DD Visitors Using SSR Buses

[sean-1966]

I got this response off of of SGT.com regarding CM's telling guests to use SSR buses to get to DD.


""DVC Members are not the only ones paying for the busses. They are also part of the parking fees at the parks and such. The only way to get to DD from any of the parks is to take a bus to a resort and then transfer to a bus going to DD. The other way is to drive your vehicle, if you have one from the parks to DD. Saratoga is the closest resort and is within walking distance of DD.""


Thoughts??

Is this true??

[sean-1966]

BTW, I'm not trying to start a fight between DVC members and CM's. I'm just trying to get to the bottom about why they tell guests to takes these buses to get to DD.

[FLYNZ4]

BTW, I'm not trying to start a fight between DVC members and CM's. I'm just trying to get to the bottom about why they tell guests to takes these buses to get to DD.

If they tell them to use SSR buses... it is because it is the most effective way to get there using Disney transportation. Just a simple fact.

/Jim

[vicki_c]

Disney transportation is for all park guests, as far as I understand it, not just those staying on property. And it's clearly for all guests who are staying on property, DVC or cash visitors. SSR just has the bad luck to be close to DtD. The only thing that would irritate me is people parking at DtD and then walking to SSR for a bus, to avoid the parking fees at the parks -- mainly because this uses up parking at DtD.

[Chuck S]

I don't think the problem is necessarily those people that have driven to the parks. They aren't going to leave their card there and ride a bus to DtD. And I also think most other resort guests don't want to go directly to DtD after a park closes, they likely want to stop by their room to freshen up first.

If there is a problem, it is most likely caused by off site guests parking at DtD and taking a resort bus to avoid the parking fees. Disney could easily fix that by having a limited time parking ticket for DtD, with free parking for AP and onsite guests. Others could get 3 hours free with steep fees for an overage, 5 hours with 2 validations from any combination of DtD vendors.

[jenelope]

I got this response off of of SGT.com regarding CM's telling guests to use SSR buses to get to DD.

""DVC Members are not the only ones paying for the busses. They are also part of the parking fees at the parks and such. The only way to get to DD from any of the parks is to take a bus to a resort and then transfer to a bus going to DD. The other way is to drive your vehicle, if you have one from the parks to DD. Saratoga is the closest resort and is within walking distance of DD.""

Thoughts??

Is this true??
The problem with this logic is that there's a very specific reason that there are no longer buses between the parks and DTD, and that is the reason Chuck S. mentioned. People were abusing the free parking at DTD instead of paying the parking fees at the parks, so they cut them off. People who park at DTD aren't providing those parking fees the CM mentioned. So unless there is a budget for buses in whatever "and such" means, those people aren't part of the groups paying for the buses. Instead of reinforcing the decision to cut off busing between the parks to combat this abuse, CMs are just providing a workaround.

And I know there are legitimate reasons to want to travel between a park and DTD. I've done it myself. But every time I've been asked to give directions to the walking path from SSR (and it's happened a few times), it's been people who were staying off site and parking at DTD.

[Caskbill]

To the best of my knowledge, SSR (and OKW) are dedicated DVC busses paid entirely out of DVC member dues.

Also, way in the past, resort busses were for use by WDW resort guests, not the general public. You use to have to show room keys to get on these busses.

The other transportation such as monorail (MK to Epcot), busses between parks, and such, were for use by everyone, including those with general ticket media.

I'm sure they just quit checking since it was time consuming, so now anyone can hop on any bus they want. That doesn't mean they're entitled to ride that bus.

I don't see how CM's can tell guests to ride an SSR bus that is paid for my member dues. As mentioned, it's probaby just their way to get around the issue.

[dcibrando]

My wife and I just got back from SSR (where we are owners at) a few weeks ago and I can confirm there were A LOT of people now riding SSR buses from the parks to get to Downtown Disney.

I know this because they would ask, or look lost and get off at the wrong stops, etc. I was surprised by the number of people doing this now and I'm not sure what can be done about it...but something should

I"m actually surprised Disney hasn't started making people use their room keys to show they are a resort guest in order to get on the buses.

I felt sorry at night after the night shows when the buses were crammed pack full (with many tired people still lined up having to wait on the next bus to come by to drive them back to SSR) and some on the on the buses were simply going to Downtown Disney. This in my opinion is not fair for SSR guests and owners

[chalee94]

if you're an SSR owner, your best bet is to start raising a stink about this with DVC/disney. don't just complain on the DIS, take it to management.

[Maistre Gracey]

I don't think the problem is necessarily those people that have driven to the parks. They aren't going to leave their card there and ride a bus to DtD. And I also think most other resort guests don't want to go directly to DtD after a park closes, they likely want to stop by their room to freshen up first.

