Disney Buses

[DisneyOma]

I know why ECVs are loaded first, but (don't shoot me, please!!!!), can't they wait one bus load so that the 90 people in line can finally get moving? Then they load first on the very next bus. I have a minor disability myself, and standing in a line pains me, but I'm not yet ready to use an ECV or wheelchair. If you're in an ECV, would waiting for 20 minutes for the next bus be such an inconvenience, when others have been waiting for 40+ minutes, standing? In busy times, more buses would be the answer of course, but that hasn't happened to me yet. So in busy times, when the lines have exceeded 40 minutes, maybe others have to wait as well. (Oh, no. I'm going to get creamed here.)

At the end of the day, the bus queues at MK do what you are asking - guests using wheelchairs and ECVs wait in the standard queue until they reach a certain point (about a bus load of people ahead of them) and then they are let through a gate. It takes a lot of CMs to keep people from trying to cut past the queue to get to the gate, as they are used to going right to the HC spot. I wish all the queues were like this all the time, then people would be used to the process. It can get ugly pretty quickly when someone is told, no you have to go in the queue!

 

[Searc]

Until you are FINALLY near the front of the line at park closing and two scooters roll in with 13 family members each.............and boom! You're standing.



Oh, I have NO problems with ECVs, and I know why they load them first. But I have seriously seen CROWDS of family members rush up with the ECV person to the bus stop as it pulls in, after I've been waiting 40 minutes already (two full buses gone).

Last time, there were two ECVs coming in just as the bus came in. And both ECVs had at least 12 people each with them. Maybe some just tagged along, and weren't even with them- who knows? And all of them boarded. That's why we were standing, and my GS fell- after we waited for a bus for over 40 minutes by that point. He was 5 years old. I was over 50.

Common courtesy, following the rules, etc- that's what I had an issue with.

I know why ECVs are loaded first, but (don't shoot me, please!!!!), can't they wait one bus load so that the 90 people in line can finally get moving? Then they load first on the very next bus. I have a minor disability myself, and standing in a line pains me, but I'm not yet ready to use an ECV or wheelchair. If you're in an ECV, would waiting for 20 minutes for the next bus be such an inconvenience, when others have been waiting for 40+ minutes, standing? In busy times, more buses would be the answer of course, but that hasn't happened to me yet. So in busy times, when the lines have exceeded 40 minutes, maybe others have to wait as well. (Oh, no. I'm going to get creamed here.)

This year, my friend and I are staying at Shades of Green. I've never stayed there before, but I'm happy it's walking distance to the TTC and to the monorail at the Poly! That means: a- bus less frequently to SOG, but definitely room for us and b- only have to bus to AK and back! Oh, and Disney Springs I guess.

Buses have more than 13 seats, so no, I'm not standing.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The issue was that entire bus system seemed to be bogged down by the delays caused by loading and unloading.

Odd that some buses are bogged down, to the point where a second bus has arrived (but, unlike at Value resorts, can't be piggybacked and loaded.

Drivers pay, payroll taxes and all of that doesn’t have a thing to do with discrimination.

Correct. I offered several reasons. This one would likely affect overall pricing.

Not sure why the drivers would have to be any more trained than they are now.

Paratransit transportation typically requires special, additional training. Including sensitivity training.

And you high level envious guests using unnecessary wheel chairs is already happening.

Supporting link(s), please, showing that WDW guests currently obtain unneeded wheelchairs in order to board buses first - and exit last?

A lot of them are. Not every 20 minutes perhaps but some of the hotels do provide bus service until well after park closing and later from Disney Springs.

Yup. Seven hotels. Sorry, eight counting Shades of Green. Out of what, 500 hotels? Most of which, if they do provide transportation, it's a couple of trips a day in each direction, and not necessarily to every park? Or charge for it, or both?

Until you are FINALLY near the front of the line at park closing and two scooters roll in with 13 family members each.............and boom! You're standing.

This is not an issue with or about ECV parties. It is about Disney not enforcing its own rules. It needs to be addressed with Disney.

I know why ECVs are loaded first, but (don't shoot me, please!!!!), can't they wait one bus load so that the 90 people in line can finally get moving?

