is it there often??????? I live right near there!!!!I am super excited to share this find with everyone, since I'm not one to uncover cool little WDW history bits, but here goes.
My boyfriend is a big "car guy" and we regularly go to cruise nights and car shows across Western New York (we live outside of Buffalo). Last night we went to a cruise night that we visit pretty regularly and I saw this:
I turned and said, "Wow, that looks like the exact same model of the WDW omnibus!"
BF is like, "Yeah, mhm," as if I could tell the difference between different models of omnibus, lol. He can spot any car and know the make, model and year from a mile away, although even he isn't an omnibus expert
As we got closer, I'm like, "No, really, this looks like the EXACT same one! Crazy!"
The New York State registration showed that it was from 1983...hmmmm.
Then...I spotted this:
I started shrieking, "Omg, that's the EPCOT logo, babe - do you know what this means?!" He had seen the omnibus before we started dating, and they don't come to cruise nights regularly, but he knew who the owner was, so we walked onto the omnibus and I blurted out.
"Is this an original EPCOT Center omnibus?!"
He smiled and pulled out a photo album filled with pictures of the omnibus in EPCOT Center, and also during his work refurbishing it. He also showed me the original title (with WDW as the owner) and other cool pictures (he lets people use it for weddings...I told my boyfriend that I absolutely want that at our wedding, lol). His daughter has worked in special events at EPCOT for decades, and apparently when they were for sale, she thought of him. He actually owns two of them. He also said that a few years ago they called him about buying a third one. He flew down there and said that it was rotting out. Ironically, he said that they don't care for the vehicles well at all, considering the elements in Central Florida (hello - Spectro, anyone?!).
Anyway, this was such an awesome and amazing surprise, it totally made my night to discover a little bit of Disney magic here in Buffalo. And it was awesome that this guy lets people actually climb up and sit on the omnibus to truly appreciate it. I can understand why he isn't able to come out to the cruise night every week, though - he said that it doesn't even fit on part of his street!
Here are some more pictures for you guys - enjoy!
I don't think this sign is original, but looks like a faithful recreation:
Here we are up top, facing the front:
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Whatever Happened to the Old EPCOT Center Omnibus? Let's See...
- Thread starter PeoplemoverTTA
- Start date
I wish it was there more...this is my second summer going to Pautler's fairly regularly and it's the first time I've seen it!
Maelstrom Troll
Well-Known Member
That is the coolest thing I have ever seen!!!! I can't imagine how excited you must have been. Thank you so much for posting this!
ExtinctJenn
Well-Known Member
My lord... reading through the posts since my last response... just how many members do we have that live in and/or are from the Buffalo area? Sheesh! 
JCtheparrothead
Well-Known Member
Awesome find!
Bar Crawl!!!
I live in Buffalo, but I'm already married... I need an excuse to rent that bus!
THEMEPARKPIONEER
Well-Known Member
Next time I'm upstate I'm totally visiting that bus.
I am totally ressurecting this thread, and with good reason 
My husband went to another cruise night tonight (ha, I just realized he was my boyfriend when I originally posted this!) and noticed the omnibus is for sale! It's not in our budget right now, but oh man if it was...
I have the guy's number, if anyone seriously is interested in buying it. Send me a DM (I remember when I first posted this, someone who works at Pixar sent me a message on Twitter asking for the guy's info but we never bumped into the omnibus again...until tonight!).
Still makes me smile seeing this awesome vehicle in person
My husband went to another cruise night tonight (ha, I just realized he was my boyfriend when I originally posted this!) and noticed the omnibus is for sale! It's not in our budget right now, but oh man if it was...
I have the guy's number, if anyone seriously is interested in buying it. Send me a DM (I remember when I first posted this, someone who works at Pixar sent me a message on Twitter asking for the guy's info but we never bumped into the omnibus again...until tonight!).
Still makes me smile seeing this awesome vehicle in person
hismattjesty
Active Member
I live in Utica, and would make a dedicated tirp to Buffalo just for the privilege of being able to see this again! I can only imagine all the historical pieces the current owner must have on it.
I am totally ressurecting this thread, and with good reason
My husband went to another cruise night tonight (ha, I just realized he was my boyfriend when I originally posted this!) and noticed the omnibus is for sale! It's not in our budget right now, but oh man if it was...
I have the guy's number, if anyone seriously is interested in buying it. Send me a DM (I remember when I first posted this, someone who works at Pixar sent me a message on Twitter asking for the guy's info but we never bumped into the omnibus again...until tonight!).
Still makes me smile seeing this awesome vehicle in person
I hope you used it for your wedding as you were discussing in 2013! That is awesome!
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
Ok, how 'bout we all put in $50 and bring it back to Orlando?
FettFan
Well-Known Member
Actually, no! We were married in WDW, ironically
I'm in!
Roving Gatsby Party here we come!