Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[Goofyernmost]

I'm okay with 20 minutes...but it isn't 20 minutes, they've loaded too many stops per bus. One driver can't load 2-3 ECVs effectively on their own and there are not enough busses running between Epcot and DHS.

The system for setting up stops is to take the minimum amount of time needed to get from point A to point B. That is assuming that there are no unreasonable delays such as accidents or road obstruction. A ECV or wheelchair takes less then 5 minutes to load and there will not be more than two on any bus usually because in the type of set up that WDW has, it is unlikely that a disabled person would just be riding from resort to resort. They would be going the same place as you. Besides, there is not always an ECV or Wheelchair on a bus.

If they based it on the maximum time needed you would find yourself sitting on a bus waiting for departure time. They cannot leave before the departure time in the event that someone gets there up to and including the departure time. Know what's more frustrating then waiting for a bus? Getting to a bus stop on time and finding out that it already left.

You also do not need a bus to get from Epcot to DHS, they have boats as well that go there. It is inefficient and environmentally harmful to have more buses then are necessary. That can cause a problem if they are all of a sudden hit with an unexpected rush, but 99% of the time, that isn't going to be the case. When it becomes consistently high throughout the day, not just rush times, then it becomes wise to permanently add a bus or two.

WDW isn't running a municipal bus company, where the ridership is relying on the buses to get them to work or an appointment on time. They are taking people to and from a theme park with no required times of arrival and departure. It's up to the people that aren't paying additional for the bus service, at least at the time, to be sure that they allow time to get where they are going. If they are afraid they will be late...the solution is simple, take an earlier bus.

 

[RyenDeckard]

WDW isn't running a municipal bus company, where the ridership is relying on the buses to get them to work or an appointment on time. They are taking people to and from a theme park with no required times of arrival and departure. It's up to the people that aren't paying additional for the bus service, at least at the time, to be sure that they allow time to get where they are going. If they are afraid they will be late...the solution is simple, take an earlier bus.

But what about when MM+ launches fully and your entire vacation is planned from the moment you arrive down to the minute?

 

[Goofyernmost]

But what about when MM+ launches fully and your entire vacation is planned from the moment you arrive down to the minute?

Rent a car...it will help! Otherwise, take an earlier bus to be sure you get there on time to buy your Starbucks coffee at the designated time.

 

[RyenDeckard]

Rent a car...it will help! Otherwise, take an earlier bus to be sure you get there on time to buy your Starbucks coffee at the designated time.

Still, the argument that "We provide this service to co-exist with our other service, but this service in unreliable and you should use your own transportation to make sure you don't miss an appointment" is a bad argument.

 

[WDW1974]

Spirited Tuesday Musings: It is NEVER a good sign when the talking heads on CNBC have a panel discussion on whether Disney will take a hit from a write down of The Lone Ranger BEFORE the film opens. ... The reviews for it have been just godawful. One that I read was comparing the dark tone to that of Man of Steel (almost like the filmmakers are embarrassed by an optmitsic principled do-gooder). Well, if MoS is the comparison, Disney will be happy with the box office. ... Liza Minnelli ... that gal still goes down like a hot pastrami on rye with a side of NY potato sald at Nate and Al's (yeah, just checking to see if you have a pulse). ... Interesting rumor regarding SW looking to sell off its Busch parks just as I discovered how great they are. The sad thing is it looks to be quite true. ... So on one hand we're poised to be the largest oil producer on the planet and yet gas is still over $4 a gallon when it is a pittance in most top oil producing nations. And those Big Business defenders still steadfastly refuse to admit the game is fixed! ... Be Our Guest has its own stationary and envelopes and doesn't say MAGIC Kingdom anywhere on them. Do you think it doesn't want to be associated with the park either? ... No, Disney is NOT showing the full July 4th show all this week, no matter how many times you read some social media saying so. Only July 3rd and 4th get the full show, the rest get the America Lite version. ... What bothers me? Not being able to try out a pen before buying a package of them (yes, much like using the Postal Service and watching network TV, I write actual letters with actual pens) ... does that make you ROTFLMFAO? ... I don't get Pink.The singer, not the color. Seriously. Like at all. ... Hey, don't feel so bad that SpectroMagic was chopped up, placed in dumpsters and destroyed. You won't, if current plans stay on track, have to deal with the MSEP much longer. No, don't get excited about a new night parade (you don't live in Anaheim or Hong Kong). But Disney wants to run the new day parade at night starting next year, much like DL has run non Electrical Parades at night starting with the Mulan Parade in 1998 and continuing to the current sensational Soundsational. ...Does anyone truly enjoy summer in Florida, seriously? ... I have been really busy of late, so what's new in Disney social media circles? We must have daily updates showing all the construction of Disney Wh ...Springs, right? ... Is it just me or do some of the most rabid of Disney fans believe that WDW is simply the MK and EPCOT? ... It's OK Bob, give us your worst. I'll still be a Disney fan in 2016 when you are counting your money and finally gone. BTW, folks in the business say Bob opted to not try out the political realm because he was told by consultants that he didn't come off as likeable ... in politics. Yeah, let that one soak in a bit. ... The Disney Dream may be a beautiful ship, but I won't be traveling to Nassau at absurd price points so I'll wait until it is ported elsewhere (not nearly as long from now as you may believe). ... Can't help but notice how many old Disney execs (some with WDI ties) are now working for casino operators around the globe. ... Forgot to officially welcome Croatia to the EU. Can we get a Croatian pavilion at WS? ... Bruce Willis. Now THAT's a movie star!

