Bus Service - Need Advice

[NYwdwfan]

We need to get to HS for rope drop to try to get my son into JTA - they sign up for performances for the day first thing in the morning. We are staying at Poly and have, quite frankly, been REPEATEDLY lied to about bus service hours, drop points, frequency of busses, etc. So I figured I'd ask the REAL experts!!! What time do the busses start running and what time do you think I need to be at the bus stop to get to HS for the opening. THANKS!!

 

[RAXIP]

According to The Hub:

Between Resorts and Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios™, or Animal Kingdom

• Buses begin running from Resort approximately 1 hour prior to Park opening.
• Buses arrive at the Park approximately 30 minutes prior to Park opening.

 

[ml123_9]

We need to get to HS for rope drop to try to get my son into JTA

What is JTA?
I agree with the above post. Busses start 1hr prior to park opening.

 

[NYwdwfan]

That's what I thought - concierge told me they run at 7 for a 9am opening and I knew it didn't dound right. I'm going to get to the bus stop by 10 to 8 and hope for the best!!

 

[NYwdwfan]

Jedi Training Academy

 

[Nemo14]

You might want to just do a taxi if you have to be there at that time.

 

[CleveRocks]

I know what The Hub is. But frankly, it's incorrect in this instance. Buses start running from ther resorts around 6:30 a.m. every day. I not only know this from riding them ... and from seeing them (from a MK-view room at Poly), but also from two different CM bus drivers on another board.

Anyone who wants to can stand at any resort bus stop early in the morning to prove to themselves that The HHub is incorrect here.

Are you at WDW right now? The very VERY best way to find out bus info is to ask a bus driver! Seriously, ask any bus driver CM, they know the real information. And since your question is about morning runs, your best bet is to ask drivers working the morning shift.

 

[RAXIP]

I know what The Hub is. But frankly, it's incorrect in this instance. Buses start running from ther resorts around 6:30 a.m. every day. I not only know this from riding them ... and from seeing them (from a MK-view room at Poly), but also from two different CM bus drivers on another board..

Not exactly, these earlier buses are probably part of Early Morning Character Breakfast and Bibbidi Bobbiti Boutique Transportation

•Early morning character breakfast transportation for resort guests with a priority seating at a Walt Disney World theme park or resort location is available.
•Advise guest to be at the designated bus loading zone 60 minutes prior to seating time.

Theses buses would run earlier than the official start of theme park bus transportation, since Character Dining starts before the parks officially open.

So yes, buses do start running around 6:30-7:00, but getting on a bus that early would be pointless, if you are trying to get to the park for it's official opening at 9.

 

[stphnbogert]

Yeah I would say if you want to get there when the rope drops then I would say an hour minimum to be front in line. good luck though! let us know if you get in and sign up! =D

 

[stefan74]

When we stayed at the Grand Floridian last year we were at each park at opening and at the front of the crowd for the rope drop. We left the resort an hour before the park opened and never had a problem getting there early. We got to Animal Kingdom early and were chosen as one of the families to open the park...that was fun. Good luck to you and I hope your family has a Magical time!

 

[Billy6]

Not exactly, these earlier buses are probably part of Early Morning Character Breakfast and Bibbidi Bobbiti Boutique Transportation

•Early morning character breakfast transportation for resort guests with a priority seating at a Walt Disney World theme park or resort location is available.
•Advise guest to be at the designated bus loading zone 60 minutes prior to seating time.

Theses buses would run earlier than the official start of theme park bus transportation, since Character Dining starts before the parks officially open.

So yes, buses do start running around 6:30-7:00, but getting on a bus that early would be pointless, if you are trying to get to the park for it's official opening at 9.

So, this being said...Do the CM bus drivers check to see if you have an early seating time, or will they pick you up regardless if you are there before 1 hour prior to park openning? I am planning a early character breakfast in June and am trying to see, myself when transportation starts to be there for an 8am-ish reservation...If I am at the bus stop at 7-715, there will be a bus for me to get to MK that early?

 

[lilclerk]

So, this being said...Do the CM bus drivers check to see if you have an early seating time, or will they pick you up regardless if you are there before 1 hour prior to park openning? I am planning a early character breakfast in June and am trying to see, myself when transportation starts to be there for an 8am-ish reservation...If I am at the bus stop at 7-715, there will be a bus for me to get to MK that early?

They've never checked me. I got the bus from WL to MK at 7:15 this past August without a dining reservation. I was the only one on the bus, but the driver didn't care.

 

[CleveRocks]

Not exactly, these earlier buses are probably part of Early Morning Character Breakfast and Bibbidi Bobbiti Boutique Transportation

•Early morning character breakfast transportation for resort guests with a priority seating at a Walt Disney World theme park or resort location is available.
•Advise guest to be at the designated bus loading zone 60 minutes prior to seating time.

Theses buses would run earlier than the official start of theme park bus transportation, since Character Dining starts before the parks officially open.

So yes, buses do start running around 6:30-7:00, but getting on a bus that early would be pointless, if you are trying to get to the park for it's official opening at 9.

Hmm .. maybe the problem is that this is OUTDATED INFORMATION. "Priority seating" hasn't been used since early 2006 ... since that time it's been "advance dining reservations," ADRs.

I can't for the life of me understand what you mean when you write " but getting on a bus that early would be pointless, if you are trying to get to the park for it's official opening at 9." What part is pointless? You get there on time, by bus. Where is the pointlessness? Seriously, there is no restriction that passengers need to have an ADR or a BBB reservation. I've been on the early buses before, personally. I'm not going on book knowledge. I'm going on personal experience: twice, by bad luck, morning Extra Magic Hours were changed between the time I wrote them down at home and that exact day, and even though those parks were now opening at 9 I still got on buses around 7:15 a.m.

In addition, there are two Disney Transport bus drivers on another board who have been consistently excellent sources of information on everything related to Disney Transport bus service.

So, believe me, buses DO run prior to the "hour before park opening."

 

[cymbaldiva]

Rent a car.

 

[AEfx]

That's what I thought - concierge told me they run at 7 for a 9am opening and I knew it didn't dound right. I'm going to get to the bus stop by 10 to 8 and hope for the best!!

That's a good idea. Make sure you are there BEFORE 8, because a lot of times the "first bus at 8" is more like 7:57, etc.

Good luck!

 

[AEfx]

Rent a car.

LOL, that's my preferred method.

I just don't have time in general to spend waiting for buses, dealing with the crowds, and never knowing if the next bus is 5 minutes or 2 hours away. I waited 1.5 hours for a bus from the TTC to AK one day. That and the fact on the same trip I was *AT* the airport 3 hours early for my flight (and they wouldn't allow me to change the time because they don't think I'm responsible enough to make my own travel decisions).

Ever since then, car for me. I usually just drive myself to WDW anyway these days because I don't put up with the airport crap and TSA's security theater. 9 times out of 10 I get where I am going much more quickly, journey without germs flying around (I'm not germphobic but twice I have been on a bus with someone obviously ill being forced on vacation and a day or two later gotten sick myself), my own music, my own wheels - and if I want to make a quick stop outside of the resort to stop at the store, etc., I can.

I know many people hate driving in general and don't want to on vacation, and that's great for them. They can have the buses.