If there is a problem, it is most likely caused by off site guests parking at DtD and taking a resort bus to avoid the parking fees. Disney could easily fix that by having a limited time parking ticket for DtD, with free parking for AP and onsite guests. Others could get 3 hours free with steep fees for an overage, 5 hours with 2 validations from any combination of DtD vendors.
Exactly right. You took the words out of my mouth. :smokin:

MG

[paulh]

just increase the gate price and dont charge for parking,hey presto problem solved
Paulh

[Maistre Gracey]

just increase the gate price and dont charge for parking,hey presto problem solved
Paulh
Well, then the on site guests would pay for parking... Even if they took the bus. :sad2:

MG

[itsreally4mommy]

Could they start charging for parking @ DTD if you don't have a card?

[spiceycat]

I got this response off of of SGT.com regarding CM's telling guests to use SSR buses to get to DD.


""DVC Members are not the only ones paying for the busses. They are also part of the parking fees at the parks and such. The only way to get to DD from any of the parks is to take a bus to a resort and then transfer to a bus going to DD. The other way is to drive your vehicle, if you have one from the parks to DD. Saratoga is the closest resort and is within walking distance of DD.""


Thoughts??

Is this true??


write to DVC - email if you like and ask them.

tell them what is going on - and that you feel your maintence fees at SSR for the buses are being abused by CM telling outsite guest to take the bus to SSR.

also telling them it is shortest route (it is not).

from the MK - going over to the CR and taking the DTD bus.

from epcot or studio - going to an epcot resort and taking the DTD bus.

DVC can stop you. You can't.

of course you might not like the way that DVC stops it - like asking for resort ID before boarding the bus to and from SSR.

before SSR they were saying OKW - but heck when I heard that - would tell them (generally they were getting on at MK) next time do the CR bus. Since OKW is not easy to get too - never had return guests after the first time.

SSR is much easier to get to.

[Snookies]

To the best of my knowledge, SSR (and OKW) are dedicated DVC busses paid entirely out of DVC member dues.

Also, way in the past, resort busses were for use by WDW resort guests, not the general public. You use to have to show room keys to get on these busses.

The other transportation such as monorail (MK to Epcot), busses between parks, and such, were for use by everyone, including those with general ticket media.

I'm sure they just quit checking since it was time consuming, so now anyone can hop on any bus they want. That doesn't mean they're entitled to ride that bus.

I don't see how CM's can tell guests to ride an SSR bus that is paid for my member dues. As mentioned, it's probaby just their way to get around the issue.

To the best of my knowledge, Caskbill is correct about bus financing. I also remember the days when you had to show room keys or ticket media to board busses and monorails. I doubt we'll see a return to that system anytime soon.

I think, however, a potential solution would be to copy the solution from Stormalong Bay and the Neverland pool at DLH. Specifically, fence the area around the walkway between SSR & DD on both the Marketplace and Westside walkways and install key-access gates with readers on both sides. Key access would have to be enabled for both SSR & OKW guests (although this is quite a hike from OKW). Since the back vehicle entrance is not too far from the walkway entrance, a staffed security both would also have to be added at the vehicle entrance near the Marketplace. The relevant question is whether the benefit is worth the cost and whether SSR owners are willing to pay for it.

[itsreally4mommy]

We need a dreaming of expanded WDW Monorail avatar, LOL!

[Chuck S]

To the best of my knowledge, Caskbill is correct about bus financing. I also remember the days when you had to show room keys or ticket media to board busses and monorails. I doubt we'll see a return to that system anytime soon.

I think, however, a potential solution would be to copy the solution from Stormalong Bay and the Neverland pool at DLH. Specifically, fence the area around the walkway between SSR & DD on both the Marketplace and Westside walkways and install key-access gates with readers on both sides. Key access would have to be enabled for both SSR & OKW guests (although this is quite a hike from OKW). Since the back vehicle entrance is not too far from the walkway entrance, a staffed security both would also have to be added at the vehicle entrance near the Marketplace. The relevant question is whether the benefit is worth the cost and whether SSR owners are willing to pay for it.

Or, Disney could start charging for extended parking at DtD (without AP or onsite tags), make a profit, and there would be no added cost to SSR/OKW members.

[Greg K.]

I have to say: the parking at DTD is out of control, particularly at the Marketplace.

The lot was clearly designed for a smaller facility -- remember when the Marketplace was a little out of the way shopping area? -- and it fills up rapidly. Meantime, the West Side is virtually vacant until the evenings -- but it's a long hike if you just want to pop into the Rainforest Cafe or the Disney Store.

[Deb & Bill]

If they would just require a valid SSR KTTW to board the bus, even just in the morning at any of the resort bus stops at SSR, that might keep those early morning parkers or DTD Hotel guests from using the bus at SSR. No one other than a SSR guest would be boarding a morning bus to the theme parks.

