It's been since April when I was at Disney and I'm just now getting around to complaining about something that needs to be brought up. I've noticed all the different post about transportation and expanding the monorail and crap. Here's my view and I know people are gonna get mad but I need to talk about this. We always stay at Deluxe resorts when we go to Disney that have a monorail. Except the one time we stayed at AKL, which we loved and has now become our favorite resort. We love the convinence of the monorail and at AKL we didn't have this problem at all because of the amount of bus' coming into the resort. This April we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and had to ride the bus. Now we thought "no biggy...we did it for AKL and didn't bother us?" WRONG! We got there and we wait for a bus for 30 minutes everytime at least. We get on the bus and already at least half of it is packed. This one day we got on the bus and it was jammed packed already and it was late by an HOUR!! We get in and there are people packing strollers, wheel chairs, and elders in the aisle way. People don't want to wait for another bus to come so they get on. It felt like the bus was going to tip everytime we made a movement. Baby's were crying on every bus. This was enough for us to decide that we were NEVER returning to this resort or leaving our deluxe resorts even if it means skipping a year to save money. It was crazy and if I was a first timer to Disney and not a constant patron throughout my life I would have not returned. This is what Disney has to look at also. It's not a cost factor. What if the customer doesn't return becuase they expierenced a less than "magical" time. Won't Disney lose more money to busses? DISNEY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING...and FAST!
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Transportation Problems
- Thread starter mattravels
- Start date
JaynMACP96_97_9
New Member
The buses seem to be setup on a pretty good system considering the volume they do. Tyler describes it in detail in the long Monorail thread towards the end, its good reading. I don't blame you for being mad at an hour wait for a park bus. But i think overall, your experience is the exception to the rule as far as it being a bigger problem. As you mentioned, you had good experiences at the AKL using the buses and normally use the monorail on your other trips and haven't had any problems there either. Unfortunately these are things that happen from time to time, but i don't have any logistical explanations for you, maybe Tyler would if he happens upon this thread.
Did you, or anyone else at that bus stop speak with guest relations/services at your front desk, or on the phone?
Disney is very good about paying attention to their guest complaints and acting on them.
As far as people not returning to WDW there certainly are plenty. But its all circumstantial and has just as much to do with someone's expectations/sensitivities as it does WDW. For example someone could have had a bad experience with having their bags checked at the airport on the flight down, then when they arrive at a park and have to be checked again they fly off the handle and vow never to return to WDW. Was it WDW's fault that this hypothetical person won't return?
I'm glad you said this won't keep you from returning. Because you seem to realize already that this won't always be the case.
niteobsrvr
Well-Known Member
Here are a couple of interesting facts:
Animal Kingdom Lodge -- 1293 Rooms
Port Orleans Riverside -- 2048 rooms
Port Orleans Fr. Quater - 1008 rooms
Grand total for PO -------- 3056 rooms
This will give you an idea why the busses have more people on them at the POrt Orleans Resort. If just the Riverside section is open, there are 58 percent more rooms than AKL. If the whole thing is open the increase in rooms in 136% over AKL.
Add to that the fact that resorts like Port Orleans generally attract more families of 4 or 5 while it is my perception that AKL generally attracts smaller families or people without children and you can also see why there are more people on those buses. Also people at AKL and other deluxe resorts appear to utilize a car more than folks at the moderate resorts so the busses are even less crowded than they otherwise would be.
All of the above being stated, Disney actual sends buses to the moderate resorts like PO more frequently to handle this increased demand. However, there currently is no way to accurately know how many people are waiting at each of the bus stops at the resort to ride to a particular park. Thus as a bus fills up, the driver calls in to let dispatch know to send another bus. Once the bus is full, the driver will no longer stop inside the resort, unless there are still peopl on board who need to get off, and proceed out the nearest gate to his destination.
At the same time, dispatch is sending another bus to continue where the first bus left off. But this is not quick as the bus still has to travel from where ever it was waiting to the resort needing the service, usually 10 minutes or so. So if it was the stop before yours where the bus filled up, you would be waiting the normal 20 mins plus the additional 10 or so until the next bus arrived. Add into all of that human error in dealing with a system as large as Disney's (third largest bus system in florida), mechanical issues, and road traffic and you have a system that works wonderfully most of the time but does have its moments also.
That the old addage " you get what you pay for" is true. However, there are exceptions to that sometimes also. I have seen the occasion where buses at Grand Floridian and Polynesian (these two resorts are often combined on one bus and sometimes Wilderness Lodge is added in also) have filled up just like the moderate resorts due to unexpected demand at a given point in time.
