New bus app feature being tested at POFQ

[LucyBC]

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.

 

[Next Big Thing]

They have these at DAK Kidani Lodge as well... not sure about Jambo house. Found it to be very useful and surprisingly accurate.

 

[Tom]

A couple deluxe have had them for a while. They're fairly accurate.

 

[peter11435]

They have these at DAK Kidani Lodge as well... not sure about Jambo house. Found it to be very useful and surprisingly accurate.

I think the op is referring to a mobile app through my disney experience that guests would have access to on their personal devices. Not the mounted screens that have been in place in some resorts.

 

[Next Big Thing]

I think the op is referring to a mobile app through my disney experience that guests would have access to on their personal devices. Not the mounted screens that have been in place in some resorts.

That would definitely be interesting and a welcome add to the app.

 

[LucyBC]

Yep it's definitely part of the MDE app and not the tv's!

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

They were using them when we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside in May. It was clearly inaccurate because the CM would tell us "10 more minutes" and then the bus would pull right up. LOL. They didn't have them out when we were at POFQ a few weeks ago but glad to hear they are more accurate.

 

[Lott2912]

I think this is a great step in the right direction. Not much more annoying than waiting for a bus to find out you've just missed one. Can't wait for this to rolled out properly

 

[ABQ]

It is a great addition to the app, though I'd be happier still if they'd add a board where real estate permits detailing all the same data. At least then I could reduce the expected burn on my phone's battery.

 

[lebeau]

This would be very nice to have.

Last time we stayed at Port Orleans, they had the board at the bus stop which was okay in that it was fairly accurate and it allieveated that feeling of "how much longer?" We still had a few ridiculous waits. But at least we knew what we were in for.

The problem with the boards is you don't have that info until you are already waiting at the stop. With the app, you can check in your room or at the food court and know whether or not you need to hurry to the bus stop. If the next bus isn't due for 20 minutes, you can be a bit more leisurely. Should help make some more informed decisions about when to arrive at the bus stop which would be a small but significant improvement.

 

[GhostHost1000]

FINALLY... one problem I could see though is with larger resorts with multiple bus stops.. especially SSR and OKW. Let's say you are at the last stop... does the time indicate when the bus arrives at the resort because it can take a while for the busses to get all around the resort especially if having to load/unload and ECV

 

[wdwmagic]

This would be very nice to have.

Last time we stayed at Port Orleans, they had the board at the bus stop which was okay in that it was fairly accurate and it allieveated that feeling of "how much longer?" We still had a few ridiculous waits. But at least we knew what we were in for.

The problem with the boards is you don't have that info until you are already waiting at the stop. With the app, you can check in your room or at the food court and know whether or not you need to hurry to the bus stop. If the next bus isn't due for 20 minutes, you can be a bit more leisurely. Should help make some more informed decisions about when to arrive at the bus stop which would be a small but significant improvement.

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.

 

[Blairnicol]

This. Is. Amazing. Although I could see people getting pretty steamed if the app said the bus was still 10-15 min away only to walk up to their desired bus pulling away, LOL. #firstworldproblems

 

[Gabe1]

My DD University has had this bus Phone App and screen real time for years and years already. Disney is still trying to catch up with established technology launched by others long ago. Chicago had that TV screen real time long before Disney started this at a few chosen resorts.

I remember when Disney use to be cutting edge but even if they are lagging behind in the World of Tech I'm happy they are finally considering implementing this transportation phone app, just very late to the party, again.

 

[jrlang1]

I wonder if this will work for the campground internal buss lines or just the ones for the parks. It can take a long time late at night to get from the meadows to front.

 

[Allygator]

Or everyone leisurely takes their time to get to the bus to find out that there's no room for you!!!

 

[Macca250]

Quite possibly the best thing to come out of the MM+ saga.

 

[wsmith1978]

This would be SO NICE.

 

[Mad Stitch]

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.

 

[Gabe1]

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.

I like your imagineering! Kudos!