Just back--bus tirade at BC

[trampslady]

We are members and our home resort is BCV--we've stayed many times and enjoyed them all. That said, we've got to do something about the bus situation. Five deluxe resorts on one bus system is just insane. I've always thought that, but this trip it really struck a nerve. Who do we complain to? And, has there ever been any feedback from the DVC folks regarding past complaints?

[DisFlan]

I filled out a survey AND wrote a letter after waiting 40 minutes or longer for buses at BWV last October. The only feedback was a canned "Thank you, we take all comments seriously" letter. But I have my doubts as to how "seriously" they actually took my comments.

DisFlan

[bobbiwoz]

Over Mothers Day weekend, the BCV only shared busses with the YC & BC, and they were fine. Our longest wait was at noon at MK for "our" bus, and we did take the BW bus back and walked to BCV. So, there were distinctly 2 sets of busses then.

Bobbi

[Kick Save]

We were at the BC the week following Mother's day, and had the same situation that Bobbiwoz had. At the MK to return home, we were in the BW line (was going there first before heading back to the BC) and the bus picked us up, then picked up the BC/YC people, but only because there weren't enough at both stops to fill up the bus. On the way to the MK, it was just us and the YC, though.

[3DisneyNUTS]

We complained at our stay at BW Sept 2005 and tey looked at us like we were smoking something. The manager even told DH no one ever complains about the busses. (Yeah right) I think it is CRAZY how they have those busses set up.

[La2kw]

We are members and our home resort is BCV--we've stayed many times and enjoyed them all. That said, we've got to do something about the bus situation. Five deluxe resorts on one bus system is just insane. I've always thought that, but this trip it really struck a nerve. Who do we complain to? And, has there ever been any feedback from the DVC folks regarding past complaints?

Technically, it's more like 7 resorts- BW, BWV, Swan Dolphin, YC, BC, and BCV. Other than the quick walk to WS, the transportation there leaves a lot to be desired.

[bongo59]

We gave up on busses around 1992.................we drive everywhere..............it saves time while on vacation.

[DisFlan]

We gave up on busses around 1992.................we drive everywhere..............it saves time while on vacation.

Ditto for us too, now. We won't be depending on buses in the future. They're too unpredictable and vacation time is precious.


DisFlan

[trampslady]

We've decided that, from now on, we will definitely use our own car for trips to the AK and Downtown Disney. With regard to MK--we learned to never leave the car at the TTC IF we plan to leave MK at the end of the night. It's a zoo trying to get to the TTC! But, if our MK plans are for the morning/early afternoon, we will drive.

But, there's really no excuse for putting so many deluxe resorts on one bus system. I love my BCV and don't want to stay anywhere else. But, come on.....I will send an e-mail and wait for a response.

[cdmickey]

I think Disney does a heck of a job with the buses; perfect, no, will they ever be, probably not. How many times have you walked up to the bus stop and here comes the bus; wow, this service is terrific. Next time, sit and wait for twenty minutes; man this stinks. Luck of the draw most of the times. Personnally I like the idea of parking the car and not having to fool with it for my stay. Your vision/ideas may be different. My philosophy (doesn't always work, as I sometimes get frustrated with transportation too) is to look around, watch the people, look at the scenery and try to chill; heck, I'm on vacation.

p.s. Just to commiserate with the original poster (a little); how about when you get to get to go to Blizzard Beach too, Doah!

[disworldnum1]

we were just at bwv(may 20 to may 28 ) and the buses left alot to be desired.We actually got off at swan and walked to bw a few times.We also waited at blizzard beach for 40 mins while we watched every resort bus go by and some had 2 buses.By the end of the week we decided to drive everywhere it was faster and less stressful.It seems the bwv is always the last stop on the route and its a long way to stand up if the bus is full.

[crisi]

In October we stayed at the BW and were only sharing buses with the Swan/Dolphin. Bus service was great - never stood, never waited more than five minutes.

Because we fly and don't enjoy driving, we suppliment our buses with taxis. A dozen taxi rides around Disney is still cheaper than any rental car my husband would condescend to drive. (He would let me rent the Geo Metro).

[tomandrobin]

We were at SSR May 11-14th. We had no trouble at all with the buses. The buses all were dedicated to SSR, no pick-up or drop-off at other resorts. Our longest wait was 5 minutes at SSR, 10 minutes at Epcot.