 

[71jason]

Boy, that review just caused me to do a 180. I am troubled by gratuitous violence, and this movie sounds like it may be chock full of it.
Guess I WON'T be seeing LR after all.

This is the second movie I've seen mention the amount of violence. The first touched on the fact that Pirates also had a lot of violence, but it was with zombie pirates and swords--to the reviewer, it felt different with guns and obstensibly "real" people. Will still see the movie myself, but wouldn't be shocked to become the main thrust of the discussion, similar to the seemingly endless collateral damage in Man of Steel.

 

[Lee]

May see Lone Ranger tonight.
Will report back.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

May see Lone Ranger tonight.
Will report back.

Please do. I'd like to hear what you think of it.

I'm planning on hitting up Monsters U during the next few days. But tomorrow, my schedule is all about the Pittsburgh Zoo. Priorities, ya know?

 

[Taylor]

Spirited Tuesday Musings: It is NEVER a good sign when the talking heads on CNBC have a panel discussion on whether Disney will take a hit from a write down of The Lone Ranger BEFORE the film opens. ... The reviews for it have been just godawful. One that I read was comparing the dark tone to that of Man of Steel (almost like the filmmakers are embarrassed by an optmitsic principled do-gooder). Well, if MoS is the comparison, Disney will be happy with the box office. ... Liza Minnelli ... that gal still hits the spot like a pastrami on rye at Nat and Al's (yeah, just checking to see if you have a pulse). ... Interesting rumor regarding SW looking to sell off its Busch parks just as I discovered how great they are. ... So on one hand we're poised to be the largest oil producer on the planet and yet gas is still over $4 a gallon when it is a pittance in most top oil producing nations. And those Big Business defenders still steadfastly refuse to admit the game is fixed! ... Be Our Guest has its own stationary and envelopes and doesn't say MAGIC Kingdom anywhere on them. Do you think it doesn't want to be associated with the park either? ... No, Disney is NOT showing the full July 4th show all this week, no matter how many times you read some social media saying so. Only July 3rd and 4th get the full show, the rest get the America Lite version. ... What bothers me? Not being able to try out a pen before buying a package of them (yes, much like using the Postal Service and watching network TV, I write actual letters with actual pens) ... does that make you ROTFLMFAO? ... I don't get Pink. Seriously. Like at all. ... Hey, don't feel so bad that SpectroMagic was chopped up, placed in dumpsters and destroyed. You won't, if current plans stay on track, have to deal with the MSEP much longer. No, don't get excited about a new night parade (you don't live in Anaheim or Hong Kong). But Disney wants to run the new day parade at night starting next year, much like DL has run non Electrical Parades at night starting with the Mulan Parade in 1998 and continuing to the current sensational Soundsational. ...Does anyone truly enjoy summer in Florida, seriously? ... I have been really busy of late, so what's new in Disney social media circles? We must have daily updates showing all the construction of Disney Wh ...Springs, right? ... Is it just me or do some of the most rabid of Disney fans believe that WDW is simply the MK and EPCOT? ... It's OK Bob, give us your worst. I'll still be a Disney fan in 2016 when you are counting your money and finally gone. BTW, folks in the business say Bob opted to not try out the political realm because he was told by consultants that he didn't come off as likeable ... in politics. Yeah, let that one soak in a bit. ... The Disney Dream may be a beautiful ship, but I won't be traveling to Nassau at absurd price points so I'll wait until it is ported elsewhere (not nearly as long from now as you may believe). ... Can't help but notice how many old Disney execs (some with WDI ties) are now working for casino operators around the globe. ... Forgot to officially welcome Croatia to the EU. Can we get a Croatian pavilion at WS? ... Bruce Willis. Now THAT's a movie star!

