New Express Transportation: $19/day or $29/week-SERVICE ENDING AUGUST 23RD 2017

[yulilin3]

Just used the park hopper express transportation to hop from Epcot to MK. The cast members were friendly and courteous. We arrived at 1:15pm and we were sitting on the bus at 1:35pm. We arrived at MK 1:55pm. There was only 1 other party of 2 on the bus (their first time as well, I asked). Only 1 party of 2 got off the bus from MK to Epcot. There were 4 parties totally 9 waiting for the DHS bus which came 10 minutes before ours. It was the first time using the service for all of them (I asked). It only started 2 days ago but I was hoping to find someone who had used it before so I could ply them with questions! We would definitely use the service again but hopping to MK today was a big mistake it was packed. We had some snacks and left (it was wall to wall people), crazy - CL 9 I guess. I never thought to check crowd levels just thought we'd hop on a whim because Epcot was so crowded.

It's a Saturday on a non party night and the weather is gorgeous, that equal packed.
Glad you liked the service and thanks for your thoughts on it.

 

[North of Mouse]

It constantly amazes me how people accept price 'add ons' by Disney when they do it gradually or say it will only affect those that want it! Just one example - we've never wanted/needed the photo pkg (Memories, or whatever it's called). We prefer our own personal pics. So, what does Disney do? They 'make' you take it if you buy an AP which we often have done in the past.

This 'express' bus will probably eventually be the same. We have no issues with the regular transportation. We can afford the extra price, but we don't want/need it, and won't use it. Having been around since Disney opened MK and 'watched' how they started adding things (tickets for extra events, services etc.) just imagine this will get 'added' in somehow to our regular admission prices like some other things have.
If I am wrong (hopefully so) then I'm all for them adding it for those that want to pay extra for it.

 

[AngiTN]

Just used the park hopper express transportation to hop from Epcot to MK. The cast members were friendly and courteous. We arrived at 1:15pm and we were sitting on the bus at 1:35pm. We arrived at MK 1:55pm. There was only 1 other party of 2 on the bus (their first time as well, I asked). Only 1 party of 2 got off the bus from MK to Epcot. There were 4 parties totally 9 waiting for the DHS bus which came 10 minutes before ours. It was the first time using the service for all of them (I asked). It only started 2 days ago but I was hoping to find someone who had used it before so I could ply them with questions! We would definitely use the service again but hopping to MK today was a big mistake it was packed. We had some snacks and left (it was wall to wall people), crazy - CL 9 I guess. I never thought to check crowd levels just thought we'd hop on a whim because Epcot was so crowded.

I'm confused. Why would they get on the bus to Epcot but not get off? Where were they going? If you happened to have asked.

 

[AngiTN]

This 'express' bus will probably eventually be the same. We have no issues with the regular transportation. We can afford the extra price, but we don't want/need it, and won't use it. Having been around since Disney opened MK and 'watched' how they started adding things (tickets for extra events, services etc.) just imagine this will get 'added' in somehow to our regular admission prices like some other things have.
If I am wrong (hopefully so) then I'm all for them adding it for those that want to pay extra for it.

Huh? What are you thinking they'll do? Make it be the way everyone goes park to park? Sort of defeats the purpose of being a VIP type of transport, no? Lower crowds/lines is one of it's selling points, I thought.

 

[kandb]

So if I want to use this service for my family of 5 for one day assuming we have park hoppers. We would pay $75 to jump from one park to another? Sorry, I think uber would be way cheaper. Yes, I know you can jump to another park but realistically how many parks are you going to go to in ONE day? Just Disney trying to make more $$$$$$$$.

 

[AngiTN]

So if I want to use this service for my family of 5 for one day assuming we have park hoppers. We would pay $75 to jump from one park to another? Sorry, I think uber would be way cheaper. Yes, I know you can jump to another park but realistically how many parks are you going to go to in ONE day? Just Disney trying to make more $$$$$$$$.

It is a pretty poor deal for a single day in most cases. Multi-day passes are a bargain, however.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

I'm confused. Why would they get on the bus to Epcot but not get off? Where were they going? If you happened to have asked.

Sorry I wasn't clear - 2 ladies got off the bus that came to Epcot from MK. Then we boarded with 1 other couple and went from Epcot to MK.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Huh? What are you thinking they'll do? Make it be the way everyone goes park to park? Sort of defeats the purpose of being a VIP type of transport, no? Lower crowds/lines is one of it's selling points, I thought.

