Buses to Downtown Disney

[MKCustodial]

From All Ears Net:

Linda Rutherford comments: I just wanted you to know you can no longer get a bus from the transportation center to Downtown Disney. You can go from Disney-MGM Studios to Pleasure Island, but that is it. We were there at Christmas and tried in the pouring rain to go to the Marketplace, we were left off at Pleasure Island and had to walk in rain, thunder and lighting to the Marketplace. We also tried another night to get there from Epcot, via the monorail. We went to the transportation center, as we did this on prior visits. That is when we found out they stopped those buses. We were told it was because people staying off park would park at the Marketplace and take the bus to the parks. I wrote them and told them that a solution is to have people show their room key ID, since we pay extra to stay on property. It took us 2 1/2 hours to get to the Marketplace that night. Needless to say I was not too happy with Disney that night.

 

[Kenan]

hmm...i wonder if they ever looked at their map, cause I believe that the route from TTC to DD went out of service around April or May. Am I close on those dates? but they shouldve asked first to begin with....

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I said the same thing when I read the article. That route has been discountinued for a long time. They don't make any reference to it anymore, so there is no reason to expect it. They were having trouble with people getting in to the park without paying for parking. They can't continue to have these services if it is going to hurt business. It is still possible to get to the MK from DTD...it just takes a lot more effort now. People can still do it if they really want to. There will always be a way to beat the system.

 

[niteobsrvr]

There was much discussion about the elimination of these routes when it happened in Spring 2002. I don't know how far the archives go back here but a search may turn up the orighinal threads.

Those who have stated that it was because of abuse by people parking at DTD and riding the bus to the parks are correct. The hotel plaza blvd guests were also culprits of the same abuse. As a matter of fact, the first day the service was discontinued from DTD found tons of people "stranded" at the Market Place and Pleasure Island when the buses at Downtown started up that morning. ""It was amazing how many all night guests there were at Pleasure Island"":lol:

If you are a non resort guest, keep your parking receipt for the day that you are there and it will alllow you parking at any of the parks that day for no additional charge. If you are on Hotel Plaza Blvd, you have transportation provided by your hotel. If it isn't convenient your should voice your concerns with you resort manager.

It also caused problems with day guests who would run around on the busses all day and late into the evening (after parks closed) and then get ticked off when they found out they couldn't get back to the particular parking lot where they left their car.

For Disney resort guests, you should be returning to your resort and switching buses from there to DTD. Disney provides transportation for park hopping for anyone with the appropriate ticket and resort guests to and from their hotels to all destinations. They do not actually consider DTD a park and due to the abuse of the system chose to end the complimentary transportation.


Helpful Transportation Information for Resort Guests

As a former transportation cast member who departed the company just a few short months ago, I can guarantee you that you can still get to and form anywhere on property easily and quickly. All you have to do is take a few minutes to understand that from any park you can get to any resort and from any resort you can get to any park and DTD. From DTD, you can easily return to any resort. However, keep in mind park closing times. You have about 1 hour after a park closes before transportation to and from it stops for the night.

Also, look carefully at the resort map. If you are a resort guest at DTD and trying to get to a particular park, take the bus that goes to the closest resort to the park and transfer there. For example, Carribiean Beach and Coronado work pretty well for MGM and EPCOT for a complete bus trip. Or, you can take the bus to the Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, Beach Club or Boardwalk and then walk or take the Boat to either park. Animal Kingdom Lodge or the All Stars works great to get to Animal Kingdom but you may have to go to Blizzard Beach first once you get on the Animal Kingdom bus at either of these resorts. The Magic Kingdom is pretty easy. Just take any bus that goes to the Contemporary, Polynesian, or Grand FLoridian and grab the monorail. As an alternate, you can go to Wilderness Lodge and take the boat if they are still running.

To get to the Ticket Center, make your way to the Wilderness Lodge and then take the bus that services the campground as it heads in the ticket center direction. You can also go to the polynesian and then walk over or take the monorail from any resort serviced by it.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Originally posted by MKCustodial
From All Ears Net:

We were there at Christmas and tried in the pouring rain to go to the Marketplace, we were left off at Pleasure Island and had to walk in rain, thunder and lighting to the Marketplace

Well that walk must have taken all of 5 minutes - less if she'd run because of the rain. Its a bus service for goodness sake, not a taxi :hammer:

 

[Invero]

I remember a few months ago, I got assigned to do the Downtown Disney run out of the Studios. The run is a One Way trip to Pleasure Island only. Before I left the Studios, I got on the PA, and made it quite clear to my passengers that it was a ONE WAY trip, and that there would be NO return busses to the Studios.

When we got to Pleasure Island, I had some guests come up and ask what bus stop they'll need to go to for the return bus to the Studios. *bangs head on desk*

 

[CREEKWAYNE]

Thanks for all of that info. niteobsrvr!:sohappy: That took some time and will help on future trips......

3,842 minutes...and counting.:sohappy:

 

[Stellajack]

Originally posted by niteobsrvr

Those who have stated that it was because of abuse by people parking at DTD and riding the bus to the parks are correct.

Hey, would that explain our experience in Sept. ? We had a family group of 10 staying at Port Orleans-Riverside. On the ONE night of Fantasy in the Sky at MK there was complete madness in getting on the buses back to the resort. The bus lines for PO-R and PO-FQ were awful. Once we finally made it back to the resort, it seems as if "thousands" were headed to DTD on the water taxis. We actually wondered if ALL of them were resort guests or or if they were just trying to make it back to their cars somewhere. What do you think?

