bus because you have to circle through the resort making multiple stops before you head to the park. Of the moderates, I would recommend French Quarter. This is the first stop going to the parks and the first stop coming back. It would make 5 stops (1 at FQ and 4 at POR). You may even get lucky and get a FQ only bus from the MK, but not the other parks.

If you can swing it, the AKL has great bus service. It doesn't share with any other resorts and there is only one stop. You would be far from the MK, but it is a 15 minute ride, tops. Plus the resort is beautiful and the animals might interest your son. It is also one of the cheaper deluxes.

The ultimate in convenience would be a monorail resort if you intend on visiting the MK the most. Some may suggest the WL, but I have found the boat service to the MK to be slow. They do have a bus now from WL to MK, so that may be a better option, though I have never tried this.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[TJA]

If you can budget a deluxe, the AKL and WL are the least expensive deluxes. At AKL, the buses only serve AKL, so you don't have to make other stops. At WL, there is a boat that runs to MK, which is a nice diversion from the buses.

You mentioned checking the prices of CR. Good choice. The wing rooms at CR are the least expensive and we loved our stay in the north wing. You can walk to MK, which is a huge plus when you have little ones. Also, nothing can beat the monorail. Another advantage of staying at CR is having Chef Mickey's right at your fingertips each day. To us, it is one of the most entertaining character meals in Disney. CR made our whole WDW experience very relaxing.

 

[leahannpen]

You mentioned checking the prices of CR. Good choice. The wing rooms at CR are the least expensive and we loved our stay in the north wing. You can walk to MK, which is a huge plus when you have little ones. Also, nothing can beat the monorail. Another advantage of staying at CR is having Chef Mickey's right at your fingertips each day. To us, it is one of the most entertaining character meals in Disney. CR made our whole WDW experience very relaxing.

Isn't the North Wing the one that's closed now? I wonder if they'll have any discounts because they are renovating?

I'd like to be able to swing the CR, and I totally forgot about the AKL.

 

[Ilovestitch]

AKL has the best bus transportation in my opinion. One single busstop and they don't share busses w/any other resort. If you stay at one of the monorail resorts they all share busses so it can take a while. Same w/the Epcot area deluxes. AKL is the only deluxe that doesn't share.

 

[Pooh1219]

Ditto what everyone said about the good bus transportation from AKL. So often you hear how far away it is from everything, but that's just nonsense. It doesn't take more than 15 minutes to get to MK, and that's about the farthest park. The beauty of AKL bus service, though, is it's usually one of the first bus stops as you EXIT the parks, so when you're hot and tired, you don't have to trek to the furthest reaches of the bus stop.

 

[MOmousefan]

We found the Pop Century buses to be frequent and on time. These buses only serve the PoP.

 

[TJA]

Leahannpen: I don't know what the staus is of the renovations at CR. Something to keep in mind is that the standard rooms at CR are the largest standard rooms in WDW, I believe. So you and your friend and 2 children should easily fit in one room and be comfortable. That way you'd be able to split the cost. Just a thought.

Having said that, we loved it at AKL. The only reason we switched to monorail resorts or Epcot resorts is because we had twins and found the buses to be a bit of a hassle with the double stroller and 2 babies. However, once our girls are a little bit older, we will not hesitate to stay at AKL again. It's a beautiful resort.

 

[soccer mom]

Another vote for AKL. Not having to stop at other resorts is great!

 

[eclectics]

POFQ bus service was great (from experience) and from what I've read, AKL has great service also. Can't beat the monorail resorts though, if you can swing it.

 

[Avalanche]

We like the bus service at CSR and CBR. We didn't like POFQ because it seemed to take forever to go through the stops at POR. (I know some with disagree) CSR was great because during the day most of the people there are with conventions and are in meetings and the buses weren't crowded at all. Even if we got on at the last stop there were still plenty of seats.

 

[Cindy B]

For us, the best bus service by far was at Coronado Springs. We never waited for a long time (longest recorded time was at Epcot back to CSR was 13 minutes). Most of our bus rides were private rides, and even after Wishes, Fantasmic and all that, we had busses waiting and never stood the entire trip.

We've also stayed at Pop (best bus service 2nd to Coronado)
All Star Sports (not poor service, but very happy we were the first stop at Sports)
Wilderness Lodge (we had poor bus service here)

 

[cjsmom5]

My girlfriend and I travel once a year with our sons -- first trip DS was 5 and second trip DS was 6. Each of those times we stayed at the POFQ for the following reasons:

1) Smallest of the moderate resorts and everything is very close to food court, pool, etc.
2) Boat transportation to downtown disney
3) Pool has a magical feeling about it, especiallyfor the ages you are talking about.
4) Small arcade that had some games for kids our age.
5) Good foodcourt that wasn't so big we couldn't see the kids at all times even when they slipped away from us.
6) Nice path along the river where we could watch ducks and squirrels.
7) Only one bus stop -- even when sharing with POR at POFQ you are the first on and first off. We found at night around closing that POFQ didn't share a bus and since there were fewer people at the resort the line was never as long as the one at POR and other moderates.
8) There is lots of open space for the boys to run, throw the ball and/or just goof off.
9) The playground is a nice size for that age (If you DS is a climber then you can also use the playground at POR which is more rustic and bigger)
10) If we wanted we could walk to POR and do some "Huck Finn" fishing (I didn't much care for putting the worm on the hook but for my DS I did do that -- yuk! I'm not a country girl).

Of course, we always requested connecting rooms and didn't share a room. The time away from each other was good for the boys since we were together for 7 days.

The value resorts, for me, are always way too crowded with too many people. We find the POFQ to suit our needs well -- especially for the age you are talking about and without my DH it is still very navigable and easy to get around.

 

[marc1477]

CBR has good bus service in my opinion.

 

[CheshireVal]

Another vote for bus service at Pop. It's one of the best I've experienced. AKL is also pretty good.

 

[Drizzo67]

Another vote for POFQ. We stayed at CBR - too many stops. Even with stopping at POR after our pickup at POFQ it did not seem as long as the pickups at CBR. The pool is fun, the resort is recently refurbished (within the last 2 years) and the small size makes it easy to get to your room from the bus with a very tired child without too much fuss.

If you have the $$$$ do stay at AKL. I have only heard great things and your DS will probably love the theming. Every one I know who has stayed there loves the transportation - claimed it was the best. We are planning a trip there (just me and DD) for November 06.

 

[leahannpen]

Excellent answers...just what I was looking for, thank you! It all depends on price now. Once we pick a date, the best price will win. I'm actually leaning toward POFQ since it's quite (one thing I hated about A.S.Mo.) althought CR would be convienient for the MK...that all depends on $. AK is a close second though as I've never stayed there. If I can get a good rate, that might win!

Thank you!

 

[Tinkbell]

I've stayed at the Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Boardwalk Inn. For bus transportation, I'd say AKL is the winner, simply because they do not share their bus transportation with other resorts. It made for a less crowded and quicker bus ride.