Remind me again...

[DisneyFr33k]

.....about the buses. How early do they run?
We need to be at MK for a tout by 8:15 on a day that it opens at 9am. Will the buses run from POP that early? We'd need to catch the bus by 7:30.

[Ms. Mode]

They normally start running about an hour before the park in question opens. We went on the Backstage Magic tour a year ago and I just went to the front desk and told them we were on the tour the next day and asked about the bus running. WDW doesn't want you to miss your tour so you should be fine. Enjoy

[Mfarquar]

If I'm recalling correctly, I have always known the buses to begin running 1 hour before park opening.

You may have to come up with an alternate plan - are there Extra Magic Morning Hours the day you are going? In the case, you would be all set.

[DisneyFr33k]

They normally start running about an hour before the park in question opens. We went on the Backstage Magic tour a year ago and I just went to the front desk and told them we were on the tour the next day and asked about the bus running. WDW doesn't want you to miss your tour so you should be fine. Enjoy

If the park doesn't open until 9, but we have to be there no later than 8:15, what should we do? We're staying at Pop, so it is quite a long drive to the MK.

[Ms. Mode]

You don't need to worry, the bus will get you there on time. I'm sure you will have a central meeting place too, right? Just visit the front desk and let them know you are on a tour the night before. Actually, when we stayed at POP one year they let our daughter call the bus in...you really have nothing to worry about!

[Ms. Mode]

Also, there are people who have ADRs in the park restaurants well before park opening times and they go by bus...because the buses run early.

[SBETigg]

If you are really worried about the timing, you can grab a cab at the front desk, usually for under $20.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

No need to worry. The busses do start running in time to get everyone to the early breakfast ADR's.

We have had many 8:05am ADR's at Crystal Palace, and haven't had an issue getting there via bus.

But, be at the bus stop earlier rather than later, in case you just missed a bus and have to wait a bit for the next one.

[Gator]

Agreed with PP: be there early. If you miss the one bus running back in forth that early, you'll be pretty upset. Also, if you're still worried, just talk with the folks at the front desk of the hotel.

[darthmacho]

Also, there are people who have ADRs in the park restaurants well before park opening times and they go by bus...because the buses run early.

I was going to say the same thing. MK has early busses for early ADRs and tours. We also stayed at Pop, and when we had 8:10 ADRs at Crystal Palace, and later for Tusker House at AK, I had my family at the bus stop at 7, and soon enough a bus was there to scoop us up.

Nothing is ever a guarantee, but I think you can rest assured you will not have a problem getting to your tour on time.

On a side note, at first I thought you were going to be "touting" from the MK, lol.

[MickeysBestPal]

So much misinformation gets repeated about this.

Here is the real info:

The buses start running from the resorts to the parks every day of the year at about 6:30AM.

[DisneyFr33k]

So much misinformation gets repeated about this.

Here is the real info:

The buses start running from the resorts to the parks every day of the year at about 6:30AM.

Great! Where do they post this info? It would save those worry-warts like me a lot of worry time!

[MickeysBestPal]

Great! Where do they post this info? It would save those worry-warts like me a lot of worry time!

They don't post it.
What gets posted is the shopworn, "One hour before the park opens."

That info is simply wrong, but it gets repeated so often that it is taken by many as gospel.

The truth is, however, that the resort-to-park buses begin running every day at about 6:30AM.
These are often called "Breakfast Buses," as they are designed to get guests to early ADR's and such.

If MK's AM EMH begins VERY early (7AM, typically near major holiday events,) the buses will begin running even earlier than 6:30AM on those days.

[DisneyFr33k]

They don't post it.
What gets posted is the shopworn, "One hour before the park opens."

That info is simply wrong, but it gets repeated so often that it is taken by many as gospel.

The truth is, however, that the resort-to-park buses begin running every day at about 6:30AM.
These are often called "Breakfast Buses," as they are designed to get guests to early ADR's and such.

If MK's AM EMH begins VERY early (7AM, typically near major holiday events,) the buses will begin running even earlier than 6:30AM on those days.

That is so good to know!

Anyone ever catch the buses at 6:30?

[Janmac]

On our April 2012 trip we had early - before the park opened - ADRs. We were at Port Orleans Riverside and had ADRs at each of the parks.

We left our room in time to be at the bus stop just before 7 am. A couple of days we waited until 7:20 for our bus to come, while busses for other parks came and went. Even the 7:20 bus got us to the park in plenty of time.

As for 6:30 am, I don't know - only 7 am. We saw all park busses.

If you call WDW-RIDE you can get maybe the most accurate information. CMs at resorts don't necessarily have accurate info.

Jan

[CleveRocks]

They don't post it.
What gets posted is the shopworn, "One hour before the park opens."

That info is simply wrong, but it gets repeated so often that it is taken by many as gospel.

The truth is, however, that the resort-to-park buses begin running every day at about 6:30AM.
These are often called "Breakfast Buses," as they are designed to get guests to early ADR's and such.

If MK's AM EMH begins VERY early (7AM, typically near major holiday events,) the buses will begin running even earlier than 6:30AM on those days.

EXACTLY! I can't stand that "one hour before park opening" line, as it's simply untrue.

[CleveRocks]

Anyone ever catch the buses at 6:30?

I've never caught one but I've seen LOTS of them.

Long story, but when staying in a theme park view room at Polynesian, I was directly across the lagoon from Magic Kingdom's bus area, and every morning I was out on my balcony reading. By roughly 6:45 a.m., I started seeing buses pouring into MK. I had my camera with my telephoto lens, and I could clearly see these were guests and not cast members.

Also, I should point out this was during a slow season when MK opened at 9 a.m.

[CleveRocks]

If you call WDW-RIDE you can get maybe the most accurate information. CMs at resorts don't necessarily have accurate info.

In my opinion, the very very best way to get bus info is wait 'til you get to WDW and ask bus drivers. They're the only CMs who know all the facts about Disney Transport buses. Ask any ol' bus driver, they'll know.

But if you want THE most informed opinions, ask bus drivers you see in the morning ... job postings are bid on by seniority, and for the most part the mornings are the most sought-after posts and therefore the morning drivers tend to be the most experienced drivers.

[Mfarquar]

In my opinion, the very very best way to get bus info is wait 'til you get to WDW and ask bus drivers. They're the only CMs who know all the facts about Disney Transport buses. Ask any ol' bus driver, they'll know.

But if you want THE most informed opinions, ask bus drivers you see in the morning ... job postings are bid on by seniority, and for the most part the mornings are the most sought-after posts and therefore the morning drivers tend to be the most experienced drivers.

That's cool - I didn't know that about the bus drivers' shifts.

[DisneyFr33k]

You guys are making me feel soooo much better!!