Disney Springs Hotels Bus Information

Buses start 1 hour prior to park opening. The B Resort and Spa is on the "A" route, which runs in this order: Hilton Lake Buena Vista --> Holiday Inn Disney Springs --> B Resort and Spa --> DoubleTree Suites. The pick-up time at the B Resort and Spa would be roughly 7:10am.

Unfortunately, there no longer seems to be a set schedule as to which route travels to which parks. (Each bus travels to two theme parks.) If the bus is scheduled to go to Epcot first, your son should arrive roughly around 7:30am. The walk to the entrance takes about 10 minutes. If the bus is scheduled to go to a different park prior to Epcot, he won't arrive until about 7:50am.

Big Caveat: If the only theme park opening at 8am on that day is Epcot, it's almost certain that the bus will travel directly to Epcot after leaving the Disney Springs Hotels. So if all other parks open at 9am, your son should get to Epcot around 7:30am.
Hey Writerguy, you seem to be 'the man who knows' when it comes to DS hotels transport, so tell me, what in your opinion do you think it will be like this Sept & October with the new 'extra-extra' magic hours each morning? Will someone staying there be able to make it early enough to take advantage or will they miss out despite the EMH entitlements due to impossible bus schedules that cant get you to a DAK, HS or MK at 7 AM?
 
Hey Writerguy, you seem to be 'the man who knows' when it comes to DS hotels transport, so tell me, what in your opinion do you think it will be like this Sept & October with the new 'extra-extra' magic hours each morning? Will someone staying there be able to make it early enough to take advantage or will they miss out despite the EMH entitlements due to impossible bus schedules that cant get you to a DAK, HS or MK at 7 AM?

Sorry, I just saw this question tonight.

The bus service does start 1 hour prior to the opening of each park. If there's only one park opening during that time frame, the bus will go straight to that theme park. So, there shouldn't be any issue getting to Disney's Hollywood Studios as long as you get on the first or second bus (roughly 5am and 5:30 am departures).

Given that the crowds will be focused on Disney's Hollywood Studios, my best guess is that they will set up the second bus to go to the Transportation and Ticket Center (for Magic Kingdom) followed by Disney's Animal Kingdom. To guarantee arrival prior to the 7am starting times for those parks, you'd want to be on the first bus that leaves roughly around 6am.

The good news is that the Disney Springs Hotels transportation is run by Mears Transportation. Mears is a huge company and bigger actually is better in this scenario. If in the first day or two they realize they need more buses, they can easily get both equipment and drivers.

I fully anticipate many off-site hotels to have transportation melt-downs. Many off-site hotels contract with tiny bus companies that won't be able to get extra buses or extra drivers.
 
Sorry, I just saw this question tonight.

The bus service does start 1 hour prior to the opening of each park. If there's only one park opening during that time frame, the bus will go straight to that theme park. So, there shouldn't be any issue getting to Disney's Hollywood Studios as long as you get on the first or second bus (roughly 5am and 5:30 am departures).

Given that the crowds will be focused on Disney's Hollywood Studios, my best guess is that they will set up the second bus to go to the Transportation and Ticket Center (for Magic Kingdom) followed by Disney's Animal Kingdom. To guarantee arrival prior to the 7am starting times for those parks, you'd want to be on the first bus that leaves roughly around 6am.

The good news is that the Disney Springs Hotels transportation is run by Mears Transportation. Mears is a huge company and bigger actually is better in this scenario. If in the first day or two they realize they need more buses, they can easily get both equipment and drivers.

I fully anticipate many off-site hotels to have transportation melt-downs. Many off-site hotels contract with tiny bus companies that won't be able to get extra buses or extra drivers.
"Shouldn't be"... "best guess"... Look, until this thing (GE) starts I suppose know one we really knows just how the transportation situation will handle Star Wars? Maybe I will rent a car and stay completely offsite, or maybe I should rent a car and just go with All Stars? One thing I do NOT want on a vacation and that is to spend our time waiting at bus stops ; )
 
Kind of wondering why you even asked then? Whether you use Disney transportation or rent a car, there will be waiting of some kind involved. Just how much is impossible to determine ahead of time.

