News Disney Springs Bus Service to Resorts Now Requires Reservation Verification

[Animaniac93-98]

Once upon a time WDW did charge for transportation use, but that was also in the old ticket days when their transportation system was smaller in scope and not as complicated

Disney could implement a tap to pay (Magic Band or card) system for its mass transit like most modern cities have, but the cost of installing such infrastructure, educating guests and employees on its use and preventing fare evasion would not be worth it to Disney

The purpose of Disney transportation is to get people from point A to point B, regardless of what the intended destination or purpose of visiting is. Complicating the system doesn't just discourage less desirable customers, it discourages everyone by making it a hassle no one wants to deal with.

It should not be complicated to use because doing so ultimately impedes the guests from enjoying themselves and spending money. Yes there is a cost to operating transit, but like the parking trams or other things, is part of the cost of doing business for Disney which is paid for elsewhere.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't think there's a perfect system because of how big WDW is.
AP holders are a different situation, but at Disneyland most APs don't include parking. Maybe they should charge AP holders for parking to help pay for the buses. Right now it seems like Disney hotels are bearing most of the costs for bus service and that's probably not going to keep working in this economy.

Whatever shell game accounting they try to tell you…transport costs are covered by ticket and lodging revenues

And that’s a huge pot. Saying it’s “costing” an individual hotel more or less is parsing and for accounting flexibility…nothing really more

 

[phillip9698]

I gather you don't know about the Easter eggs.

This time of year, as opposed to most of the year, resort hopping to the hotel lobbies is special due to the elaborate Easter eggs the WDW chefs make. The eggs are BIG, and each one is unique and an artwork unto itself. They are crafted out of chocolate, and painted with every color.

Most years, GF and BWK each have a ton, then the other resorts each have a few. This year I think the collection is more evenly spread out. GF only had a few, and they were not displayed in the lobby, as they were in the past. There are two in the window of the gift shop. Maybe they have more all over the hotel, so that guests have to hunt for them? We didn't have time to search.

On the other hand, the Contemporary had a whole row of Easter eggs in the lobby that are displayed/lit to look like the opening scene of the original Muppets Show. There is an "egg" carving of each character: Animal, Dr. Honeydew, Beaker, Fozzy, Chef, Kermit, Sweetums, and Sam, plus a replica to Stadler/Waldorf in their balcony! In prior years, CR only had one or two eggs, and they were displayed inside the steakhouse.

WL had a chocolate train with 4 cars, including a caboose.

I could easily see people making a fun day of finding all the chocolate Easter eggs.

Who said I didn't know about the Easter activities?

If you are a paying guest of a Disney resort then you still have the ability to park hop to your hearts content. The people who are having issues are the people who aren't paying guests and want to use DS as free parking for a free Disney adventure. They should not be prioritized during busy travel periods. The guests who have paid for a resort or reservation are rightfully being given priority.

 

[phillip9698]

Let me ask again - is this an actual problem? Have guests staying at the Contemporary regularly been unable to find parking?

The difference in the contemporary parking lot is night and day.

Same with AKL.

We no longer have had to park all the way in the back of the lot when arriving for breakfast reservations and watch people exit their cars and walk directly over to MK or get in line for the AK bus.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Who said I didn't know about the Easter activities?

If you are a paying guest of a Disney resort then you still have the ability to park hop to your hearts content. The people who are having issues are the people who aren't paying guests and want to use DS as free parking for a free Disney adventure. They should not be prioritized during busy travel periods. The guests who have paid for a resort or reservation are rightfully being given priority.

Not activities…there are chocolate egg sculptures in lobbies for display…and of course…the occasional additional items to sell

Jack o lanterns during October

A whole bunch of Christmas crap


Those aren’t just to kiss dvc can (they’re Coming regardless)

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

but if parking at the resorts is the problem just close the walkway and monorail at the contemporary to non contemporary guests.

That would be the solution they have implemented at springs.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Who said I didn't know about the Easter activities?

If you are a paying guest of a Disney resort then you still have the ability to park hop to your hearts content. The people who are having issues are the people who aren't guests and want to use DS as free parking for a free Disney adventure. They should not be prioritized during busy travel periods. The guests who have paid for a resort or reservation are rightfully being given priority.

Fair enough.
WDW used to welcome and encourage visitors to tour the resorts to see the eggs. It didn't matter if they were staying onsite.

It doesn't make much sense to me why someone would park at DS then take a bus just to get out of the parking fee. Time is $. The time cost is too high. Especially since they'd have to take the bus back at the end of the day, no thanks.

I sorta see it as the opposite of you though. Since I stay onsite with my own car, I get to the parks much faster than someone who is willing to lose so much time. I'll go on 2-3rides before they even get to the park.

Now the folks dumb enough have done this in the first place may swap to taking a much faster uber, and there goes my (our?) time advantage.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Who said I didn't know about the Easter activities?

If you are a paying guest of a Disney resort then you still have the ability to park hop to your hearts content. The people who are having issues are the people who aren't paying guests and want to use DS as free parking for a free Disney adventure. They should not be prioritized during busy travel periods. The guests who have paid for a resort or reservation are rightfully being given priority.

