Improving buses… can anything be done?

[righttrack]

I've timed the whole "bus vs renting a car" situation. The only time renting a car makes sense is Animal Kingdom, and going resort to resort (except the MK area resorts where the boat or monorail is superior). In all other cases, door-to-door, it was slower to bring a car.

 

[Master Yoda]

I've timed the whole "bus vs renting a car" situation. The only time renting a car makes sense is Animal Kingdom, and going resort to resort (except the MK area resorts where the boat or monorail is superior). In all other cases, door-to-door, it was slower to bring a car.

Quite correct. We drive so renting a car is not an issue, but in nearly every time study I did the time it took me to go from my resort room door to the turnstile at the parks was about a wash between car and bus save for DTD, resorts and MK. It was typically faster to take the bus to MK and the car to DTD. When it came to resorts your starting location made the time vary wildly between the two.

 

[TDF]

Don’t get me wrong I am not complaining about the busses. I am simply asking if there is a way to improve the current system they have. We have rented cars before and drove but as others said its a hassle at times looking for spots, being stuck in traffic, driving, etc… while the busses are simply doing that for you. Yes there may be a wait but for example during NYE we truly didn’t have an issue with the busses, getting on the first one most of the time and even sitting a couple of times. Wheel chairs weren’t an issue this true but on past trips we had some issues.
- Justin

 

[fosse76]

Some of what is being said is true. It is an ADA rule that wheelchair/scooter passengers must be given a ride as quickly as possible.

No, it's not. There is no such requirement. The ADA is an "equalizer" in that those with disabilities are to be given equal access. If there is a three-bus wait for someone who is getting in the bus line, and someone who needs ADA accessibility shows up, Disney CAN require them to wait the three-bus wait.

If it can be arranged that another bus, or vehicle, will be there to pick them up within a half hour, if I remember correctly, then they can be asked to wait. However, if the buses handicap areas are not in use, other than by able bodied people and they are still refused...well, it won't be pretty. ADA has a lot of muscle in Washington.

Yeah, that's not true either.

They are loaded first because, if space is available they have to be boarded anyway and it is much safer and a whole lot easier to put them on first. That way the driver has the room to secure the chair or scooter without having a 60 or so people standing around squashed in the pathway. When that is done the rest can enter and find a place much more quickly. Otherwise, if everyone else is allowed on first, they may be asked to not just get up off the seat, but it might be required that they leave the bus completely to allow room. So, you are much better off to just stand there and be happy that you do not need such assistance and pass a little magic off to someone else.

That IS true.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

The only times the bus was faster, for us, was going to MK. However, coming back from MK to the resort took longer. Don't know why, unless it's the way they have to come out as opposed to going in. If it's raining steadily, we prefer the bus to avoid the tram except for Epcot and DHS since it actually takes longer to walk from those bus stops to the entrance than to ride the tram right to the entrance. We drive down, so we don't have to rent a car.

 

[yellowb]

I don't know why WDW does not implement a para-transit system that is dedicated to transporting those with wheelchairs/scooters. It would save time waiting for those people, and not take up 8 seats on the regular buses.

 

[Nemo14]

I don't know why WDW does not implement a para-transit system that is dedicated to transporting those with wheelchairs/scooters. It would save time waiting for those people, and not take up 8 seats on the regular buses.

I can think of 2 billion reasons off the top of my head....

 

[TDF]

I don't know why WDW does not implement a para-transit system that is dedicated to transporting those with wheelchairs/scooters. It would save time waiting for those people, and not take up 8 seats on the regular buses.

People would be in outrage. They would claim that isn’t fair and it truly isn’t. Let’s go with this. What if there is a system that while loading a wheelchair another bus comes and picks those up who don’t need a wheelchair. Basically a two bus deal. I had this happen a couple of times, wouldn’t mind it. Is this what they are doing with the expansion of the MK bus area? Two stops for each resort to spread it out? For Example: 1 and 2 is for POP, 3 and 4 is for All Star?
- Justin

 

[muteki]

We usually have our car down there but have taken the bus a few times when it was convenient to do so. Wait times would be great, as nearly every other city/municipality/college campus/township/village already has this and it is a shame WDW doesn't. GPS tracking for each bus even isn't that hard and systems can be bought off the shelf.

