Disney Buses

[Searc]

Second bus pulls up next to the existing bus. Not in front of or behind. Passenger door is adjacent to driver seat/door of existing bus, with enough space for people to step into the bus, but not enough to deploy the wheelchair ramp.

the existing blanket rule is the mobility device user and up to five additional people. It needs to be enforced.

if you were waiting for the first bus, yes. But the second bus is too close to the first for the ramp to be deployed. Hence, no mobility devices on the second bus. Is there a particular reason why guests waiting for the first bus didn't instead board the second, ECV-free bus?

At the parks, pulling up next to (emphasis yours) the bus already there would block the exit lane and bring all the buses to a halt.

 

[luvsJack]

You’ve described a lot of reasons to not like Disney buses. I concede that. You didn’t necessarily describe a problem that needs fixing.


Before I started lurking on any Disney fan boards I had always heard the opposite...that Disney fans were more critical of all things Disney than the average actual park visitor. I would tend to believe that a more scientific poll might be in line with this win or even skew more tolerable.

LOL how much have you been actually reading here? (Just kidding, I am sure a lot) There are threads started by people that are totally frustrated with something that Disney did wrong and they get pages of people responding telling them how it was their own fault and Disney guarantees nothing. And while they don't technically "guarantee" much of anything, some things are part of their business and whatever the person may be complaining about is something that should be fixed. There are a LOT of Disney apologists here.

You may not see it as a problem that needs fixing, but others may see if differently. I just avoid the whole thing but I see over crowding of buses, especially, as something that they should and could fix. No one should feel unsafe on a bus ride!

 

[tex1989]

So I have not read all through the thread ( that bothers folks sometimes) and I know it has gone a lot of different ways (what Disney can, should, might, must do) so pardon me for just addressing the first question directly. We take the busses, we love the busses till we don't then we take Uber, or a Taxi but never drive or rent a car which may change in three years when I retire.

Now my opinion (and it's just that mine based on my observations alone). I live in Texas and to live here a car is an absolute. Everything is a long way away. My married children live an hour to 45 minutes away from us but still in basically Houston. (actually we all live in the burbs around Houston) I take a Park and Ride bus to work, but let me distinguish that by saying that is an over the road comfortable seats kind of bus, think Disney Express. It is not the local route with grab bars and hard seats, etc. So right off the top one is an acceptable form of transportation while the other is not in many folks eyes. For many years I rode to work with a friend who needed their car for work so my daughter was driving my jeep and I basically had no vehicle. On Fridays since I went in early and left early I rode the bus. The local bus, the stop every few blocks salt of the earth folks who took it because it was their only means of getting anywhere kind of folks. When I would be in conversation with co workers or friends and the subject came up they would be shocked that I did this. They worried about my saftey, they said it was so dirty, many joked that instead of Houston Metro they should call it the Houston Ghettro. I would ask if they had ever rode a local route and every one of them said the same thing, NO! I would never do it!

Now since I have not read this thread I am not meaning to point any fingers at all but will put this out there. Some people will never ride a "local" bus, at Disney or anywhere else, or they might one time or for one trip, but after that quite frankly it is beneath them, something for the commoners, or the poor folk. Reasons abound for why they won't ride, but what it really boils down to is it is a commoners cattle car that is not something they expect from Disney. Hence the many discussions of things Disney should, must, might do.

Just my opinion and not meaning to ruffle feathers but this is an issue I encounter all the time in my everyday life so I really do I have a lot of insight into it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh I see, your one of the Disney fans that excuses everything they do.

Why do people do this? You get responses you don't agree with, so immediately that person is a Disney apologist? No. I'm fairly knowledgeable regarding public and para transportation.

Do you seriously think that all those people pay $5000 for a week for just a hope to be comfortable?

I think people paying $5,000 for a week can be expected to be aware of what they're paying for, what could happen, and that a claim of a "guarantee" anything not specifically in writing is probably not guaranteed.

Too many here would excuse Disney for anything they do/did and sing their praises no matter what.

No. A person or persons who disagree with another person or persons statements =/= excusing anything Disney does.

But how many actually in the resorts on any given day are happy with those buses?

Probably fairly close to the poll results.

Now should all these people who get frustrated at the buses complain?

"The driver let 23 people with two ECV users board the bus ahead of the people in line", of course. "We waited 22 minutes for a bus" or "It took the driver three minutes to tie down a scooter, and then the person had the nerve to move to a seat!" , not so much.

mediocre service is free or cheap & upgrades cost more.

A large number of people seem to feel the [bus] service is better than mediocre.

There are threads started by people that are totally frustrated with something that Disney did wrong

which is, ultimately, futile given that these people choose not to inform Disney what the company did wrong.

So right off the top one is an acceptable form of transportation while the other is not in many folks eyes.

Park and Ride used coach buses, correct? While Houston Metro (along with Boston, Disney, and probably hundreds of other public transportation systems) use buses designed to withstand repeated wear and tear?

 

[luvsJack]

Why do people do this? You get responses you don't agree with, so immediately that person is a Disney apologist? No. I'm fairly knowledgeable regarding public and para transportation.

