Bus system for Deluxe Resorts

[captainkidd]

Does anyone think Disney should have a better bus system for the Deluxe Resorts? I was just reading a thread about a horrible bus experience at the AKL and it got me thinking. It used to be "You get what you pay for." In some respects, it's still true. You pay to stay Deluxe, you get bigger rooms, closer to the parks, etc. However, the bus service at the Deluxe Resorts notoriously is lousy. Should Disney revamp the system?

 

[DisneyRunner]

Not sure why so many are complaining about sitting in air-conditioned busses. I'd much rather do that than walk though a huge resort parking lot to get to my hot rental car and climbing into the hot leather seats and then driving 5 miles while waiting for the air-conditioner to cool down the inside of the car enough to where you finally quit sweating.:lol:

:ROFLOL:

I've been on the shared BW/YC/Swolphin, bus route during the day, it wasn't bad. Then this year, again during the day, my family took a bus to MK from Dolphin. I expected to turn right and continue on, but we were the only ones on the bus and headed right to MK.:shrug: Also, I was at YC or BC, last August, a CM had to call to find out when the EPCOT bus was coming. As far as DTD goes, any bus to or from there, avoid at all costs. It can take over an hour, regardless of the resort you stay at.

 

[zjer]

I like the buses. They're our designated driver.

Exactly! A couple beers and then let someone else do the driving.

 

[AgentP65]

Our past two trips, GF and POLY, we have paid to take cabs to non monorail places due to long waits, and this is at slow season, would never know that as these resorts. Long waits are about 45mins to an hour. Busses show up, 4-6 people get on, and wait some more. We took bus back from DHS on last trip to GF, an hour bus ride, we were the last stop! Too many people at premium resorts for the current system. Solution? Not sure. A bus for each resort operating every twenty minutes as is supposed to be at other resorts like POP and CBR? probably the best solution for now.

Just returned home today following a 7-night stay at Poly. The bus always stopped first at CR and was crowded by the time it arrived at Poly. We were unable to board on several occasions. And this was during the "slow" season! We decided to walk over to TTC to catch busses to AK and HS. The TTC busses are on a schedule (12-min cycle) in contrast to the deluxe monorail resort busses which can take 20 min (or more) to arrive. The other advantage is that the TTC busses run direct to the parks.

We had a dinner ADR at Sanaa and decided to take a cab back to the Poly. We were unwilling to take a bus from AKL-Kidani to DTD and then be required to change to a Poly bus. That is just ridiculous! The cab fare from AKL-Kidani to Poly was $20. The cost was worth it to get back to our room more efficiently and avoid a very long ride on 2 different bus routes.

We also take a cab to/from DTD to Poly. Again, the cost is about $20, but we are willing to pay it since we place a high value on our time while on holiday at WDW.

In addition, bus service from HS to deluxe monorail resorts is notoriously poor. We have had problems (long waits, over-crowded bus) with bus service from HS to both GF and Poly. It's a huge annoyance.

Since Disney does not have a resort-to-resort transportation system in place, it would almost appear as if they are discouraging guests from dining (or visiting/shopping) at other on-property resorts. Unless we rent a car for our next trip, we won't be dining at any resort other than our home resort. The only exception would be another monorail resort. It's easy to eat at Citrico's,
V&A, Narcoossee's, CM and CG if we stay at Poly.


we have also had problems

We

 

[mickey2008.1]

Agent, you get it! It is about quality time. Sure it is free, But is it worth the wait? Not IMO. At the end of a long day, I just want to get back. If I wait for 2 monorails, usually the most, actually the most, so be it. It's a less aggravating area for some reason. Must be because of off season. But the buses are just pitiful here any time of year it seems to non monorail parks. Just find another couple, split the cab, get there, and no headaches, and only lose at most

20 bucks for the day. Disney Transportation is a perk! And a good one! Only if you dont mind waiting. And I will say, the values seem to have more buses ready . just my obsevation. Cant always have everything I guess.

 

[surfsupdon]

The busses at Deluxe Resorts have always been a pain with the numerous stops, just like at a Value/Moderate Resort.

We just got back from Yacht Club last week and were happy that Yacht/Beach had its own bus to/from both theme parks (AK & MK). We never once stopped at Swan/Dolphin or BoardWalk. We used busses primarily in the mornings and then again to return around 11am. Then again around 5 and back home at closing. Busses were dedicated for our Resort. which had not been the case any other trip.

