new blog: Walt Disney World Transportation – Flawed or Convenient?

[zulemara]

When it comes to abuse of the wheelchair and GAC systems, I don't pretend to be able to tell who is legit and who is abusing the system, so I don't try. Given the legal risk, I don't really expect Disney to do much about it either.

As for the original topic, I do appreciate the complexity of the WDW transportation system. But at the same time, Disney has tremendous advantages over any public system in terms of funding and control, so there really is no excuse for the problems that exist. WDW maybe larger than the island of Manhattan, but the complexity of the two systems isn't even in the same universe. There are over 1.5 MILLION people living on Manhattan and the number that commute into the city everyday is also in the millions.

And, as so many are so quick to remind us, Disney is a business. They do not use public funding to provide a service to the taxpayers. They reap tremendous profits from the WDW resort, and the transportation system is critical to making that happen for them.

So yes, I do appreciate the complexity, but Disney has more than enough resources to handle the issue. They do not need our sympathy.

I agree that the busses are probably the biggest issue, but at the same time all aspects of the transportation system affect each other. For example, one reason the need for busses is so great is Disney has not either expanded the monorail or implemented another large system in areas not served by the monorail. Would such an expansion or system be expensive? Certainly, but no one can seriously argue that Disney took any less of a leap when they built the DL and WDW monorails so many years ago. In fact, taking such leaps was a key component of the Disney philosophy at one time, and without that kind of thinking certainly the Disney of today would be a far less grand entity.

So first and foremost, the WDW transportation issue is not likely to truly be resolved until they are willing to get back to the ideas and philosophies that the company was founded and built upon.

Since that isn't likely to happen, we are left to try to make the best of what is there. With that in mind, there still is no excuse for many of the problems with the bus service in particular. Twice on a recent trip it took members of our party over 2 hours to get from one resort to another using the busses. The horror stories are plentiful.

When going from a resort to a theme park or water park (except for the MK) you can sometimes save over an hour a day by driving. That is huge when you are talking about limited vacation time.

There really is no excuse for these issues. What can Disney do, if they are not willing to make a major investment in new transportation systems or monorail expansion? The bus system needs to become more flexible. I can't count how many times I've seen two, three and even four busses in a row arrive at a resort all going to the same destination. We watch the 2nd bus, completely empty, wait for the 1st bus to load/unload, then it just follows the 1st bus along the route, never picking up or dropping off a single passenger. The 3rd bus follows, doing the same. We saw this several times on a recent stay at the BWV. Empty busses following along from the BW, to the Swan, to the Dolphin, and then on to the water/theme parks with only the 1st bus actually carrying passengers. Other times the gap between busses can be the quoted 20 minutes, or even longer.

This is a problem that is going to arise, busses get delayed when loading/unloading wheelchairs for example. But when it does, there needs to be a proactive dispatch system that re-routes the empty busses, or has them hold in position.

Of course another solution is to just throw more busses into the system, but that might not be the most efficient solution. They could also utilize a larger number of smaller busses, giving them greater flexibility.

Is it simple? Of course not, but we are talking about a corporation that makes billions in profits, they can handle it, if they choose to do so.

Remember that public transportation is a fixed route, not dynamic. WDW buses are dynamic, deployed using a combination of computer software and human intervention.

Also regarding monorails, see my post on page 1 about any expansion. They need to fix what they have and monorails are not the end all be all of transportation because one issue will stop an entire route. Buses and watercraft are both much more capable of handling obstacles to the operation.

 

[WebmasterMike]

I think one of the biggest things to remember is that the transportation system generates no revenue. When you look and the P & L, Transportation is a loss. Parking, is a P, because it generates revenue. Anytime you have a portion of your company that is in the L side, that portion is often the first to see cuts. Even though the busses, Monorails, and boats take people places, the people that spend $$$, the transportation is really just an optional perk. I get the best service from a Taxi, mainly because I am having to pay for it. If the Taxi was free, The quality of service would be nowhere near the same.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I always wonder whether our expectations about transit are realistic. Do we want to be ushered from park to park on our own air-conditioned bus, lest we rub elbows or brush shoulders with our fellow traveler? Are we so pressed for time that we can't sit, or stand for 13 minutes while the bus takes us to our destination?