Thanks Writerguy, as usual your advice and information is greatly appreciated.
 


"Shouldn't be"... "best guess"... Look, until this thing (GE) starts I suppose know one we really knows just how the transportation situation will handle Star Wars? Maybe I will rent a car and stay completely offsite, or maybe I should rent a car and just go with All Stars? One thing I do NOT want on a vacation and that is to spend our time waiting at bus stops ; )

You do know that none of us get paid to answer your questions, right? And none of us actually work for the Disney Springs Hotels or Disney.

If you want more than a best guest, YOU need to do the work and call the hotel and/or Mears Transportation.

Thanks Writerguy, as usual your advice and information is greatly appreciated.

I sincerely appreciate that, disneefan13.
 
There is a picture on the previous page of the pick-up spaces at each park for Disney Springs hotels. It says it is space 63 at Hollywood Studios. Is there a space 63? I only see up to 30something.
 


There is a picture on the previous page of the pick-up spaces at each park for Disney Springs hotels. It says it is space 63 at Hollywood Studios. Is there a space 63? I only see up to 30something.

Disney's Hollywood Studios is finishing up a complete renovation of the layout of the buses. That includes both Disney Resort buses and the charter buses area that the Disney Springs Hotels bus uses.

Thus far, I haven't been able to get a copy of the revised transportation flyer that guests of those hotels receive upon check-in. (My last trip up to Disney World didn't end up happening.) Once I get something official, I'll update the first post in this thread.

The photo you reference is the old information. That said, it's not something about which to stress. The drop-off location is the same as the pick-up location. If you are park-hopping and your day is ending at Disney's Hollywood Studios, just look for the signs that list which buses use each individual bus stop. You will also find a Disney Cast Member who can tell you exactly where to go.
 
So I didn't read the whole thread but did read the bus info. It says Disney springs resort buses stop 90 minutes after regular park closing. So if I'm going to an after hours party no bus back? So dis ey busses run to Disney springs that late so I can just walk back or plan on an Uber ?
 
Correct, Timhags. The Disney Springs Hotels bus system only supports "normal" operating hours (including Extra Magic Hours). For special hard-ticketed events, you're on your own as far as transportation is concerned.

Also, I wouldn't plan on using a Disney bus to get to Disney Springs unless you leave the event early. From the Disney website (emphasis mine):

One-way bus service from the 4 Disney theme parks operates daily from 4:00 PM until 11:00 PM or 2 hours after theme parks close, whichever is earlier.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/bus-transportation/
 
Can anyone confirm - if you take the first morning bus from DSR, would you get to each park in time to be near the front of the rope drop crowd? Or would you be arriving just in time for park opening? We were hoping to arrive early and I’m wondering if we need to use Lyft/Uber from the DoubleTree since the buses only begin one hour prior to park opening (which is 9am for all the parks we’re visiting on our stay).
 
Has anyone staying at a Disney Springs Hotel come back from the parks on the shuttle midday (for lunch/nap/pool) then gone back to the parks a few hours later? Do you have to make a shuttle reservation for the second trip? If so when do you need to make that reservation?
 
Correct, Timhags. The Disney Springs Hotels bus system only supports "normal" operating hours (including Extra Magic Hours). For special hard-ticketed events, you're on your own as far as transportation is concerned.

Also, I wouldn't plan on using a Disney bus to get to Disney Springs unless you leave the event early. From the Disney website (emphasis mine):

One-way bus service from the 4 Disney theme parks operates daily from 4:00 PM until 11:00 PM or 2 hours after theme parks close, whichever is earlier.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/bus-transportation/

Thank you. Uber it is

There aren't direct buses to DS after the After Hours events, but there are buses to Disney Hotels after those events, and buses from Disney Hotels to Disney Springs until 1am.

If you're at MK, you can easily walk to the Contemporary and take a bus to Disney Springs. Since Uber can't come directly to MK for pick up, by the time you take the monorail or ferry to the TTC and request and Uber, you could be at the Contemporary's bus stop.

