Busses

garymacd;2504719 wrote: While I realise there are times when we have waited for buses, and loading issues, and no seats, and long lines, and the need to wait for the next bus, this will live in our memories for ever and wipe out any of the less-than memorable issues we have had.

We have a good memories of the buses too.

Years ago I had planned out our route for getting over to Cape May from POR for an early breakfast reservation. Our plan was to take a bus from POR to Hollywood Studios and then take the boat over to Cape May. Well when we got off at Hollywood Studios we were one of the last to get off the bus. We turned around and asked the driver if he knew which way to get to the boat dock and a young woman and her mother in a wheelchair nearby said they had the same question. We were all surprised when the driver told us that he was very sorry to tell us but the boats didn't start running for about an hour. All of us were shocked and wondering what our next step was when the bus driver said "hop back on and I'll run you all over there...won't be a problem at all! With just the four of us on that bus it was pretty enjoyable with us all chatting with the bus driver. I don't remember where he dropped us off but it wasn't the normal stop. It was really close to the door to enter the building. We all made our reservations on time thankfully!

Then there was the time when our bus was extremely crowded late at night leaving Magic Kingdom. It was soooo crowded and soooo hot and the a/c wasn't working correctly on the bus but the driver had everyone in stitches laughing while asking us Disney trivia with lots of humor interjected through and singing an occasional song. We all had a blast forgetting how crowded and hot it was.

So yes I do get frustrated at times but when I am feeling that way I do try to remember that very nice bus driver who went out of his way to help us get to our ADR on time and that other bus driver who made us all forget what an uncomfortable situation we were in.

Genie1953;2504750 wrote: We have a good memories of the buses too.

Years ago I had planned out our route for getting over to Cape May from POR for an early breakfast reservation. Our plan was to take a bus from POR to Hollywood Studios and then take the boat over to Cape May. Well when we got off at Hollywood Studios we were one of the last to get off the bus. We turned around and asked the driver if he knew which way to get to the boat dock and a young woman and her mother in a wheelchair nearby said they had the same question. We were all surprised when the driver told us that he was very sorry to tell us but the boats didn't start running for about an hour. All of us were shocked and wondering what our next step was when the bus driver said "hop back on and I'll run you all over there...won't be a problem at all! With just the four of us on that bus it was pretty enjoyable with us all chatting with the bus driver. I don't remember where he dropped us off but it wasn't the normal stop. It was really close to the door to enter the building. We all made our reservations on time thankfully!

Then there was the time when our bus was extremely crowded late at night leaving Magic Kingdom. It was soooo crowded and soooo hot and the a/c wasn't working correctly on the bus but the driver had everyone in stitches laughing while asking us Disney trivia with lots of humor interjected through and singing an occasional song. We all had a blast forgetting how crowded and hot it was.

So yes I do get frustrated at times but when I am feeling that way I do try to remember that very nice bus driver who went out of his way to help us get to our ADR on time and that other bus driver who made us all forget what an uncomfortable situation we were in.

Thus the basis of my current frustration with this failing system. I have all those great memories of the drivers spewing out trivia, turning the lights on late at night to WAKE us up, talking the entire time, zooming over the speed bumps at Riverside, all creating that little extra magic. Then the few accidents they've had, some rather awful, necessitating Disney to mandate the drivers to not become distracted .... fear of future lawsuits, et al. This coupled with fewer CM's driving truly clears the way for greater frustrations. I'm sure those who encounter these negative things on their first trip will not have that "over-the-top" magic we have all come to expect ... and in some cases not return anytime soon. Don't get me wrong, anyone .... I love the Disney Transportation system but we can all see that it is in need of an overhaul ....

BrerGnat;2504555 wrote: Several decades, I would bet. These are reliable systems with a low operating cost.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Yeah, but the audioanomatronics will break in the first month, then not be fixed for more than a decade because the whole ride would have to be shutdown to fix them properly.

I knew if I checked often enough, I'd finally see a thread that was similar to those I remember from years ago. Back then, I often posted numerous times. This thread remembers of the good old days of Intercot, when I had something to contribute to the discussion.

One night a couple years ago, we left the Studios just before the fireworks. As we were on our way back to our resort, our driver didn't follow the usual route, so we just figured it was due to the very heavy traffic, but we were so wrong. Our driver did what Disney CMs always do, he made the magic happen for a bus full of tired guests. As we were rolling along, he told us to watch the show in the sky on the left size of the bus. His timing was perfect. We had a great view of the fireworks, courtesy of another magical ride on a Disney bus. Such a great way to end a fun day.:mickey::mickey:

Not a fan of the busses at all. We learned long ago we are rental car people.

1. A rental car is relatively inexpensive in Orlando; the exception being ultra-high season.
2. Parking a car is reasonably painless at the parks and resorts.
3. Meanwhile, as for the busses, if you stick around at the parks for the fireworks, you will find yourself exiting with the throng and waiting for a bus when you are likely in a state of exhaustion. Not fun. DisneyWorld has more than its share of lines. I don't like to add to this.
4. Also, we like to park-hop and get back to the room for mid-day break before heading back for dinner and fireworks. Doable with a car, but a royal pain by bus.