I'm not claiming the transit system is perfect, but I think that we feel especially entitled when we come to Disney and that it's possible that our expectations exceed reality. It's a bus system. It's going to be slower than we'd like. At peak times it's going to be more crowded than we'd like.

Yes Disney has more control than, say, NY or Chicago, but to me, those systems work pretty well too. But we all have to get used to giving up a little personal space and control when we ride buses.

If in one week I spend a total of an hour or so (7 trips home from parks at peak times) in a crowded bus, I'm kinda fine with that. I may get a little cranky, but that doesn't last long.

What do we really want/expect?

My expectations are definitely not to be ushered park to park in a cushioned reality. However, when people are literally squished into a bus as show in the pictures in my blog, it causes me to wonder how much of a perk this "free" service really is. As for sense of entitlement, I don't think asking for safe transport is being entitled.

Now, don't get me wrong. I plan wholeheartedly on using the transportation system on my trips in the future, but it seems like there is a lack of increasing buses when new resorts open and during peak times. It was never this bad in the past, and I've been going to WDW for over 20 years.

 

[raidermatt]

Remember that public transportation is a fixed route, not dynamic. WDW buses are dynamic, deployed using a combination of computer software and human intervention.

Also regarding monorails, see my post on page 1 about any expansion. They need to fix what they have and monorails are not the end all be all of transportation because one issue will stop an entire route. Buses and watercraft are both much more capable of handling obstacles to the operation.

Yes, WDW is a dynamic system with ample resources available to make it work. That's exactly why it SHOULD work much better than it does. The ability to adapt on the fly is a huge advantage and they should be able to leverage that to mitigate many of the current issues.

A public, fixed system generally lacks that ability and cannot adapt to issues that arise. Ironically, similar to the argument against monorails.

Regarding monorails, I went out of my way to not say monorail expansion is the be all end all. I understand the drawbacks, but there is a reason fixed rail systems are a big part of most large transportation systems.

But again, part of the reasoning behind Disney's original use of the monorail was not simply efficiency, it was also part of the "show". That is the concept that has been lost over the years. Yes, Disney's transportation system needs to efficiently move people from place to place, but it also should be something the guests look forward to experiencing. A well-maintained monorail does both, but if Disney chose to instead invest in a newer form, that would be fine as well. This would also take pressure off the busses (and boats), allowing them to more easily do their job.

But if they aren't going to make the investment, they at least need to find a way to improve the current systems.

 

[jcb]

I think one of the biggest things to remember is that the transportation system generates no revenue. When you look and the P & L, Transportation is a loss. Parking, is a P, because it generates revenue. Anytime you a have a portion of your company that is in the L side, that portion is often the first to see cuts. Even though the busses, Monorails, and boats take people places, the people that spend $$$, the transportation is really just an optional perk. I get the best service from a Taxi, mainly because I am having to pay for it. If the Taxi was free, The quality of service would be nowhere near the same.

I agree Disney's transportation system generates no direct revenue but it plays a major role in maintaining Disney's revenue stream nonetheless. Start with Magical Express, which also generates no revenue but is cost-justified because it plays a major role in keeping guests on property so that they will spend on property. The extensive Disney transportation system plays a very similar role in keeping guest spending on property. Of course, it has other roles, most of which have been mentioned.

Now I agree that these kind of costs are the first ones cut. I view these cuts as short-sided. Reductions that frustrate guests (long delays for buses, crowded buses etc.) to the point that they decide to drive rather than use Disney transportation will reduce Disney's income. Folks like me will go off site for food, lodging and other entertainment.

But I suspect that, like it does with other things (such as its food and resort prices) Disney will push the envelope as much as it can.