Could, sure. But then

• You get more of a backup of mobility device userss waiting for buses.
• Not every bus can (or will - again to be addressed with Disney) load a mobility device. The Transportation Forum Moderator recently detailed an experience where she encountered an elderly couple in the midday heat who had already been unable to board a couple of buses. She waited with them. For various reasons, they weren't able to get on the next two, either. They finally boarded...the fifth bus to arrive.
• The ADA doesn't allow it.

 

[Moliphino]

At the end of the day, the bus queues at MK do what you are asking - guests using wheelchairs and ECVs wait in the standard queue until they reach a certain point (about a bus load of people ahead of them) and then they are let through a gate. It takes a lot of CMs to keep people from trying to cut past the queue to get to the gate, as they are used to going right to the HC spot. I wish all the queues were like this all the time, then people would be used to the process. It can get ugly pretty quickly when someone is told, no you have to go in the queue!

Been there! I still didn't let them pass me, though.

Odd that some buses are bogged down, to the point where a second bus has arrived (but, unlike at Value resorts, can't be piggybacked and loaded.)

They weren't piggybacking on my last trip at all (December 2018, Pop). The buses waited until the first one left every time.

 

[Searc]

At the end of the day, the bus queues at MK do what you are asking - guests using wheelchairs and ECVs wait in the standard queue until they reach a certain point (about a bus load of people ahead of them) and then they are let through a gate. It takes a lot of CMs to keep people from trying to cut past the queue to get to the gate, as they are used to going right to the HC spot. I wish all the queues were like this all the time, then people would be used to the process. It can get ugly pretty quickly when someone is told, no you have to go in the queue!

That must be new, because it wasn't like that in March.

 

[snappy]

Me neither but we avoided the busses in July when we could by going to Epcot and HS when staying at BWV and going to MK when we were at Poly. We did use the busses to AK at mid morning and mid afternoon only, avoiding rope drop and park close. Uber between resorts and to DS. The diesel fumes turn my stomach and can give me a headache so I avoid busses.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Odd that some buses are bogged down, to the point where a second bus has arrived (but, unlike at Value resorts, can't be piggybacked and loaded.

Piggybacked, meaning loading both buses at the same time? There’s only space for one bus against the curb at each pickup slot, which is why the second buses were having to sit at an angle blocking the road.

 

[Minnesota!]

Disney transportation is what brings us back over and over (literally and figuratively)..

DH hates to drive, I don't drive. Him hanging his keys up for a week is a vacation within itself. Once we park the car at our home airport, we are truly "free". DME, busses, Minnie Van, etc.

We did a road trip 2 weeks ago and we almost killed each other. It is DEFINITELY not for my family. If we could move to a golf cart community, or where public transportation is king, I think we would be very, very happy.

 

[lorenae]

That must be new, because it wasn't like that in March.

For me either- the late arriving ECVs and all of the family and friends definitely did NOT go into the queue, but immediately into the area with the gate for ECVs. There were two separate ECVs, and both of them had over a dozen people accompanying them. So, nearly 30 people and ECVs. I did not see any CMs anywhere around at MK at the bus stops to direct people or to limit the flow from that gate.

The ECVs take a long time to unload and load, so that slows things down as well.

Like I said, I understand that they need to be loaded first. And there isn't room for more than a couple of them, but it makes it really difficult at the end of the night to wait. And wait. And wait. And then stand anyway, because of a sudden onrush of people going ahead of the line.
I would never mind a 20 minute wait. But going on 60 minutes at park close is tough. We stayed at POP last time, and I could have grabbed an AoA bus, but didn't see the stop for that one from where we were to gauge the line.

 

[LSUmiss]

You must have missed this--


Can't help nasty thoughts people have and that exists on Disney buses towards those with mobility needs so clearly separate or not separate people will have some sort of opinion towards those in need; I've even read where some posters who have mobility needs would rather be off that bus because they don't want people staring.

Doesn't mean things one doesn't look towards the present method and see if there is room for improvement.

I think it's ok but I understand what the other person is meaning. Also the prevalence rate tends to coincide with people's opinions.

My comments have been primarily framed towards discrimination as it was put out there. I've seen some offsite hotels explicitly state that accessible transportation is available upon request or with advanced notice (the wording varies).

