[MerlinMatt]

Since I'm not quite up to speed on my second day's TR, I figured I'd do my quick buses overview.

On another thread a few weeks back, some folks talked about the Disney "vortex" and how easy it is to get sucked into spending more money. That is, IMO, how Disney uses the buses to serve the Values.

Make no mistake, the bus service is generally very adequate, particularly in the morning when they are trying to get you to the park and even mid-day when you're trying to "park hop."

However, towards the end of the day, particularly at closing time, that's when Disney dangles the carrot. We noticed that quite frequently, Pop Century and All-Star lines were much longer than the other resorts and it was very common so see numerous buses for the Moderate and Deluxe resorts picking up people and leave with half-empty buses. Many time we found ourselves saying, "next time, we should stay at a non-Value resort."

At that point, we were caught in the vortex. Disney is extraordinarily good at up-selling and this is one of the many ways that they do it.

Overall, we only had 3 uncomfortable waits for a bus. Once at Epcot closing, once at MK closing and once waiting to get over to DTD from the resort. Otherwise, we were quite pleased. However, we tabulated that we spent no less than 75 minutes and up to 2.5 hours each day either waiting for or riding on a bus. The shorter waits and shorter trips for the other resorts would save a great deal of time.

Here's my conclusion:
- The Values are IDEAL for your first and/or second trip. If you're only using the resort as a place to crash and are taking a "no holds barred" commando approach to seeing Disney, then the buses are more than adequate.
- The Values begin to lose their lustre if you like to walk or just hang out and relax.
- Disney does this intentionally to get folks to come back and spend more money on an upgrade next time.

[tinkerbell]

our solution for the bus lines at the close of the parks is to sit and wait out the crowd.
by the time we get to the bus line there is hardly anyone else waiting. I have never noticed any difference in bus service at the deluxe/moderates or values .. my DH thinks the PC has the best so far. and as for Deluxe bus service ..last August we waited over an hour for a bus to MGM.

[disneyguy]

That is a wonderful observation!!!! I am sooooooo divided about the Values. On one hand I liked the price, but I think sometimes it is better just to go for the Moderates, and is not putting up with the lack of service sometimes.

[BDavis932]

In all of our trips to WDW...I never noticed a "lack of service" at the values.

[tinkerbell]

Originally Posted by BDavis932

In all of our trips to WDW...I never noticed a "lack of service" at the values.

ditto .. I have seen worse service at the moderates and even at the Poly. I will never forget last August waiting over an hour at the CBR for a bus to MK where we had a PS and were to meet ilvminnie.

[asp8tis]

I have to say I've never really noticed a difference, either. We typically stay at moderates, but did try ASMu last year and had no complaints about Disney transportation (we were there in Jan, if that makes any difference). I do think it's true that you can encounter long waits occasionally at the moderates, too. I haven't stayed at a deluxe since I was a kid (& there were no buses then!), so unfortunately I can't comment on that (Maybe someday...)

[MissDisney]

I feel like WDW is the perfect example of "getting what you pay for." We just take that all in stride. You can absolutely tell the difference in a spacious, well-appointed room at GF (which we have never been able to afford but have looked into while "touring" the hotel!) and its counterpart at Riverside, which will be comfortable but smaller and less cushy. And that is OK. Sometimes we can afford a really swanky room, and sometimes we are on a budget.
The most noticeable thing, for me, is that the Deluxe GF, CR, etc. buses always seem to be the ones closest to the park, and the Values are the farthest away... I only noticed that on the way home to at 3 p.m. on hot days while juggling two angry babies! I kept thinking, "Wow! If I had sprung for Grand Floridian, I'd be on the bus by now!

[tinkerbell]

You know alot of people dont realize that the deluxe resorts share busses too .. like to the AKL , MGM, DTD and water parks. Sure you can get on the monorail for MK and Epcot (for Epcot there is still a change over at TTC) and I have stood on busses at AKL and the Poly

ooo and I can remember hearing people complain too about how they paid too much to stay at a resort like the AKL and have stand on the buss !! I just smiled .. lol proof money cant buy everything

[downsouthtigger]

I figured this would be what you were going to say about the buses.
I totally agree with this, as I stated in my story about waiting at Disney westside one night in the cold after watching a movie!
The buses when I stayed at AKL and PO-FQ, were a lot quicker and more frequent. Although leaving AK one day and older couple said they had waited an hour for the AKL bus.
Then again on the other hand in closing MK one night I noticed 3-4 buses to pick up crowds from the all stars, and only 1 bus for PO-fq. Due to the crowds at FQ we all fit into one bus, the resort is that small. The All-stars needed those 4 buses.
As for moderates, after watching the crowds I think I would shy away from any one but FQ, as the lines/crowds were very long at the end of the day.
Deluxes, I've noticed have smaller crowds, which I suppose is why the bus service seems better?
As much as I love the buses, I think I may end up driving from now on, well except for MK, no way will I fight the lines for the ferry boat or the monorail at night!

[tinkerbell]

I have been a little afraid to mention this, but I never have to stand on a bus any more. But I choose to stand. In most cases so do my granddaughter's .
the reason I dont have to stand is that DH is always loaded on to the bus first and is often the only w/c waiting. And once he is strapped down safely we are allowed to board the bus. I always stand right behind his w/c and hold on, giving everyone else that stood in line a chance to get a seat. The girls always give up their seats to small children, older people and pregnant women or those holding babies.
We love the buses ..crowded or not ..long lines or not.

[mickaholic4077]

As for waiting for the monorail at night after a long day-do what I do:use the resort monorail. You will board it that much sooner and it is less crowded. So what if you have two stops til you reach the TTC?

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by mickaholic4077

As for waiting for the monorail at night after a long day-do what I do:use the resort monorail. You will board it that much sooner and it is less crowded. So what if you have two stops til you reach the TTC?

Actually, it's often faster to take the Resort monorail rather than the "Express," although there's a bit of luck. What I've noticed is that they generally run three express trains and two resort trains. So, you *may* have to wait a bit longer for a resort train, but the line is generally shorter and with only the one stop at the Contemporary, the trip is usually faster.

[sandanv1]

I think the worse wait we ever had was at DTD at closing time. The line for All Stars resorts was so long!! We waited through 3 busses that were jammed full. We saw other busses for other resorts leave half empty. It was frustrating after a long day. But we waited and were lucky to finally get a seat. We really never had a hard time with other resorts.

[WVWISEGUY]

We stayed at PC in March, and my wife and I agreed that the PC has the best bus service at WDW. We stayed at the Poly last June and spent much more time waiting on buses. I agree with Tink that when leaving the parks at closing, we take our time getting to the buses to avoid the big line.

[Smayco]

Originally Posted by WVWISEGUY

We stayed at PC in March, and my wife and I agreed that the PC has the best bus service at WDW. We stayed at the Poly last June and spent much more time waiting on buses. I agree with Tink that when leaving the parks at closing, we take our time getting to the buses to avoid the big line.

I was at PC in April, and I didn't have any problems with bus service either. I don't think I ever waited more than 15 mins for a bus, with the one exception of the night we were at MK at closing. But even that night, the (ultra-long!)line moved quickly and we probably only waited 30 mins or so.

~Sue