I love mass transportation. I use it as often as I can whenever I travel. I've just decided that it doesn't work for me (and my intolerably low patience quotient) to wait 45 minutes to an hour for a Disney bus to arrive to take me to a theme park.

 

[ToddyLu]

DH and I park our car at the airport and almost exclusively use Disney Transportation--especially buses at AKV. We have found ourselves taking a taxi twice on our last two trips because we were too fat and lazy to stand and wait after eating at Bluezoo and Cali Grill. It was worth the $20 at that point to sit and vegetate.

We do not have public transportation to speak of where we live. I am fascinated with the system at Disney and more so with the people riding it. I sit back, relax and allow the "drama" to unfold in front of me. In the 13 trips we have made those shows are almost as comical as watching a Disney Movie. The comments, attitudes, irritation, impatience and lack of courtesy of fellow guests are priceless. The oohhh and ahhhs when the lights come on after a 20 minute ride from MK to AKL tickle my funny bone--I alwayse wonder if the experienced folks like me are mentally preparing themselves for strike to the eyes while newbies are left blinded for a second or two. ( maybe this later part of my posts makes me a crazy sicko--but I think like that--and I am trying to be honest.)

Ultimately my feeling when I am waiting on a bus to get to a prized ADRs...and time is ticking slowly by while bus after bus pulls up and no one boards and it is not our bus--is I live in the United States of America, where I have a decent job to pay my bills and can afford a trip to a world class destination once or twice a year, my legs work and I see children smiling and laughing (usually) in anticipation of seeing a favorite character.

I am not in Africa watching my child starve or having to walk 10 miles to a school in shambles....in a world that is not perfect, the bus system at Disney is not perfect--but at least they offer it and it is free. I enjoy the green grass and signage as we ride along--I think Disney World is about as close to a perfect world as I will ever see...I am so lucky

 

[raidermatt]

I think one of the biggest things to remember is that the transportation system generates no revenue. When you look and the P & L, Transportation is a loss. Parking, is a P, because it generates revenue. Anytime you have a portion of your company that is in the L side, that portion is often the first to see cuts. Even though the busses, Monorails, and boats take people places, the people that spend $$$, the transportation is really just an optional perk. I get the best service from a Taxi, mainly because I am having to pay for it. If the Taxi was free, The quality of service would be nowhere near the same.

But it does generate revenue, it's just that it is indirect.

Look at it this way... if Disney had no internal transportation system, do you think they would still be able to charge the same prices for park tickets and rooms? Of course not.

Conversely, if Disney had a better system, wouldn't they be able to charge more for rooms/tickets? Of course.

The system most definitely generates revenue, it's just that the revenue comes in through different streams. You are right that a lot of companies lose sight of concepts like this and do cut in areas that do not DIRECTLY generate revenue, but it's also often a mistake.

It's like any other perk/service Disney offers but does not charge for. Transportation, Fastpass (for now), package delivery, etc. They all generate revenue and it would be a mistake to simply view them as a cost that can be cut/controlled.

 

[ValpoCory]

Can WDW add LED screens to their Bus stops, that tell guests the destination and approximately wait time until the next bus arrives? If this can be done in horrendously unpredictable traffic cities like San Francisco, you'd think it'd be possible at WDW. See it on the top of this image:

Cell phone apps would soon follow.

 

[Fred & Mary]

There is nothing to say that you have to immediately leave the park after the fireworks. Stop and have an ice cream. Get a pickle or buy something in one of the shops. I am on vacation and I would think most everyone else visiting the parks are also on vacation. Relax, stop and smell the flowers, look at the sights or just think about the show you just saw. We like to sit and discuss what we liked the most that day. What are we going to do the next day. On our first visit, we also rushed back to our resort and sat around and talked. Now we find that it just as easy to sit in which every park we are in and enjoy the atmosphere.

