That’s gone now too, Sea World didn’t power down those batteries properly at the start of Covid and they got bricked.
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News Disney Springs Bus Service to Resorts Now Requires Reservation Verification
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Tha Realest
Well-Known Member
I appreciate whoever shared the tidbit from The Disney Dish podcast, but it left out some greater context. Here is what the transcript shows:
“So we did some asking around, and that's actually slightly high compared to what is being measured. So the number I heard is more like it's 20% now. But that's after the rules went into place.
And my understanding is that the media coverage of this helped get the word out that this thing was no longer possible and that before this crackdown, those numbers during the last implementation of this, were something like 40%.”
From The Disney Dish with Jim Hill: Luxo Jr. Takes a Rain Check at Pixar Place, Jul 5, 2026
So, if I am interpreting this correctly, the current iteration of this policy, after all the news coverage, still resulted in about 20%-25% of ineligible riders attempting to use the buses. It’s unclear whether the April ‘26 enforcement test meant 40% of those attempting to ride the buses were ineligible, or whether Len’s sources said that 40% of the riders pre-change were not staying at a resort hotel and did not have an ADR.
Either way, it seems like a big Disney springs transportation issue to many.
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phillip9698
Well-Known Member
Bruh, don’t waste your time. These folks will not believe any figures shared unless they are presented on official Disney letterhead, with an actual signature from the CEO, an appendix with facts and figures, and a help desk number to be used for further clarification.
Br0ckford
Premium Member
That wouldn't be good enough either
As long as the signature was notarized
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
So getting caught up…
So the thought is 20% of people hopping the springs buses were going to hotel squat? Am I reading that right?
Where are they going, exactly? There are no crowds on property to really speak of most of the time above “average” with the exception of springs.
I’m naive…but I think the smart business play is to try and figure out what market segment this is that isn’t being served and try to augment the product to profit off them…but that’s only because “it’s a business”…
Which works when people want to feel good about themselves staying at port…but is inconvenient if you want to actually talk about it as a business.
So the thought is 20% of people hopping the springs buses were going to hotel squat? Am I reading that right?
Where are they going, exactly? There are no crowds on property to really speak of most of the time above “average” with the exception of springs.
I’m naive…but I think the smart business play is to try and figure out what market segment this is that isn’t being served and try to augment the product to profit off them…but that’s only because “it’s a business”…
Which works when people want to feel good about themselves staying at port…but is inconvenient if you want to actually talk about it as a business.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
That would be the LAST figures I would believe…and I am “seasoned”
They’re not our friends…they’re our dealers…
And the data has a predetermined purpose
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
But the fake figures ARE the ones presented on official Disney letterhead, with an actual signature from the CEO
Vacationeer
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Some of them might have been going to the parks. Take the FL resident ticket offer. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/2026-florida-resident-summer-multi-day-ticket/
Valid May 17 to Oct 3. It’s a nice deal for 4-day ticket. $65/day with no blockouts, can be any 4 consecutive or non-consecutive days within those dates, just need to make a reservation. No limit on repeating parks.
If driving in? Pay $35/day to park the car. Kind of a psychological burn after paying $65 for the theme park day.
For MK days (I can see people to do it twice on these tickets), why not park at Springs, bus to BLT and the short walk from there. Not much different from parking at MK, walking or taking tram car across lot, then still needing another 20 minutes to cross the lagoon, sometimes more. The big difference is spending $35 or not.
EP isn’t horrible going through BC. There even cases to be made for HS.
SamusAranX
Well-Known Member
I believe them. I can also believe that there is limited value to glean from the data as well. Both can be true.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
In my opinion, Disney just wants to eventually run less busses so they put restrictions in place to lower ridership.
One cover story is folks were parking at DS to evade parking fees at the parks.
Another cover story is folks who are not paying to stay at a resort are taking the DS busses to resorts to swim for free in the resort pools; simply entering the pool area right behind someone as swiped their card/magicband into the pool area.
Another cover story is folks that are not paying guests to the resort are using the busses to visit the resort, crowding/disturbing the paying guests. Disney is even going as far as deleting the gingerbread house at GF; one less reason for the freeloaders to visit GF.
In my opinion, the restrictions will increase this Christmas season. I think they will be checking folks at the bottom of the monorail ramp to the resort monorail, making sure only paying resort guests can get on the resort monorail.
DISCLAIMER: This post is my opinion and not based on fact.
JMcMahonEsq
Well-Known Member
If someone is confused by a simple these people can ride this bus and others can’t, I am sorry they are beyond help. This is like third grader type stuff “come on kids only x people get on these buses.”
The why isn’t relevant. You don’t need or deserve to know why WDW has set this restriction, it’s there business. They are the rules and they are not complicated
phillip9698
Well-Known Member
But the fake figures ARE the ones presented on official Disney letterhead, with an actual signature from the CEO
Ok so who are we to believe? Dont trust Disney, dont trust people who have inside sources, and also dont trust people who have businesses centered around data based evidence such as Len. We just become the cynical crowd that complains with no basis to stand on?
DCLcruiser
Well-Known Member
This is my take as well. Reduce busses and control who is at resorts.
I will say that we are guilty of visiting GF at Christmas time, but we drove and valeted our car.
Andrew C
You know what's funny?
Guilty? Disney actively promoted it.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
Nobody has disputed Lens numbers.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
You drove a valeted your car, In my opinion, you are guilty of nothing.
And as I said, these are cover stories to eventually reduce the busses and save costs.
JD80
Well-Known Member
People sometimes love making up stuff in their heads, confusing themselves and then blame others.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
Does it matter? Disney will do what Disney will do for whatever reason they want and we are just trying to rationalize.
Just my opinion, all Disney's decisions are based on MONEY; making more money or reducing costs, or both.
You keep using “cover story” as though these are things Disney has said about these changes.