Testing A Direct Bus Line Between MK-WL-FW April 2015

bama_ed · Apr 21, 2015

Folks,

According to this article http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/bus-rou...gdom-to-wilderness-lodge-and-fort-wilderness/ there will be a bus for a 4 week test.

Folks who are going to be there need to try it if it is available and run up the ridership numbers. It would be nice to have an alternative to the boat. Wonder if it will run in both directions or just departing from MK?

Speaking of which, it will be curious to see the hours this bus ride is available beyond the initial later afternoon-evening hours and how it differs from the big boat. Can Disney run it earlier to make breakfast appointments for example? Or will they leave it to the evening only?

Would anyone choose a bus ride in the evening to return to the Fort over the boat? Or do you think it would be used by non-Fort folks to get to HDDR or TE?

Bama Ed

tiggerdad · Apr 22, 2015

Good find Ed. Given the times of the test 4:00pm to 11:30pm, this sounds like they are looking to see if it will help guests to the dinners and shows to me. Of course, I am not certain of that, but that's what it feels like to me.

If they ever expand on the Fort, such as a DVC, I would feel pretty good that a bus would have to be implemented. I wonder what route the bus would take. This could seriously affect my opinion if it could greatly shorten the time.

I enjoy the boatride myself, and if choosing between the two, I would still take the boat. However, I have always felt there should be an alternative to the boat since thunderstorms sometimes halt the boat service, and cause guests to be late for reservations.

Wonder when the testing is?

John VN · Apr 22, 2015

DW and I have already used the Yellow/FW-WL (although at the time it was Orange Bus), then WL-MK for an early Keys to the Kingdom Tour. Didn't have to wait too long for the MK bus to show up, guess the experiment would just do a continuous loop Settlement-WL-MK and back.

Would use it.

2goofycampers · Apr 22, 2015

For people who can't do boats (sea sick) this is a good alternative.

Brocktoon · Apr 22, 2015

tiggerdad said:
Good find Ed. Given the times of the test 4:00pm to 11:30pm, this sounds like they are looking to see if it will help guests to the dinners and shows to me. Of course, I am not certain of that, but that's what it feels like to me.

That's my read on this as well. If you've seen the crowds around Pioneer Hall for the evening meal options, they really need more transportation in addition to the boats to get everyone moving.

FortWildernessCamper · Apr 22, 2015

Several times I have been at the Outpost bus stop waiting for bus to DTD and have directed people to the boat at Settlement when they want to get to MK. I think there should be a bus to MK at either Settlement or Outpost or both all the time. Many many families with small children go to MK from The Fort and the addition of a bus would help IMHO.

Goofy14sure · Apr 23, 2015

I would sure like to see bus service to the MK. As a scooter user, I can only take the Big Boat, so the wait can be long and frustrating. I would like to see a direct bus from the Outpost bus stop, but shared service from the settlement area would at least give an alternative to help move the masses at busy times, I enjoy the boat, but the wait on the dock can be hot on a sunny day

donac · Apr 23, 2015

I hope that it is just to help with people getting to HDDR. The boat from those two places is what makes these places special.I have wonderful memories of my husband and I and our sons riding the boats. One night we saw the fireworks from the boat. Another time my son had his hat hit off his head by someone on the boat. The captain radioed the next boat to look for it (It was an antique Figment hat from his brother). When we got to the dock we were asked to wait. The next boat came with the captain wearing my son's soaking wet hat.

TheRustyScupper · Apr 23, 2015

1) There is ONLY one difference from existing routes.
2) The Grand Floridian is excluded from the route.
3) The existing route is FW>>WL>>GF>>MK.

bama_ed · Apr 23, 2015

After considering this, it sounds like a one-way effort to bring in the dinner crowd to the Fort. At first I didn't see the difference in telling people "take transportation to the MK, then take the boat to FW" from "take transportation to the MK, then take the bus to FW". But given the fact the boat makes a round trip every 20-30 minutes, one little mis-timing can have you miss the start of HDDR.

After the shows, there are usually buses lined up to take folks to their home resorts. So I can see the need for more frequent/alternative ways to head over to the Fort in the early evening.

And Scupper, if the current route includes GF, that's a long ways out of the way. Of course, if FW was the FIRST stop after leaving MK, I might feel differently.

Whatever.

Bama Ed

TheRustyScupper · Apr 24, 2015

bama_ed said:
. . . And Scupper, if the current route includes GF, that's a long ways out of the way. Of course, if FW was the FIRST stop after leaving MK, I might feel differently . . .

1) Alas got to take care of the Deluxe (high-paying) guests first.
2) That is the reason for some of the boat routes. *
3) And, why it goes one way, then reverses at 3:00pm.

* Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary: (BLUE FLAG)
Two MOTOR LAUNCH run at 0645-hrs daily. Both run clockwise (FW>WL>CR>FW) until about 1500-hrs
and then reverse direction (CR>WL>FW>CR) at 1500-hrs until 2330-hrs.

jeepfreak · Apr 24, 2015

I must say this thread was an eye opener for us! Been to the Fort at least 15 times and never realized there was no bus from there to MK or back ! Love the boat even when it's crowded! I guess that's why it gets so crowded. Daa

TheRustyScupper · Apr 24, 2015

jeepfreak said:
I must say this thread was an eye opener for us! Been to the Fort at least 15 times and never realized there was no bus from there to MK or back ! Love the boat even when it's crowded! I guess that's why it gets so crowded. Daa

DUH !

Jimsig · Apr 28, 2015

Last Oct, stayed in a Cabin in the 2800 loop, on our first we walked up to the Outpost not realizing there was no bus to the MK. I remember at check in being told about the buses but can't remember if I was specifically told there was no bus to the MK, anyway. While waiting my 5yo DD said something about MK and a nice person who overheard informed us that we would have to take a boat. So we hopped on a bus to the Settlement and off on the boat we went. Later in the week while waiting for a bus to another park a MK bus pulled up at the Outpost. Thought it was strange but figured it was a fluke thing

Wish there was a bus to the MK from the Outpost, would be easier and probably quicker for most staying in the cabins.

Testing A Direct Bus Line Between MK-WL-FW April 2015

bama_ed

It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney

tiggerdad

I don't always get distracted but whe...SQUIRREL!

John VN

N.Y. STYLE CHEESECAKE RULES!!!

2goofycampers

Sounds like something a camping trip could cure!

Brocktoon

21st Century Schizoid Man

FortWildernessCamper

Want to be in that Disney Bubble

Goofy14sure

Mouseketeer

donac

Wife, mother, math teacher, quilter

TheRustyScupper

Everyone Is Responsible For Everyone.

bama_ed

It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney

TheRustyScupper

Everyone Is Responsible For Everyone.

jeepfreak

Mouseketeer

TheRustyScupper

Everyone Is Responsible For Everyone.

Jimsig

DIS Veteran

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