Resort buses

[SeanWM48]

i like the buses. you know what you're getting at this point and they serve their purpose well IMO.

only time it drags on is going from resort to resort. we had dinner at BlueZoo and traveled from Fort Wilderness camp and it took ages to get there and back with lots of stops. But honestly I can't complain; I could have easily paid some extra cash and gotten a cab but went with the free ride instead.

 

[flynnibus]

Disney could do better.. much better.. and still be a dynamic bus system.

While the buses are clean and there are lots of them.. the system leaves much to be desired.

 

[SeanWM48]

Disney could do better.. much better.. and still be a dynamic bus system.

While the buses are clean and there are lots of them.. the system leaves much to be desired.

i welcome suggestions. if they're clean and plentiful, and on time, what more is there to do? it's a bus

 

[Mary Mastria]

Just got back today and used the bus service during our trip. Thought it was great. We rarely waited and when we did, the max was 10 minutes. The bus drivers friendly and helpful, and bus very clean.

 

[flynnibus]

i welcome suggestions. if they're clean and plentiful, and on time, what more is there to do? it's a bus

Ok.. first let me debunk your 'its a bus' - with some examples of things Disney has already done to ensure its not 'just a bus'
- Their customized decorative paint schemes
- The music they play
- The integration of the transportation system into their properties

You want suggestions of how to make it better? Start with catching up with the rest of the world.. with things like
- Real-time updates of ETAs for each route at every stop (Disney has FINALLY started phasing this in..)
- Mobile/web based updates for ETAs for each route for every stop (you can lookup when your bus will be coming..)

Then we can talk about things they could add to improve service or differentiate it
- Improve their dynamic allocation of buses by capturing actual route demand from each stop (people register where they want to go)
- Seats could be more comfortable
- Information provided on the bus could be dynamic and catered to where the bus is heading
- Less sharing of routes to reduce your ride time
- Disney 'magic' could be incorporated into the buses to add entertainment or distractions to pass the time (think if they had windows that were actually the transparent LCDs and spontaneous 'magic' could happen)
- Disney could change how the fleet was built out to handle wheelchairs and scooters for peak times like park closing
- Disney could actually roll out an actual SLA and impose guest recovery solutions if they failed their SLA as a way of building confidence in the system
- Disney could be leading the industry by partnering with organizations/vendors to do real world pilot rollouts of leading edge transportation, safety, or eco additions. (remember when something at Disney wasn't just the same you found everywhere??)
- Improved bus stations at the resorts to make them more comfortable
- Additional staffing at bus stations during peak times to improve cycle times
- Training and Empowering their CMs to be allowed to deal with selfish or disruptive guests instead of demanding the CM be a wet noodle to be pushed around and take any beating offered

Would you like me to continue?

 

[cjack300zx]

We love the bus system, the only driving I do is my house to the airport

 

[drp4video]

I always rent a car. This past May I had one rented and was meeting my mom for four days. (she was coming from another State). As I was getting on the plane my brother called to tell me she was not coming as she didn't feel well (she was fine). So I found myself solo at the AK Lodge. I needed the car because after WDW I was heading north of Orlando for 3 days for her sister, my Aunt's 90th birthday.

I parked the car at AK and left it parked for my stay as I felt more comfortable letting Disney do the driving as I was by myself and it can get confusing in the dark coming back to the resort when the parks close. FIrst time in about 28 visits using the buses. Getting to the parks and DTD was easy. Buses were not that crowed and while it did take a little more time than if I drove, it was fine. Loved that they drop you off right in front of MK and you don't have to deal with the monorail crowd.

Only thing I really hated was of course the crowded buses once the parks let out. Packed in like sardines. Not sure what they can do to alleviate this issue, maybe limit the amount they cram into the bus and add more buses more frequently? I am 62 years young and while in great shape if was difficult standing the whole way to AK Lodge , especially for someone who is 5'2 and had a hard time reaching the handle loops about me. But all in all, I would use the bus system again, but still rent a car as we go to Universal and Cocoa Beach, as well as shopping malls, and out to restaurants outside the parks.

 

[Matt_Black]

The bus transportation is quite good, in my opinion. The buses themselves appear to be a similar model to the ones SEPTA uses up here in Philly, though a bit nicer (of course, that just might be the pixie dust talking). The only downside is that unless you're going from a park to a hotel or vice versa, you're going to have to hop buses a bit to get where you want to go. But again, being from Philly, I'm used to that.

 

[Dad 2 M & M]

We like the buses, and use them frequently. I will say the parking for MK at the TTC is more of a pain than it is worth, so we use busing exclusively for MK. Generally drive to the rest of the parks...

 

[fireworksandfairytales]

I love the bus system and utilize it every trip. It's nice to not have to worry about parking and taking a tram and then finding your car at the end of the night and driving back to your hotel when you're exhausted and half asleep. I've had great experiences with the bus drivers over the years, whether it be that they announce to the whole bus that it's mine or someone else in my party's birthday and have the bus sing for us, or just simple, friendly conversations about their experiences working for Disney on an empty bus. While I agree that the theming could be nicer, I enjoy seeing the banners for my favorite ABC tv shows and Disney Channel shows and I enjoy the themed music that fits the resort you're going to.