Majority of my gripes have to do with the people who are on the bus. More than just people not having a sense of etiquette, and I think many people who come down don't use busses/public transport on a regular basis and just don't understand how it works/common courtesy. Not much WDW can do about that.

We haven't had issues in the past with wheelchairs but we also haven't ridden at the busiest times. If it is fairly apparent that there are enough people waiting for 2+ bus loads I would hope people would figure out that they should wait with the rest of people. Loading first makes sense...skipping in front of 100 people doesn't.

 

[FireChiefGoofy]

We usually have our car down there but have taken the bus a few times when it was convenient to do so. Wait times would be great, as nearly every other city/municipality/college campus/township/village already has this and it is a shame WDW doesn't. GPS tracking for each bus even isn't that hard and systems can be bought off the shelf.

Majority of my gripes have to do with the people who are on the bus. More than just people not having a sense of etiquette, and I think many people who come down don't use busses/public transport on a regular basis and just don't understand how it works/common courtesy. Not much WDW can do about that.

We do have GPS tracking. Buses are allocated to areas when needed. Drivers from other parks are redirected to busier parks during peak demand. Remember, when there are 70,000 people in the Magic Kingdom all wanting to leave at park closing, that each bus can safely hold 72 people. Less than 72 with a scooter or several giant strollers. I was personally reallocated to MK last night to help with park closing. Average wait time was 10 minutes!

 

[muteki]

We do have GPS tracking. Buses are allocated to areas when needed. Drivers from other parks are redirected to busier parks during peak demand. Remember, when there are 70,000 people in the Magic Kingdom all wanting to leave at park closing, that each bus can safely hold 72 people. Less than 72 with a scooter or several giant strollers. I was personally reallocated to MK last night to help with park closing. Average wait time was 10 minutes!

That's cool. Anyone ever think of presenting that info to the public? I'd love to know if the next bus is right around the corner or a few miles down the road. It's great that the information is there, but it's kinda underutilized if guests can't benefit from it.

 

[Timekeeper]

That's cool. Anyone ever think of presenting that info to the public? I'd love to know if the next bus is right around the corner or a few miles down the road. It's great that the information is there, but it's kinda underutilized if guests can't benefit from it.

I don't think that a theme park would ever consider utilizing a system that could somehow calculate an estimated wait time for a guest and then publish that wait time on some kind of a sign at the entrance to a queue... That's just crazy talk. What kind of guest would ever pay attention to that kind of information? Oh, wait a minute...

 

[Goofyernmost]

Goofyernmost said: ↑

Some of what is being said is true. It is an ADA rule that wheelchair/scooter passengers must be given a ride as quickly as possible.​

No, it's not. There is no such requirement. The ADA is an "equalizer" in that those with disabilities are to be given equal access. If there is a three-bus wait for someone who is getting in the bus line, and someone who needs ADA accessibility shows up, Disney CAN require them to wait the three-bus wait.

Goofyernmost said: ↑

If it can be arranged that another bus, or vehicle, will be there to pick them up within a half hour, if I remember correctly, then they can be asked to wait. However, if the buses handicap areas are not in use, other than by able bodied people and they are still refused...well, it won't be pretty. ADA has a lot of muscle in Washington.​

Yeah, that's not true either.

I won't argue with you over those points, not that I feel I am necessarily wrong, but because I haven't been in the transportation business now for 2 years, since I retired. It is possible that things have changed since then. Logically, you cannot leave a person in the open, in a chair, exposed to the weather because they cannot easily get out of it and into shelter. That is the reason for the "must be picked up" part of it. It was widely known and marketed by some, that field supervisors that are part of any transit organization, would in all probability be doing their supervision while driving handicapped equipped vans, just for such an event.

I have not kept up with it because...well, why the hell should I, I'm retired, so changes might have been made since I left. However, if a public transit system has unused handicapped areas and the make a person wait for another bus and that person decides to report them to ADA, I, for one, would not like to be the one answering the phone at the bus company when ADA calls.

 

[muteki]

I don't think that a theme park would ever consider utilizing a system that could somehow calculate an estimated wait time for a guest and then publish that wait time on some kind of a sign at the entrance to a queue... That's just crazy talk. What kind of guest would ever pay attention to that kind of information? Oh, wait a minute...

