New bus app feature being tested at POFQ

[ABQ]

Take @Mad Stitch 's data even further, monitor how many guests in the queue require ECV storage on the buses to ensure enough seating/standing capacity is available for all the guests waiting and accordingly route additional buses. Or reallocate the 2nd bus to the Studios in his example.

 

[RedtoGray]

An Uber-style interface would be even better. That way you could actually see the movement of the buses headed your way. It would also make their tracking a lot easier with countdown times to arrival. Select your resort > Select your Destination and boom you get the best bet for your next bus.

 

[Kevin_W]

I could see this particularly being useful in the morning when finishing up and getting ready to head to the bus stop.

 

[djlaosc]

Interesting that they are using "Studios" and "MarketPlace" rather than "Disney's Hollywood Studios" and "Downtown Disney"...

 

[PhotoDave219]

I'm staying at POFQ and there's a CM at the bus stop testing a new feature for MDE. It shows all parks and resorts and how long it'll take for a bus to arrive for and to each place. She told me it's in the beginning stages of testing and still pretty raw and not ready for release but they are getting the kinks out of it. I took a picture of the screen test and I'll upload it somewhere as it seems I can't upload directly from my iPhone.

About. Time.

Absolutely long overdue.

 

[216bruce]

YES! YES ! YES!
It seems like a no-brainer and generally about the most useful thing that MM+ can provide. Waiting for a bus is the one "spontaneous" thing I can do without at WDW. I will, however, miss the few times we just went to the bus stop and decided "We'll just go wherever the next bus is going." and were just surprised...yeah, weird but fun. I know we can still do it but someone's gonna check the app.

 

[RayTheFirefly]

Yep it will be much more practical to have it on the phone, and a lot more likely to be deployed. No need to install screens at all those stops and the difficulty of getting the feed to some of those remote locations.

Why not do both?

 

[HyppyChick]

Very helpful feature but I can see it killing the remaining battery power I have left after using my phone for everything else!

 

[wdwmagic]

Why not do both?

Well yep ideally do both. But the phone approach will be cheaper and therefore more likely to get the go ahead.

 

[Mad Stitch]

I like your imagineering! Kudos!

Thanks. Heck, they know from the data connected to the MagicBands where people are staying and the attraction/dining reservation they have on any day. The transportation department could be querying that data now looking for above average traffic patterns from resorts to parks and using that knowledge to add more busses to the route. I certainly hope they are. Adding in the long range RFID scanners could be phase 2 giving them real time data.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Take @Mad Stitch 's data even further, monitor how many guests in the queue require ECV storage on the buses to ensure enough seating/standing capacity is available for all the guests waiting and accordingly route additional buses. Or reallocate the 2nd bus to the Studios in his example.

I always thought there could be SOME way to make it better for both the ECV riders and other guests as well.

 

[AndyS2992]

Great idea Hope it all works well and they have it implemented at AoA in time for my next trip.

 

[GoofGoof]

Good use of the technology. There is still more they can do, but this is a step in the right direction along with the new enhancements to the photo packages.

 

[scoobygirl39541]

In a world where GPS is becoming old technology, it shocks me that they don't have a full system like this already in place.

 

[jdmdisney99]

Since everyone has MagicBands, what they need to do is install the long range RFID readers at the bus stops and query who is at the stop with where they have attraction/dining reservations to get an idea how many are waiting to go to a specific destination. That way they could efficiently dispatch busses to those waiting the longest and the largest crowds. I was at Riverside this weekend and there were 2 busses going to the Studios each not even a quarter full, all while there were enough people waiting to fill up 3 busses to the MK.

Wasn't this part of the plan for MM+? Alleviating crowds in various places...in park and elsewhere. This is what the tech needs to be used for.

 

[GymLeaderPhil]

All we need now is a time estimator and directions to get from point A to point B on the app.

 

[zweltar]

I've always wondered why WDW didn't have some sort of system like this in place YEARS ago. My college had screens displaying exact bus locations and ETA at least 10 years ago.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Talked with some friends tonight. This is going to happen. Come hell or high water, this is going to happen. The entire NexGen has been a Comedy of errors but if they get this right, I'm inclined to let a lot go…

 

[DManRightHere]

What makes more sense is to have a channel to each resorts room tvs, as this is where you'll be usually running from. The apps are a great idea nonetheless.

 

[GrumpyFan]

This sounds very cool! I can't wait to give it a try.
Given the data they have, the sky's the limit, and there's so much more they can do with this.
For example, at the parks, they could easily identify which resort guests come from, or if from parking lot, and then allocate/schedule for better management at end of day with more precise resources (boats/capatains, buses/drivers).
Also, if there is a rainstorm or other event that causes a mass exodus prior to closing, they could know almost exactly what was needed and automatically queue transportation.