 

[LAKid53]

Ok.. first let me debunk your 'its a bus' - with some examples of things Disney has already done to ensure its not 'just a bus'
- Their customized decorative paint schemes
- The music they play
- The integration of the transportation system into their properties

You want suggestions of how to make it better? Start with catching up with the rest of the world.. with things like
- Real-time updates of ETAs for each route at every stop (Disney has FINALLY started phasing this in..)
- Mobile/web based updates for ETAs for each route for every stop (you can lookup when your bus will be coming..)

Then we can talk about things they could add to improve service or differentiate it
- Improve their dynamic allocation of buses by capturing actual route demand from each stop (people register where they want to go)
- Seats could be more comfortable
- Information provided on the bus could be dynamic and catered to where the bus is heading
- Less sharing of routes to reduce your ride time
- Disney 'magic' could be incorporated into the buses to add entertainment or distractions to pass the time (think if they had windows that were actually the transparent LCDs and spontaneous 'magic' could happen)
- Disney could change how the fleet was built out to handle wheelchairs and scooters for peak times like park closing
- Disney could actually roll out an actual SLA and impose guest recovery solutions if they failed their SLA as a way of building confidence in the system
- Disney could be leading the industry by partnering with organizations/vendors to do real world pilot rollouts of leading edge transportation, safety, or eco additions. (remember when something at Disney wasn't just the same you found everywhere??)
- Improved bus stations at the resorts to make them more comfortable
- Additional staffing at bus stations during peak times to improve cycle times
- Training and Empowering their CMs to be allowed to deal with selfish or disruptive guests instead of demanding the CM be a wet noodle to be pushed around and take any beating offered

Would you like me to continue?

Sorry, disagree with most of your suggestions.

(1) It's a bloody bus and the most important thing is to not entertain passengers on a 15 minute ride but to ensure that both driver and passengers get to their destination safely. We already have problems with distracted drivers due to phones, navigation systems and other media in a vehicle. There is no need to turn windows into LCD screens - this isn't the Hogwarts train.

(2) Route sharing helps alleviate road congestion, which really adds to your ride time. There's only so much surface road and increasing the number of buses on the road just so that your bus doesn't stop at another resort would add to the traffic on the road.

(3) Don't have a problem with the seat comfort. One of the most important thing for seats on buses as heavily used as Disney's is durability. you make no like the plastic seats, but they last longer and are easier to keep clean.

(4) An SLA for buses at WDW. Are you serious?

(5) How much more comfortable do they need to make the bus stops? They are covered, there's seating, usually a water fountain or drink machine. Much better than the bus stops in my home town. Many are just a sign pole for you to lean against.

Yes, there are some things Disney could do better. They are adding monitors to bus stations. And I've heard rumors of adding transportation updates to the app.

 

[Matt_Black]

And I've heard rumors of adding transportation updates to the app.

Oh, that sounds nifty.

 

[Brian & Jill]

My wife and I go to Disney at least once a year. We always stay on the property (usually POR) and we never rent a car. The Disney Transport System is excellent IMO. The busses are clean on the inside and look good on the outside. Yes you might have to wait to get on a bus at the end of the night,but if you drove yourself then you would still have to wait for the tram to take you to your lot that your car is parked in,and then walk and find your car. Then after that you still have to fight with traffic to get back to your resort. Let Disney cart you around. Remember you are on vacation why should you have to drive and sit in traffic,you probably do that every day to go to work!!!!
For the people that want more comfortable seats......I am a mechanic on public transport busses and the reasoning behind the hard cover seats is the are easier to keep clean.....with fabric/cushioned seats if someone peed on that seat then you have to shampoo it and not use those 2 seats as they dry which means you might be on short end of that stick and might be they only ones left standing on that bus ride!!!! We have fabric seats on some of our busses and they are a nightmare to try and keep clean and they wear out and very costly to replace or reapolster.
For the people that are talking about natural gas busses(CNG) and electric busses.....CNG busses are great but you have then install CNG fueling areas which is very costly and they also have to revamp their ventallation system in the mechanical garage for CNG also very costly. Electric busses are good but they have short drive time before they need to charged and who wants to look at an overhead power cantinary(wiring) to be able to run regular electric busses.
Sorry to rant and rave but I had to get that of my chest!!!!!

 

[SeanWM48]

Would you like me to continue?

i see you have suggestions. i think you and i have different perspectives about these rides. i just hop on the bus and wait to get to the park. i'm in no need to be entertained during that time, nor do i need leather seats or exact ETAs. the bus gets to the park when it gets to the park. i'm laid back about it because i'm on vacation; i barely wear my watch or check my phone unless it's to take a picture.

 

[flynnibus]

i see you have suggestions. i think you and i have different perspectives about these rides. i just hop on the bus and wait to get to the park. i'm in no need to be entertained during that time, nor do i need leather seats or exact ETAs. the bus gets to the park when it gets to the park. i'm laid back about it because i'm on vacation; i barely wear my watch or check my phone unless it's to take a picture.