As final note for those of you interested, the transportation by bus to and form AKL may very well be the best on property as far as efficiency and comfort. Because of its location, it is nearly impossible to combine this resort with any of the other ones at all. The exception is a combination with the All-Stars for the very very last people leaving a park at night. Otherwise, the run buses there very frequently and they often aren't crowded at all due to items mentioned above.
Animal Kingdom Lodge -- 1293 Rooms
Port Orleans Riverside -- 2048 rooms
Port Orleans Fr. Quater - 1008 rooms
Grand total for PO -------- 3056 rooms
This will give you an idea why the busses have more people on them at the POrt Orleans Resort. If just the Riverside section is open, there are 58 percent more rooms than AKL. If the whole thing is open the increase in rooms in 136% over AKL.
Add to that the fact that resorts like Port Orleans generally attract more families of 4 or 5 while it is my perception that AKL generally attracts smaller families or people without children and you can also see why there are more people on those buses. Also people at AKL and other deluxe resorts appear to utilize a car more than folks at the moderate resorts so the busses are even less crowded than they otherwise would be.
All of the above being stated, Disney actual sends buses to the moderate resorts like PO more frequently to handle this increased demand. However, there currently is no way to accurately know how many people are waiting at each of the bus stops at the resort to ride to a particular park. Thus as a bus fills up, the driver calls in to let dispatch know to send another bus. Once the bus is full, the driver will no longer stop inside the resort, unless there are still peopl on board who need to get off, and proceed out the nearest gate to his destination.
At the same time, dispatch is sending another bus to continue where the first bus left off. But this is not quick as the bus still has to travel from where ever it was waiting to the resort needing the service, usually 10 minutes or so. So if it was the stop before yours where the bus filled up, you would be waiting the normal 20 mins plus the additional 10 or so until the next bus arrived. Add into all of that human error in dealing with a system as large as Disney's (third largest bus system in florida), mechanical issues, and road traffic and you have a system that works wonderfully most of the time but does have its moments also.
That the old addage " you get what you pay for" is true. However, there are exceptions to that sometimes also. I have seen the occasion where buses at Grand Floridian and Polynesian (these two resorts are often combined on one bus and sometimes Wilderness Lodge is added in also) have filled up just like the moderate resorts due to unexpected demand at a given point in time.
As final note for those of you interested, the transportation by bus to and form AKL may very well be the best on property as far as efficiency and comfort. Because of its location, it is nearly impossible to combine this resort with any of the other ones at all. The exception is a combination with the All-Stars for the very very last people leaving a park at night. Otherwise, the run buses there very frequently and they often aren't crowded at all due to items mentioned above.
jmarc63
New Member
some resorts seem to be under served by the bus system at times with long waits, since i know the resort road system so well I have tended to drive to the park or resort. Last time I was there in 93, we stayed at CBR. I figured that if the bus stop was crowded there was a long wait for the bus and that it would be packed when it got there, so i founded it easier for me to just drive to MGM and EPCOT, faster than waiting for the bus and less annoyance to start the day.
stuart
Well-Known Member
Mattravels your attitude about staying in the deluxe and not going back and that was all a bit snobbish. You should know that Riverside is one of the most popular resorts on property and one of the busiest after the value resorts.We have stayed at the Riverside 8 times and NEVER has a problem with Disney Transport. We have seen 3 buses come at once to move folk, DCL coaches used.
On average as with all resorts the wait is 20 minutes and it i often less in my experience at POR. There is also the sassagoula river boat to Downtown Disney. If you ever noticed that at por there are spare buses in the morning and if you ever listen to the bus radio you will hear quite a lopt of the time busses being deployed.
So therefore i have no idea what you are complaining far too much. And if you go back to POR again im sure that you wouldnt have any problems.
On average as with all resorts the wait is 20 minutes and it i often less in my experience at POR. There is also the sassagoula river boat to Downtown Disney. If you ever noticed that at por there are spare buses in the morning and if you ever listen to the bus radio you will hear quite a lopt of the time busses being deployed.