What's worse - Disney not having any bus tracking info or knowing that they do, but they don't display it? Unless you pony up for a stay at the Grand Flo. that is.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

What is annoying are the GIANT strollers that everyone seems to feel the need to bring on vacation.

I can tell you from experience that this happens in cities too, not just when people are on vacation. It's a huge pain when people (more than one per bus) bring their big, clunky strollers on board and nobody can get on or off and it causes an inconvienence to everyone else. I'm sure if you charged extra for them, they'd disappear pretty quickly.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I can tell you from experience that this happens in cities too, not just when people are on vacation. It's a huge pain when people (more than one per bus) bring their big, clunky strollers on board and nobody can get on or off and it causes an inconvienence to everyone else. I'm sure if you charged extra for them, they'd disappear pretty quickly.

Again, due to safety considerations it is illegal and foolish for any public transit operator to allow a stroller on that cannot be folded and stored out of the lane of escape. If it happens it's because the operator was either to lazy or to timid to enforce the laws that already exist. If something happened both themselves and the company would likely be facing charges if the situation turned out to be severe enough.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Buy from an non American manufacture.

 

[Timekeeper]

Again, due to safety considerations it is illegal and foolish for any public transit operator to allow a stroller on that cannot be folded and stored out of the lane of escape. If it happens it's because the operator was either to lazy or to timid to enforce the laws that already exist. If something happened both themselves and the company would likely be facing charges if the situation turned out to be severe enough.

Speaking of "too lazy or too timid," I have often seen CMs notice guests smoking outside of designated areas but fail to approach them and direct them to a designated area. Because CMs obviously 'know' about the policy, when they don't speak up, I've always assumed that it was because they are either too lazy or - more probably - too timid.

I think that, for certain types of personalities, one of the challenges of working in this type of capacity is that it can be difficult to approach people and enforce policies. Just as some types of guys will approach every girl at the bar, whereas other types of guys would rather die before approaching even one girl. Although this is not an excuse to relax the enforcement of applicable laws or policies, it can be difficult for an employer to recognize which types of individuals will be best suited for which types of roles. Someone with a stellar driving record and job interview may be too shy to hold up a bus full of guests in order to direct the offending guests to appropriately secure their strollers, etc.

Just a thought.

 

[bsiev1977]

Speaking of "too lazy or too timid," I have often seen CMs notice guests smoking outside of designated areas but fail to approach them and direct them to a designated area. Because CMs obviously 'know' about the policy, when they don't speak up, I've always assumed that it was because they are either too lazy or - more probably - too timid.

I think that, for certain types of personalities, one of the challenges of working in this type of capacity is that it can be difficult to approach people and enforce policies. Just as some types of guys will approach every girl at the bar, whereas other types of guys would rather die before approaching even one girl. Although this is not an excuse to relax the enforcement of applicable laws or policies, it can be difficult for an employer to recognize which types of individuals will be best suited for which types of roles. Someone with a stellar driving record and job interview may be too shy to hold up a bus full of guests in order to direct the offending guests to appropriately secure their strollers, etc.

Just a thought.

You are spot on with this thinking. I think people will try to get over on Disney because they think Disney won't be hard about rules like you said. One example I've seen are when lining up for parades, CMs will tell people they can't stand in certain areas, the people ignore the instructions, and the CMs can't/won't do anything about it.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I am a person that really doesn't like forced confrontation. I can argue with the best of them, but I like peace and quiet. As a veteran public transit bus driver and a later supervisor, I had that same sick feeling every time someone challenged me. Still when I knew that it was my license, livelihood and conscience on the line...I could be one of the most stubborn people on the planet. You don't fold up the stroller we don't move. Simple! Argue all you want, curse me all you want...this bus ain't moving until you comply with the regulation. I'm not going to be unemployed or sued because you think rules do not apply to you. Sorry...you caught the wrong bus.

Those that didn't make that stand usually found themselves out of work before long either voluntarily because they couldn't take the pressure or because the company didn't want to be liable for an injury due to a driver that couldn't bring himself or herself to do the right thing and were terminated.