Maybe we just got lucky.

We don't go to Downtown Disney, so I cannot comment on that.

But it was nice to have dedicated bus service each time.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I like the buses and don't mind waiting....but I do think they can tweak the deluxe resorts service a bit. We stayed at Dolphin and made the usual rounds at Swan, Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Club. The buses were LOADED!! And, there were always people left behind because there was no room. As some of the previous posters have mentioned, it's nice that they are making some changes during peak times....hopefully it stays that way. We ate at Poly once too and had a really hard time getting on bus to leave for the Studios. I think we wound up just walking to TTC and going from there. :wave:

Usually for the MK, the buses are split for YC/BC and then Swa/Dolp/BW. DTD and AK are still shared between all the resorts.

 

[BrittanyRose428]

Is it weird that I've never had a bad bus experience? Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself now for when I'm there in December. I remember waiting for what felt like a while for a bus at Shades of Green, but I don't think those buses come as often as the other ones? Not sure I could be wrong about that... but no major issues. Theres been times where I've had to stand, but I stand every time I'm on a bus or a subway at home and it doesn't even phase me. :shrug:

 

[bugsbunny]

I fell for the notion that deluxe vs value meant it would awesome service. :ROFLOL: If you do the math, one would think that 2000+ rooms at Pop versus 700 at WL, I will have better service at WL since you can use the boat as well as the buses to get places. Boy was I wrong. I waited an HOUR to get a bus to Epcot one evening around 5pm. The only reason we even got a bus was because we complained. When it showed up, it got halfway to Epcot and turned around to go to FtW since they too were waiting so long. Not making this up!

I called Le Cellier and told them my situation and they were gracious enough to hold our table. It ended up taking 1 hour and 45 minutes from the time I was at the WL bus stop until I made it to the front gate of Epcot. JOY!!

And to top that off, my Downtown Disney bus also served GF and Poly!! THREE HOTELS ON ONE DD BUS!!! We were picked up first at WL and then proceeded to take 45 minutes to get to downtown with all the stops. Coming back was INSANE! The bus stop at DD is a joke and now you have 3 hotels crammed into one stop where quite frankly there is no semblance or the ability to make a queue. That was an hour return trip when you added in the 2 scooters that had to get on and off at GF.

I complained to WDW about both instances as well as other issues I had at WL. They comp'd me with 3 4-day hoppers, so certainly took my complaints seriously, but after spending $3k just in lodging, I don't feel its worth the money or headache. I might try a deluxe again someday, but the rack rates are just exorbitant and what exactly do you get that's any better than a value? A better themed pool?

 

[bugsbunny]

My thoughts exactly!

I agree, but I'm telling you, the first time you get in a bus snafu you won't believe it.

I did the Illumination cruise at Epcot. Driver took his time getting back and dropped us off at Yacht Club. We walked back through International Gateway and went counter clockwise around lake to Mexico and then finally out of the park. We had to wait 45 minutes IN LINE for a bus to CB and that bus was standing room only.

One day, everybody finally gets their taste of what happens when WDW buses aren't running smooth, believe me. For me, its never been an extra 15 minutes, its usually 45-60! :ROFLOL:

I gave up though on the buses. Just drive my car. Park at Contemp parking lot, going to Chef Mickey's , and then walk over to MK. Same for Epcot through the Yacht Club. Did it for the first time last trip and it was awesome to not have stand in line and then get shanghai'd by 2 scooters that come at the last minute and get on the bus before you!

 

[freediverdude]

I've complained about this for years, don't get me started, lol. DVC owners looked into this in detail, as they had a complaint about whether the BWV was getting overcharged for bus service a while back. Apparently the sharing buses situation is due to each resort being charged for bus service, and some of them don't want to pay for individual resort service based on the number of rooms vs. say a value resort. (DVC did get it straightened out apparently over splitting the Boardwalk's payment between BWV and BWI, don't know the specifics on that.)

Anyway, yes, paying those kind of prices and not having resort specific buses is absolutely ridiculous, and looks bad to the average guest. But don't get me started on the fact that the Epcot resorts should have monorail service anyway, another rant for another thread.

 

[jbmagda]

There is a bus, it is a blue school bus, that does a loop between the Contem, GF, Poly and the TTC.

 

[captainkidd]

There is a bus, it is a blue school bus, that does a loop between the Contem, GF, Poly and the TTC.

:lookaroun

 

[PhilharMagician]

The short bus??