So therefore i have no idea what you are complaining far too much. And if you go back to POR again im sure that you wouldnt have any problems.
wannabeBelle
Well-Known Member
When I went for the Passholder Preview weekend in the beginning of August, I stayed at the Coronado Springs resort and on Monday morning there was a HUGE issue with the bus to the Animal Kingdom. I was on the EPCOT bus that morning, but people were complaining to my driver about how they had been waiting an hour. My driver did call into dispatch and let them know about the problem. I am not sure if this was resolved, but I can tell you in 13 trips to Disney since 1997, almost always using Disney transport, this was pretty unique in my experience. As with almost everything, Im sure that the busses could be having an off day, mechanical problems, drivers not being available, etc. sometimes stuff happens......Belle
I'm so sorry for sounding snobish. I read over my post and I shouldn't have said all that. You must agree though that if you pay more then you get better service. That would have to agree with Transportation also. I can remember though now that I think about it. The buses once at Grand Floridian took about a 30 minute wait for MGM. It wasn't as crowded of course but still. I should probably also mention that Port Orleans was probably jam packed while we were there because it was Spring Break. I'm just wondering...we stayed at the resort...we LOVED the atmosphere and EVERYTHING...but staying 4 consecutive days and every day having the same problem with buses. It was just a little too much. Oh well. I'm sure it was the time and everything. Oh well. I apologize for my snobish attitude toward the manner. I was just wondering do you think that Disney could put in place something like an on call system for the buses...perhaps like....pushing a button when you get to the bus area. Then in a central area Disney would know where the most traffic was. Kind of like a crosswalk works in some cities. Oh well...just something to think about.
DisneyPhD
Well-Known Member
We just returned after 10 days staying at Old Key West. We had the WORST EXPERIENCE with busses that we've ever had in the last 7 years. The layout at OKW is horrible (even the drivers think so). Instead of a loop around the perimiter of the resort, the busses have to go out to a bus stop, turn around (often in a cramped parking area) then head out the same way they came. This means that every room along the bus route (ours was 20 feet from the road) had every bus passing it twice from 7am to 11pm. It took 20 minutes for a bus just to get around the resort. We were waiting with people who had been waiting an hour for the bus to Blizzard Beach/Animal Kingdom. When they finally got a bus to the resort it was full before it made it to all the stops. Then you have the 25 minute ride to the park on top of that. We also had several bus drivers get "lost". We waited 45 minutes that same day for the ride back to the resort. Disney knew about the problem but did not fix it. On a different day, we had a driver going to animal kingdom drive into the parking lot rather than go to the bus stops. We were in line with all the cars waiting to park! Security had to come escort the bus out of the line and around the parking lot again where we were let off well away from the park entrance (even farther than where the trams let out). We had a driver go the wrong way into the MK bus area and had to go out and turn around. Every bus we took to Epcot was dispatched to a different resort before we arrived there so we were never let off at the OKW bus stop (just a minor inconvenience).
We have done our share of stays at mod resorts, and have been recently spoiled by deluxes, but this was the wrost by far of any trip.
As a side note we stayed one night at AKL as a special treat. I thought the busses were wonderful there. Only one stop for the whole resort and we never even waited 2 min for a bus each time, but that might of just been luck.
We have done our share of stays at mod resorts, and have been recently spoiled by deluxes, but this was the wrost by far of any trip.
As a side note we stayed one night at AKL as a special treat. I thought the busses were wonderful there. Only one stop for the whole resort and we never even waited 2 min for a bus each time, but that might of just been luck.
So I think we have found that everyone agrees that AKL has one of the best bus systems in the park...what did Disney do right here?
AKL
As stated, one stop, less people, very, very good. We stay at the Poly most of the time. We have to pick up Grand Floridian and sometimes Wilderness Lodge. We hit three resorts. I can't complain about the busses however. But the last time we were there we came out of MGM and wanted to go to PI. The line was outrageous!!! We thought oh no, we have at least an hour or longer wait!!! A bus finally came, and we still had a long wait. Then another bus and another bus came immediately. Obviously, something was called in and it went much faster. I think Disney is good that way. We can't complain at all.
As stated, one stop, less people, very, very good. We stay at the Poly most of the time. We have to pick up Grand Floridian and sometimes Wilderness Lodge. We hit three resorts. I can't complain about the busses however. But the last time we were there we came out of MGM and wanted to go to PI. The line was outrageous!!! We thought oh no, we have at least an hour or longer wait!!! A bus finally came, and we still had a long wait. Then another bus and another bus came immediately. Obviously, something was called in and it went much faster. I think Disney is good that way. We can't complain at all.