But to what extent is this really a problem?

And is it really a "free" Disney adventure if they're buying food or merch on property?

I understand the policy on paper, but to the extent this helps Disney's guests or bottom line sounds minimal

An overall better solution to on site transportation would benefit everyone in the long term.

 

[phillip9698]

It doesn't make much sense to me why someone would park at DS then take a bus just to get out of the parking fee. Time is $. The time cost is too high. Especially since they'd have to take the bus back at the end of the day, no thanks.

I sorta see it as the opposite of you though. Since I stay onsite with my own car, I get to the parks much faster than someone who is willing to lose so much time. I'll go on 2-3rides before they even get to the park.

We have never been a "maximize rides" family. When on vacation we like to take it easy, hence why when walking to Boma and Chef Mickeys to eat we could see people taking advantage of the parking situation to get to the parks.

The traffic going into the Contemporary fell off a cliff once Disney started checking for reservations. It made our visit much more enjoyable.

 

[Chi84]

but if parking at the resorts is the problem just close the walkway and monorail at the contemporary to non contemporary guests.

That would be the solution they have implemented at springs.

Don’t a lot of people like to walk over to eat at the Contemporary’s restaurants?

 

[parksandtravel]

But to what extent is this really a problem?

And is it really a "free" Disney adventure if they're buying food or merch on property?

I understand the policy on paper, but to the extent this helps Disney's guests or bottom line sounds minimal

An overall better solution to on site transportation would benefit everyone in the long term.

On paper you could say that a more restrictive service would mean shorter lines and less crowded buses. For on-site guests it could mean having an edge in booking on demand restaurants and activities.
Not saying this is a solution, but if Disney thinks its a problem maybe there is something to it.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Don’t a lot of people like to walk over to eat at the Contemporary’s restaurants?

they would have access to the walkway since they would have reservations for dining. Same as the Disney springs bus stop.

Of course it’s just a hypothetical- although I could see that walkway being closed one day if Uber pick ups at contemporary got out of hand. But that’s a different issue.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

On paper you could say that a more restrictive service would mean shorter lines and less crowded buses.

The busses from springs to resorts do not have long lines during the day. That’s not the issue.

 

[parksandtravel]

Whatever shell game accounting they try to tell you…transport costs are covered by ticket and lodging revenues

And that’s a huge pot. Saying it’s “costing” an individual hotel more or less is parsing and for accounting flexibility…nothing really more

I have never worked in the theme park industry, so I don't know how Disney World does it. But in my experience budgeting from different funding sources or allocating shared costs is pretty standard. So I just assumed Disney World does something like that.

 

[Chi84]

they would have access to the walkway since they would have reservations for dining. Same as the Disney springs bus stop.

Of course it’s just a hypothetical- although I could see that walkway being closed one day if Uber pick ups at contemporary got out of hand. But that’s a different issue.

Not all restaurants take reservations and MK doesn’t have the best food.

From what people are saying Disney solved the parking problem by restricting it to guests of that resort.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I have never worked in the theme park industry, so I don't know how Disney World does it. But in my experience budgeting from different funding sources or allocating shared costs is pretty standard. So I just assumed Disney World does something like that.

All the resorts are one entity…unless the laws have changed? It technically allowed them to circumvent a Florida law against overbooking

When I was in the trenches…that mattered

Bob killed that need

 

[_caleb]

Once upon a time WDW did charge for transportation use, but that was also in the old ticket days when their transportation system was smaller in scope and not as complicated

Bring back ticket books!

 

[parksandtravel]

Not an issue really

Talking about all the buses not just springs here. Since were discussing general park transportation.

No such things exist. On demand restaurants? Like the kiosks in Epcot circa 1983?

Typo, I meant high demand. In theory a more restrictive service would decentivize non-hotel guests a little and while bad for them it's good for hotel guests that want to experience them.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Talking about all the buses not just springs here. Since were discussing general park transportation.

Buses are full first thing and park dumps. Springs has nothing to do with it…the only way to adjust for crunch is run more buses

Typo, I meant high demand. In theory a more restrictive service would decentivize non-hotel guests a little and while bad for them it's good for hotel guests that want to experience them.

Those are booked 60 days out…or since demand is way down…weeks in some cases. I don’t see what a bus has to do with it?

 

[Chi84]

I never said it wasn’t realistic.

You put an idea out there. I argued that it was not a realistic solution to non-hotel guests parking at the Contemporary for two reasons:

First, Disney appears to have already solved the problem by restricting the parking lot to hotel guests and people dining at the hotel.

Second, restricting the walkway (and monorail) from the Contemporary to MK would likely affect a lot more people and be extremely more unpopular than what they’re doing at DS.

So it’s not the “same thing.”

You answered by implying that I wasn’t smart enough to understand that you were using a hypothetical idea that you were not suggesting that Disney could or should implement.

To me, that sounds like an admission it was not a realistic idea. On the other hand, what Disney is doing at DS is entirely realistic even though you don’t like it.

Disney makes choices every day that benefit some guests to the detriment of others. Putting out ideas that are far worse and then claiming they are “the same” will lead people to argue otherwise.