Will we be frustrated the bus transportation?

[Nicole276]

Myself, DH, DD 3, and DS 1. will be going to Disney the end of Jan. We are staying at POR arriving on a Sat and leaving on Wed. We are only going to 2 parks for a day each. Not really worried about that...

Monday night, we are going to the Hoop Dee Doo Review, and then I thought we would stay for the campfire sing along, and maybe the water parade. So, a little worried about getting back to POR after that

Other than that, we have ADR's at several other resorts,, I'm just worried of us getting sick of the transportation and it taking so long to get where we need to go. We are going to Ohana's, GF, FW camp,contemporary, and I want to go to AKL for Sanaa on my B'day supper, but debating becuase we are spending that day at DHS.

I would consider renting a car, but that's extra cost that we technically don't need, plus we would then have to rent car seats etc. What's your experience? Thanks in advance for the advice!!

Nicole 276

 

[Missytara]

POR does share bus service with POFQ at busy times of the day. You are going at a time when it might not be so busy. There are four stops in POR, so study which one is closest to your room; or the great part is in the morning, you can go to the food court and eat breakfast and then exit out the front of the building to the main stop.

I have had excellent luck with the bus service, but I am by myself. I say use it during the day, if you are tired in the evenings, catch a taxi.

Remember, you can go to any park to get to a resort.

I would do AK day and then take the bus over to AKL and back to AK on your birthday and back to your resort.

GF, Poly, and Contemporary are easily reachible by monorail at the MK park. For Fort Wilderness, go the MK and take the boat over.

It takes a bit longer, but you can also take a DTD bus from a resort, and it takes you to the transfer station. From there, you can take a bus or the water taxi back to POR.

 

[Missytara]

I should add that is what is great about POR; you have that extra option of going to DTD and then relax taking the water taxi back in the evening.

 

[skelooch]

Based on the amount of traveling between resorts you are planning, I would strongly suggest renting a car. Yes it is an additional expense but when you consider the amount of time you will spend waiting for and riding buses with two tired small children, it will be money well spent, and probably only be a small percentage of your total vacation cost.
Being that your trip is so short I would think you would want to maximize every possible minute and hour.

Have a great trip whatever you decide.

 

[Pembo]

I'd rent a car too. The buses are great for getting to the 4 parks but other than that it can take a long time.

Check www.Mousesavers.com for car rental codes and you should be able to get a good deal.

Why not gate check your own carseats? I wouldn't want to rent them.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

We made the mistake on our first family trip of making ADR's all over the World. The best advice I can give is if you want to eat at any resort is make sure you plan on being in the closest theme park for that part of the day. For example, if you want to eat at the Contemporary, Poly or Grand Floridian be at the MK.

If you want to eat at any of the Epcot resorts be at either the World Showcase side of Epcot or the Studios.

I don't like using DTD as a transfer point as this can take a lot of time. Maybe you would want to revise your dining plans if you don't want a car or taxi.

 

[alldiz]

Unless renting a car is a lot cheaper.....I would just take a cab!!!
Kerri

 

[mdsd8700]

We always rent a car; for us it saves time and we feel as though it enhances our vacation. For others I know this is not the case. However, you are going to be visiting only a short time and want to do a lot of traveling. It think the buses will be frustrating. Either suggestion of renting a car or taking cabs is a good alternative. You should run the numbers both ways. If you have an entertainment book there are usually good coupons in there. Mousesavers as mentioned is also an excellent source. If you decide it is too much of an extra expense at least you will know you looked at all your choices and made a decision that was best for you. Good luck and have a wonderful trip.

 

[Nicole276]

I'd rent a car too. The buses are great for getting to the 4 parks but other than that it can take a long time.

Check www.Mousesavers.com for car rental codes and you should be able to get a good deal.

Why not gate check your own carseats? I wouldn't want to rent them.

I didn't know if we could check car seats for free. I figured if we did have to pay a fee, it would be close to what it would cost to rent them. Anyone know if there is a fee for this on airtran or southwest? We will also have two umbrella type strollers to gate check as well.

 

[GrazingGoat1966]

You can't check car seats for free on Southwest. They count towards your 2 bag luggage allocation.

 

[skelooch]

Here is Southwest's policy regarding strollers and car seats.