I Just need to add my view on this. . .last Thanksgiving (2002) We had the honor of our son taking us to WDW for the very first time and we stayed at Port Orleans French Quarters. I was very impressed with the transportation system and the fact that they were able to move as many visitors around as they did and in a timely fashion. Our wait never ever seemed longer than about 15 minutes. . .I will say though that we did experience the over crowded buses and all those strollers and such. . .Unless things have changed our total overall experience was excellent. . .we are leaving in 13 days to go back staying this time at Boardwalk Villas and I am anticipating the same type of experience. . .hope that I am not disappointed by what I am reading and find out it to be true. . .I say the magic is what we make. . .disney dreams all!
niteobsrvr
Well-Known Member
Honestly, Nothing. The geographic isolation from the other resorts ( not easily combined with other locations) along with its lower number of rooms just makes it a more pleasant experience. The system that serves AKL is the same one used for the rest of the resorts.
thedisneyfan
Member
Over all, my impression of the bus system is that it sucks! These threads even the ones where people are happy elicit the whole problem with the bus system. First, I have had many many many bad bus experiences. I've experienced the PO fiasco with the busses and yes it is a mess! Even if they do dispatch, you already waited over 20 minutes for the first bus, now you have to wait more for another bus (if it is available) to pick up. The whole Busses on demand thing sucks. They should have busses doing continuous same loops to the same destinations. This bus on demand thing confuses to many drivers who now have to drive all over the place and have dropped off and made wrong turns while I was there as well. It is not a unique experience! We waited at MK for PO for a bus and it took 1 hour before they finally got a bus to the PO pickup at MK. This was 1 PM not 10 PM mind you. By the time the ONE bus finally showed up of course the line was so long, that they needed about three more busses to make a dent. Of course we didn't fit on the first bus. so they wonderfully dispatched another ONE bus that showed up 10 minutes later which left a mass of very unhappy people in the huge line before us. Oh, and this was midweek, May not a holiday weekend or anything of the sort as well. I have also had bad experiences at the Wilderness Lodge. So don't by any means think that a Deluxe will save you from the agony of the overloaded underfunded underrun bus system at Disney. We (I mean a large group) waited forty-five minutes already for a bus to MGM. Finally, when a bus arrived for EPCOT, I went to the driver and told him that we all had already been waiting for a bus to the MGM-Studios and he called in and got ok to take all of us. So, I told the large group that I got us a bus to MGM and applause when out. Yes, thanks to a good bus driver as well. But this isn't the system or the way that Disney should be transporting its most valued guests. And by "most valued," I mean all resort guests not simply the deluxe.
So, mattravels, to let you know your experiences aren't unique and there are an ever increasing number of guests who are increasingly upset with the bus SYSTEM at WDW, not necessarily the bus drivers! :animwink:
as well. But this isn't the system or the way that Disney should be transporting its most valued guests. And by "most valued," I mean all resort guests not simply the deluxe.So, mattravels, to let you know your experiences aren't unique and there are an ever increasing number of guests who are increasingly upset with the bus SYSTEM at WDW, not necessarily the bus drivers! :animwink:
niteobsrvr
Well-Known Member
This is the result of the dispatching system. In order to better utilize resources, busses are no longer dedicated to a specific route (resort). Instead, as each bus approaches its hub (4 parks or Downtown), the driver calls to see what his next destination will be. This allows the system to avoid sending empy buses out to resorts except when absolutely necessary. It also helps them to better respond to crowds at a particular resort either at the hub or the resort itself. You also dont spend as much time waiting for a bus to depart from a hub to your resort thus cutting off 8 to 10 minutes of lost time in your vacation.
Of course like any transportation system, the Disney bus system isn't full proof. I have yet to see a public transportation system that lacks some inefficiency or crowding during peak times. The crowding is mostly intentional though because it is nearly impossible financially and logistically to increase capacity too much for a couple of hours in the morning or afternoon to handle rushes. Thus the busses have to be filled to capacity to alleviate the situation.
stuart
Well-Known Member
The only problem i have ever had at POR for a bus is that the wait at AK or BB can be up to 35 / 40 minutes, but that is because its on the other side of property and there is a stop enroute to ak at bb.
One time we have definetly never had a problem with POR busses is at night. There are always busses coming in for our resort and all of the others. This year with POR max everynight at MK there was a massve line and 3 busses came at once straight after 2 had come at once and it cleard the line. The maximum wait looking aboiut was maybe 5 minutes.
One other thing. No matter what type of resort you stay at Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Flagship the transportation is the same although there are more "options" with the monorail at some resorts, the use of boats at PO and the EPCOT/MK/MGM resorts and the way you can walk in some cases from your resort to the park.
One time we have definetly never had a problem with POR busses is at night. There are always busses coming in for our resort and all of the others. This year with POR max everynight at MK there was a massve line and 3 busses came at once straight after 2 had come at once and it cleard the line. The maximum wait looking aboiut was maybe 5 minutes.
One other thing. No matter what type of resort you stay at Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Flagship the transportation is the same although there are more "options" with the monorail at some resorts, the use of boats at PO and the EPCOT/MK/MGM resorts and the way you can walk in some cases from your resort to the park.
thedisneyfan
Member
Actually, the service is not the same depending upon what resort you stay at. The most consistent and best bus transport has been at the ALL-STAR MOVIES. I don't mean level of service as to cast members, but as to pick-ups/drop-offs, etc.