 

[disneychic2]

To answer the original question, I do think the deficiencies are worth it. DH loves that his vacation starts when he boards ME. We plan for long waits and sometimes we even have them, but for the most part our experience has been reasonable waits for transportation with just an occasional longer-than-expected wait. Granted, we usually go in September when things are a bit slower. Of course there is room for improvement, but for the question posted, I say yes, absolutely the good outweighs the bad!

 

[WebmasterMike]

But it does generate revenue, it's just that it is indirect.

Look at it this way... if Disney had no internal transportation system, do you think they would still be able to charge the same prices for park tickets and rooms? Of course not.

Conversely, if Disney had a better system, wouldn't they be able to charge more for rooms/tickets? Of course.

The system most definitely generates revenue, it's just that the revenue comes in through different streams. You are right that a lot of companies lose sight of concepts like this and do cut in areas that do not DIRECTLY generate revenue, but it's also often a mistake....

The only problem with indirect profit is that it does not show on a Profit & Loss sheet. What the bean counters at Disney look at is the bottom line. I think that the Dynamic bus system proves this point. They are trying to squeeze more out of less as opposed to a Public system that uses fixed routes and expected stop times. I ride the bus to work most days and the bus is almost always ontime no matter how many passengers are waiting. At WDW, the dynamic routing is very hit and miss. It is like you were holding a long, skinny balloon and squeezing at different portions of the balloon. The balloon may be bigger at one side or the other, but there is still the same abount of air in the balloon. You may have more air where you need less air and vice versa.

 

[WaDiWo]

Sure no system is perfect, but seriously look:

Walt Disney World is a mini-city, and offers FREE TRANSPORTATION anywhere to anyone, whether or not you are staying there, and whether or not you are going to the parks. What other city can offer that?

 

[LionKingRules84]

DH and I park our car at the airport and almost exclusively use Disney Transportation--especially buses at AKV. We have found ourselves taking a taxi twice on our last two trips because we were too fat and lazy to stand and wait after eating at Bluezoo and Cali Grill. It was worth the $20 at that point to sit and vegetate.

We do not have public transportation to speak of where we live. I am fascinated with the system at Disney and more so with the people riding it. I sit back, relax and allow the "drama" to unfold in front of me. In the 13 trips we have made those shows are almost as comical as watching a Disney Movie. The comments, attitudes, irritation, impatience and lack of courtesy of fellow guests are priceless. The oohhh and ahhhs when the lights come on after a 20 minute ride from MK to AKL tickle my funny bone--I alwayse wonder if the experienced folks like me are mentally preparing themselves for strike to the eyes while newbies are left blinded for a second or two. ( maybe this later part of my posts makes me a crazy sicko--but I think like that--and I am trying to be honest.)

Ultimately my feeling when I am waiting on a bus to get to a prized ADRs...and time is ticking slowly by while bus after bus pulls up and no one boards and it is not our bus--is I live in the United States of America, where I have a decent job to pay my bills and can afford a trip to a world class destination once or twice a year, my legs work and I see children smiling and laughing (usually) in anticipation of seeing a favorite character.

I am not in Africa watching my child starve or having to walk 10 miles to a school in shambles....in a world that is not perfect, the bus system at Disney is not perfect--but at least they offer it and it is free. I enjoy the green grass and signage as we ride along--I think Disney World is about as close to a perfect world as I will ever see...I am so lucky

This is kinda how I am. I took a taxi twice on my trip and I kinda missed my fellow vacationers on the buses both times, call me strange! I enjoy people watching at the parks but enjoyed it the most on the buses at times. I only twice ever encountered a truly crowded bus and I remember the bus driver and others taking it in stride. Granted I tend to see my Disney vacations through rose colored glasses since I rarely get to go and any trip as a kid I was with my family and all we were interested in doing was enjoying ourselves and weren't to terribly worried if the bus got us there at times. If I really needed to be somewhere at a specific time I got up earlier or took a taxi. I really didn't expect much from the Disney transportation and I guess my low expectations are the reason I wasn't as shocked by certain things that others are. I never felt entitled while vacationing at Disney, Disney World is probably one of the few parks offering so many different options for travel I wish other parks offered such things for just being guests to their resorts.