Lol!! VIP transport??? The goal is to pack a bus with standing room only.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

So if I want to use this service for my family of 5 for one day assuming we have park hoppers. We would pay $75 to jump from one park to another? Sorry, I think uber would be way cheaper. Yes, I know you can jump to another park but realistically how many parks are you going to go to in ONE day? Just Disney trying to make more $$$$$$$$.

Especially considering one hopper reported 40 minutes park to park.

It's not like the bus is waiting for you... you must wait for the bus... and walk to it etc...

MG

 

[DisFanDad]

All of the buses in the WDW fleet are electronically dispatched centrally, and all it takes is a radio message alert to send another bus to anywhere needed.

That said, at this point it does't look like they will be filling any particular bus, anyway.
This service will no doubt be going through some growing pains as it matures (or gets cancelled.)
Time will tell.

I asked this question at each stop. Every manager said that depending on demand buses will be in standby

Its stuff like this that makes me think this WILL (maybe eventually) impact the "regular" bus service.

I know Yulilin (whose reports have been AwEsOmE !!!) said they were told they aren't taking buses away from the regular routes, but unless they have hired bus drivers, specifically for this, they have to in fact be taking them away from the regular routes. There just is no way to make the same number of drivers (or driver hours) make more routes (unless there were extreme inefficiencies before, but I think Disney is far too smart to have had such gaps in their system). If they are just going to divert more buses when the express gets busy (if it gets busy, and not cancelled as Robo pointed out) unless they have hired more drivers to sit in a separate pool in case the express needs another bus, that bus is going to have to come from the general pool. Maybe they have hired additional drivers, or given some drivers more hours, or some such. But I really can't think they would have.

Maybe this would all come out in the wash, like if the buses at express were being used to full capacity it would lighten the loads at the other buses. But I am still not sure that wouldn't impact the overall availability of buses for the regular bus users, especially as I would imagine they would want to ensure the pickup/drop off times for the express as it would be a paid service, and thus would get priority. Maybe the money they make off this they will use to hire more people (or maybe they have), in which case I think this is a win for all.

I guess time will tell.

 

[DisFanDad]

It constantly amazes me how people accept price 'add ons' by Disney when they do it gradually or say it will only affect those that want it! Just one example - we've never wanted/needed the photo pkg (Memories, or whatever it's called). We prefer our own personal pics. So, what does Disney do? They 'make' you take it if you buy an AP which we often have done in the past.

This 'express' bus will probably eventually be the same. We have no issues with the regular transportation. We can afford the extra price, but we don't want/need it, and won't use it. Having been around since Disney opened MK and 'watched' how they started adding things (tickets for extra events, services etc.) just imagine this will get 'added' in somehow to our regular admission prices like some other things have.
If I am wrong (hopefully so) then I'm all for them adding it for those that want to pay extra for it.

I kind of hope this fails as an upcharge for this reason, because if it did, it MIGHT actually get added for free to all. I mean, think about this for Disney, this should/could be a cost saver. Why not route all of the park to park buses into the express bus routes? Wouldn't cost you any more in busing, if it is in fact faster / more direct it would save you considerably on fuel costs, wouldn't need to hire more drivers. You would also cut down considerably on the number of people going through security screenings, and could save on staffing there. And, if this is much faster (even moderately faster) you would have people spending more time in the parks, than on the buses / in the transit system. People can't spend money in the transit system, but they do in the parks. This would, in theory, increase guest spending.

There are many reasons this would make financial sense to offer to all guests for "free" (aka included in your ticket prices and park spending) ... but, Disney is going to try to charge for it before it just offers it for free.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I kind of hope this fails as an upcharge for this reason, because if it did, it MIGHT actually get added for free to all. I mean, think about this for Disney, this should/could be a cost saver. Why not route all of the park to park buses into the express bus routes? Wouldn't cost you any more in busing, if it is in fact faster / more direct it would save you considerably on fuel costs, wouldn't need to hire more drivers. You would also cut down considerably on the number of people going through security screenings, and could save on staffing there. And, if this is much faster (even moderately faster) you would have people spending more time in the parks, than on the buses / in the transit system. People can't spend money in the transit system, but they do in the parks. This would, in theory, increase guest spending.

There are many reasons this would make financial sense to offer to all guests for "free" (aka included in your ticket prices and park spending) ... but, Disney is going to try to charge for it before it just offers it for free.

