Could someone give me a quick explanation of the bus transportation system works. We are staying at ASM, so I know the lines might be long, but I just want a general overview of where to go, how to know which bus is the one you want, and how to find the buses once you leave a park. Thanks!:)

I'm sure there are people here who can give a much more detailed overview, but here's the brief version: There are 3 types of transportation - buses, monorails and boats.
Each of the buses has a marquee that tells you where it is going. From the All Stars you will have buses to the MK, AK, Epcot, and the Studios, as well as Downtown Disney. Typically the DD bus also goes to Typhoon Lagoon, and the AK bus goes to Blizzard Beach. To get to another resort you take a bus to any of these destinations and switch to the resort bus that you want. Buses typically run from 45 minutes before the park opens until an hour or two afterwards. The buses to DD run until 2AM. I think that's the short form of bus transportation.

Chris

I'm not sure if you're staying at All Star Movies or All Star Music (but it doesn't matter) - but outside the main building, (opposite side of the pool), there will be less than 1/2 dozen signs and queue 'chains' set up. Each sign will say where the bus that will stop there will go, and the bus will have the destination on the front and over the door. (It's always fun to see how far away you can pick out 'your' bus! ok, always and fun may not be 100% accurate, but if your kids are old enough, it may help keep them entertained!)

Get on the bus, go to the park, and have a blast.

When you're ready to go back to the hotel, go to the general area where you were dropped off. Somewhere between the park exit and the first bus stop there will be a directory that says which stop each resort's bus will use. Go to that numbered location, wait for the bus, and it'll whisk you away to your resort.

When you go to the park from your resort, the bus may drop you off at a different stop then where you'll pick it up, but don't let that mess you up. (Sometimes, they'll drop you off a little closer to the entrance so you don't have to walk as far first thing in the morning).

Ah, yes I forgot that little detail. Most often the bus will NOT drop you off at the spot that you need to return to, although the driver should tell you which stop. Not only as Cathy said in the morning they try to drop you close to the entrance, throughout the day the buses continually switch routes. It's a system that is supposed to reduce the bus wait times, by dispatching them more efficiently since some routes take longer than others.

Chris