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Problem - Guests on SSR busses from theme parks to DTD
- Thread starter dcibrando
- Start date
Did you see me complain?...no.
Good day
haha - thanks! and I like the quote at the bottom of your profile. Kinda sums it up:shrug:
Could people please be polite? If threads could not repeat topics discussed in the past, the forum would be pretty empty. Plus, there is a good chance that many people reading a thread were not here on the forum a year ago, so it's new to them. Trust me, after a while almost everything gets repeated, and I do sometimes think to myself "here we go again" but I also realize that what is old hat to me might be brand new to someone else. 
I could see complaining if a topic was already discussed within the last few weeks, but a year? No. Even if it is the same poster with an update.
But I also agree that complaining at the time is the best way to handle things, even if you don't get an instant response. As others have said, if the front desk, and customer relations, start getting a lot of complaints something might be done. Or not, or you might just find that the cure is worse than the disease. :lookaroun
I could see complaining if a topic was already discussed within the last few weeks, but a year? No. Even if it is the same poster with an update.
But I also agree that complaining at the time is the best way to handle things, even if you don't get an instant response. As others have said, if the front desk, and customer relations, start getting a lot of complaints something might be done. Or not, or you might just find that the cure is worse than the disease. :lookaroun
awilliams4
Well-Known Member
Right, wrong or indifferent, I sensed tone toward the original poster as well. I don't mind seeing topics on the boards more than once. If they weren't allowed, I doubt there would be many new posts at all since 85% of all WDW topics have already been discussed on this site.....probably more than once over the past decade or so.
I don't have an answer for SSR's bus issues. Seems that topic may just be considered a down side to SSR like some consider AKL not being near anything.
I don't have an answer for SSR's bus issues. Seems that topic may just be considered a down side to SSR like some consider AKL not being near anything.
thanks :sohappy:... glad others see what I mean....but yeah looking back at it I could have complained to them in person... but that's really just not my style even though I know it probably would have made the most difference.
I just want them to be more aware of the issue...hopefully others can contact them as well (one way or another) if they have experienced this too so they can look into all the options to correct
I just want them to be more aware of the issue...hopefully others can contact them as well (one way or another) if they have experienced this too so they can look into all the options to correct
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
I'm going to humbly suggest this: any person savvy enough in the ways of the WDW transportation system to park at DtD and walk to SSR, is probably also savvy enough to know that:
a: To get to the MK, it would be potentially faster to take a bus from the DtD to any of the monorail resorts (especially the Contemporary, with is walking path). After all, a shorter walk to the DtD's resort bus stop and three times the options of buses, as opposed to the longer walk to SSR and potentially waiting on line with all the SSR guests, one of the larger resorts on property...
b: To get to Epcot or the Studios, it may be faster to take a resort to one of the Epcot resorts and then walk or use the boats - assuming those resorts are not all sharing a bus. But even if they are, first thing in the morning there would probably be very few people going from DtD to an Epcot resort...except of course for people parking at DtD for free to get to the theme parks.
Which leaves Animal Kingdom and the water parks as the "solution" for freeloaders where it might make the most sense to park at DtD and then walk to SSR.
This is not to say I'm "OK" with any of this to occur. I'm just suggesting to the double-shot OP that this problem isn't necessarily relegated to SSR - you just notice it more there, because that's where you were to witness it.
Regardless, the solution now is the same as it would be for the solution then: Throw gates up at the DtD lots and turn them into paid parking lots, albeit lots where parking can get validated if people buy stuff at DtD. You pay for your parking before you ever get in your car, to cut down on lines at the gate when it's time to go, and any receipts for stuff you buy in DtD will come with a bar code that effectively acts as a coupon for your parking; if you spend enough money, your parking is free and you get a 20 minute window to leave the lot.
