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Bus arrival schedule board?
- Thread starter Mukta
- Start date
jedieaston
New Member
I wonder if they could just put it into the My Disney Experience app. That might be more cost effective. And easier.
ajrwdwgirl
Premium Member
I would love a bus timetable, it would be so helpful sometimes.
Thrill
Well-Known Member
It would be nice, considering how horrendous the system is, if they would install a digital bus tracking system. Princeton University has a web app; I don't see why Disney can't do the same. Considering they just blew $2 billion on NextGen, it's kind of ridiculous that their bus system is based on hoping that one shows up every 20 minutes.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
A timetable, whether digital or done by sticking paper numbers on a board, are still only estimates. Any number of things can happen that make those "guesses" useless. What more and more transportation services are going to is a GPS based map showing routes and buses on those routes in real time. It says exactly where the bus is and how far away it is in at any given time. You can even watch it as it moves. That, even though not perfect, gives a much better idea where your ride is. Even if it's running late, at least you know it's running because you are watching it's progress.
Call me when they get that, until then my guess is as good as there's. It is a colossal tasks just to manually update times as they change. I doubt Disney will devote enough labor time to run it effectively. Unless they do that it's nothing more then a pacifier for the "masses"
and doesn't tell you anymore then you already knew. About the same as saying..."there's a bus every 20 minutes" sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn't.
Call me when they get that, until then my guess is as good as there's. It is a colossal tasks just to manually update times as they change. I doubt Disney will devote enough labor time to run it effectively. Unless they do that it's nothing more then a pacifier for the "masses"
and doesn't tell you anymore then you already knew. About the same as saying..."there's a bus every 20 minutes" sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn't.
Cmdr_Crimson
Well-Known Member
Out here in Chicago we have ones that are at bus stops and they are convenient..
I'm just not sure how it would work for each and every bus station at the parks considering on some of they layouts, overflow during holidays and other things, Even having screens especially at the value hotels like All Stars and Pop where the Bus Queues are unshaded would seem to have a problem..I would think it would be a little Kiosk themed to the hotel and just as you exit the building heading towards the parks showing the wait times instead..
Here's a picture I found of the one from the Grand Floridian that was mentioned by the OP..
I'm just not sure how it would work for each and every bus station at the parks considering on some of they layouts, overflow during holidays and other things, Even having screens especially at the value hotels like All Stars and Pop where the Bus Queues are unshaded would seem to have a problem..I would think it would be a little Kiosk themed to the hotel and just as you exit the building heading towards the parks showing the wait times instead..
Here's a picture I found of the one from the Grand Floridian that was mentioned by the OP..
Florida_is_hot
Well-Known Member
Not Everybody on this planet uses a smartphone.
Also even if the did if you are not American you can not use data in the States. Data roaming charges are too expensive.
PhilharMagician
Well-Known Member
Free WiFi is now available almost everywhere in WDW and making sure there is signal at the bus stations would be easy and somewhat inexpensive.
My biggest curiosity is how accurate are the posted times going to be? Does it automatically update off of the bus GPS tracking?
DVCOwner
A Long Time DVC Member
As I have said many times on this web site I love the buses and I hate the buses. I love the buses because I do not have to drive and can enjoy a drink with dinner. I hate them when waiting at my resort and having two empty Animal Kingdom buses stop before the first Magic Kingdom bus pulls in full. If Disney used its existing GPS tracking system to update the bus stop boards in real time, I would move closer to the I love the buses side of my brain.
Spikerdink
Well-Known Member
I am certain the technology exists to link bus GPS and schedule boards...but the problem is cash. Does Disney really want to invest in this technology to upgrade guest experience, or is the money better spent on drink refill mugs? That is the sort of decision being made....
I know I have been to subways in DC and transportation in other places that inform people of the next train/bus to select destinations. It is always as estimate as backups can happen, but for me this is something that would let me know how long I will be waiting to get to my park...or if I should make other plans parkwise or travel wise.
I know I have been to subways in DC and transportation in other places that inform people of the next train/bus to select destinations. It is always as estimate as backups can happen, but for me this is something that would let me know how long I will be waiting to get to my park...or if I should make other plans parkwise or travel wise.
Agreed!!A digital system isn't perfect, but it's infinitely better than the current system.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
That is where I disagree. Unless it is done automatically, in real time, it is no better then having a CM tell you that they get there every 20 minutes (but they don't).
Here is an example of how it works on the North Carolina State Campus in Raleigh. http://ncsu.transloc.com/
The one thing with this system is that it works best if the bus stays on the same circular route all the time. It does get more complicated if each run is shifted from place to place, but not impossible.
jaklgreen
Well-Known Member
A timetable, whether digital or done by sticking paper numbers on a board, are still only estimates. Any number of things can happen that make those "guesses" useless. What more and more transportation services are going to is a GPS based map showing routes and buses on those routes in real time. It says exactly where the bus is and how far away it is in at any given time. You can even watch it as it moves. That, even though not perfect, gives a much better idea where your ride is. Even if it's running late, at least you know it's running because you are watching it's progress.
Call me when they get that, until then my guess is as good as there's. It is a colossal tasks just to manually update times as they change. I doubt Disney will devote enough labor time to run it effectively. Unless they do that it's nothing more then a pacifier for the "masses"
I am not sure most people understand how the technology works. It is the same technology train stations and trucking companies have been using for years. The busses are tracked via a gps and it is all done with a computer program. the computer sees where the bus it and knows the route and estimates how long it would take to get there. There would be no "manual" updates by a person, it will get calculated instantly by the computer. It is not a difficult or even new technology. I do not see any reason why they can not install that at the resorts other then money.
Sassagoula-Rvr
Well-Known Member
In my limited understanding of how Disney dispatches Buses...it's hard to implement this technology because a buses destination may not be set until it is already on the way...meaning their buses are not on regularly scheduled routes and are sent where there is need.
That's why you will sometimes see buses pull up to one stop but then pull around and move to another. Or when bus signs will change en route.
Again I could be wrong, but talking with some people who work in transportation that was how they described the setup Disney is most likely using from what they've noticed on trips.
That's why you will sometimes see buses pull up to one stop but then pull around and move to another. Or when bus signs will change en route.
Again I could be wrong, but talking with some people who work in transportation that was how they described the setup Disney is most likely using from what they've noticed on trips.
jaklgreen
Well-Known Member
It would not be hard to input the next destination and then it would be instantly updated. I truly feel the whole bus system needs an overhaul. From what I have seen over the years it is not organized very efficiently. For example they should never do a shift change of bus drivers while the bus is full of people and have them sit there for 15-20 min while they bus drivers do their inspection and change.
jkl2000
Well-Known Member
The NYC subway has things on most platforms now that tell you how long it will be till each train arrives. I was really skeptical that they'd get it installed, but they did, and it's a huge help. It really helps to know ahead of time how long the wait is, even though that knowledge doesn't make your trip or wait shorter, it sure feels like it makes the wait shorter. It would be great if they did this with the WDW buses.