 

[mkt]

you know... this time I can't side with the guest. Period. It takes like 10 minutes to walk it, or you can pay $5 for a cab.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Originally posted by Fantasia Boi
I remember a few months ago, I got assigned to do the Downtown Disney run out of the Studios. The run is a One Way trip to Pleasure Island only. Before I left the Studios, I got on the PA, and made it quite clear to my passengers that it was a ONE WAY trip, and that there would be NO return busses to the Studios.

When we got to Pleasure Island, I had some guests come up and ask what bus stop they'll need to go to for the return bus to the Studios. *bangs head on desk*

That is when you politely say "This is what you get for trying to cheat the system"

 

[niteobsrvr]

Originally posted by Stellajack
Hey, would that explain our experience in Sept. ? We had a family group of 10 staying at Port Orleans-Riverside. On the ONE night of Fantasy in the Sky at MK there was complete madness in getting on the buses back to the resort. The bus lines for PO-R and PO-FQ were awful. Once we finally made it back to the resort, it seems as if "thousands" were headed to DTD on the water taxis. We actually wondered if ALL of them were resort guests or or if they were just trying to make it back to their cars somewhere. What do you think?

There is a good chance that bus drivers/guests/other cast members were directing people to that resort who wanted to get to DTD/Hotel Plaza. There are a lot of cast members who will do things like that instead of informing the guests that if they are not staying in a Disney resort they need to use their hotels transportaiton or call a cab.

I know of many driverswho thought it was a heinous crime that the Ticket Center to DTD bus was discontinued and felt it was their duty help the off property guests buck the system. TO make a long story short, cast members are sometimes responsible for breaking the rules. Guest service should be defined as going the extra mile to help a guest out not breaking policies to avoid an uncomfortable situation. The latter leads to a bad guest experience for the paying Disney resort guest.

 

[Invero]

I personally always ask them what Disney resort they're staying at... if they're not at a Disney Resort, I direct them to the cabs. If they are, I direct them usually to Old Key West... it's close to DTD, and because OKW isnt ever crowded, it doesnt effect the other resort guests.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Originally posted by niteobsrvr
There is a good chance that bus drivers/guests/other cast members were directing people to that resort who wanted to get to DTD/Hotel Plaza. There are a lot of cast members who will do things like that instead of informing the guests that if they are not staying in a Disney resort they need to use their hotels transportaiton or call a cab.

I know of many driverswho thought it was a heinous crime that the Ticket Center to DTD bus was discontinued and felt it was their duty help the off property guests buck the system. TO make a long story short, cast members are sometimes responsible for breaking the rules. Guest service should be defined as going the extra mile to help a guest out not breaking policies to avoid an uncomfortable situation. The latter leads to a bad guest experience for the paying Disney resort guest.

I can't see an employess doing that and risking their job. They know that the transportation system is for resort guests, and that they shouldn't be worrying about the off site guests.

 

[niteobsrvr]

Originally posted by DisneyInsider
I can't see an employess doing that and risking their job. They know that the transportation system is for resort guests, and that they shouldn't be worrying about the off site guests.

It happens and a lot of other such things that don't risk peoples jobs at all. Disney doesn't really want to take the time to make an issue of it with the employees because it will inevitably involve a greivance that would be decided in favor of the employee.

The reason for this is that Disney doesn't require that the Drivers actually do anything to prevent outside guests form riding their buses or going to resorts whether they are staying at them or not. If drivers were required to check ID's (and guests would show them) it would be a different story.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Originally posted by niteobsrvr
It happens and a lot of other such things that don't risk peoples jobs at all. Disney doesn't really want to take the time to make an issue of it with the employees because it will inevitably involve a greivance that would be decided in favor of the employee.

The reason for this is that Disney doesn't require that the Drivers actually do anything to prevent outside guests form riding their buses or going to resorts whether they are staying at them or not. If drivers were required to check ID's (and guests would show them) it would be a different story.

I think they should be required to ask for ID's...I understand that sometimes it isn't possible (monorail at park closing for example), but it should be done at certain times. I think that as a resort guest I am payng for that transportation system. Why should people who pay less than me and stay off property be entitled to the same perks as me? Even if they can't afford a deluxe resort, there are moderates and values...something for everyone. If they want the easy transportation then they should have to pay for it also.

 

[disneydentist]

You know, I can remember a time back in the early and mid-90's when they used to check your ID to ride the ferry between the Polynesian and the MK. This proves that it's not that hard to (short of closing time at the parks). I'm sure that people would grumble anyhow, that's human nature.

 

[Invero]

Unfortunetly, it's not that simple anymore. When you get into the technicalities and whatnot... possessing a Park Hopper ticket allows you the use of Disney transportation...

No matter what you do... there's always going to be a group of people who will complain... (and sometimes they do it just for the sake of complaining... *sigh*)

 

[KathyG/poohbear]

My only bad experience with the Disney transit system was going from DTD back to my hotel...the AKL.

So just to make sure...I can still take a bus from the Poly to DTD and it will stop at the shopping side? not just Pleasure Island or the west side?

Last time I waited over an hour for a bus back to AKL and decided next time I would skip DTD unless I had a car. I am thinking it would be much easier to get from DTD to the Poly?

Do the buses do 2 stops....DTD and then the west side?

 

[GaryT977]

Originally posted by Fantasia Boi
Unfortunetly, it's not that simple anymore. When you get into the technicalities and whatnot... possessing a Park Hopper ticket allows you the use of Disney transportation...

No matter what you do... there's always going to be a group of people who will complain... (and sometimes they do it just for the sake of complaining... *sigh*)

How about a bar code reader on the buses that can read a room key or park hopper or annual pass? That way no driver intervention is needed.

 

[MKCustodial]

Originally posted by GaryT977
How about a bar code reader on the buses that can read a room key or park hopper or annual pass? That way no driver intervention is needed.

Can you imagine the lines that'd form for boarding the buses, and how late the schedules would run?