Simple. Some people think that Disney can do no wrong. Its very obvious. Its not about agreeing with an opinion. For instance, someone can come here and say that they when they got to their room, the ceiling had fallen in and the bed was soaking wet. They could tell us that Disney refused to get them another room until the next day. There would be people here that would some how defend Disney. I mean, after all, they don't "guarantee" a bed you can sleep in. You are paying for a "room" not a bed.

I think people paying $5,000 for a week can be expected to be aware of what they're paying for, what could happen, and that a claim of a "guarantee" anything not specifically in writing is probably not guaranteed.

To pretend that it is just too much to expect a company that you are paying $5000 to stay with and visit THEIR property (and spend more money) to do better than leave a disabled person in the heat for 40 minutes or whatever, is absolutely unbelievable to me.

Do you honestly feel this way with other businesses? If you order a pizza and it arrives to you not fully cooked, its ok because there is no "written" guarantee for the pizza to be cooked? Or if you buy a new stove and its missing the racks, there is no "written" guarantee so its ok? Or in my scenario with the wet bed, that would be ok with you?

No. A person or persons who disagree with another person or persons statements =/= excusing anything Disney does.

Nope, But anyone that can justify anything and everything that could possibly happen on that property IS excusing anything they do and there are a few here like that.

Probably fairly close to the poll results.

Link?? Please prove this statement.

"The driver let 23 people with two ECV users board the bus ahead of the people in line", of course. "We waited 22 minutes for a bus" or "It took the driver three minutes to tie down a scooter, and then the person had the nerve to move to a seat!" , not so much.

A large number of people seem to feel the [bus] service is better than mediocre.

From this poll? Hardly a true representation.



which is, ultimately, futile given that these people choose not to inform Disney what the company did wrong.

and yet many of those threads are started with "how do I contact. . ." OR "I have already contacted but want to vent. . ." And it still doesn't change the fact that many people will justify whatever it was that happened.

Park and Ride used coach buses, correct? While Houston Metro (along with Boston, Disney, and probably hundreds of other public transportation systems) use buses designed to withstand repeated wear and tear?

Apparently, you like the buses. Fine, ride them; no skin off my nose. That doesn't make them perfect by any stretch. Other people are going to avoid them by whatever means necessary and its ok for them too.

Me? I will stay offsite and use other transportation. Either that provided by other hotels or our car. And Disney really isn't going to care.

 

[Christine]

This thread does give me some pause for thought.

This November we are traveling with a group of 16 people. Two of them are ECV users. There will be days we will all travel together. Some of the non-ECV users are parents with very small children. I wonder what the best way to break our group up will be. It will mean that when going to, say, DHS, we may be arriving 30 minutes more than the first group that loads.

Last year we went with a group of 5 and only my dad had the ECV. We got some definite looks in line. So much so that my dad didn't go to a few places like Animal Kingdom at night for a few hours. He felt horrible while he was being loaded and saw the attitude. Wasn't his imagination either.

 

[LSUmiss]

This thread does give me some pause for thought.

This November we are traveling with a group of 16 people. Two of them are ECV users. There will be days we will all travel together. Some of the non-ECV users are parents with very small children. I wonder what the best way to break our group up will be. It will mean that when going to, say, DHS, we may be arriving 30 minutes more than the first group that loads.

Last year we went with a group of 5 and only my dad had the ECV. We got some definite looks in line. So much so that my dad didn't go to a few places like Animal Kingdom at night for a few hours. He felt horrible while he was being loaded and saw the attitude. Wasn't his imagination either.

That’s terrible & I’m sorry he missed out b/c of that. But, this is where I also blame Disney. At that point, they have made it a hassle for both the ECV user & the other guests. When MiL had one, there were times we didn’t go back to the parks for just a few hours b/c the hassle wasn’t worth it. This is where I’d think a separate mode of transportation would benefit everyone.

 

[maxiesmom]

You are right, I do effectively pay more by choosing to stay at BWV and Poly over other resorts when onsite and walk, use the boats or monorail or Uber rather than busses,

Psst. Stay at the Swan or Dolphin. You would pay a lot less.

The solution to the bus problem is not to single out any group of guests and have them ride a separate bus. I would no more expect Disney to single out ECV users than I would expect them to single out families. Who can hog a lot of space on the bus and annoy other guests. You know us singles have places to go and people to see, and those who have to fold up strollers and wrangle kids are holding us up!

 

[luvsJack]

This thread does give me some pause for thought.

This November we are traveling with a group of 16 people. Two of them are ECV users. There will be days we will all travel together. Some of the non-ECV users are parents with very small children. I wonder what the best way to break our group up will be. It will mean that when going to, say, DHS, we may be arriving 30 minutes more than the first group that loads.

Last year we went with a group of 5 and only my dad had the ECV. We got some definite looks in line. So much so that my dad didn't go to a few places like Animal Kingdom at night for a few hours. He felt horrible while he was being loaded and saw the attitude. Wasn't his imagination either.

Your dad should not have gotten attitude and 5 with your Dad, TO ME, isn't a big deal (of course, I can't speak for others). I am so sorry he was treated that way.

