Can you be stranded by the buses?

[PETE FROM NYC]

I understand that the buses run til one hour after park closing. Do they automatically stop then, or will they send more buses if there is still a crowd?

[joelkfla]

The "one hour after closing" is just an estimate.

In actuality, the buses continue to run until every guest has left the park. That includes the buses to the resorts and those to other parks.

At DAK, that includes diners at the Rainforest Cafe. And at the other parks, that includes diners who were seated at in-park restaurants just before park closing.

When the parks are nearly empty, buses are stationed in the load zones and take stragglers wherever they need to go. It can take up to 45 minutes to get home if you're one of the last ones out, as your bus may take guests to 5 different resorts.

[MickeyandTink]

Originally Posted by joelkfla

The "one hour after closing" is just an estimate.

In actuality, the buses continue to run until every guest has left the park. That includes the buses to the resorts and those to other parks.

At DAK, that includes diners at the Rainforest Cafe. And at the other parks, that includes diners who were seated at in-park restaurants just before park closing.

When the parks are nearly empty, buses are stationed in the load zones and take stragglers wherever they need to go. It can take up to 45 minutes to get home if you're one of the last ones out, as your bus may take guests to 5 different resorts.

We had a late ADR at LeCellier on our trip two years ago. By the time we were finally seated (almost an hour after our ADR) and finished dinner, it was 10:30 and EPCOT had long closed. We rushed to the front to catch our bus, but the last bus for POP had already left for the evening.

As Joelkfla said, there should be a bus to take you but you may have to go to other resorts first. The bus we were able to get on hit two other resorts first before finally dropping us off at POP just after midnight.

[grumpypima]

One year we seemed to be the last family to leave TL. The place was deserted and I thought for sure we were on own. But we were not. Someone (in one of those white vans parked on the outskirts of the parking lot), drove over and let us know a bus would be by soon; they asked us where we were staying & just like magic a bus drove up and took us back to our resort.

[DisneyPrincess21]

Originally Posted by grumpypima

One year we seemed to be the last family to leave TL. The place was deserted and I thought for sure we were on own. But we were not. Someone (in one of those white vans parked on the outskirts of the parking lot), drove over and let us know a bus would be by soon; they asked us where we were staying & just like magic a bus drove up and took us back to our resort.

Now that's what I call service!

[NH Disneyfan]

For all intents and purposes, Disney is in the business of moving lots of people all around their resort. If you stay to spend money in the park, they're going to get you home. I wouldn't ever worry about getting some form of transportation whenever you need it, just might take awhile, be a golf cart, or even a taxi.

Did you know Disney offers complimentary transportation to their golf courses from all hotels? How do they do it? They call a taxi and pay the bill for you. Just ask!

[MOJoe]

While i've never had a problem elsewhere, my family nearly got stranded at DTD. After a late dinner at Fultons, we saw what must have been the last bus leave as we were walking toward the pickup point. We waited for what seemed like an eternity when another busdriver saw us and circled back to pick us up. "What are you doing here? he asked as he opened the door. "You are supposed to be on the other end." We obviously had no idea. But we were sure happy to be taken home.

[thrillme]

I have yet to see someone stranded. Somehow bus or shuttle service eventually gets to you. You just may have to be patient.

Absolutely WORSE case scenerio...cab service sticks around very late. I've taken cabs before when the line was long at the bus depot and I was tired. It was only about $10 for all of us but quite worth it.

[DANAM]

We have had more problems getting a bus in the middle of the day then at night. We once had to wait for over an hour for a bus in DTD, though.

[PETE FROM NYC]

Originally Posted by thrillme

I have yet to see someone stranded. Somehow bus or shuttle service eventually gets to you. You just may have to be patient.

Absolutely WORSE case scenerio...cab service sticks around very late. I've taken cabs before when the line was long at the bus depot and I was tired. It was only about $10 for all of us but quite worth it.

A taxi would not work for us. DW and I are both ECV users.

[dmosher]

Originally Posted by PETE FROM NYC

A taxi would not work for us. DW and I are both ECV users.

In this case Disney would send a shuttle or a bus, which are able to pick up ECVs. Don't worry.

D

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Here it how it works
. . . buses are available for 1-1/2 hrs after park closing
. . . usually a bus is kept afterward for stragglers
. . . this bus will make several stops
. . . if you miss all buses, the dispatcher will send one (but, it takes a long while.
2) You won't be stranded, but it will take a bit of time to get back to the room.

NOTE: We had a couple once that bitterly complained it took them 2-hrs to get back to the resort. We asked what time they left the park. They stayed until escorted out. The reply from my com padre was "you should leave on time". It wasn't s snotty reply, just the truth, and I had no problem in him saying it.

[joelkfla]

Originally Posted by PETE FROM NYC

A taxi would not work for us. DW and I are both ECV users.

Recently, I've noticed compact SUV taxis with handicapped-accessible stickers driving around property. They're operated by Mears under their Checker Cab line, which is the official taxi provider at all WDW taxi stands. It looks like they have rear-hatch mounted lifts or ramps.

Now, I don't know whether they can accomodate an ECV, let alone 2 ECV's.