Another bus issue...going to OKW

[shelbyjosh]

Wow, were we upset one afternoon coming home from the West Side. Last Tuesday it was somewhat chilly and windy. We waited 50, yes 50, minutes for an OKW bus to come. We saw many, many All Star, Poly, etc. buses. But none for OKW. Now you tell me that there was a bunch of people waiting for a bus at DD?? No way!! Yet, when the bus got to us, there was only a handful of people on. I did manage to get the driver's name and noted the time. The following day I called Trans. Services (WDW-RIDE) and they are looking into the problem. I said that what we experienced was unacceptable. The supervisor that I spoke with is supposed to call me when they resolve the problem. I will be anxious to hear their side! I will post a follow-up here. Has anybody had a similar experience?

Michelle
DVC 2000
WDW...Been There, Done That, Going Back!

 

[Tiggeriffic]

I've had similar experiences with other resorts, but given that I haven't stayed at OKW yet, I haven't had a problem with busses to there.

On my last trip, I stayed at CBR and one time we went to DD. We counted how many busses for other resorts came before one came for CBR. If I remember correctly, there were 5 busses for All-Stars, and 3 busses for some of the other resorts before a bus came to take us to OKW.

I think that Disney's bus service is lacking at times. However, I do think that they try to improve it. I personally believe that if they had a schedule and stuck to it, things would be much better. I know that occassionally, I'll see several busses come within a few minutes of each other going to the same place and I have to imagine that there must be a better use for these busses when there is almost no one getting on them.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I seen bus tied up for extended periods at stops where they have to load handicapped. I've also seen buses delayed by people fighting to get strollers the size of buicks onto the bus.We have all probably got one or two horror stories about the bus system but by and large they do a pretty good job.

 

[mickey7861]

I haven't used the bus system from OKW yet. From other resorts the WDW trans. from DD is usually the worst. For some reason the bus allocation is way off from DD/PI. Either they are timing the distance wrong or they are using that bus to stop in too many places thus slowing down the ride.

 

[BobH]

I got a lot of good information on the bus system on this board. I also emailed member services and was told buses run every 20 minutes from 1hour before DD stores open until 1 hour after everything closes. They stated last bus was at 3am. Perhaps we should quote them on this.

 

[shelbyjosh]

I can almost bet you that there was more than 1 bus than kept on driving past PI/WS. There had to have been a bus at DD within a 50 minute time span. From what I was told last week, they are implementing a new bus system. What this entails, I don't know. I certainly hope it is better than the current system!

Michelle
DVC 2000
WDW...Been There, Done That, Going Back!

 

[Lesley]

I once waited 40 min for a bus from Typhoon Lagoon to CBR, and about the same length of time at DD for a CS bus....since those experiences we drive to DD and the water parks. I do wish the DD busses were more reliable since its usually difficult to find a parking space there. We didn't use the busses at all from OKW so I can't really comment on that. As with all public transportation systems there are bound to be delays occasionally. Funny though how there always seem to be plenty of All Star busses.


Lesley


1979 Contemporary
1992 Off-site
1994 Carribean Beach
1999 Fort Wilderness and Coronado Springs
2000 Polynesian and Old Key West
2002 Boardwalk Villas

 

[Doctor P]

DD appears to be a problem on all the routes. When we stayed at ASMo over Christmas in 1999, the only problem we had getting to and from anywhere on the AS buses was getting back from DD our last night there. We waited something like 45 minutes in the cold for a bus--it was a real shocker given our other experiences with outstanding bus transportation from All Stars. Sooo...this problem may be deeper than the classic OKW problem.

 

[BobBrazeal]

I really like the bus system and use it exclusively on every visit. That said, I've also had problems at DD but mostly on the West Side stop. According to the time of day, I wonder if the buses are filling up at DD and PI stops and not even pulling in to the West Side stops. This would affect TL too. I've stopped going to the West Side stop whenever there is any kind of crowd at DD. I'll make the walk back to PI.

Don't know, just speculation.

 

[Doctor P]

Should note that our problem was also at the West Side stop.

 

[KevinNYC]

I often see posts from people upset about the bus service for some reason or another..usually the complaint is well founded..but in defense of DVC I would like to point out that the bus service currently in operation is a result of an evolving process stating back in 1991 and continuing to date. Its not a bad system for OKW and it didn't come easy...in the early days of DVC operation there were several different experiments with bus services for OKW..at first we shared our bus with other resorts..then members became involved and discussed the bus service with the Board..it was improved and differing schedules were adopted and tested to try to find a relatively acceptable bus system..in those days, we were mindful that "adding" additional buses to each line route was very expensive to DVC and therefore expensive to the members in terms of annual maintenance costs...in fact , in those years the bus service was one of the most expensive line items on the DVC budget year after year..a cost effective balance was sought...many of the early members were very involved in annual Board meetings and this situation was constantly discussed and addressed....many other early members were equally active in calling DVC and writing letters to the Board with suggestions for the bus system improvement( and other ideas)...and this was during a time when there was no internet and certainly no wonderful Dis board like this one to communicate thoughts on issues of mutual concern..overall, I would say that the Board in those days at least listened and did attempt to address the issues raised...thats a good lesson for all DVC resort members to be familar with your Board and write to them about your concerns...calling MS doesn't always resolve the issue..especially issues that can only be properly addressed by the Board..anyway, all in all over the first 3 years or so several different schedules and systems were implemented to attempt to give OKW members the best bus system for their money..having been one of the early guys writing letters and making calls I still think the current system is the best that any of us or DVC came up with...hey, there weren't a lot of members back then and every member's call or letter really counted with the DVC Board..I realize that other resorts have more buses BUT those resorts build in that price with the daily room charges..sure, I'd love to have more buses on route to DVC but I think we need to remember that WE pay for each bus in our annual costs..I think I know exactly why the original poster was annoyed with waiting 50 mins for a bus at DD..actually, the answer is simple..DD buses are on a 20/25 min schedule so you should have only waited 20/25 mins BUT if you waited 50 mins then its because the first bus most likely went out of service either for mechanical or meal time and was not replaced..try to remember that we pay for the extra service for replacement buses and DD route might not get it because of the cost and the fact that OKW also has the boats for transport back to OKW..this was probably a cost effective idea back a few years ago when DD was only the "marketplace" and we had the boat service to compliment the bus..but the "marketplace" has grown to surpass even Pleasure Island with the newer West End and I guess no one would be expected to walk back from West End to catch the boat at DD..so maybe another bus change is in order after all...I guess the point of the post was to try to give a little history of the development of the OKW bus system with the hopes that more members might become involved in writing the Board with their ideas for future improvement of the buses and any other issue of concern...

