Ok, so we are staying at DT Disney area (Royal Plaza) and will be using the DTDisney Hotel bus system to the parks. My questions are pretty specific . . .

1. If we go to Animal Kingdom and then want to eat at the Lodge after the park closes, does anyone know if the busses will still be able to take us back to our hotel that late? Probably not, I'm thinking. Also, since we are eating at the Lodge, will they let us use the WDW bus to at least get back to DT Disney afterward or is that STRICLTY for the resort guests only? Could we pay? Wondering, wondering . . .

2. We plan on going to the MVMCP and I'm pretty sure the busses stay late for that, but just making sure . . . since the park technically "closes", will the busses still come get us and take us back to the hotel after the party?

Busses will run between the hotels and Downtown Disney till the wee hours of the morning. If all you need is a bus back to DTD, you'll have no problm getting one.

And yes, the busses continue to run till well past the ending of all special events like the MVMCP.

You'll have to check if YOUR resort runs there bus until the end of the party or not. But there should be no issue getting to DTD from any on-site resort. You'll just have to figure out where to catch the bus/how to walk to your resort from DTD.

And if your resort bus doesn't run until the end of the party - just walk/take the monorail to the Contemporary and catch their DTD bus, just like you did from AKL.

But will they let us ride the resort busses even if we aren't really staying at a resort? Don't you have to show something to prove you are staying at resort? If not, then great! We won't have any problems!

But will they let us ride the resort busses even if we aren't really staying at a resort? Don't you have to show something to prove you are staying at resort? If not, then great! We won't have any problems!

You won't have any problems!!!

But will they let us ride the resort busses even if we aren't really staying at a resort? Don't you have to show something to prove you are staying at resort? If not, then great! We won't have any problems!

In many, many visits, the only time we have ever had to show tickets to ride anything was when Epcot first opened and we rode the monorail. Since then in the past 20+ years we've never been asked to show anything to get on a bus and they don't take money.

Ah, thanks! I feel much better knowing we won't be stranded anywhere.

Also, if for some reason they did ask you to show proof, just use your receipt from your meal at the Lodge. Have a great time!

I'll try to help
1 - At DTD we do not provide transportation to any theme parks only to resorts.
2 - The resorts or hotels on Hotel Blvd have buses operated by Mears that have sch service to the parks. The resort you have chosen is great and about 1/3 mile from the Market Place bus load zones at DTD.
3 - DTD buses go to all resorts, while buses from the parks may not.
4 - At night we will usually pick up from the resorts until a time that would have the drop off at DTD after about 1:45 am. If you are at a resort and have a auto parked at DTD and if the driver says he can not take you, that is the truth. In most cases he or she might call on the radio and ask if it would be OK to give you a ride back, but don't count on it.
5 - The last sch bus out of DTD is 2am

I'll try to help
1 - At DTD we do not provide transportation to any theme parks only to resorts.
2 - The resorts or hotels on Hotel Blvd have buses operated by Mears that have sch service to the parks. The resort you have chosen is great and about 1/3 mile from the Market Place bus load zones at DTD.
3 - DTD buses go to all resorts, while buses from the parks may not.
4 - At night we will usually pick up from the resorts until a time that would have the drop off at DTD after about 1:45 am. If you are at a resort and have a auto parked at DTD and if the driver says he can not take you, that is the truth. In most cases he or she might call on the radio and ask if it would be OK to give you a ride back, but don't count on it.
5 - The last sch bus out of DTD is 2am

Thanks - that helps. So, there is a chance that the driver won't take us back to DTD . . . is that what you are saying? I'm thinking we would be taking the bus from the Animal Kingdom Lodge to DTD no later than 8:00pm and then just walk to our hotel from there - well, probably stopping to enjoy DTD some more. :)