News PHOTOS - Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin switch to Mears shuttles for theme park transportation

wdwmagic

wdwmagic

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FerretAfros said:
What accommodations do they have in place for guests with disabilities? Coach buses, with their steep entry stairs and narrow aisles, are unfriendly (at best) to those with mobility issues, and fully inaccessible to wheelchair users.

Presumably this would require also running some sort of paratransit shuttle along the same routes to accommodate guests who are unable to board a coach bus. Since shuttles have notoriously low capacity (1-2 parties per vehicle), this feels more like a temporary solution while occupancy is down, rather than a permanent one. At a certain ridership level, it just becomes easier to mainstream everybody into buses with level-boarding.
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They aren’t all coaches, some are the Disney style transit bus. Not that it helps if you get a coach.
 
PBJelly

PBJelly

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I love the Swan and Dolphin, always felt like it was the value of a deluxe at a moderate price, not to much after the Marriott buy out....but it's a bus...who cares how it gets you to park. Hopefully you don't have to go to the transportation center. I would think we would know that pretty soon.

They are laying folks off, so I'd think buses are the least of their worries at the moment. Can't wait to stay there again, especially if they boats are going.
 
wdwmagic

wdwmagic

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Another shot of the Mears busses heading into Swan. This is the DAK and MK.

DSC02629-1.jpg
 
DisneyNittany

DisneyNittany

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PBJelly said:
I love the Swan and Dolphin, always felt like it was the value of a deluxe at a moderate price, not to much after the Marriott buy out....but it's a bus...who cares how it gets you to park. Hopefully you don't have to go to the transportation center. I would think we would know that pretty soon.

They are laying folks off, so I'd think buses are the least of their worries at the moment. Can't wait to stay there again, especially if they boats are going.
Click to expand...

We love the Swan and Dolphin because of it's location, and the location plays into the transportation. I've never stayed at a Monorail Resort, because at the end of a long day filled with joy, as I'm walking out of Magic Kingdom, the last thing I want to do is wait in a long line for the monorail or ferry. We love that all we have to do is wait for a bus (actually, have the option of three separate buses, since it's an easy walk from Yacht & Beach or Boardwalk) and then we're back to our resort.

If we now have to board either the monorail or ferry to get to the TTC and wait on a bus, that defeats the purpose. If they keep their stalls directly outside of the parks, then correct, this change has zero impact on us.
 
Horizons '83

Horizons '83

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In the Parks
No
DisneyNittany said:
We love the Swan and Dolphin because of it's location, and the location plays into the transportation. I've never stayed at a Monorail Resort, because at the end of a long day filled with joy, as I'm walking out of Magic Kingdom, the last thing I want to do is wait in a long line for the monorail or ferry. We love that all we have to do is wait for a bus (actually, have the option of three separate buses, since it's an easy walk from Yacht & Beach or Boardwalk) and then we're back to our resort.

If we now have to board either the monorail or ferry to get to the TTC and wait on a bus, that defeats the purpose. If they keep their stalls directly outside of the parks, then correct, this change has zero impact on us.
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Has this been figured out yet? Are they dropping off at TTC or in front of of MK in their typical drop off location?
 
Surferboy567

Surferboy567

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I’ve been staying at Swan and Dolphin for 20+ years...I am not sure how to feel about this? At first glance I am not very fond of this change.

Friendship Boats are unaffected right?

Location is key for Swan and Dolphin.
 
wdwmagic

wdwmagic

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Surferboy567 said:
I’ve been staying at Swan and Dolphin for 20+ years...I am not sure how to feel about this? At first glance I am not very fond of this change.

Friendship Boats are unaffected right?

Location is key for Swan and Dolphin.
Click to expand...
Friendship Boats have not yet returned, no word yet on the long term, but I would expect them back at some point.
 
Surferboy567

Surferboy567

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Just had a thought would this also effect Disney event transportation?

Such as runDisney races? Maybe not offering transportation from Swan and Dolphin.
 
wdwmagic

wdwmagic

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Surferboy567 said:
Just had a thought would this also effect Disney event transportation?

Such as runDisney races? Maybe not offering transportation from Swan and Dolphin.
Click to expand...
A lot of event transportation been done by Mears in the past across al WDW hotels. I don't necessarily see this as being a problem, and it remains to be seen how long this will be in effect for.
 
T

Thelazer

Well-Known Member
Not really sure how this is a cost cutting measure. The buses (Disney) are already out there on the roads, removing one stop isn't going to IMHO make a "Big" dent in how many drivers / buses are needed on a daily bases.

Unless it was Swan / Dolphin paying DISNEY for use of the buses, and this is a S&D cost cutting move.
That I could see.

But from the Disney side, really can't see a cost savings here.
 

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