transit times via Disney Transportation system

[StacieV]

We're planning a jan 08 trip to disney and staying at the Polynesian. I'm using both the Unofficial guide (can't beat the detail and candor) and the Passporter (love the maps and conciseness) as planning tools.

Both list travel times using Disney's transportation system to/from the parks and the Polynesian. However, they don't agree. Sometimes I think the unofficial guide assumes travel during the high season, but I'm not sure what's going on here as they explain very well where they are getting their numbers from.

However, The unofficial guide's travel times are more than the passporter. Going by the unofficial guide, I might like to rent a car (traveling with a 5 yo). Using the passporter, I'd stick with disney. The passporter is definately more optomistic at times.

What has your experience been on travel times, ease of use, and over all experience with the monorails and busses (esp. if you stayed at the polynesian).

We're concerned as we want to go to downtown disney our first, half day, and the Unofficial guide says it could take over an hour! They also are very realistic about the magicial express from the airport - should i be worried about that? I'd hate to waste that time... but would hate to be driving and parking a car.

[JuniorMickey]

I had Dinner at 'Ohana on September 1st. It took 40 minutes for a DTD bus to show up (this was a Saturday night!) We headed to the bus stop at about 9:45 PM. Considering we were going to PI, it's not an unusual through to want a bus. In that 40 minutes there was a single bus that came.

I always have a car at my disposal as I drive to Disney but use the buses more often than not.

From the poly, you'd monorail to MK and Epcot (to get to Epcot, you have to change rails at the TTC). I've never had a long wait for monorails.

You'll bus to DTD, Disney Studios and Animal Kingdom. AK is going to take the longest as it is the furthest.

Remember that the buses run every 20 minutes or so, if you miss one, you can easily wait 20 minutes for another

[StacieV]

I was just thinking that waiting 20 minutes with a kid will be a long wait. I may want to save my long waits for the rides, LOL!

Would it be easier to catch buses from the TTC? I know from the Polynesian you could walk to the TTC and get the monorail or busses there or use the bus stop and monorail at the main entrance.

[StacieV]

BTW, it is a good endorsement that though you have a car you use the transportation system. Are you traveling with kids or adults only?

[AlecK]

We stay at the Poly a lot and have two kids (10&6). We always hire a car and use it to and from MCO, DTD, MGM, AK & all our offsite shopping. You can't beat the monorail for MK and EPCOT though. :)

[JuniorMickey]

BTW, it is a good endorsement that though you have a car you use the transportation system. Are you traveling with kids or adults only?

Adults only