You pay $4 a gallon? I pay 3.10! And I think The Lone Ranger will flop worse then John Carter.

 

[Lee]

And I think The Lone Ranger will flop worse then John Carter.

I doubt that. Name recognition and the holiday weekend alone should boost it over Carter.
Not saying it'll be a huge hit, just that it won't make a JC sized crater.

 

[Taylor]

I doubt that. Name recognition and the holiday weekend alone should boost it over Carter.
Not saying it'll be a huge hit, just that it won't make a JC sized crater.

Didn't think about the effect Depp would have and people do like to see explosions especially around the 4th. Still I don't see Disney making money off of this.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

I doubt that. Name recognition and the holiday weekend alone should boost it over Carter.
Not saying it'll be a huge hit, just that it won't make a JC sized crater.

It'll likely do fine, but it won't top DM 2.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Two questions...What the hell's a breaker? And, How can a 20 minute wait be unreasonable. How would you fix that? Double the fleet size? Get an ABR 90 days before arrival so they can pick you up at a specific time? Have the buses on call so you can call as you leave your room and have them waiting for you when you get down to the stop?

OK, that was more then two questions, but, like the other ones in this thread, how would you fix it or for that matter how would you imagine that it could be fixed? Just curious!

A breaker is a bus driver that comes to relieve the first driver.

So how do I fix it? More buses, fewer stops.

 

[JenniferS]

Bruce Willis. Now THAT's a movie star!

Yes, yes, a thousand times YES!
Who the heck would choose that doofus Ashton Kutcher over Bruce Willis?
Cannot wait for RED2.

 

[WDWFigment]

...

WDW isn't running a municipal bus company, where the ridership is relying on the buses to get them to work or an appointment on time. They are taking people to and from a theme park with no required times of arrival and departure. It's up to the people that aren't paying additional for the bus service, at least at the time, to be sure that they allow time to get where they are going. If they are afraid they will be late...the solution is simple, take an earlier bus.

There was a time when Walt Disney World prided itself upon being more efficient than municipalities. Heck, there are a number of news pieces from the 1970s and 1980s discussing just how many lessons government could learn from Disney in terms of city planning (and public transportation is frequently discussed in those).

For the amount of money guests pay (part of which is a built-in cost for transportation--so no, that bus service isn't any more free than that ride on Space Mountain is), Disney should be a model of efficiency and quality. It shouldn't be less efficient than the government...


I find it a bit depressing that fans consider Disney transportation to be, "good enough--it is free after all!"

 

[bubbles1812]

It'll likely do fine, but it won't top DM 2.

Agreed. I know enough people who want to see it to suggest it will do ok. Is that pretty anecdotal? Yes. But this definitely doesn't strike me as a John Carter like bomb... Though the multiples will probably be hurt based on poor word of mouth. My dad wants to see it so I will likely see it as a break from a fun fun fun family reunion this weekend (I love my family but they drive me nuts ). DM2 has definitely captured my interest more though.

 

[Nubs70]

A breaker is a bus driver that comes to relieve the first driver.

So how do I fix it? More buses, fewer stops.

One positive outcome of MM+, if they install sensors at bus stops, dispatch can see real time how many people are waiting, park destination, and length of wait. Then dispatch based on need and not a mindless loop.

 

[Clamman73]

One positive outcome of MM+, if they install sensors at bus stops, dispatch can see real time how many people are waiting, park destination, and length of wait. Then dispatch based on need and not a mindless loop.

Sounds like an experimental prototype community of tomorrow...

 

[ParentsOf4]

So how do I fix it? More buses, fewer stops.

More buses? More fuel? More drivers? More cost!!!

We all know WDW is barely keeping it above water charging $400/night for their Deluxe Resorts. Heck, their Motel 6 "Value" Resorts are only $150/night. How do you expect them to survive on that? You couldn't possibly expect them to be able to afford more buses, fuel, and drivers!

 

[Goofyernmost]

A breaker is a bus driver that comes to relieve the first driver.

So how do I fix it? More buses, fewer stops.

I was in the busing business for many years up until 2 years ago, when I retired, I never heard us referred to as a breaker. We were known as relief drivers though, or just plain relief.

More buses are not the answer. It might help a little but the congestion, not to mention the carbon footprint would be hugely affected. Not worth it to the environment just so you can get on a bus 10 minutes sooner to go no where important. Public transit is what it is. It is controlled by many outside forces. If all anyone has to wait is 20 minutes that is better then most public transit systems in medium sized cities and a pretty good average.