This will cut down, tremendously, on people who park at DtD for free to go to the theme parks; the only problem it would not solve would be the few who are staying in the non-Disney resorts across from DtD who see the walk from their resort to SSR, as long as it may be for some families (especially with elderly members or strollers) as preferable to using a car to get to the theme parks. And anyone who goes to a theme park first and then to DtD could get a voucher at the gate when they enter good for free parking, just as people who drive to theme park to theme park don't have to pay for parking again.
a: To get to the MK, it would be potentially faster to take a bus from the DtD to any of the monorail resorts (especially the Contemporary, with is walking path). After all, a shorter walk to the DtD's resort bus stop and three times the options of buses, as opposed to the longer walk to SSR and potentially waiting on line with all the SSR guests, one of the larger resorts on property...
b: To get to Epcot or the Studios, it may be faster to take a resort to one of the Epcot resorts and then walk or use the boats - assuming those resorts are not all sharing a bus. But even if they are, first thing in the morning there would probably be very few people going from DtD to an Epcot resort...except of course for people parking at DtD for free to get to the theme parks.
Which leaves Animal Kingdom and the water parks as the "solution" for freeloaders where it might make the most sense to park at DtD and then walk to SSR.
This is not to say I'm "OK" with any of this to occur. I'm just suggesting to the double-shot OP that this problem isn't necessarily relegated to SSR - you just notice it more there, because that's where you were to witness it.
Regardless, the solution now is the same as it would be for the solution then: Throw gates up at the DtD lots and turn them into paid parking lots, albeit lots where parking can get validated if people buy stuff at DtD. You pay for your parking before you ever get in your car, to cut down on lines at the gate when it's time to go, and any receipts for stuff you buy in DtD will come with a bar code that effectively acts as a coupon for your parking; if you spend enough money, your parking is free and you get a 20 minute window to leave the lot.
This will cut down, tremendously, on people who park at DtD for free to go to the theme parks; the only problem it would not solve would be the few who are staying in the non-Disney resorts across from DtD who see the walk from their resort to SSR, as long as it may be for some families (especially with elderly members or strollers) as preferable to using a car to get to the theme parks. And anyone who goes to a theme park first and then to DtD could get a voucher at the gate when they enter good for free parking, just as people who drive to theme park to theme park don't have to pay for parking again.
This problem is very minimal compared to the problem with those from parks riding SSR busses to get to DTD. Then again who knows... maybe to get to the parks they do what you are saying but to get back they ride the SSR bus? Either way, there are WAY too many non-SSR guests/owners filling up space on the limited SSR busses on the way back from the parks in my opinion.
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
I don't know if the problem is comparably minimal. Quite frankly, I'm not sure how prevalent the SSR problem is. I've stayed there twice and while I only used the buses infrequently, I never heard anyone specifically say they were cheating the system by walking there from DtD. Conversely, I've never heard anyone make similar claims in any other resort where I stayed.
If I were the freeloading kind, and were in the parks at the end of the day, I'd a: walk from MK to the Contemporary or monorail to Poly or GF before taking a SSR bus to DtD. Those buses would be packed with SSR guests (and dumber freeloaders), whereas there would be comparatively fewer people at a monorail resort looking to go shopping at DtD at that time of night. Things were probably different back when there was Pleasure Island to visit late night, but now, I can't imagine a whole lot of people, staying at monorail resorts, who'd want to see a movie or dine at DtD after closing the MK (when most DtD will be closed or closing), meaning only the "smarter" freeloaders are probably on the buses with me.
2: Take the bus or boat launch from Epcot or the Studios to an Epcot resort, then bus to DtD from there. Same reasons as above. By taking the walk or launch firs thing, I'm avoiding the crush of people looking to take the bus back to SSR, I'm not worried about having to stand - after being wiped from my day in the parks, only to then have to walk from SSR to DtD after that (or wait for a boat).
Which again leaves Animal Kingdom & the water parks, all of which tend to close earlier than the other 3 parks. And because they close earlier, it's just as likely anyone going from those parks to SSR is also staying in a different onsite resort, and willing to deal with the crowds of SSR guests and the freeloaders to get to DTD in one shot (though I'd probably "beat the system" by going to Port Orleans FQ or Old Key West and boating from there. After all, there's still probably plenty of time to visit DtD that time of night).