As for your upcoming trip, just make sure ya'll are following the guidelines set down by Disney and have a wonderful trip. I would make sure there are non-parents that are with the ECV riders so the parents' attention can be on the kids and whoever is with the ECV riders can be there for them if they need to be.

 

[LSUmiss]

Psst. Stay at the Swan or Dolphin. You would pay a lot less.

The solution to the bus problem is not to single out any group of guests and have them ride a separate bus. I would no more expect Disney to single out ECV users than I would expect them to single out families. Who can hog a lot of space on the bus and annoy other guests. You know us singles have places to go and people to see, and those who have to fold up strollers and wrangle kids are holding us up!

I am well aware of the stroller/kid wranglers so w/ DS 16 mos I refuse to be that person! We get ourselves together when the bus is arriving! But, I’m speaking from the experience of having been with an ECV rider before & it’s often a hassle for the ECV person too. Often the bus driver doesn’t know how to load it quickly and/or correctly & that leads to the aggravation of the other guests too. I would have gladly welcomed being singled out to have a better mode of transportation when we were traveling with an ECV.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am well aware of the stroller/kid wranglers so w/ DS 16 mos I refuse to be that person! We get ourselves together when the bus is arriving! But, I’m speaking from the experience of having been with an ECV rider before & it’s often a hassle for the ECV person too. Often the bus driver doesn’t know how to load it quickly and/or correctly & that leads to the aggravation of the other guests too. I would have gladly welcomed being singled out to have a better mode of transportation when we were traveling with an ECV.

Would it be better if there were many ECV users on the same mode of transportation? Because Disney isn't going to drive one family around.

 

[LSUmiss]

Would it be better if there were many ECV users on the same mode of transportation? Because Disney isn't going to drive one family around.

I think so IF the bus drivers were adequately trained to load & unload.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think so IF the bus drivers were adequately trained to load & unload.

I don't agree at all. People complain how long it takes 2 scooters to load and unload. Make it 10, 15, or 20and it gets that much worse.

 

[FastPasser.]

At the parks, pulling up next to (emphasis yours) the bus already there would block the exit lane and bring all the buses to a halt.

What Kaytieeldr said is exactly correct. Space allowing and without blocking other buses, two buses can and do pick up at the same time on a regular basis if needed to keep things flowing.

 

[FastPasser.]

I think so IF the bus drivers were adequately trained to load & unload.

That wouldn't be an issue, bus drivers are adequately trained, it's whether or not they execute that training as trained and unfortunately some don't

 

[Moliphino]

What Kaytieeldr said is exactly correct. Space allowing and without blocking other buses, two buses can and do pick up at the same time on a regular basis if needed to keep things flowing.

They used to. I didn't see it happen at all last time I was there, the second bus waited until the first bus left.

 

[Searc]

What Kaytieeldr said is exactly correct. Space allowing and without blocking other buses, two buses can and do pick up at the same time on a regular basis if needed to keep things flowing.

I haven't seen it on my last two trips (last Sept and this March). Guess I'll see if protocol has changed next week.

 

[morgan98]

Well, I was just at Disney earlier this week for a work event, but had the opportunity to ride the buses several times. All I can say is that I get older and less patient, I like them less and less. I experienced two very long waits 35+ minutes and when one of the buses showed up it took 10 minutes to load as the drivers changed shifts. Very annoying to say the least. Another time, we took the bus to another hotel and walked because we were not risking another 35+ minute wait.

There was nothing magical about the buses at all.

 

[FastPasser.]

They used to. I didn't see it happen at all last time I was there, the second bus waited until the first bus left.

It's not a common practice. I did it only when instructed by a bus leader, which was rare. Most people have never seen it done.

I haven't seen it on my last two trips (last Sept and this March). Guess I'll see if protocol has changed next week.

I began doing it when I started driving a Disney bus many years ago up until I transferred out just a few years ago. But for all I know, the practice could have been discontinued the day after I left.

 

[Colleen27]

We usually fly down and don't rent a car, so we tend to be mostly stuck with the buses with the occasional Uber when busing is too inconvenient, like after a late dinner at a non-park-area resort. And I used to LOVE the Disney buses. I hate driving in heavy traffic in unfamiliar places, and even after so many trips, I count WDW in both categories. But on our last trip we happened to drive down, and I ended up glad we did. The buses were just so bad - slow, overcrowded and often impossible to get on with a wheelchair user without walking to the first pick-up spot (which at CBR in the midst of the Riviera/Skyliner construction was not only a long hike but also an unpleasant one, with areas where the sidewalks were blocked and noisy heavy equipment running and dust flying everywhere) - that I threw in the towel and drove to the parks most days. Even the stress of the park-area traffic was better than waiting through several buses that didn't have room for us, or starting every day with a trudge through a construction site to make sure we could get on.

At this point, we're kind of on a WDW break (for a number of reasons), but the Skyliner gives me hope that our next trip will be better transportation-wise. Which is good, because the next trip will probably be for Food & Wine when DD turns 21 so even if we have a car, we probably won't want to be driving anywhere!