All-Star Resorts Semitrailer Bus

[Brandis]

Anyone remembers that ugly semitrailer bus Disney used in the early years of the All-Star Resorts to drive around the guests like cattle?

I tried to find some pictures of it on Google but my searches came up empty.

Anyone still has photos of that monstrosity? Though probably everyone found it so ugly no one ever took pictures of it and now there aren't any.

 

[seashoreCM]

Yes, I rode them a few times, it was more than 10 years ago.

Last I heard was that they wore out and then the bus bodies were parked and became office space.

One of the disadvantages was that they did not fit in the usual berths at the bus stations. (Disney has not used the most modern 60 foot articulated buses for this reason.)

 

[Magicbus]

One of the disadvantages was that they did not fit in the usual berths at the bus stations. (Disney has not used the most modern 60 foot articulated buses for this reason.)

Modern, articulated buses have been around since the 20s. It's just a bus towing a trailer. Modern to me means having the latest transit buses on the market and Disney has them. Word is that by the end of next year, all of the older buses will be gone.

Articulated buses not fitting into the current load zones is an issue that can be solved, but there is a more important issue, higher costs. Those buses are much more expensive to purchase than the transit buses. Fuel usage & operational costs are higher as well. Safety is also a big issue. Articulated buses have a higher incidence of accidents.

Bus capacity is only an issue during park openings and closings. Buses run far below capacity during the rest of the day. It doesn't make sense to run even larger, less fuel efficent buses with just a few passengers for most of the day? Capacity can be increased by just having more of the transit buses.

 

[Brandis]

I wish they would get rid of the busses altogether. There is just nothing magical about them. WDW is about getting away from the real world. I can ride busses any day I want at home.

If Disney would give the busses at least transponders so they get priority at all those traffic lights, that would speed them up a lot and make them more efficient.

Some years ago I heard rumors about a computerized dispatching system which would tell the bus driver in real time where to go next in order to anticipate peak attendances. Do they have this system implemented yet?

 

[Magicbus]

I wish they would get rid of the busses altogether. There is just nothing magical about them.

Are you saying that I'm not magical? Some would disagree.

I wish they would get rid of the busses altogether.

And replace them with what? Don't say monorails, light rail, or some other pie in the sky idea. That's not going to happen. Let's keep it real and not go to Fantasyland.

If Disney would give the busses at least transponders so they get priority at all those traffic lights, that would speed them up a lot and make them more efficient.

Does even Disney have the power to do that? Aren't they public roads? Besides, how am I going to run the red lights if they did?

Some years ago I heard rumors about a computerized dispatching system which would tell the bus driver in real time where to go next in order to anticipate peak attendances. Do they have this system implemented yet?

Not exactly and yes.

 

[Brandis]

Of course today the resort is way too big to change things fast. They should have expanded the monorails for example little by little. Though the monorails probably would be too inflexible for bigger areas, maybe something more on the line of the Peoplemover. And it doesn't have to be Pie in the Sky! The Morgantown PRT has been in use for more than 30 years:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgantown_Personal_Rapid_Transit

Are those really public roads? After all, Disney uses their own signage, not sure if they would be allowed to do that on public roads.

Also, at many entry points into WDW there are signs that read: "PRIVATE PROPERTY. Walt Disney World Resort Guest, Cast, and Business Invitees Only". Don't think Disney could forbid anyone using public roads, even if they are on their property.

 

[disney david]

Are you saying that I'm not magical? Some would disagree.


And replace them with what? Don't say monorails, light rail, or some other pie in the sky idea. That's not going to happen. Let's keep it real and not go to Fantasyland.


Does even Disney have the power to do that? Aren't they public roads? Besides, how am I going to run the red lights if they did?

Not exactly and yes.

well in new york mta came out with certein buses they call selcet mean you pay for the bus at the bus stop and you can enter the bus from the front door and back door. They made specail lanes and made them be able to switch the light from red to green. they started to put that service in other routes i gues it working and cutting down on wait times. They painted the bus blue and gave them blu flashing lights. It easy some police and ems and fire trucks have them already not saying ones in fl but sure some do they would hav to to some adjustments to the light but not much. The only problem i see is if two bus show up in oppiste direction how would the light know which one to turn.

