Official Policy about bus usage

[revdon64]

I've been having a discussion with someone about the on property bus transportation at DW. He suggested to someone else that they should stay off-site, park at DTD and use the busses to save money. I'm trying to counter with an official policy statement but I can't seem to find one online. Anybody know where I can find it?

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally Posted by revdon64

I've been having a discussion with someone about the on property bus transportation at DW. He suggested to someone else that they should stay off-site, park at DTD and use the busses to save money. I'm trying to counter with an official policy statement but I can't seem to find one online. Anybody know where I can find it?

First, the "policy" point is really more a matter of parking policy than transportation policy.

Parking at DTD is for guests visiting DTD to shop, dine, rent boats, be entertained, or just wonder around. The amount of parking at DTD, especially near the Marketplace section, is limited. It's not meant for all-day parking by people going to the parks. There are signs saying the parking is for DTD only.

The buses have no signs limiting their use only to passengers who qualify by virtue of where they're staying or what kind of tickets they have. So there's no current, published policy (although there was one 25-30 years ago).

The real reason this is a bad suggestion is not because of any official policy, but because it's a huge waste of time. There are no direct buses from DTD to the four major theme parks or TTC. That means having to change buses at a hotel, and that means having to wait for a bus twice, as well as time on the bus, which often involves making multiple stops.

A family trying to use buses to save $14 on parking (or whatever it costs now) will see each member of the family wasting up to an extra hour in the morning and up to an extra hour in the evening. Considering the cost of park admission, why would a family want to reduce their time in the park and spend it waiting at bus stops and traveling on diesel-engine buses, in addition to their time in the car from and to their off-site hotel? On top of that, arriving at a park later means that a 15-minute line for a park attraction might have become a 45-minute line.

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Totally Agree!

Dh lost the screw in his sunglasses one morning and held up 12 people 45 minutes as he was rooting around the parking lot trying to find the screw.
I was trying to tell him to just buy another pair of sunglasses rather than waste 9 man hours of park time.
12 people * 3/4 hours= 9 man hours

[amym2]

Yep, that's why Disney doesn't provide buses from DTD to the parks. There's no reason people couldn't park at DTD and use the buses (as far as I know), but most people wouldn't because of the time it takes.

[aubriee]

Originally Posted by amym2

Yep, that's why Disney doesn't provide buses from DTD to the parks. There's no reason people couldn't park at DTD and use the buses (as far as I know), but most people wouldn't because of the time it takes.

Plus the fact that bus service to DTD is very spotty in the morning. The stores don't open until like what, 10:00am maybe. So buses don't travel between the resorts and DTD in a timely fashion in the mornings.

[Tonka's Skipper]

Originally Posted by Horace Horsecollar

First, the "policy" point is really more a matter of parking policy than transportation policy.

Parking at DTD is for guests visiting DTD to shop, dine, rent boats, be entertained, or just wonder around. The amount of parking at DTD, especially near the Marketplace section, is limited. It's not meant for all-day parking by people going to the parks. There are signs saying the parking is for DTD only.

The buses have no signs limiting their use only to passengers who qualify by virtue of where they're staying or what kind of tickets they have. So there's no current, published policy (although there was one 25-30 years ago).

The real reason this is a bad suggestion is not because of any official policy, but because it's a huge waste of time. There are no direct buses from DTD to the four major theme parks or TTC. That means having to change buses at a hotel, and that means having to wait for a bus twice, as well as time on the bus, which often involves making multiple stops.

A family trying to use buses to save $14 on parking (or whatever it costs now) will see each member of the family wasting up to an extra hour in the morning and up to an extra hour in the evening. Considering the cost of park admission, why would a family want to reduce their time in the park and spend it waiting at bus stops and traveling on diesel-engine buses, in addition to their time in the car from and to their off-site hotel? On top of that, arriving at a park later means that a 15-minute line for a park attraction might have become a 45-minute line.

THIS!

AKK

[maxiesmom]

Originally Posted by revdon64

I've been having a discussion with someone about the on property bus transportation at DW. He suggested to someone else that they should stay off-site, park at DTD and use the busses to save money. I'm trying to counter with an official policy statement but I can't seem to find one online. Anybody know where I can find it?

I would just explain that he is telling people to waste both time and money. By the time you figure out how much a park pass is costing per hour, you are spending money instead of saving it.

Instead of driving directly to the parks and parking he is telling them to drive to DTD and wait for a bus. A place known for having bus service that is not very fast, to say the least. Then the guest will need to go to a Disney resort (buses don't go from DTD to any park!) and wait on yet another bus. So now instead of paying $14 to park they have wasted an hour and a half of time. And have to waste another hour and a half getting back to their car.

I don't know who would think it makes sense to waste 3 hours instead of spending $14.

[revdon64]

Thanks all.

[Lewisc]

PP is correct. The issue isn't with riding the bus, the issue is with parking. I agree with the comments regarding bus service from DTD. Long waits. Requirement to either change buses or walk from a nearby resort (Contemporary for MK, BC for EPCOT and Boardwalk for DHS).

People who don't care about rules should park at a value resort like POP. Good bus service. No 3 hour parking passes. Purchase a drink and tie dyed cheese cake first. I don't want to suggest breaking any rules.

The best solution is either stay onsite, and avoid the expense of a rental car, or just pay for parking. Anything else will wind up wasting 30 minutes or more.