Which resort has the better bus service?

[firstwdw]

AKL or CSR? Are the bus rides longer from AKL to MK, EPCOT and HS than the bus from CSR? We go back and forth often between the parks and not a fan of long bus rides but was wondering if there is much of a difference in travel times between these two resorts to the parks based on those with personal experience?

 

[loves to dive]

Everything is far from MK except the monorail resorts and WL/FW. AKL and CSR are actually pretty close to each other. CSR is a tad closer to Epcot and HS. The bus service is the bus service is the bus service. It's good and bad at every single resort/park.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/maps...-disney-world-property-map-september-2020.htm

 

[Lewisc]

CSR has many internal bus stops. Guests at first stop may be touring CSR for 15 minutes. Guests waiting at the last stop might wave as a full bus skips your stop.

Less of an issue at akl

 

[Farro]

We stayed at Gran Destino in October.

I can say we never had a full bus pass us by, even during the morning hours. Always able to fit. And once on our way to parks, very short rides to each park.

I will be honest - we had a really hard time with the bus most days. Long waits a couple times from the hotel to the park, especially during afternoon. But coming home was pretty bad. Often our waits were over 45 minutes and heaven forbid if you left a park during non-busy times -we waited over an hour twice.

Now we may have just had bad luck, happens to me with a lot of things , but that's our experience.

 

[firstwdw]

We stayed at Gran Destino in October.

I can say we never had a full bus pass us by, even during the morning hours. Always able to fit. And once on our way to parks, very short rides to each park.

I will be honest - we had a really hard time with the bus most days. Long waits a couple times from the hotel to the park, especially during afternoon. But coming home was pretty bad. Often our waits were over 45 minutes and heaven forbid if you left a park during non-busy times -we waited over an hour twice.

Now we may have just had bad luck, happens to me with a lot of things , but that's our experience.

THANK YOU for your honest review. We are leaning towards AKL but we like the pools better and the open space at CSR so was trying to narrow it down a bit.

 

[Farro]

THANK YOU for your honest review. We are leaning towards AKL but we like the pools better and the open space at CSR so was trying to narrow it down a bit.

We really loved Gran Destino - the actual hotel itself. Gorgeous! We loved Three Bridges, ate there 3 times! CSR grounds overall were very pretty, but for the first time we definitely didn't feel like were "at Disney". I can't put my finger on it, just felt like we could have been anywhere in the US. But it was lively at night, fun atmosphere.

If we were to stay at a resort that only had bus service available again, we definitely would choose AKL next time. We went to dinner at Boma and bam! - Disney feel all over.

 

[firstwdw]

We really loved Gran Destino - the actual hotel itself. Gorgeous! We loved Three Bridges, ate there 3 times! CSR grounds overall were very pretty, but for the first time we definitely didn't feel like were "at Disney". I can't put my finger on it, just felt like we could have been anywhere in the US. But it was lively at night, fun atmosphere.

If we were to stay at a resort that only had bus service available again, we definitely would choose AKL next time. We went to dinner at Boma and bam! - Disney feel all over.

Oh this is so helpful! Thank you! It's a bit more to stay at AKL but we have a teen in high school and only so many more spring vacations so I can justify it CSR does look beautiful but I really want that Disney feel!

 

[eandt]

Oh this is so helpful! Thank you! It's a bit more to stay at AKL but we have a teen in high school and only so many more spring vacations so I can justify it CSR does look beautiful but I really want that Disney feel!

Have you thought of renting points from a DVC owner? You will most likely pay less than it cost for CSR and get all that a villa has to offer. If you will have a car the parking is free if staying on rented points.

 

[purpliequeen]

I will say that I actually thought AKL had the best bus service out of most villas/deluxe resorts (family owns DVC). AKL just shares between Jambo and Kidani. Just two stops. This is better than many deluxe/villa resorts. Example: I was kind of surprised staying at the Beach Club/Boardwalk Inn that they somtimes share with Swan/Dolphin. SSR has multiple stops within the resort. Same with OKW, etc. Granted... I can only speak to SSR since COVID hit so perhaps I'm out of the loop. But yes - just trying to say that AKL wasn't that bad because of only two "internal" stops.

 

[Lewisc]

: I was kind of surprised staying at the Beach Club/Boardwalk Inn that they somtimes share with Swan/Dolphin.

S D no longer use Disney buses. They contracted with Mears. Buses to the MK load and unload at TTC

 

[DizneyFamof4]

FYI; If you do look into DVC points, Studios are the only option that will be around the cost of CSR. i.e. (using David's DVC) June 19-25 CSR Standard = $1740 (Rack Rate) and AKL Standard Studio = $1615 but once you move up to the 1 Bdrm the price literally doubles to $3230. Also, if it matters, Studio's and 1 Bedroom's only comes with 1 real bed and then pullouts.

WDW Transportation in general is hit or miss and for buses we have had better service at Mods and Values over Deluxe. We have stayed at CSR 10+ stays and we rarely had any long wait issues and can say that we've had very good bus service more times then not. Our 2 stays at AKL were also very good. But, I will say that we do not go back and forth between park and resort, we much rather stay at the park and if we need a break we would find a spot to relax. Because, other than the monorail resorts to/from MK, for us, it just felt like we wasted time. With all that said I would pick AKL if not a lot more $$.

 

[firstwdw]

FYI; If you do look into DVC points, Studios are the only option that will be around the cost of CSR. i.e. (using David's DVC) June 19-25 CSR Standard = $1740 (Rack Rate) and AKL Standard Studio = $1615 but once you move up to the 1 Bdrm the price literally doubles to $3230. Also, if it matters, Studio's and 1 Bedroom's only comes with 1 real bed and then pullouts.

WDW Transportation in general is hit or miss and for buses we have had better service at Mods and Values over Deluxe. We have stayed at CSR 10+ stays and we rarely had any long wait issues and can say that we've had very good bus service more times then not. Our 2 stays at AKL were also very good. But, I will say that we do not go back and forth between park and resort, we much rather stay at the park and if we need a break we would find a spot to relax. Because, other than the monorail resorts to/from MK, for us, it just felt like we wasted time. With all that said I would pick AKL if not a lot more $$.

Thank you! AKL standard view ended up being A LOT more than CSR in the end. Yes I have looked into renting points and we really do need two real beds. Thank you for your examples though!!! helpful!!!!

 

[lovedisneycruise]

THANK YOU for your honest review. We are leaning towards AKL but we like the pools better and the open space at CSR so was trying to narrow it down a bit.

In my opinion no pool at Disney compares to AKL pool. It is stunning with beautiful foliage, there are shady areas too and you feel removed from the “real world.” It’s magical to me.

 

[Skippyboo]

Coronado Springs is just down the road from AKL. So you are slightly closer to MK, Epcot and HS at CSR. But you have multiple internal bus stops at the resort while at AKL you only stop at Kidani and Jambo. So your time on the bus is probably close to same .

 

[jimmymc]

AKL is very close to Animal Kingdom. CSR is is closer to Epcot and Studios but not by much time-wise, since the busses have to take specific routes to the park.

In my personal experience, AKL tends to have short waits at the end of the day, which is huge for me. No long waits standing in the queue after closing.

I've never had an issue with a full bus at either resort. They run every 5 to 10 minutes in the morning and every 20 during the middle of the day.