And that lack of interest in exceeding customer expectations is what is killing the future of Disney. Why do we have these hotels themed to Polynesia? Why isn't it just a nice Hilton we goto sleep at?

 

[flynnibus]

Sorry, disagree with most of your suggestions.

(1) It's a bloody bus and the most important thing is to not entertain passengers on a 15 minute ride but to ensure that both driver and passengers get to their destination safely. We already have problems with distracted drivers due to phones, navigation systems and other media in a vehicle. There is no need to turn windows into LCD screens - this isn't the Hogwarts train.

Yet they built things like Monorails and steam trains.. and bothered to make boats actual steam, etc. In fact, we don't even need the whole theme park in the first place... none of this is about what is NEEDED.. its about how to build a product that amazes your guests and entertains them.

The 'need' here is to move people between A and B - there is no reason that has to be so utilitarian that it's just something that functions and is safe. This 'just get me there' attitude would never have built the monorail, the epcot loop, trains at FW, beautiful wooden boats, or many thousands of other choices that used to be 'the Disney Difference'

(2) Route sharing helps alleviate road congestion, which really adds to your ride time. There's only so much surface road and increasing the number of buses on the road just so that your bus doesn't stop at another resort would add to the traffic on the road.

That is a load of crap excuse. If that was an issue.. maybe they shouldn't have added those extra resorts in the first place? Or what about the years before all those deluxes operated WITHOUT route sharing? And if traffic is a problem - they could solve it within the road network itself. This excuse doesn't hold up even to Disney's own prior operation..

(3) Don't have a problem with the seat comfort. One of the most important thing for seats on buses as heavily used as Disney's is durability. you make no like the plastic seats, but they last longer and are easier to keep clean.

There is more than one way to do things.. and again I'm supposed to be at a vacation RESORT - not worrying about how the 'city' is going to maximize the durability of their systems. This is a post about how things could be improved.

(4) An SLA for buses at WDW. Are you serious?

This is a post about how things could be improved.

(5) How much more comfortable do they need to make the bus stops? They are covered, there's seating, usually a water fountain or drink machine. Much better than the bus stops in my home town. Many are just a sign pole for you to lean against.

This is a post about how things could be improved.

(and the bus stops do vary depending on where you are).

You seem very happy that Disney maintains a bus network... I was talking about how Disney could IMPROVE it since some people are like 'its a bus.. what else could it be'.

 

[LAKid53]

Yet they built things like Monorails and steam trains.. and bothered to make boats actual steam, etc. In fact, we don't even need the whole theme park in the first place... none of this is about what is NEEDED.. its about how to build a product that amazes your guests and entertains them.

The 'need' here is to move people between A and B - there is no reason that has to be so utilitarian that it's just something that functions and is safe. This 'just get me there' attitude would never have built the monorail, the epcot loop, trains at FW, beautiful wooden boats, or many thousands of other choices that used to be 'the Disney Difference'



That is a load of crap excuse. If that was an issue.. maybe they shouldn't have added those extra resorts in the first place? Or what about the years before all those deluxes operated WITHOUT route sharing? And if traffic is a problem - they could solve it within the road network itself. This excuse doesn't hold up even to Disney's own prior operation..



There is more than one way to do things.. and again I'm supposed to be at a vacation RESORT - not worrying about how the 'city' is going to maximize the durability of their systems. This is a post about how things could be improved.


This is a post about how things could be improved.


This is a post about how things could be improved.

(and the bus stops do vary depending on where you are).

You seem very happy that Disney maintains a bus network... I was talking about how Disney could IMPROVE it since some people are like 'its a bus.. what else could it be'.

It's a form of transportation, and the main purpose is to move lots of people around a contained area as effectively as possible. Doesn't need fancy buses - which are expensive to operate and maintain (and I don't want to pay for). A little more thought into meeting demand for peak times like park closing, after fireworks/parades and guests going to dinner at Disney Springs is needed. But the KISS philosophy is best here...

 

[flynnibus]

It's a form of transportation, and the main purpose is to move lots of people around a contained area as effectively as possible. Doesn't need fancy buses - which are expensive to operate and maintain (and I don't want to pay for). A little more thought into meeting demand for peak times like park closing, after fireworks/parades and guests going to dinner at Disney Springs is needed. But the KISS philosophy is best here...

Thank god you weren't in charge in the 70s when they built the most amazing place on earth.

 

[LAKid53]

Thank god you weren't in charge in the 70s when they built the most amazing place on earth.

Yeah, because I would have spent money on rides, shows, landscaping, quality hotels rooms, etc., rather than fancy buses.....

 

[flynnibus]

Yeah, because I would have spent money on rides, shows, landscaping, quality hotels rooms, etc., rather than fancy buses.....

Landscaping? Why it just expensive and (stuff I don't want to pay for). You'd avoid the whole monorail, trains, steam boats, and just make everyone ride a bus from the parking lots and hotels to the park.. heck, you'd probably just put up Holiday Inns next to the park. After all.. just focus on function and KISS.

Thankfully, people with bigger thoughts and visions were in control.