 

[mytripsandraces]

My expectations are definitely not to be ushered park to park in a cushioned reality. However, when people are literally squished into a bus as show in the pictures in my blog, it causes me to wonder how much of a perk this "free" service really is. As for sense of entitlement, I don't think asking for safe transport is being entitled.

Now, don't get me wrong. I plan wholeheartedly on using the transportation system on my trips in the future, but it seems like there is a lack of increasing buses when new resorts open and during peak times. It was never this bad in the past, and I've been going to WDW for over 20 years.

In this instance, the people are squishing themselves. The driver has stopped too many from getting on from a safety standpoint, but, for the most part, people are hopping on the bus and choosing to stay on even when there are no seats and it's crowded. The driver's only obligation is to prevent too many people from getting on. If the bus looks too crowded and I can't get a seat for the young children or older people in our party, we wait for the next bus.

ETA - A poster mentioned above that it took 2 hours to get from resort to resort. The resorts in question weren't mentioned, but the bus system isn't designed to move riders from resort to resort; however, it's wonderful that we can exploit the system so that we can use it that way, even if it does take a bit longer.

But again, part of the reasoning behind Disney's original use of the monorail was not simply efficiency, it was also part of the "show". That is the concept that has been lost over the years. Yes, Disney's transportation system needs to efficiently move people from place to place, but it also should be something the guests look forward to experiencing. A well-maintained monorail does both, but if Disney chose to instead invest in a newer form, that would be fine as well. This would also take pressure off the busses (and boats), allowing them to more easily do their job.

I enjoy all aspects of Disney transportation, because I don't want to have to get myself from point to point. I live in NYC (same buses, by the way) and I'm used to picking and choosing whether or not I'm going to get on a particular mode of transportation. For me, though, each of the modes at WDW is part of the show. I enjoy the decorations on the buses and the ads and the music, as much as I enjoy the thrill of riding the monorail.

Given the number of people Disney moves and the numerous modes they have to move them, I think they're doing an admirable job. Are there issues? Yes, but I don't think convenience and flawed are mutually exclusive. Whatever flaws there may be in the system, it is, unarguably convenient, though the level of convenience may vary, depending on the mode, the rider, etc.

 

[WebmasterMike]

Sure no system is perfect, but seriously look:

Walt Disney World is a mini-city, and offers FREE TRANSPORTATION anywhere to anyone, whether or not you are staying there, and whether or not you are going to the parks. What other city can offer that?

I would not say that the transportation is free. I am sure that there is a cost factored into resort prices and ticket prices (because how do you figure in the Swan/Dolphin into the resort prices).

 

[zulemara]

In this instance, the people are squishing themselves. The driver has stopped too many from getting on from a safety standpoint, but, for the most part, people are hopping on the bus and choosing to stay on even when there are no seats and it's crowded. The driver's only obligation is to prevent too many people from getting on. If the bus looks too crowded and I can't get a seat for the young children or older people in our party, we wait for the next bus.

ding ding! Disney determines a capacity on the buses, monorails, and boats. If it's too crowded, waiting for the next one is always an option. If Disney reduced capacity, it would mean a better experience EVERY time, but would also create a mandatory additional wait time. With the current system, Disney is letting the guest choose if they want to get on or wait for the next bus/boat/monorail

 

[mytripsandraces]

ding ding! Disney determines a capacity on the buses, monorails, and boats. If it's too crowded, waiting for the next one is always an option. If Disney reduced capacity, it would mean a better experience EVERY time, but would also create a mandatory additional wait time. With the current system, Disney is letting the guest choose if they want to get on or wait for the next bus/boat/monorail

Yep! This is what it would look like if Disney squished people (this is a picture of the official Tokyo subway packers, who are paid to stand on the platform and literally push people into the cars):

http://www.kawaiikakkoiisugoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/tokyo-Japan-subway-crowd.jpg

 

[*NikkiBell*]

In this instance, the people are squishing themselves. The driver has stopped too many from getting on from a safety standpoint, but, for the most part, people are hopping on the bus and choosing to stay on even when there are no seats and it's crowded. The driver's only obligation is to prevent too many people from getting on. If the bus looks too crowded and I can't get a seat for the young children or older people in our party, we wait for the next bus.

