I had visited Disney World for many years before ever staying at a moderate resort. So upon my first stay at a moderate resort, the Caribbean Beach, I was delightfully surprised at the bus system. When a small child and when the prices for the deluxe resorts were more affordable (from my parent’s purse), I had stayed in the monorail resorts. I had even spent many, many nights in the value resorts utilizing their bus system.
I will say that I am a fan of the Disney bus system. It is a good way for a family to get to their resort from the airport and to also get to each of the parks and Downtown Disney. The buses allow families to travel together in air conditioned comforts with no additional costs. For larger families, this is especially a perk in that they may even require more than one car rental per visit.
I love the trips to Disney when the bus system fairy is on your side and the Disney buses magically appear at the stop of choice at just the right time. Of course, there are also trips where that same fairy seems to be on vacation themselves, as the wait for the buses seems to stretch on for hours (or in my mind, several attractions worth of wait time). But even when the bus system fairy is on my side on a particular trip and I have hardly any waits, there are always the long walks from the bus pickup area to my standard resort room at the value resort. (I hear you, purchase preferred rooms!)
So upon my first visit at the moderate resort, I was delighted and confused to find that the buses picked up the guests from various bus stops all around the parameter of the resort! Why had I not been contacted by So upon my first visit at the moderate resort, I was delighted and confused to find that the buses picked up the guests from various bus stops all around the parameter of the resort! Why had I not been contacted by Disney on this matter! I mean, really, who knew! I found this to be so nice! The ride around the resort was short before continuing to the parks or Downtown Disney. This allowed guests at the moderate resorts to travel within the resort to the check-in building or restaurants with less walking and more air conditioning! How great is that! And even when waiting on the buses at the various locations around the moderate resort, benches could be found.
So if you are planning on using the bus while staying at this resort, you more than likely will find that you do less walking when using the buses than you would if you were staying at the value resorts. And let me tell you, when visiting the Disney World Resort, less walking is definitely a perk!
(Photo credit: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, NDM#118)
Contributed by: Natalie H. Natalie is the Disney Driven Life’s resident resort expert.