Now if it ruins someone's vacation..well let's be honest it's the DIS the simplist things can ruin someone's vacation. Doesn't mean we should discount the whole idea because one encountered (and I don't remember if it was actually said it ruined someone's vacation or now apologies on that front) a person who said that.

And not everyone using them is actually disabled (probably hence why they have become so ubiquitous). Not being able to walk several miles a day for hours a day doesn’t make you disabled. Same as little kids need a stroller who might not need one at home, many older folks use them like an adult version of a stroller (that’s why MIL got one). I think many ppl including ppl who use ECVs would prefer a separate transportation system.

 

[LSUmiss]

For me either- the late arriving ECVs and all of the family and friends definitely did NOT go into the queue, but immediately into the area with the gate for ECVs. There were two separate ECVs, and both of them had over a dozen people accompanying them. So, nearly 30 people and ECVs. I did not see any CMs anywhere around at MK at the bus stops to direct people or to limit the flow from that gate.

The ECVs take a long time to unload and load, so that slows things down as well.

Like I said, I understand that they need to be loaded first. And there isn't room for more than a couple of them, but it makes it really difficult at the end of the night to wait. And wait. And wait. And then stand anyway, because of a sudden onrush of people going ahead of the line.
I would never mind a 20 minute wait. But going on 60 minutes at park close is tough. We stayed at POP last time, and I could have grabbed an AoA bus, but didn't see the stop for that one from where we were to gauge the line.

Ppl are minimizing it as “just a few minutes”. For some resorts , it’s way more than that (which is why we won’t ever stay value again). One trip, DH & I were at Contemporary & other family at Pop. We all left together & DH & I walked back to Contemporary. I walked back, relaxed a few minutes, had a snack, & took a shower & our family members were STILL in the bus line!! I went to sleep before they had even loaded a bus. That’s just absurd!

 

[kaytieeldr]

There were two separate ECVs, and both of them had over a dozen people accompanying them. So, nearly 30 people and ECVs.

Genuinely curious, how many times did this happen, out of how many bus rides did you take?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Unfortunately the stigma that goes along with those separate buses still exists.

I think Disney's system for people with scooters/ECVs is just fine. It is the people who lack any compassion or any sort of patience that are the problem. If someone thinks waiting for a scooter or two to load is ruining their vacation, then, in my opinion that makes them pretty low. And separating out the scooter/ECV users so able bodied people don't have to deal with them, or don't have to be slightly inconvenienced by them, is not any sort of decent answer.

Agreed. And to add, if people on scooters did get separate busses, people would complain they were getting a leg up by getting separate busses. And here is the thing. In the evening when the lines for the busses back to the bigger resorts were longer, often times a wheelchair bus will load the chairs and while it is doing that, another bus will pull in, load all standard, and take off. Then another bus will pull in, load standard only, and take off. Then when the wheel chairs are on and that wheelchair bus will finish loading standard and take off. After that another bus would pull right in, load wheel chairs and the process would repeat. It's only during lesser times that I even had to wait for a wheelchair. People are just peeved at long lines and need someone to blame. So they blame the person they saw get on first. and claim how unfair the system is. Of course the wheel chairs get off last and have to wait for everyone else to get off. But those complaining don't seem to think about that when they're complaining.

 

[Searc]

Agreed. And to add, if people on scooters did get separate busses, people would complain they were getting a leg up by getting separate busses. And here is the thing. In the evening when the lines for the busses back to the bigger resorts were longer, often times a wheelchair bus will load the chairs and while it is doing that, another bus will pull in, load all standard, and take off. Then another bus will pull in, load standard only, and take off. Then when the wheel chairs are on and that wheelchair bus will finish loading standard and take off. After that another bus would pull right in, load wheel chairs and the process would repeat. It's only during lesser times that I even had to wait for a wheelchair. People are just peeved at long lines and need someone to blame. So they blame the person they saw get on first. and claim how unfair the system is. Of course the wheel chairs get off last and have to wait for everyone else to get off. But those complaining don't seem to think about that when they're complaining.

There is only room for one bus at the pick up spots at the parks. They aren't loading two buses at one time. IF there are more than one bus for a resort, they sit and wait until the first is finished loading.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

There is only room for one bus at the pick up spots at the parks. They aren't loading two buses at one time. IF there are more than one bus for a resort, they sit and wait until the first is finished loading.

