New Disney Bus Paint Scheme

[Gabe1]

Lol. It would be a perfect campus bus!

Here is my DD's bus for the University of IL, Champaign Urbana.

And Disney's version
same basic bus, same simplistic paint except Champaign is in the middle of corn and soy beans not exactly the Mecca for Imagination.

 

[Gabe1]

You wrongly assume it must be one or the other.

I wrongly? Wrongly according to who? Who is the ultimate decider in who is right and who is wrong?

The bus is either themed or it isn't. It is that simple.

 

[nace888]

Just a thought, the Buses will have a white 'pinstripe', well on my design, what if we followed that, but with a black stripe? Monorail Black would have Red stripes, like always...

 

[Goofyernmost]

In my mind, the buses are not attractions. They are a utility part of Walt Disney World. It's hard to theme a bus. Color designs, sure. My apologies to those that think those Japan buses are wonderful, but I think they are ugly, gaudy and even use bus chassis from the early 50's. WDW may not have those (thankfully) but really all they need to do is identify themselves with where you are. This new design is not only attractive but it has a built in safety factor which I find commendable. The buses take you to the entertainment, they aren't the entertainment. They are smelly, bulky objects designed to transport you to the entertainment, nothing else.

There was a time when they were warm and fuzzy and that was pretty much when WDW was new. Traffic was light and problems were few. Today, especially in Central Florida it is far more hospitable to know that the driver is paying attention to the task then cutting jokes. Sorry, but some things are just meant to be functional. What other modes of transportation on WDW property, other then the Jungle Cruise and Safari, are there that you expect the driver to engage in entertaining the guests.

If the buses are clean internally and externally, are pleasant to the eye and are unique to where you are, they have accomplished their mission.

As with many other things, the argument will be that they are not what they used to be. Well, neither are you, I'll bet. I know I'm not! Things change with time for many reasons. Maybe technological changes with the times, maybe priorities change not only from management but also from the public. Do you think that Disney would have spent the money they did to put those pain in the butt doors on the trams, if the public hadn't changed to the point that Disney had to protect itself from stupid, greedy people?

It's easy to blame Disney for changes that are probably outsider influenced. No new attractions? Gotcha and I agree! Disney needs to get it's act together in that area, but that doesn't mean that every other none related ideas are bad, just if we were to prioritize it, we wouldn't put it first.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I wrongly? Wrongly according to who? Who is the ultimate decider in who is right and who is wrong?

The bus is either themed or it isn't. It is that simple.

You're attempts to make it one precedent or another is what is wrong.

The Tokyo Disney Resort buses or Disney Resort Line monorails are not being extolled for their theme. Theme in terms of a themed entertainment experience goes being a decoration motif. "Disney" via iconography is not a themed experience. It has no desire to be its own place.

Not everything has to be themed. The monorails are not themed. They become iconic symbols of Walt Disney World's boldness in their purity and sincerity to their own objective. I truly believe the bus experience can be heightened by honesty in its design and performance.

 

[Gabe1]

You're attempts to make it one precedent or another is what is wrong.

The Tokyo Disney Resort buses or Disney Resort Line monorails are not being extolled for their theme. Theme in terms of a themed entertainment experience goes being a decoration motif. "Disney" via iconography is not a themed experience. It has no desire to be its own place.

Not everything has to be themed. The monorails are not themed. They become iconic symbols of Walt Disney World's boldness in their purity and sincerity to their own objective. I truly believe the bus experience can be heightened by honesty in its design and performance.

Exactly my point. Buses are not themed. Monorails are not themed. Tokyo versions are. I like that. You can be dismissive of theming as a mere decoration, so be it. I experience generic monorails at the airports, generic buses in the city, now both equally boring and unreliable at Disney World. Hybrid performance buses are not unique to Disney they are a staple of Urban USA. The Monorails at MCO and ORD are far more reliable than WDW. Disney is now exploring double length hybrid buses too, years behind major cities. I see a pattern.

"Disney" via iconography is not a themed experience. It has no desire to be its own place.

Giggle. That has to be the most weak statement I've seen in a long time. Nice attempt. : )

 

[Gabe1]

Meh, I don't care much for the design of the Tokyo buses.

The retro-trolley themed I-Ride Trolleys on Int. Drive are also much better themed than WDW buses. More reliable too!

These would be very good buses for around Port Orleans FC and POR, they would fit right in with the theming of those resorts. Very similar to the Trolleys of NOLA.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Exactly my point. Buses are not themed. Monorails are not themed. Tokyo versions are. I like that. You can be dismissive of theming as a mere decoration

I am not being dismissive of theming as decoration, I am distinguishing between the two. You're not advocating theming.