I rather ride the bus driving my magicbus then rid the monorail and how would people get to other place beside epct and mk. The bus are magical my home town bus dont say disney and dont have the drivers in disney uniforms and hey are not as nice as disney drivers. I get on my bus i end up in nyc not mk i try many times but the same out come. Plus my bus coast 7.50 what so magical about that i think free is more magical.


I leave in 3 days i am going to boycott the monrails to show support to the bus drivers.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If Disney would give the busses at least transponders so they get priority at all those traffic lights, that would speed them up a lot and make them more efficient.

You must not be aware how much research and engineering is involved in traffic light timing. This suggestion would, if incorporated, create an absolute nightmare traffic jam.

 

[Brandis]

The trams in our city get the priority at traffic lights so they usually don't have to break if possible. That works just fine. I don't see how it would cause a nightmare with the "relatively" small number of Disney busses.

As for riding the Disney busses for free... I'm pretty sure you pay a lot more than $7.50 a day for the Disney busses, after all, you need park tickets or be a Resort guest to use them (officially).

 

[disney david]

The trams in our city get the priority at traffic lights so they usually don't have to break if possible. That works just fine. I don't see how it would cause a nightmare with the "relatively" small number of Disney busses.

As for riding the Disney busses for free... I'm pretty sure you pay a lot more than $7.50 a day for the Disney busses, after all, you need park tickets or be a Resort guest to use them (officially).

yeah but with the 7.50 they cut service and have drivers that think they are god and treat people like crap. So yes you pay for the bus with tickets and staying at resorts but they havent cut service and the drivers are freindly and know what they are doing. i rather take disney transportion then ride my 7.50 bus. If yu dont like buses then fine but dont bash diseny fr useing them they are the best way right now.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Are those really public roads? After all, Disney uses their own signage, not sure if they would be allowed to do that on public roads.

They're really public roads.

 

[Magicbus]

Small number of buses, it's the third largest bus system in Florida. Do you know how many buses WDW has? If you look it up, more than likely it will not be the latest number.
You don't need tickets or anything else to use WDW transportation. But resort guests do pay for it in their room rate.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And it doesn't have to be Pie in the Sky! The Morgantown PRT has been in use for more than 30 years:

That PeopleMovers entire route is eight miles.

It wouldn't make sense for Walt Disney World's 42 square miles. ONE bus to ONE park can easily travel more than eight miles. Twenty-seven resorts, six parks, a shopping & entertainment venue (two, really), thousands of miles traveled daily...

 

[Brandis]

Ah, but I wasn't bashing Disney or Disney Transport at all! I just said I didn't think the busses are very magical and if there wasn't a more efficient way to move the guests in comfort.

Also, look at my original post, referring to the Semitruck bus which was just plain ugly!

Anyway, let's get back to the real topic. Anyone has a photo of that Semitruck? A friend of mine who is interested in busses wanted to see what different kind of busses they use at WDW.

 

[disney david]

I saw it once as I was leaving Disney and said I want to ride it yes it was ugly but I thought how would it ride and then saw it at dhs but it was going to a resort and didn't have time to take it. Never saw it again so I figured Disney stop using it I sure they was testing it so mybe if it worked outthey would of painted it.

 

[Magicbus]

I just said I didn't think the busses are very magical

See, you said it again, not very magical.
How about this for not being very magical and mind you it's not an isolated incident. This and stuff like this takes place hundreds of times every single day on the buses. And it can't be done on the monorails.
I pick up a young family with a little girl in a princess dress, very cute. They are the only ones on the bus. At a red light I ask the parents if they have a camera that records sound, they said yes. I tell them get ready. They're not sure what I'm up to. I play the pre-recorded princess anouncement over the PA as they record and film their little princess. To me, when they play that back years from now, I'm sure they'll think it's magical?
Just another day.

 

[disney david]

See, you said it again, not very magical.
How about this for not being very magical and mind you it's not an isolated incident. This and stuff like this takes place hundreds of times every single day on the buses. And it can't be done on the monorails.
I pick up a young family with a little girl in a princess dress, very cute. They are the only ones on the bus. At a red light I ask the parents if they have a camera that records sound, they said yes. I tell them get ready. They're not sure what I'm up to. I play the pre-recorded princess anouncement over the PA as they record and film their little princess. To me if when they play that back years from now, if they'll think it's magical?
Just another day.

She their needs to be more drivers like magicbus . And you will never see that from the monorail cms they wouldn't care that they would be making someones day.