Disney bus crash

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niteobsrvr

Well-Known Member
*MichelleP* said:
Good thought, Figment. Maybe somehow some of the Pal Mickey information and jokes could be broadcast while the bus is traveling...
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The technology is available its the cost that becomes a factor. With a fleet of 263 busses, lets guess that the device, the recorded material and labor to install would be about 500 bucks. Thats $131,500 for the fleet. I imagine they have a tough time justifying it.
 
Invero

Invero

Well-Known Member
niteobsrvr said:
The technology is available its the cost that becomes a factor. With a fleet of 263 busses, lets guess that the device, the recorded material and labor to install would be about 500 bucks. Thats $131,500 for the fleet. I imagine they have a tough time justifying it.
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Considering the LED destination signs were $8,000 a bus, I'd say the "TalkingBus" system is a bit more than $500. Perhaps add another zero?
 
Chape19714

Chape19714

Well-Known Member
Bet that distracted some guests at Disney's Animal Kingdom!

Driver Headsets would not be bad for talkitive drivers. Recordings are not near as personal. i like drivers who talk about legends, and if they don't and i'm the only one on the bus i talk to them! my friends say i m way to friendly, but i know a few Cm's at WDW, who know me every time i see them! and i met them just cause of a sparked conversation. (my parents say "when you go to WDW so much you know the people who work there, you go too much!" but hey, i m gonna work there too, so i'll know some people who i'll be working with!) anyway, thanks for the update.
 
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Gepettotrevor

Member
While heading to the bus stop at epcot after illuminations, we saw that our bus was there. we walked fast, and the driver saw us, turned out the lights, shut the doors and started laughing. :drevil:

Then he opened the doors and let us on. He was probabily the coolest driver with the stuff he said, he even had the bus sing happy birthday to someone. He Said we would see epcot 3 more times b4 leaving, and did the oooohhh...aaahhhh s while passing it!

He even did a Geiko joke (I saved a bunch of money on my car insurance...)
 
G

Gepettotrevor

Member
niteobsrvr said:
4 days of driving training prior to taking the cdl test. Split about 50/25/25 between learning the required pre-trip information, skills portion of the test, and open road driving. I don't exactly consider that enough for people who have never driven anything bigger than their personal vehicle or a uhaul truck.

There are a number of ways that the accident in the picture could have happened. There is no doubt that the driver is at fault for not applying the brake properly. My only thought is that if the driver is still seated behind the wheel he is more able to react effectively to remedy the situation than if he is in the process of exiting the bus.
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The poles are there to stop the bus so no one will be runover
 
H

HennieBogan1966

Account Suspended
Thoughts on this Bus Driver Policy

The thought occurs to me that having a driver standing outside the bus at each stop, while seemingly appropriate, curteous, and good for business, doesn't really enhance the magic of Disney one bit to me.

And while I love the experience of sitting on the monorail, listening to the spiel, it's an entirely different set of circumstances, which allows Disney to provide that "service" or experience on the monorail. NOT the busses. I truly believe that Disney should have more on their minds with regard to the "Magic" rather than putting time and money into training bus drivers to provide entertainment during their trips from place to place. I, for one, want their attention on the road and other drivers. NOT, on facts, tidbits, history, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
 
Maria

Maria

New Member
HennieBogan1966 said:
I, for one, want their attention on the road and other drivers. NOT, on facts, tidbits, history, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
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Me too!
Usually, when I get on the bus, I am tired and don´t want anyone to be nagging me with a constant blah blah blah..., or, I am too excited to get somewhere else and looking on the road that I don´t need anyone to be talking on the PA system, plus, there is always people talking around me, or I am also talking that I don´t need the stress of trying to pay attention to what someone else is saying on a speaker.

I think Disney should focus more on safety than show with this one, and the first step should be not packing the buses so much! Having a family with kids standing on the aisle is a definite no everywhere else, I don´t see why Orlando has to be different just because you are on Disney property... as if accidents on the road never happened there! :rolleyes:
 
tigger248

tigger248

Well-Known Member
Chape19714 said:
Bet that distracted some guests at Disney's Animal Kingdom!

Driver Headsets would not be bad for talkitive drivers. Recordings are not near as personal. i like drivers who talk about legends, and if they don't and i'm the only one on the bus i talk to them! my friends say i m way to friendly, but i know a few Cm's at WDW, who know me every time i see them! and i met them just cause of a sparked conversation. (my parents say "when you go to WDW so much you know the people who work there, you go too much!" but hey, i m gonna work there too, so i'll know some people who i'll be working with!) anyway, thanks for the update.
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I agree that the drivers need to make sure they're paying a lot of attention on the road. All drivers need to do that.

But, I still like the chatty drivers. My best experiences on the buses have been with the drivers who like to talk. Headsets would be a good way to let the one's talk who want to talk while keeping both hands on the wheel. Some people can talk while driving and it doesn't affect them, while others can't. If drivers seem distracted even with a trial head set system, then maybe changes should be made, but I think it would be worth a try. Some of the city bus drivers here at home sit and talk on cell phones while driving. I think that should stop or holding the microphone should maybe stop.