And the CMs need to be educated. Why not tell guests at the MK to walk over to the Contemporary and catch a bus there to DTD? Or take the monorail over to the Polynesian and catch a bus there to DTD. Or the guests at DHS and Epcot, tell them to walk over to the Boardwalk, S/D, Y/B and catch a bus there to DTD.

[spiceycat]

And the CMs need to be educated. Why not tell guests at the MK to walk over to the Contemporary and catch a bus there to DTD? Or take the monorail over to the Polynesian and catch a bus there to DTD. Or the guests at DHS and Epcot, tell them to walk over to the Boardwalk, S/D, Y/B and catch a bus there to DTD.

my thoughts it is Disney. Disney doesn't want to pay for this - that is why the buses don't go to parks from DTD anymore.

so they are telling them to use DVC resorts that means the bus service is entirely paid for by DVC members not Disney at all.

as I say before SSR it was OKW - even when the Disney Institute was still there.

so write to DVC and tell them to stop this. They can do it, you can't.

also write to Disney and tell them how unpleased you are that CM and bus drivers tell them to use SSR. It is not fair to owners.

now this might just be being...:scared: :crazy2: :crazy: again - but it is just too convenient for Disney.

[Maistre Gracey]

Disney is really hurting themselves by not doing something.
There has been times where my wife and I drive to the Marketplace, can't find a place to park, then leave.

I think part of the problem is the parking lot itself.
In true Disney fashion the lot is designed for aesthetics. The problem is, because of this it loses some functionality.
The trees and landscaping look nice, but that could be my parking spot. In addition, I have to drive around all those islands trying to navigate. Then, I get caught on a one way while attempting to find the exit road.. :furious:

MG

[JenSop]

The problem I see is people who travel to the different resorts for dining. By restricting resort buses only to the people staying at resorts, you're going to have trouble with the people trying to get to the resorts to eat. I will be staying BCV for a week, then two nights AKV this July. However, our Boma ADR is during the time that we're staying at BCV. We'll have to take a resort bus to the lodge even though we are not staying there. Perhaps there are people (granted, probably a minority) who are going to SSR for dinner or lunch. What can be done about this potential difficulty?

[dwelty]

Or, Disney could start charging for extended parking at DtD (without AP or onsite tags), make a profit, and there would be no added cost to SSR/OKW members.

Exactly. This is what they do at DTD at the Disneyland Resort and It works great!

[Snookies]

Or, Disney could start charging for extended parking at DtD (without AP or onsite tags), make a profit, and there would be no added cost to SSR/OKW members.

Exactly. This is what they do at DTD at the Disneyland Resort and It works great!

I agree that charging for extended parking at DtD is overdue and with the PP who stated that parking at the Marketplace is difficult unless you're there very early or are very lucky. I think some other controlled access measures may be justified if there are significant numbers of DtD hotel guests using SSR busses for park transportation. The issue of onsite resort guests being told that the best way to get to DtD from a park is to hop on an SSR bus would still be an issue even with a parking fee at DtD. For example, if I was staying at CBR and wanted to go to DtD from MK, a cast member could still tell me to hop on an SSR bus to get to DtD even if there is a charge for extended parking at DtD. I have no idea whether the last 2 possibilities occur in significant numbers, but they would not be addressed by a extended parking charge at DtD. Checking KTTW cards in combination with a parking fee is a possible solution as is better control of access to SSR in combination with a parking fee. I think we've had this same discussion at least once before with the same result, i.e., I don't expect a significant change anytime soon. If I were in a cynical mood, I might suggest that we'll observe relatively quick action with respect to SSR access should a costly liability issue, resulting from relatively open SSR access, occur. Just as an aside, this seems like an awful lot of trouble to me, i.e., a cab ride is easier and probably less expensive, if you factor in the time it takes to walk from Congress Park to anyplace in DtD, but YMMV.

[Uncleromulus]

Reading all of this, it does sound like there are problems. But for us --NOT Disney!
Unless and until it becomes a problem for Disney (our complaints, their own CM's reporting problems, etc) nothing at all will be done.

[DaveH]

We added on at SSR when it first opened. I was at a bus stop and heard a CM tell someone to use the SSR bus to go to DTD. I challenged the CM about this. He told me he was told to use this. I went to the manager on duty at SSR. The manager said they were not suppose to do this. Later I heard CM's say take a bus to a resort and change there. It seems to be a problem will always be there. The best way I can see to reduce this is require a resort ID to go to SSR. Unfortunately there will still be folks who should be able to use the bus to SSR to visit someone staying there. When I hear a CM tell folks to use SSR instead of any resort bus I challenge them and report it to SSR management.