WDW transportation . . . ugh!

WINTER · Jul 27, 2015

I've been going to WDW for many, many years. Just got back. This trip was the worst in transportation I think I've ever seen, mainly the buses. One boat example, dined at Trails End one evening, then took boat to Contemporary. Trying to get back to WL by boat from Contemporary along with many others and had to wait due to boats at both docks waiting for Pirate cruisers to arrive. (Should have only tied up one dock for this IMO). Another, waiting for bus at DTD back to WL. One late afternoon, seemed to take forever for a bus to let persons on. Several came to our spot, only to let persons off and then drive away.

jtowntoflorida · Jul 27, 2015

The boats are a nice idea, but we've had terrible luck with them. We're renting a car for our next trip because I'm tired of the bus situation. We've missed several RDs due to bus issues. I'd rather have to drive and park and then walk to the park then deal with the buses.

seashoreCM · Jul 27, 2015

Trying to make rope drop you cannot get to the bus stop just in time. Too many others will be trying the same thing and fill up the sweet spot bus, and the next bus will not make RD.

Buses start at 6:30 AM.

joelkfla · Jul 27, 2015

WINTER said:
... Another, waiting for bus at DTD back to WL. One late afternoon, seemed to take forever for a bus to let persons on. Several came to our spot, only to let persons off and then drive away.

DTD is very cramped on space for bus operations. Only one depot is in operation, and it was built when there were far fewer resorts, so most load zones serve 2 different buses. Management decided several years ago to switch drivers in the load zones, instead of off-line as used to be done, so now a bus can easily tie up a load zone for 10 minutes between unloading, loading, and a driver switch. What's more, there is no efficient way for a bus to "requeue" at DTD, which means to drive past all the load zones and re-enter the bus loop.

To get around this, DTD routinely has buses unload at the first available load zone, and proceed to the load zone for their destination when it's available. WL is one of the 1st load zones as a bus enters the loop, which explains why buses were dropping off there but not picking up. There also may have been a few buses being removed from service, as the drivers left for the day or went to lunch with no drivers available to immediately replace them.

This should all get better when the new Disney Springs depot opens, near the center of DS. For the first time in years, DS buses will not have to share load zones, and hopefully there will be an easy requeue path.

goofy4tink · Jul 27, 2015

Thanks Joel! Always wondered about that.
Question. I have had, almost every time, a driver switch at DTD. Do they regularly switch at other spots? Or am I just unlucky!!!

cranbiz · Jul 27, 2015

We switched drivers at all parks in the load zones. The difference in other parks is that there is a place for empty buses to park for a switch but not at DTD. MK had the bus loop, Studios has the stripes and behind the All Stars load zones, EPCOT has load zones 14 and 15 plus the new load zones in the center of the lot that were built for outside buses. DAK has the loops in both circles.
Many times we could drop off guests and park the bus. A new driver takes over and gets a dispatch from there. No need to make the guests wait in a LZ for a driver switch although in busy times, we would switch in the LZ.

joelkfla · Jul 28, 2015

goofy4tink said:
Thanks Joel! Always wondered about that.
Question. I have had, almost every time, a driver switch at DTD. Do they regularly switch at other spots? Or am I just unlucky!!!

Yes, it happens at all hubs, but it may just seem worse because of the congestion at the DTD load zones.

I think also, because of the delays at DTD, drivers may be getting fewer runs in between breaks, which would increase the likelihood of encountering a switch. E.g. 2 runs between breaks would mean a switch 50% of the time, while 3 runs between breaks would mean one 33% of the time.

Keacc · Jul 28, 2015

WINTER said:
I've been going to WDW for many, many years. Just got back. This trip was the worst in transportation I think I've ever seen, mainly the buses. One boat example, dined at Trails End one evening, then took boat to Contemporary. Trying to get back to WL by boat from Contemporary along with many others and had to wait due to boats at both docks waiting for Pirate cruisers to arrive. (Should have only tied up one dock for this IMO). Another, waiting for bus at DTD back to WL. One late afternoon, seemed to take forever for a bus to let persons on. Several came to our spot, only to let persons off and then drive away.

How about that Disney Magic!

sotoalf · Jul 29, 2015

WINTER said:
I've been going to WDW for many, many years. Just got back. This trip was the worst in transportation I think I've ever seen, mainly the buses. One boat example, dined at Trails End one evening, then took boat to Contemporary. Trying to get back to WL by boat from Contemporary along with many others and had to wait due to boats at both docks waiting for Pirate cruisers to arrive. (Should have only tied up one dock for this IMO). Another, waiting for bus at DTD back to WL. One late afternoon, seemed to take forever for a bus to let persons on. Several came to our spot, only to let persons off and then drive away.

The delay at the Contemporary sounds beyond anyone's control.

goofy4tink · Jul 29, 2015

Man. Buses today are screwy. Took the DTD bus from the Dolphin. Walked from DTD to SSR. My room wasn't ready so decided to head to AK. I watched as 4 buses came and went to the MK, 3 buses to EPCOT and 4 to DHS!! We waited 35 mins for an AK bus to arrive.....yes, I timed it!
Wonder how it will be getting to MK in a little bit!!

WDW transportation . . . ugh!

WINTER

DIS Veteran

jtowntoflorida

Looking Like I Can't Really Afford To Go To Disney

seashoreCM

All around nice guy.

joelkfla

DIS Veteran

goofy4tink

No tags...not needed! Transportation moderator

cranbiz

DIS Veteran

joelkfla

DIS Veteran

Keacc

DIS Veteran

sotoalf

DIS Veteran

goofy4tink

No tags...not needed! Transportation moderator

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