Strollers and Child Restraint Systems (CRSs) or Car Seats
Customers traveling with children will be allowed to check one stroller and one Child Restraint System (CRS) or car seat per child without charge. This is in addition to the regular free baggage allowance.
The stroller and CRS or car seat allowance applies to any type of stroller (umbrella, full size, jogging stroller, etc.) and CRS or car seat.
The Customer may check the stroller and CRS or car seat at the curb, ticket counter, or gate.
Southwest Airlines will not assume liability for damage to strollers, CRSs or car seats. Each should be tagged as conditionally accepted and placed in a plastic bag.

 

[n2mm]

I agree, I would rent a car. January is a slower time and I've always found great deals on car rentals. I would keep an open mind on this option. We love to eat at the different resorts and having the rental car makes it easy. We like that it takes about 15 minutes to get to another resort and by buses and transfers it can take 90 each way. Not how I want to spend my vacation and with the little ones too, ugh. We always bring the carseats when the grandkids comes with us. You can check them with your luggage and it's not really a problem. The only other option I would suggest is using the buses to get to your meal and taking a cab back to your resort. I'm guessing a cab would cost around $10, plus tip (someone may know more exact), so by the time you start adding in this expense, a rental car may be worth while for you. You could also take DME and pick up a rental car at the MK locations or Swan/Dolphin location -- though you need to crunch the numbers because the rates are not always the same.

 

[daddey]

I didn't know if we could check car seats for free. I figured if we did have to pay a fee, it would be close to what it would cost to rent them. Anyone know if there is a fee for this on airtran or southwest? We will also have two umbrella type strollers to gate check as well.

We used to be in a similar situation. We would take our car seat with us and use it on the plane to strap in our littlest one.(we flew Southest) Check your strollers at the gate. The car seat had a carrying bag (Costco Scenera) and I don't know if others are the same but some investigating might pay off for you. My wife would start looking for a rental way out from our arrival date and could usually get a really good deal. You just have 4 so you should be able to get a good price for the week. With little kids the buses would suck to put it plainly. The rental car gives you a good option. Take your GPS if you aren't skilled at navigating Orlando.

I would go that route with a rental. We now use buses but ours are ds(14), ds(9), dd(8), and dd(3 almost 4) so it works out for us now.

 

[sanibelover]

We stayed at POFQ and took the bus to Cali Grill at the Contemporary - took well over 90 minutes to return after dinner - we always rent a car but decided to try the bus - probably won't ever take the bus again. It wasn't unpleasant, but with 2 small kiddos, a car is the way to go!!

 

[deegack]

If you do decide to rent a car, bring your own car seats. I have heard horror stories about rental car seats. You don't know if they have been in an accident, they are often dirty, you don't know if they have been stored correctly or if they are expired.

Its just not worth it.

I assume you have a seat for your 3 year old. If you also have one for you 1 year old (which I would recommend as it is the safest way for them to travel) bring the car seat on board and use it.

 

[clkelley]

Monday night, we are going to the Hoop Dee Doo Review, and then I thought we would stay for the campfire sing along, and maybe the water parade. So, a little worried about getting back to POR after that

No problem there, around 9:15pm and around 11:30pm, there will be buses leaving Fort Wilderness from the Settlement Depot going directly to all resorts. This is set up for folks leaving the 7:30 and 9:30 Hoop De Doo, but anyone that shows up and boards can ride. You may stop at other resorts along the way.

Other than that, we have ADR's at several other resorts,, I'm just worried of us getting sick of the transportation and it taking so long to get where we need to go. We are going to Ohana's, GF Bus to Magic Kingdom, Monorail, FW camp Bus to Magic Kingdom, boat,contemporary Bus to Magic Kingdom, walk, and I want to go to AKL for Sanaa Bus from DHS directly to AKLon my B'day supper, but debating becuase we are spending that day at DHS. Perhaps take a taxi for the return

I would consider renting a car, but that's extra cost that we technically don't need, plus we would then have to rent car seats etc. What's your experience? Thanks in advance for the advice!! I wouldn't!!

Nicole 276

Most of these are really easy since you are on/near the monorail resorts and the Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is generally open later than any other park on most nights, so a quick monorail ride or walk to the Magic Kingdom and then a bus back.

Leaving dinner at Saana, a taxi would be your best bet.

 

[kellydizfan]

You can take the boat from Fort Wilderness over to MK and then the bus to POR. Or you can take the internal bus to the main bus area, grab the bus to DTD and then the POR bus back to the resort. I myself wouldn't rent a car. Same thing for the other restaurants. Just hop a bus from any of the parks to the resort you are going or the DTD bus and then hop the bus to the resort. Very easy no need to rent a car. Just make sure you leave yourself enough time to get from one place to the other.