If you're at DHS, walk/boat to the Boardwalk or Swolphin, and catch the bus to Disney Springs.

If you're at AK, you'll have to take a bus, so I'd jump on the first available resort bus, and then transfer to the DS bus there. AK is the only one where I'd really be tempted to Uber, but if a bus is leaving right away, it shouldn't be too bad to transfer.
 
Has anyone staying at a Disney Springs Hotel come back from the parks on the shuttle midday (for lunch/nap/pool) then gone back to the parks a few hours later? Do you have to make a shuttle reservation for the second trip? If so when do you need to make that reservation?

No reservations are necessary.

I work nights, which means when I'm on vacation I'm usually not awake and heading to the theme parks until noon or later. I've never seen a Disney Springs Hotels bus even close to being full when leaving between noon and 6pm. That was true even the week of New Year's, which is one of the busiest weeks of the year.
 
There aren't direct buses to DS after the After Hours events, but there are buses to Disney Hotels after those events, and buses from Disney Hotels to Disney Springs until 1am.

If you're at MK, you can easily walk to the Contemporary and take a bus to Disney Springs. Since Uber can't come directly to MK for pick up, by the time you take the monorail or ferry to the TTC and request and Uber, you could be at the Contemporary's bus stop.

If you're at DHS, walk/boat to the Boardwalk or Swolphin, and catch the bus to Disney Springs.

If you're at AK, you'll have to take a bus, so I'd jump on the first available resort bus, and then transfer to the DS bus there. AK is the only one where I'd really be tempted to Uber, but if a bus is leaving right away, it shouldn't be too bad to transfer.

You can also get on a bus to Saratoga Springs resort ... it is right next to Disney Springs and if you get off at the right bus stop an easy walk to any of the DS hotels.
 
I have been stalking this board for a while and can't seem to find an answer to my question so here I go, hopefully someone can help...
We are staying at the DT Disney Springs this Fall and plan on using the bus. We are a rope drop family! If we get on the first bus, assuming is 8am for a 9am opening, when can we expect to arrive at the parks? Also, if 1 park has EMH, will the bus run early for all parks, or just the park with EMH. Thanks in advance!
 
Also, if 1 park has EMH, will the bus run early for all parks, or just the park with EMH. Thanks in advance!

Second question first (because it influences the other question). I'm not a rope drop person, so this information is based on answers provided bus drivers. I specifically asked about this and was told the following by two different bus drivers.

Disney Springs Hotels buses go to parks that are open or about to open. So, if there is an early Extra Magic Hour (example 7am), the first bus leaves at 6am. If all the other theme parks do not open until 9am, that bus will not go anywhere else. Instead, it will return to a staging area (since there won't be any guests to pick-up) and wait for the next trip on the schedule.

If we get on the first bus, assuming is 8am for a 9am opening, when can we expect to arrive at the parks?

The answer to this question is a bit complicated depending upon when theme parks open.

Scenario 1: Early Extra Magic Hours - First Park to Open
As described above, if there are early Extra Magic Hours happening, there shouldn't be any detours for the first bus going to the first park that opens. You will head directly to the park (or Transportation and Ticket Center for Magic Kingdom). Travel times vary, but you should arrive about 20 to 25 minutes after leaving Hotel Plaza Blvd where all the Disney Springs Hotels are located.

Scenario 2: Early Extra Magic Hours - Second Park to Open
On some dates, there are two theme parks set to host early Extra Magic Hours. For example, Disney's Hollywood Studios will open at 6am and Magic Kingdom opens at 7am. At this point, it is unclear how the buses from the Disney Springs Hotels will operate. They might use two buses, one going to each theme park. In that case, you should arrive about 20 to 25 minutes later.

Or, they might combine both routes on a single bus. If that's how it works, you'd would not arrive at the second theme park on the route until 40 or 45 minutes after leaving Hotel Plaza Blvd.

Scenario 3: One Park with "Regular" Morning Extra Magic Hours
In this scenario, I'm defining "regular" Extra Magic Hours as opening 1 hour early. Example: One theme park opens at 8am and the rest at 9am. If you're heading to the park with Extra Magic Hours on the first bus, you'll arrive 20 to 25 minutes later.