When I was at WDW in June, on two separate occasions bus drivers insisted on more people getting aboard despite the entire aisle being filled. I'm not sure all drivers are as good about monitoring how many are getting on as you mentioned in your post.

 

[peel]

I think they also need to change the way the handicap riders work.

While waiting for a bus a wheelchair and their family of 15,pulled in and got right on the bus with no wait. Funny thing was the next day at the pool at the hotel the same handicap person was involved in the pool games dancing and jumping in the pool having a great time ...hmmm....

I have over heard many conversations how its worth the extra money to pay for a wheelchair to not wait in lines...... WOW !!!!

maybe this needs to also be addressed !!!!!

I'm sorry, but it is pretty upsetting to see someone being judged like this by looking at a 5 minute snapshot of his/her life. Obviously I don't know what this person's disability is any more than you do, but there are plenty of illnesses that require a wheelchair (which does NOT cost extra money) despite the person being able to walk short distances, and there are also illnesses with symptoms that are relieved by water therapy or just by being in the water. So maybe, this person suffers through their day and can only be mobile for a long time in a huge park by using a wheelchair (which is no pleasant feat in an unsympathetic crowd, I can pretty much guarantee), and you just happened to witness the few minutes of fun at the pool in which this person temporarily forgot about the wheelchair.

I could be wrong, but I choose to assume that I'm not.

EDIT: I realized I was completely OT, so on to Disney Transportation.
I've stayed on property once a year since 2003, most times in January during one of the quietest weeks of the year. I've definitely noticed an increase in passengers on the buses, especially coming back from the parks at night. Prior to 3 or 4 years ago we never had to stand on a bus, even when we left MK right after the fireworks. Now it happens more often than not at night. Last January we tried it both ways at MK: one night we headed for the bus stop during the fireworks, and another night we waited around the parks until well after the fireworks were over. We ran into crowded buses both times. I think there are so many more guests now, even during value season, that are wise to the tricks and tips that used to work because so few people knew of them (relatively speaking). Now so many guests know to wait in the parks after the fireworks that the buses are just as crowded as when they've just ended. We can't win anymore!

 

[OKW Lover]

Very interesting blog. Some very thoughtful and interesting comments on this thread as well.

My perspective - I'd rather have a car unless I'm going to the MK. Why? Partly its because I like to go when I'm ready, not wait for the bus to arrive. Another factor is that we often visit other resorts and go off property during our visits so we usually have a car.

I'm not a big fan of the busses, but love the monorail (wait aside) and the boat to the MK. But I'm not so big a fan of the boat between Epcot and DHS, because it makes so many stops in such a short distance. If there were an "express" boat between Epcot and DHS I might have a different opinion on that. But with the need to transport guests between BW, YC/BC and Swolphin that's pretty much never going to happen.

I mentioned visiting other resorts. Normally we do a nice dinner in one of the resort restaurants during our stay. Since that often includes a bottle of wine for Val & I we have some transportation issues to consider. If we're staying in the Epcot area then we tend to go to the restaurants in Epcot or the nearby resorts so we can walk back "home".

If we're going to a different area though we will take a taxi rather than deal with the bus system. Yes, there are exceptions. We might be staying at BLT and want to eat at Artist Point or Citrico's so we can simply take the boat or monorail there. But if we are at Old Key West (as we often are) and want to eat at Yachtsman Steak House (as we often do) then its an issue. Either I drive and don't have the wine, or we take a taxi since the WDW transportation system would make this a rather torturous journey.