 

[Beth]

Thanks for your insight, Kevin.

Just wanted to add...

You may be right about the "lesser" number of buses available at MarketPlace/West Side, due to the availability of the ferry.

Don't forget that now there is also a water transport from the West Side to the Marketplace, at which you can then board the ferry back to OKW -- so you don't have to make that long walk.

 

[shelbyjosh]

On that particular day the boats were not running. Maybe wind related?? Regardless, the 50 minute wait was uncalled for!!

Michelle
DVC 2000
WDW...Been There, Done That, Going Back!

 

[KMarie]

I was at OKW last week also. I found it much easier to take a bus out of the resort than to get back to it. Buses were running every 20 minutes out of the resort. But, one evening we were at DD Marketplace and waited a long time for a bus back to the resort -- in total it took one hour from the time we got to the bus stop to the time we got to our OKW bus stop. The boats were not running during our stay, and we were told it was due to high winds. In another instance in the afternoon, we caught a bus at the Marketplace stop right away, but it stopped at Pleasure Island to change drivers, and that entire trip also took an hour.

 

[ttsui01]

If Disney build bike/scooter/in-line skate trails and rental booths at each park + DD, This can cut down the number of people needing to use buses. For OKW guests, DD would be a short bike ride away. The buses should be saved for people who needs them and to travel long distances such as OKW to MK or ASM to DD. I'm not saying the bikes and scooters should replace the buses as there would still be the disabled and cold days when you can't use the bikes and scooters.

OKW 8/00, OKW DVC 2/01

 

[jmatzen0106]

The OKW bus to the Marketplace is a problem, as it
is the exception, in my experience, that it runs every 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, it appears that no one is actually monitoring the bus schedule.

In January, I just missed a bus at the Marketplace
turnaround area.The next bus pulled in 45 minutes later, I asked the driver how often they run. Every 20 minutes, he replied. I mentioned that all of us were waiting much longer than the 20 minutes. He further commented, he was 5 minutes
early ( with an attitude ).

 

[WDWMom]

I would not call the boat service to OKW a compliment to the buses. It only carries 10 people at a time. If the lines are long a you have a family (we are 5) sometimes you have to wait for 2-3 boats to get on.

We have also waited more than 20 minutes to get a bus from OKW. In fact, everytime we get on there it is a wait. I think some buses skip the Westside because there is hardly anybody there, and we've been told by bus drivers that they hate to go there.

Maybe the routes need to be monitored more so stops do not get skipped.õ

1976 off site
1982 Fort Wilderness
1985 off site
1994 Dixie Landings
1995 Dixie Landings
1996 Dixie Landing
1996 Wilderness Homes
1997 Caribean Beach
1998 OKW/BWV
1998 OKW
1999 OKW
2000 OKW 2x
2001 OKW

 

[KathyK]

I'd have to agree about the poor bus service at OKW. Before joining DVC, we stayed at DxL, GF, Poly, BC, and CS. During our trip last October (our first as DVC members), we stayed at OKW for 6 nights and BWV for 2 nights. The bus service at OKW was worse than at any of the resorts I have stayed at (leaving from the resort and going to the resort). We never had a wait shorter than 30 minutes (yet the signs all said "every 20 minutes"). On one occasion, my DH and I had reservations for a food & wine pairing seminar at Epcot (witha credit card to hold the ressie). We allowed 90 minutes to get there. Well, it was over an hour before an Epcot bus arrived at the Old Turtle Pond Rd. stop. We were on the cell phone desperately trying to contact the restaurant when it arrived. Then the bus driver proceeded to drive as if there were fragile objects perched on the seats. He couldn't have gone much faster than 5 mph the entire trip there. We ended up being 15 minutes late. Thankfully, we were able to get in touch with The Coral Reef directly, and they held our spots. We only missed the introductory remarks.

Now, when we made our first trip together, we rented a car, but we were so impressed with the bus service at DxL that we didn't use it at all. So, on our subsequent trips, we relied on Disney Transportation. Now we have learned our lesson. If we ever stay at OKW again (BWV is home for us), we will definitely have a car with us.