So, these days we always rent a car.

WDW bus transport has always been hit and miss. I've done great at CSR, CBR, and AKL. But horrible at POR-R and AllStarMovies. It's been years since I've been, but the biggest issue for us was always the ECVs. They'd take forever to load, and their 12 family members always got to board with them first. Man, I would get so angry watching that after a long day in the parks. Not sure if anything every got fixed in that regard.

Gator;2508005 wrote: WDW bus transport has always been hit and miss. I've done great at CSR, CBR, and AKL. But horrible at POR-R and AllStarMovies. It's been years since I've been, but the biggest issue for us was always the ECVs. They'd take forever to load, and their 12 family members always got to board with them first. Man, I would get so angry watching that after a long day in the parks. Not sure if anything every got fixed in that regard.

Nothing fixed yet, in that regard !! I will say, I have no issues with someone needing help traversing the parks in wheel chairs or EVCs, but my frustration is founded on, ... scores of people waiting in line for a bus to arrive, then at the last second, the EVC rolls up and they get on the bus first. I get it, they have to go on first so to properly be secured, yet do they "have" to get on "that" bus ?? Can they not wait till the next one, thus being at or very near the front of the line? It happens nearly every single time we wait for a bus ... please know that I am not trying to take away from those in need, only that those in need, while sitting, can wait as many others do, for the next bus to arrive.

A little off topic question. Just wondering if they still pack people on the busses. I just remember the busses always having to ride with people packed like sardines...something I was never crazy about. Perhaps this would be a reason to look into uber or Minnie vans. I mean I understand needing to be economical but sometimes...:crowd::crowd:

Have taken many visits, most recently september and have never had an issure w/ the bus. Sure we have had to wait, but never more than 20 minutes, and usuall a lot shorter than that, and housekeeping to me is still top notch!

I’m worried about the new skyline. Especially in the summer where a storm pops up out of nowhere here

#1donaldfan;2508034 wrote: Nothing fixed yet, in that regard !! I will say, I have no issues with someone needing help traversing the parks in wheel chairs or EVCs, but my frustration is founded on, ... scores of people waiting in line for a bus to arrive, then at the last second, the EVC rolls up and they get on the bus first. I get it, they have to go on first so to properly be secured, yet do they "have" to get on "that" bus ?? Can they not wait till the next one, thus being at or very near the front of the line? It happens nearly every single time we wait for a bus ... please know that I am not trying to take away from those in need, only that those in need, while sitting, can wait as many others do, for the next bus to arrive.

Man, that stinks! And what you said is exactly the garbage I hated. Back in 2002 and 2004, I never saw an ECV. Then in 2006, only once did an ECV get on board. Then in 2008 at the AllStar Resort, it was NUTS! I remember writing WDW a letter after that trip. I think it was out of 20 bus rides, 80-90% were stopped by ECVs. I was HOT!!!

I guess what makes me upset now is that it's 9 years later and Disney, who can find a way to put us all where they want us to be with FP+, has yet to solve this problem. That's something that keeps me from pulling the trigger to return to WDW.

It would be great if WDW had EVC only transportation. It would be great if they could load them on something like a flatbed truck that had seat just enough for the EVC passenger plus one. If you were with a large party then they could take the regular bus and just meet you at your destination.

baldburke;2508326 wrote: It would be great if WDW had EVC only transportation. It would be great if they could load them on something like a flatbed truck that had seat just enough for the EVC passenger plus one. If you were with a large party then they could take the regular bus and just meet you at your destination.

I feel like this is pretty insensitive. When I needed a wheelchair, I was going with my husband and 4 children. In this situation, he would have had to ride with the children, and I would not have been able to join them. How come people in wheelchairs aren't allowed to have the same amount of family time on a bus.

Now that I don't need a wheelchair, I don't mind waiting. No one staring at me. No judgemental looks. No one complaining that it is unfair. I'm in Disney. I'm not in a rush to go anywhere. If I am tired, I leave before I'm exhausted. Yes, I am not at the park from opening to close, but I'm also not upset about some of the little things that other people are upset about. I'm not so tired that waiting for a wheelchair and party to board becomes an issue. I just look and say a prayer of thanks that I don't need one any more.

If I understand correctly, the Gondolas will take EVC's and wheelchairs. Families can ride together and there will be less bus traffic between the parks and resorts served by the Gondola lines. Now they just need to get them up and running!

luvdiznee;2508036 wrote: A little off topic question. Just wondering if they still pack people on the busses. I just remember the busses always having to ride with people packed like sardines...something I was never crazy about. Perhaps this would be a reason to look into uber or Minnie vans. I mean I understand needing to be economical but sometimes...:crowd::crowd:

Yep, we are packed on as thick and as deep as we can be pushed, poked and prodded toward the back of the bus. This typically only happens late at night, but it can happen early morning .... I don't mind it so much, if we are close to the park, that is !!