WL bus route: updated info needed!

[mggeary]

Hi guys. Hoping someone here can help me figure this out before booking my Nov trip (11/10-11/18). WL is edging out AKL right now, but this may depend on the actual WL bus routes for our travel time.

I have heard antecdotally and from the "transportation" people at Disney that WL buses can share with FW but rarely does so in peak times, such as forst thing in the AM (7:45-8:15 AM pick-up is mostly what i care about). I could live with it occasionally sharing with FW, especially if FW is picked up first. I couldn't live with it picking up at GF or Poly.

Can someone tell me what is currently happening and given that Easter week is likely to be atypical, what i could reasonably expect for the 2nd week of Nov?

Thx very much!

 

[joelkfla]

Hi guys. Hoping someone here can help me figure this out before booking my Nov trip (11/10-11/18). WL is edging out AKL right now, but this may depend on the actual WL bus routes for our travel time.

I have heard antecdotally and from the "transportation" people at Disney that WL buses can share with FW but rarely does so in peak times, such as forst thing in the AM (7:45-8:15 AM pick-up is mostly what i care about). I could live with it occasionally sharing with FW, especially if FW is picked up first. I couldn't live with it picking up at GF or Poly.

Can someone tell me what is currently happening and given that Easter week is likely to be atypical, what i could reasonably expect for the 2nd week of Nov?

Thx very much!

Buses from WL to:

• MK run nonstop (of course, there's also the boat)
• DTD & AK stop at GF
• Epcot stop at FtW.
• DHS stop at either GF or FtW.

I believe most buses from WL to DHS in the a.m. stop at GF, with a few stopping at FtW instead. After 11 a.m., they generally stop at FtW.

 

[backyardponder]

WL is so much closer to the parks (other than AK) than AKL that even with the stops, I think the bus would be faster from WL.

 

[mggeary]

Have others found WL buses to Epcot and DHS quicker than AKL buses, even with extra stops?

 

[goofy4tink]

I never recommend choosing a resort based on their bus service. I have had good bus service at both these resorts. The reason I would consider choosing WL over AKL is the boat service to MK....other than that, not a huge amount of difference. I have had slow service at both resorts.
Choose the resort that gives you the best theming for your group. Bus service can be wonderful today, but awful tomorrow. There is just no way to know beforehand.

 

[Brian Noble]

If minimizing travel time is important to you, it might be worth your while to rent a car.

 

[mggeary]

Just trying my best to avoid too many 45+ min bus trips. Going with two families (4/6 kids will be 4 or under) so minimizing bus travel is key for us. Renting a car with all those car seats and transfers seems like too much hastle. If the buses prove too painful, we can always split a taxi van i suppose. Anyone out there have success with this?

Looks like buses will be essentially a wash between the two, making this a tougher call. If we went with AKL it would probably be a non-Savannah room, maybe pool upgrade. AKL wins out on theming and restaurants with us. WL-MK ferry, particularly after parade/fireworks is appealing though. Would also help if Chef Mickey is on our agenda. Tough call. Anyone know if any of the WL room refurbs will be done by Nov 2012?

 

[TDC Nala]

I agree with Goofy4. You can't choose a resort based on its bus service. There's no way to determine how each and every bus trip will go and/or where the bus will stop or not stop. I was at AKV last weekend, took a bus to the Magic Kingdom, which made an unexpected stop at Blizzard Beach to let off some guests who had mistakenly boarded the wrong bus. If you are worried about long bus trips, and you "can't live" with those, look into renting a car, or expect to pay for taxis. You can never count on a short bus trip on WDW transportation.

 

[Karabee]

Last September when we were there we stayed at WL and we shared with GF, not FW. I'm not sure what determines which resorts share or not, but we always picked up from GF after WL. The only thing that we shared with FW was the boat to MK.