Let's see. Who should I believe. Dis boarder? or my eyes? Hmmmmmmm. Yes at some places there was only room for 1 at a time. But most of them didn't have near the ridership volume of where i was staying. And mine had more room. Back at the resort, there was never room for, nor a need for two busses at once because not everyone departs in the morning en masse like they come back in the evening at certain times.

 

[luvsJack]

Odd that some buses are bogged down, to the point where a second bus has arrived (but, unlike at Value resorts, can't be piggybacked and loaded.


Correct. I offered several reasons. This one would likely affect overall pricing.
I didn't ask about anything EXCEPT discrimination, which is why I was confused by your answer.

Paratransit transportation typically requires special, additional training. Including sensitivity training.
Wouldn't all of the bus drivers have to have this? I mean it wouldn't make sense to have to have it if you use separate buses but not on the same buses.

Supporting link(s), please, showing that WDW guests currently obtain unneeded wheelchairs in order to board buses first - and exit last?
Sorry, don't have links to personal experience but have seen it myself. Disney is magical and all but miracles don't happen daily. I doubt they do it for the bus rides. Besides, ECV are most certainly rented by people who are NOT disabled.

Yup. Seven hotels. Sorry, eight counting Shades of Green. Out of what, 500 hotels? Most of which, if they do provide transportation, it's a couple of trips a day in each direction, and not necessarily to every park? Or charge for it, or both?

What on earth does the number of hotels owned by Disney providing buses have to do with anything?

I have stayed up and down I-Drive as have my family members. All of which had transportation to ALL the Disney parks, Universal, Sea World, Aquatica and a few to Busch Gardens. Pretty much any time of day and we never stay anywhere that charges for transportation. If you love Disney transportation, that is fine, but don't make it seem like its the end all and be all. My goodness.

This is not an issue with or about ECV parties. It is about Disney not enforcing its own rules. It needs to be addressed with Disney.

That is what this thread is about--DISNEY. Its not about issues with ECV parties. Never was, isn't now.

Could, sure. But then

• You get more of a backup of mobility device userss waiting for buses.
• Not every bus can (or will - again to be addressed with Disney) load a mobility device. The Transportation Forum Moderator recently detailed an experience where she encountered an elderly couple in the midday heat who had already been unable to board a couple of buses. She waited with them. For various reasons, they weren't able to get on the next two, either. They finally boarded...the fifth bus to arrive.
• The ADA doesn't allow it.

All of their buses should be able to load a mobility device. That is something that most certainly should be taken up with Disney. As for the ADA not allowing it, do they have different rules for Disney? Because other places do have people with mobility devices wait their turn for a bus. They are loaded first on the bus they ride but they don't go in front of people that have already been waiting when they arrive to the bus stop.

 

[Donaldswife]

There is only room for one bus at the pick up spots at the parks. They aren't loading two buses at one time. IF there are more than one bus for a resort, they sit and wait until the first is finished loading.

I HAVE seen them load more than one bus at a time at MK. It can and has been done, but not all the time. Just because you have never seen it, doesn't mean it hasn't ever been done.

 

[skyblue17]

Maybe there should be a blanket rule that anyone loading first due to ECV/wheelchair gets two people to go with them for assistance and the rest of the party has to wait to board the bus. It really doesn't make much sense why an entire party gets to board first. If you don't end up on the same bus, meet up when you arrive? I'm blanking on why the additional people in the party get to skip out on having to wait at all but the people who don't get to board the bus because a large party boarded ahead have to wait extra.

 

[luvsJack]

I HAVE seen them load more than one bus at a time at MK. It can and has been done, but not all the time. Just because you have never seen it, doesn't mean it hasn't ever been done.

I have seen it too. And we STILL had to wait extra due to ECV loading with family.

 

[Moliphino]

I HAVE seen them load more than one bus at a time at MK. It can and has been done, but not all the time. Just because you have never seen it, doesn't mean it hasn't ever been done.

For Pop at MK I think there's an empty bus stop between Pop and AoA, sometimes a second bus will pull in there and load at the same time.
At other parks I used to see second buses pulling up alongside the one already at the stop and allowing people to load at the same time (piggybacking). I did not see that at all on my last trip, the second bus would wait elsewhere in the parking lot until the first bus left.