I remember staying @ PO during the press opening of RnRC and when we got to MGM @ 8:00pm we walked past a line for the bus to return to the All Stars resorts they (MGM) had posted a wait time of 1 hour and there was still people past that sign. I told myself that night that I will NEVER use WDW bus system again. (regardless of what level you pay you are on property WDW does have a responsibility to all of its guests)
I rent a car now for the week which gives me free parking (staying at a resort) for any park, which gives me the freedom to leave the park and go swimming or even that quick drive off property to Taco Bell or Goodings Grocery store. Its great as well to go Lobby/pool hopping to check out what new place to go and stay for the next visit.
As for the cost of the monorail upgrade for the resort, lets remember that it did cost WDW $$ to send the rail to EPCOT. Out in CA. they are only running 2 out of 4 rails (that dont go to another park) due to the lack of $$. One must pay for an exclusive service that is underperforming to meet the needs of the guests now waiting longer 15min to go a 2 miles. However, the Grand Floridan is more than All Stars. How does one put a price comparison on Motel 6 vs. the Ritz?
But look at Vegas? Casinos paid for extending the rail from MGM now all the way to the Saraha and will cost $4.00 for the one way trip to pay back the bond. Yet if you could get everyone to pay say $10.00 for a 7 day all ride pass for say for even 2 years Disney could upgrade its monorails to MAGLEV trains which are faster and could haul more peeps to the ENTIRE resort. Ya gota spend money to make money! Look at Disney Sea vs. DCA.
But, would you walk from say the check-in area of PO out to your hotel room because the rail wouldnt stop at each bus stop? Thats alot of walking (maybe each hotel could then run elect. carts to/from the bus stops) to add to the walking Ive already done that day.
Boy, my rental car sure does look good!
bryon1
I rent a car now for the week which gives me free parking (staying at a resort) for any park, which gives me the freedom to leave the park and go swimming or even that quick drive off property to Taco Bell or Goodings Grocery store. Its great as well to go Lobby/pool hopping to check out what new place to go and stay for the next visit.
As for the cost of the monorail upgrade for the resort, lets remember that it did cost WDW $$ to send the rail to EPCOT. Out in CA. they are only running 2 out of 4 rails (that dont go to another park) due to the lack of $$. One must pay for an exclusive service that is underperforming to meet the needs of the guests now waiting longer 15min to go a 2 miles. However, the Grand Floridan is more than All Stars. How does one put a price comparison on Motel 6 vs. the Ritz?
But look at Vegas? Casinos paid for extending the rail from MGM now all the way to the Saraha and will cost $4.00 for the one way trip to pay back the bond. Yet if you could get everyone to pay say $10.00 for a 7 day all ride pass for say for even 2 years Disney could upgrade its monorails to MAGLEV trains which are faster and could haul more peeps to the ENTIRE resort. Ya gota spend money to make money! Look at Disney Sea vs. DCA.
But, would you walk from say the check-in area of PO out to your hotel room because the rail wouldnt stop at each bus stop? Thats alot of walking (maybe each hotel could then run elect. carts to/from the bus stops) to add to the walking Ive already done that day.
Boy, my rental car sure does look good!
bryon1
![Dean[AU]](https://d3ofq03apmfb8c.cloudfront.net/data/avatars/m/8/8019.jpg?1339212325){kind=avatar}
Dean[AU]
New Member
OT: THe only transport problem i had is the monorail. We had 40 mins to spare before our offsite hotel bus arrvied at the TTC. [we were at MGM]. So we thought we would do the MK loop, we got on to the platform and saw the track thing move as they loaded a new monorail on to the loop. We boarded it and the driver warned us that they had to do safety checks.
We did just before the MK station. They failed.. so we get offloaded at MK and wait for a new monorail... we ended up giving up and hopping on a ferry instead.
Lucky we did becuase we just made the bus! [Not like i would care if we missed it..]
We did just before the MK station. They failed.. so we get offloaded at MK and wait for a new monorail... we ended up giving up and hopping on a ferry instead.
Lucky we did becuase we just made the bus! [Not like i would care if we missed it..]
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I have still never had a bus problem, regardless of the resort (Dixie Landings/POR, Caribbean Beach and all 3 All Stars). Granted, only 2 of my visits have been during peak times. That might have something to do with it.
I'm always so grateful to not have to drive anywhere.
I'm always so grateful to not have to drive anywhere.