However, if you're heading to the second theme park on a given route, you may have to take a detour to another park. That means that even though you are on the first bus of the day to that park, it still might take 40 to 45 minutes to arrive.

Scenario 4: No Morning Extra Magic Hours
Here, all parks essentially open at the same time. That means 20/25 minutes to the first park and 40/45 minutes to reach the second park.

Because the combinations of which two theme parks are grouped together can vary, you really won't know until that morning whether you will be lucky and head directly to your destination or if you'll have to take the detour.

-----

* IMPORTANT: Everything might change when Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opens. If there are hundreds of people staying at the Disney Springs Hotels all going to Disney's Hollywood Studios, the bus operate (Mears Transportation) might alter the way they run the buses.
 
Second question first (because it influences the other question). I'm not a rope drop person, so this information is based on answers provided bus drivers. I specifically asked about this and was told the following by two different bus drivers.

Disney Springs Hotels buses go to parks that are open or about to open. So, if there is an early Extra Magic Hour (example 7am), the first bus leaves at 6am. If all the other theme parks do not open until 9am, that bus will not go anywhere else. Instead, it will return to a staging area (since there won't be any guests to pick-up) and wait for the next trip on the schedule.



The answer to this question is a bit complicated depending upon when theme parks open.

Scenario 1: Early Extra Magic Hours - First Park to Open
As described above, if there are early Extra Magic Hours happening, there shouldn't be any detours for the first bus going to the first park that opens. You will head directly to the park (or Transportation and Ticket Center for Magic Kingdom). Travel times vary, but you should arrive about 20 to 25 minutes after leaving Hotel Plaza Blvd where all the Disney Springs Hotels are located.

Scenario 2: Early Extra Magic Hours - Second Park to Open
On some dates, there are two theme parks set to host early Extra Magic Hours. For example, Disney's Hollywood Studios will open at 6am and Magic Kingdom opens at 7am. At this point, it is unclear how the buses from the Disney Springs Hotels will operate. They might use two buses, one going to each theme park. In that case, you should arrive about 20 to 25 minutes later.

Or, they might combine both routes on a single bus. If that's how it works, you'd would not arrive at the second theme park on the route until 40 or 45 minutes after leaving Hotel Plaza Blvd.

Scenario 3: One Park with "Regular" Morning Extra Magic Hours
In this scenario, I'm defining "regular" Extra Magic Hours as opening 1 hour early. Example: One theme park opens at 8am and the rest at 9am. If you're heading to the park with Extra Magic Hours on the first bus, you'll arrive 20 to 25 minutes later.

However, if you're heading to the second theme park on a given route, you may have to take a detour to another park. That means that even though you are on the first bus of the day to that park, it still might take 40 to 45 minutes to arrive.

Scenario 4: No Morning Extra Magic Hours
Here, all parks essentially open at the same time. That means 20/25 minutes to the first park and 40/45 minutes to reach the second park.

Because the combinations of which two theme parks are grouped together can vary, you really won't know until that morning whether you will be lucky and head directly to your destination or if you'll have to take the detour.

-----

* IMPORTANT: Everything might change when Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opens. If there are hundreds of people staying at the Disney Springs Hotels all going to Disney's Hollywood Studios, the bus operate (Mears Transportation) might alter the way they run the buses.
Thank you, I really appreciate your response! Is there another method of transportation you'd recommend that allows for 2 car seats? I can't seem to find a better solution than the buses, even though it seems as though we'll miss rope drop (which really messes up how we tour Disney). We avoid parks with EMH typically so all parks would have 9am opening, at least at this point.
 
Thank you, I really appreciate your response! Is there another method of transportation you'd recommend that allows for 2 car seats? I can't seem to find a better solution than the buses, even though it seems as though we'll miss rope drop (which really messes up how we tour Disney). We avoid parks with EMH typically so all parks would have 9am opening, at least at this point.
Minnie Vans go to Disney Springs hotels, and have 2 car seats. They’re obviously more pricey than a bus, but will get you there faster, plus they drop off directly at MK, not the TTC
 

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