 

[lobelia]

They are themed scarlet and grey (OSU?)

Perhaps they are trying to theme the buses to reflect professional busing transportation and less as an attraction. The uniforms look more professional than the ones with purple pants. The paint job matches the new look of the uniform. Dress to impress. Perhaps when the drivers look more professional, they feel more professional and guests treat them like professionals. Now if they can just magic those EVCs into place more quickly.

 

[captainkidd]

I think the fact that this thread has gone on for 16 pages is kind of cool. It goes to show just how passionate we all are about what most people wouldn't even think twice about.

That being said, I think this brings up a really interesting point, for me anyways. My feelings are, I like Disney as it is. As I remember it from it's fondest days. Universal can change all they want, and it doesn't bother me. But the slightest changes at WDW upset me.

-The color of the buses.
-Narration on WDW Railroad and TTA.
-Changes to the pavilions at Epcot.

Heck, I even miss the purple pants.

 

[flynnibus]

Now if they can just magic those EVCs into place more quickly.

forklift like runners going down the side of the bus.. just let them ride on the outside

 

[Bolna]

They are not details, they are decoration. They are immersion only in terms of a cacophony of self-reference. The goal is not to create a different world or experience, but merely to remind one of being in a place branded "Disney."

THIS!!! It is such an important distinction.

I must admit that I picked this up from a previous post of you - a long time ago: decoration with a Disney motif does not equal theming. I totally agree about the Tokyo busses and monorails and the same problem applies to the Princess rooms as POR or the Art of Animation resort. Lot's of decorations do not make a theme.

 

[flynnibus]

The Magical Express buses have a sleek retro look (hmmm, something everyone seems to hate on the Transport buses, but has never had a problem with on DME), and the DCL buses have porthole windows along with a color scheme reminiscent of ocean liners. 'Tis a shame that the third party contractor has more "magical" looking buses than the Mouse himself.

Details are what sets (well, set - past tense) Disney apart. Lots of things they don't HAVE to do, and don't necessarily add any fiscal value, but they add uniqueness and actual evidence of caring.

I think you are misreading lazyboy. It's not that he's hating on putting in details - he is saying the 'just slap the mickey icon' on there is the creatively bankrupt way to add the details you want. Like you mentioned the DCL buses had a nautical theme (tie the concepts together) and not just 'make the windows mickey shapes because this is Disney you know...'

Making EVERYTHING Mickey shapes is just lazy and isn't theming - it's gaudy branding.

It's like dressing a CM in clothes that just have Mickey's face on every piece of clothing... instead of dressing them in clothes that blend the persons role AND with the environment. Both could be 'heavily detailed' - but the latter works better because it's more subtle, usually less gaudy, and shows a lot more attention to matching the details to the use.

Just slapping your logo on every surface does not make it integrated or themed. When you abuse something by putting it everywhere.. people quickly tire of the gimmick and it looses it's appeal.

 

[G00fyDad]

forklift like runners going down the side of the bus.. just let them ride on the outside

Na. Use a bulldozer-like scoop on the front. No need to even stop.

 

[luv]

Love the Tokyo monorails!! The Tokyo buses are great - not perfect, but better than the new WDW ones.

I have no problem with Mickey on Disney stuff. Mickey fits. Mickey works.

 

[nace888]

Since Monorail Red got it's wrap removed, (I recently found out) I was hoping it'd be painted to match the buses, but nope. Thoughts?

 

[Goofyernmost]

Since Monorail Red got it's wrap removed, (I recently found out) I was hoping it'd be painted to match the buses, but nope. Thoughts?

The Monorails are considered more then transportation, they are an attraction in themselves. Buses are a utility and only a way to get to attractions. You would never see them attempt to match the two.

 

[Clamman73]

Since Monorail Red got it's wrap removed, (I recently found out) I was hoping it'd be painted to match the buses, but nope. Thoughts?

If there's something that brings me back to being a kid at Disney, it's the look of the monorails...Actually a big change was the opening action of the current train doors as compared to the Mark IV trains...I used to love the cracking (or the like) sound of the doors being opened on the Mark IV trains - miss that. Also the closing of the doors manually by a CM...can still see it in my mind.

 

[nace888]

My thoughts are though, should they repaint the trains with a retro look?? I mean if you think, the trains have had the same paint style since their arrival, Mark IV's and Mark VI's have always had the single stripe down the length of the train. Hence my question. Should they go retro-modern??

 

[Chas. Harding]

Me and my Lady H are coming from the UK later this year, and them there buses, whatever colour they are, mean DISNEY to us!

Chas H.