Maybe, but your evidence is still anecdotal, and you have no evidence - anecdotal or otherwise - that it's not a problem anywhere else. The freeloaders bother me too, in as much that they seem to be getting something for free. Granted, a ticket to a Disney park grants you unlimited use of Disney transportation, but they seem to be infringing on the transportation you seem to be paying extra for by virtue of staying at a Disney resort at their higher rates. I feel safe in writing that, for all the questionable decisions made by parks management, they know that people are parking at DtD and using alternate means of transportation to get to the parks, just as they know people take old mugs with them for refillin', and park at the Contemporary and walk over to the MK, and pool hop if the lifeguards don't check for resort IDs, etc. etc. And if they're not taking the steps to correct this outrageous abuse of their amenities, they've decided it's the cost of doing business, a cost worth eating, rather than come up with a solution that might cost them money elsewhere in the long run (for example, charging for parking which would cut down on those freeloaders, but also infringe on bona fide shoppers who might take offense at having to pay as much for parking at a glorified strip mall than they would at a theme park, unless they validate).
So for now, the best thing for you to do is what other have suggested, write your Strongly Worded Letter to Disney. Let them know how often you experienced non SSR guests, people who weren't even staying in a Disney resort, using the SSR bus line. Let them start to think about how much they're losing in parking lot fees AND a loss of potential repeat guests (if you're that upset about it, would you go back?). If they get enough complaints, they'll start to think that it really is starting to eat in to their bottom line, and do something about it.
while your other options (rather than not boarding SSR busses or people using other resort busses to get to DTD) are valid ones, how many park guests know all of the other ways to get to DTD ... ESPECIALLY when they are being told to board SSR busses to go to DTD. I have even read on other forums about signs at Epcot specifically directing people wanting to go to DTD to the SSR bus stop. How is that fair if they are not increasing the busses or having specific busses that say "Downtown Disney" on the bus instead of "Saratoga Springs" when it stops at that bus stop.
What if you were staying at a resort where the # of busses were based on the # of guests staying at that resort, and then they start directing/advertising and telling people to use your resort's busses to get somewhere else....while those at the value resorts do not have any problem like this?
What if you were staying at a resort where the # of busses were based on the # of guests staying at that resort, and then they start directing/advertising and telling people to use your resort's busses to get somewhere else....while those at the value resorts do not have any problem like this?
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
I've never heard that, but if it's become so "official" that people who want to go to DtD should take the SSR bus, that they've printed signs about it, then I feel safe in the assumption that they add buses to accommodate that overflow. And like every other bus line, sometime they nail the amount of buses they really need, rarely there are too many, and sometimes, not enough.
If it were affecting my ability to get on the bus, I'd be ticked off, sure. But again, anyone buying even a 1-day ticket has complimentary access to all of WDW's transportation, AND to my knowledge they never check tickets in the first place. So really, someone in the Orlando are could park at DtD and spend all day resort hopping and hanging in DtD without ever going to a park or buying a darn thing, even a soda. A bus driver could confirm someone owns a valid Disney ticket, but could not enforce whether or not someone uses that ticket that day. There really is no perfect solution...the closest would be my solution of making DtD a pay lot and validating parking based on purchases at DtD.
But as I wrote before, let Disney know you see it as a problem, and if they get enough complaints, eventually, they'll decide it's a problem worth solving, as opposed to their doing nothing like they are now. Besides, if they ever started making DtD a pay lot, they could start running buses from DtD direct to the parks again. Just sayin'...
BeachClubNut
New Member
This is why I ONLY READ HERE AND DONT POST, it isnt worth all the rude comments that get thrown at you. (The proof will be all the crap i get for posting this, just watch and read)
brightlillstar
Member
That really stinks. I would hope that if they are telling people to do this that they are increasing the buses on the route accordingly, especially in the evenings.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
Well, it would still be an issue from a satisfaction standpoint.
However, I am of the belief that the DVC - and hence the DVC ownes, bay WDW transportation for services rendered at the DVC resorts. I assume it is pro-rated at resorts where there is both a DVC and non-DVC entity.
-dave
Sure but this thread wasn't structured as a generic complaint regarding the quality of bus service. There are specific complaints directed at funding of resort transportation.
Yes, members do pay for transportation. But my question is whether Saratoga Springs owners are paying 100% of the transportation bill. If Disney is paying a portion of the costs, seems like it's within their rights to route some non-SSR guest traffic to that bus line.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
I re-read the original post, and I fail to see where this is a financial related complaint. The OP does state "we spend lots of money at this resort ..." but does not say something along the lines of "I'm paying for transportation in my dues and I expect better ..."