Right.... they already charge for hopping. I never understood that, but now they charge yet again for the privilege to get there without another security scan.

MG

 

[hiroMYhero]

Maybe they have hired additional drivers, or given some drivers more hours, or some such. But I really can't think they would have.

Disney has "spares" scheduled daily for all positions that affect guests' experiences. Whether or not they are pulled for an actual shift, they are paid. With a hiring freeze currently in place, CMs are working 6 or 7 days each week and the Express Service has coverage separate from the regular park to park buses.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Disney has "spares" scheduled daily for all positions that affect guests' experiences. Whether or not they are pulled for an actual shift, they are paid. With a hiring freeze currently in place, CMs are working 6 or 7 days each week and the Express Service has coverage separate from the regular park to park buses.

So they are using the spares??
If so, they could, and will at sompoint impact regular ops. If regular ops never needed the spares, they wouldn't have them.

MG

 

[hiroMYhero]

So they are using the spares??
If so, they could, and will at sompoint impact regular ops. If regular ops never needed the spares, they wouldn't have them.

MG

I didn't say they are using the spares. The PP didn't appear to think additional bus drivers were ever available. There are always more than enough CMs to provide the necessary coverage for daily ops and in case of emergencies, the spares fill in.

The Express Service has coverage independent of the regular bus service. So, there will be spares for Express and spares for the regular bus routes.

 

[yulilin3]

I can only say what I was told. The first bus driver that took me from epcot to ak actually said that he is happy cause now he has more hours, he had no need to lie or misinform
I will not get into the debate if disney is just doing this for more money, or taking away services for the regular routes, or they should offer this for free
I have learned, especially this past year which posters will see disney doing everything wrong, pointing out negative "ifs" and some who don't even visit wdw but will jump in to comment how horrible wdw is doing.
I also have seen a lot of posters that say that everything disney does is great and the can do no wrong
I have my own opinions, I have lived in Orlando for 19 years and had an ap for about 17, I pretty much can tell where operations are failing and where they are striving, it is not my place, on a strategies and tip board, to say what I think disney is doing right and wrong.
I come here to help people plan and to ask questions of my own, I believe that's what this forum is for

 

[stenmarks]

I can only say what I was told. The first bus driver that took me from epcot to ak actually said that he is happy cause now he has more hours, he had no need to lie or misinform
I will not get into the debate if disney is just doing this for more money, or taking away services for the regular routes, or they should offer this for free
I have learned, especially this past year which posters will see disney doing everything wrong, pointing out negative "ifs" and some who don't even visit wdw but will jump in to comment how horrible wdw is doing.
I also have seen a lot of posters that say that everything disney does is great and the can do no wrong
I have my own opinions, I have lived in Orlando for 19 years and had an ap for about 17, I pretty much can tell where operations are failing and where they are striving, it is not my place, on a strategies and tip board, to say what I think disney is doing right and wrong.
I come here to help people plan and to ask questions of my own, I believe that's what this forum is for

And it's much appreciated! Our family tries to visit WDW every 1-2 years, and the forums help us stay updated in between trips. There are things that we opt out of (cabana rentals, fireworks parties, Club Villain) and things we choose to purchase (Memory Maker, thus new express transport) because these things fit our touring style. I like that we can customize our vacation instead of purchasing cookie-cutter experiences.

 

[Disneylover99]

Why not route all of the park to park buses into the express bus routes? Wouldn't cost you any more in busing, if it is in fact faster / more direct it would save you considerably on fuel costs, wouldn't need to hire more drivers. You would also cut down considerably on the number of people going through security screenings, and could save on staffing there. And, if this is much faster (even moderately faster) you would have people spending more time in the parks, than on the buses / in the transit system. People can't spend money in the transit system, but they do in the parks. This would, in theory, increase guest spending.

I really think this would be a great idea!

 

[yulilin3]

I really think this would be a great idea!

There's no space backstage for this idea, they're is only space for 2 buses at a time, that's why they are spaced in the schedule the way they are. Have you seen how many buses are in a regular bus loop at anytime?

 

[Disneylover99]

There's no space backstage for this idea, they're is only space for 2 buses at a time, that's why they are spaced in the schedule the way they are. Have you seen how many buses are in a regular bus loop at anytime?

I really don't understand the logistics/space of it all as you do obviously, but yes, I'm aware of the bus loop and the number of buses. My thinking is that if they could find a way to get all park hoppers who take the bus to bypass security, maybe it would help to ease those security lines at the front of the park.