Our worst experience with the buses was in March. We were waiting for 15 minutes at Epcot after it was closed, we were staying at the Swan then. An empty bus pulled up that was not going to Swan. The driver asked where we needed to go and offered to take us to our resort. We have had that happen to us twice in the past year, having a bus driver taking my wife and I out of there way to another resort.

The other time we were at DTD waiting for the bus to Animal Kingom Lodge bus to come. There was a bus at the next stop that was waiting for 5 minutes, no riders. So he walks over offers to take us to Animal Kingdom! Yes, private shuttle service! Maybe we were/are just lucky that way.

[dtheboys]

We also gave up on the bus system at Disney....We rent a car, and drive to resorts, parks, etc.
No more busses for us..........

[Mickmse2002]

I think the hard part with the bus system is you never really know what to expect. Their routes seems to change often. We generally rent a car now.

[bcvillastwo]

I certainly understand what it's like waiting for one of the WDW buses. I've done at it BCV (our home resort), BWV, WLV, and SSR. I've also done it the GF, CBR, AKL, All Stars, and Down Town Disney. But, at least 1/2 the time I find myself waiting less than 5 minutes.

Hey, I don't know if there is a problem at BCV and all of the surrounding resorts or not. What I know from experience is that if you are waiting for a bus 5 minutes can seem like an hour. I also know that can rarely depend on them to stay on schedule. From experience the same can be said about subways, trains, and planes.

Public transportation by its nature is frustrating. Why should public transportation at WDW be any different?

Relax you're on vacation.

Just my humble opinion.

[browniemtb]

I agree with cdmickey here. There are times you go to the bus station and the bus is there or there in a few minutes. But there are times that you have to wait. My BWV bus experience was fine for me and my family. The longest we waited was about 20 minutes. But the kicker was in that 20 minute time span 3 buses for AKL came by and we wanted to go to the MK. We also did the rental car thing....and found that to be a hassle as well...park the car walk to the tram....on the way out, wait in line for a tram, maybe. I figure I save money by not renting a car and buying gas.........I have to my kids are into the pin thing.
Brownie

[MrsG]

We've been complaining since 2002. We've complained to the BCV, the bus dispatcher we happened to see one day, and we always mention it on our survey. If it was taken so seriously, it would have been better by now. We've also gone at different times, so it's not a seasonal thing.

[Disney-Kim]

I am confused.... :confused3
Our stay in the first week of May at the BC....our buses only stopped at the YC/BC....and we were so happy that we didn't have to do the other resorts.

[TerriBelle]

During some of our visits there were cast members stationed at the bus stops in the mornings to help call for extra busses. In Jan, we never saw a single person at the BC! We asked a bus driver one night and he said the resorts should be sending someone out. Most days the busses were fine except for the day that the MK opened early. Of course most people were going to the MK yet they had 1 bus. We just missed it and then we waited 40 minutes for another one. By the time we got there we had missed most of the early hour. You would think that on early morning days they would plan on additional busses for that park.

[Mickmse2002]

I am confused.... :confused3
Our stay in the first week of May at the BC....our buses only stopped at the YC/BC....and we were so happy that we didn't have to do the other resorts.
I understand your confusion. Nothwithstanding what others may have said, the routes do change so it adds to the confusion. Sometimes you only do the YC/BC stops and at other times you do YC/BC/BWV/Swan/Dolphin (can't recall the order).

[Lesley]

Every time I notice the BW bus isn't doing the whole S/D/YC/BC circuit I'm thrilled.....thinking that they've done away with that approach. Then they start doing it again. Its given me the impression that when people complain a lot they stop and then as soon as the complaints drop off they go back to the old way.

We don't like to drive when we're on vacation....but the bus service at most of the deluxe resorts is not at all "deluxe".

[trampslady]

Well, I've sent the email--we will see. My original complaint is not about the wait for a bus. Instead, it is the ridiculous amount of time you spend ON the bus when you stay at BC. With all the stops they make to get to your destination or home from your destination, it makes the trip insanely long. For example, when we leave DD in the late evening, we just want to get home ASAP (as most folks do). With the BC bus system, you will be stopping not only at Pleasure Island, but then the Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk. Makes for a long ride. We generally enjoy Disney transportation and consider the service a plus as it keeps us from dealing with one of lifes mundain tasks-driving. That said, until (if ever) they modify the current system for these few deluxe resorts, we've decided to drive to AK, DD, and MK(when we are leaving the park during the day). We don't mind parking at any of the aforementioned as we don't use the little tram anyway--we prefer to walk. Keeps me from having to do even more exercise when I get to the resort!