Again, since SSR is a fully DVC owned resort, I am going to assume they pay for 100% of the bus service that is provided there. Even if Disney Transportation is paying for a portion of the cost, then it is fair for them to route non-SSR guests onto that line, however in the interest of fairness, it should only be the percentage that Disney Transportation is providing for free.
Sill, the point remains, fair or not, it becomes poor service. Because there is no direct park to DTD service, people use the SSR busses. This places an increased burden on the SSR routes and increases crowding on the busses. Of course the reason they don't provide service directly to DTD is because of the parking issue.
Charging for parking at DTD (with validation) would help to solve this problem.
-dave
Six of one, half dozen of another.
We both know it wouldn't take long to make a laundry list of WDW guest abuses and ways transportation could be improved. Two weeks ago I was at the BoardWalk and had to park so far away from the resort that my car was behind the guard shack. The walk to BWV was 3-4 times further from me than the Hess gas station!
Bus service is spotty throughout Walt Disney World. Nearly 10 years ago I all but gave up using buses because I was tired of having to stand or buses being filled to capacity. This is hardly a new phenomenon, nor is it limited to SSR.
That said, apparently this is OP's own pet peeve so I should probably just leave him to it. I just don't happen to see any hope of Disney addressing the situation.
Why would you assume that? Park tickets allow unlimited use of transportation. How do we know there isn't some allowance at all resorts for non-guests using the buses/boats/monorails?
And perhaps those percentages are in check. I'm sure the problem is most noticeable around 9am daily and at park closing, but overall I doubt the volume of non-SSR guests using the buses is very high.
It's just one of many areas in which WDW transportation is lacking.
We could argue that BoardWalk shouldn't be sharing with Dolphin and/or Swan. But they are. Most of the MK area resorts share buses. Kidani and Jambo share buses and during peak times buses are often near capacity before making it to the second stop (usually Jambo.) Resort monorails headed to the MK are often standing room only by the time they reach the Grand Floridian.
I don't see any solutions to those problems forthcoming, either.
There are many possible solutions. Disney has not shown any interest in adopting any of them.
worldfanatic
Well-Known Member
Disney's well aware of the problem.
How big a problem it is remains the question.
I noticed something interesting earlier this month on our WDW trip.
A sign at the Downtown Disney Marketplace bus station. (Not sure if it was also at the Pleasure Island Bus station, but I'll bet it was).
The sign said something along the lines of "Guests wishing to travel to the Theme or Water Parks should board a bus to Port Orleans, and transfer to your park's bus there".
I can't remember if it specifically mentioned "French Quarter" or "Riverside", but it definitely told people to transfer through Port Orleans.
I was surprised.
I wonder if Disney has increased the number of buses for those resorts and is trying to route the so called "freeloaders" through Port Orleans?
How big a problem it is remains the question.
I noticed something interesting earlier this month on our WDW trip.
A sign at the Downtown Disney Marketplace bus station. (Not sure if it was also at the Pleasure Island Bus station, but I'll bet it was).
The sign said something along the lines of "Guests wishing to travel to the Theme or Water Parks should board a bus to Port Orleans, and transfer to your park's bus there".
I can't remember if it specifically mentioned "French Quarter" or "Riverside", but it definitely told people to transfer through Port Orleans.
I was surprised.
I wonder if Disney has increased the number of buses for those resorts and is trying to route the so called "freeloaders" through Port Orleans?
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
Just to be a noodge, even though Saratoga Springs is "a fully DVC owned resort," Disney owns some of the DVC. They buy (or keep, however you want to look at it) a percentage of points at each DVC resort, in order to rent them out for cash, or to block off a few at a time for renovations, stuff like that. So SSR is not solely owned by DVC members, per se.
Besides not knowing the agreement between DVC, Disney at Disney transportation, Disney could always argue something like "the lease for the land necessary to create Saratoga had certain stipulations to benefit the Disney corp, like the right to own and/or manage the food courts and restaurants and gift shops, the right to have staff photographers work in-house for photo packages...and we control how Disney transportation is used."
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
Very true. Also "owning" DVC membership doesn't mean that you "own" any property at all. You just own the privilege of staying at a DVC resort.