I am also a talkative person and I tend to strike up conversations with random people in the parks. It's so much fun the people you can meet! When I was a cast member some guests knew me and would come say hi whenever they were in the area. One guest would recognize me everywhere, even when I was playing in the parks on off days.
 
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niteobsrvr

Well-Known Member
Gepettotrevor said:
The poles are there to stop the bus so no one will be runover
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In theory yes. In reality, people can't even keep themselves from walking in the middle of the bus lanes at each park while busses are moving about. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people walk directly between the bus and the poles.

There is a reason there are sidewalks in the bus areas along with fencing etc. but it doesnt matter to most guests.
 
tigger248

tigger248

Well-Known Member
niteobsrvr said:
In theory yes. In reality, people can't even keep themselves from walking in the middle of the bus lanes at each park while busses are moving about. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people walk directly between the bus and the poles.

There is a reason there are sidewalks in the bus areas along with fencing etc. but it doesnt matter to most guests.
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For some people, you have to walk through the bus lanes. At the studios, the handicapped parking is actually in the middle of the bus loop. It can be really tricky getting in and out some times. When my grandparents were there, they hated the buses and drove to all the parks and we got blocked into our parking place because a bus parked right behind their car. We've also had to dodge buses when visiting with my family because I have a disabled brother. I don't think they were thinking very clearly when they designed that parking lot, the handicapped parking area is an accident waiting to happen.
 
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niteobsrvr

Well-Known Member
tigger248 said:
For some people, you have to walk through the bus lanes. At the studios, the handicapped parking is actually in the middle of the bus loop. It can be really tricky getting in and out some times. When my grandparents were there, they hated the buses and drove to all the parks and we got blocked into our parking place because a bus parked right behind their car. We've also had to dodge buses when visiting with my family because I have a disabled brother. I don't think they were thinking very clearly when they designed that parking lot, the handicapped parking area is an accident waiting to happen.
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MGM Studios parking lot is without a doubt one of the biggest tributes to lack of planning when it comes to parking lot design. The really scary thing is that even as they have added to it and redeisgned some of it, they still have failed to address the exact problem you have mentioned.

Personally, I dont understand why they haven't moved the accessible parking to the are just past the off property bus stops. They currently use it for over flow for the accessible parking anyway. Even there it would be closer to the entrance than the Magic Kingdom lot and reasonably similar to the other 2 parks. :confused:
 
Invero

Invero

Well-Known Member
IMHO, the Interlock (both on the Nova LFS and on the rear door of the RTS) creates a false sense of security. Far too often I've seen drivers leave the seat of thier bus with the interlock on, and the bus still in gear. Then, when the replacement driver closes the door, the bus lurches forward.
 
Disneyland1970

Disneyland1970

New Member
I always thought it would be nice for the busses to have music from the different parks being played over the PA. It would help pass the time and maybe spark a few happy memories of the day you just had! Maybe different soundtracks for the different destinations of the bus...heck even Radio Disney.....well maybe the silence isn't that bad :lol:
 
wannab@dis

wannab@dis

Well-Known Member
Invero said:
IMHO, the Interlock (both on the Nova LFS and on the rear door of the RTS) creates a false sense of security. Far too often I've seen drivers leave the seat of thier bus with the interlock on, and the bus still in gear. Then, when the replacement driver closes the door, the bus lurches forward.
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I would consider that a failure of the driver and not a problem with the bus. The break interlock is another level of security, and if the driver does his job correctly, then it will function properly.

I'm sorry, but if you see drivers leaving their seat with the bus in gear, it should be the LAST time they leave their seat, period. Fire them on the spot.
 
Shaman

Shaman

Well-Known Member
Driver: "The pole moved...I swear...it jumped foward...."

:lol: :lookaroun:

Seriously though, it seems like it was driver's error (although its hard to tell from a picture). But anything can turn out to be contributing factors to an accident. I find that many times guest are at fault for most of the problems on buses. For example, a couple of years ago, I was sitting in a bus that I had just gotten into at DTD, people were still exiting through the rear exit doors. As the final person exited the driver proceeded to close those doors, ofcoarse some guests did not heed the DO NOT ENTER signs and well the doors closed on some kids head...the driver immediately opened the doors (everything happened in less than two seconds)....the parents were angry with the driver as the kid was crying...giving him a hard time...I truly felt like turning around and telling the people if they even bothered reading the many signs outside of the doors, and if they paid any attention to the driver yelling to the people not to enter through the back door...nothing would have happened...but hey it wasn't my business...the kid was ok (the parents thinking of ways to work the system I'm sure)...but the driver was shook up...understandably so...I mean sure the driver should have seen the people through the proper use of the mirrors and such (but it was night)....my point is this...guest are just as responsible for some accidents as the drivers...

This whole deal with drivers having to stand outside while people board is a great idea and limits the chances of accidents like the example I mentioned...I think its a good idea...the driver interacts, asks for no further boarding, and makes sure no one enters through the back door....it also gives people some extra time to get to the bus if they are running from afar to catch the bus...

Just some thoughts...
 

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