ART Service ending March 31

[bcla]

Which is likely why it is ceasing operation. They are the ones who set the rates (as far as I know).

Haven’t ridden it since NYD 2023. Not sure if the on-demand service was costing them a bunch. But I’ve been alone on an ART bus, or just me and the kiddo where we requested a ride. I did figure that they cancelled service to Buena Park maybe 2024, when I was looking to answer a question. They didn’t have any dedicated routes, but they had maybe three points they could use: in front of Fairfield Inn (on the street), across from Medieval Times, and Knott’s in front of the employment center. I used it a bunch back in 2022 to get to Porto’s and for transportation to/from my motel.

My first ride was ARTIC to Porto’s. My first experience with on demand service. We weren’t the only passengers for some time, where a few were doing to DL, including a CM. But after DL, we were the only passengers off to Buena Park. I wasn’t sure what were the economics of that. It certainly seemed convenient, but being the only passengers on a bus that wasn’t on a scheduled route seemed a bit odd. I totally get how dedicated routes work in the middle of the day, even with light use.

 

[disneychrista]

Haven’t ridden it since NYD 2023. Not sure if the on-demand service was costing them a bunch. But I’ve been alone on an ART bus, or just me and the kiddo where we requested a ride. I did figure that they cancelled service to Buena Park maybe 2024, when I was looking to answer a question. They didn’t have any dedicated routes, but they had maybe three points they could use: in front of Fairfield Inn (on the street), across from Medieval Times, and Knott’s in front of the employment center. I used it a bunch back in 2022 to get to Porto’s and for transportation to/from my motel.

My first ride was ARTIC to Porto’s. My first experience with on demand service. We weren’t the only passengers for some time, where a few were doing to DL, including a CM. But after DL, we were the only passengers off to Buena Park. I wasn’t sure what were the economics of that. It certainly seemed convenient, but being the only passengers on a bus that wasn’t on a scheduled route seemed a bit odd. I totally get how dedicated routes work in the middle of the day, even with light use.

I've never used the on demand service. I only ever used the wait at a bus stop ART service. I don't think I have used ART since 2015 and to be honest I hated it. Long waits crowded buses, etc. It is wait made me decide that it was worth the extra cost of staying across the street on Harbor.

 

[Bound4DisneyWorld]

Finding "free" at Disneyland is like trying to find a virgin in a maternity ward.

Mother Mary? Paging Mother Mary. Mother Mary, come to me.

 

[bcla]

I've never used the on demand service. I only ever used the wait at a bus stop ART service. I don't think I have used ART since 2015 and to be honest I hated it. Long waits crowded buses, etc. It is wait made me decide that it was worth the extra cost of staying across the street on Harbor.

With on demand it was inconsistent. I think their request software tried to link as many passengers together, but in the middle of the day it was difficult, and during peak times the buses were mostly being used for defined routes. But I’d wait anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes after making a request. I remember going back to Buena Park from DL at maybe 10 PM and was able to get an on demand ride, although finding the right bus wasn’t easy. At that point, there were no defined routes to Buena Park since demand was somewhat low. But then so low that they stopped.

I do remember on NYD 2023 I just wanted to go to Porto’s in Buena Park for breakfast, only to find it closed. The bus was listed as an Eldorado, which was one of their few remaining diesel buses. Almost all of their fleet was BYD electric at that point. But it was pretty easy to request a ride back to near my hotel. At peak times it could get tricky.

How this is going to affect the Toy Story shuttle is unclear, but absolutely Disneyland is going to find a way. I’m guessing they’ll lease the buses directly. Maybe hire the drivers who work the route or find another operator (like a coach bus operator) to hire and contract out operations. But the shuttle was run by OCTA before ART, and both were considered public transportation with exempt plates and some financial benefits.

 

[DLandgirlie]

So let me get this straight. People who pay upwards of $40 to park at Toy Story will have to walk or Uber from there? What about the disabled people that park at Toy Story?
What about all the key holders who only get a discount at Toy Story?
This is diabolical.

 

[bcla]

So let me get this straight. People who pay upwards of $40 to park at Toy Story will have to walk or Uber from there? What about the disabled people that park at Toy Story?
What about all the key holders who only get a discount at Toy Story?
This is diabolical.

It’s unlikely that Disneyland is just going to say the guest has to walk. OCTA used to be the contracted operator before ART, so switching operators isn’t a new thing. ART is going to have a bunch of unused buses, and I would think Disney is more than willing to lease or buy them. I recall they switched pretty much to just using the ART bus fleet (especially the BYD electrics) without the Toy Story graphics. Even then, sometimes ART would use one of their standard buses for the Toy Story line. One issue might be that ART is legally public transportation and their vehicles have exempt plates, but that’s a pretty minor detail to just pay for annual registration.

There’s also no requirement to park there. I specifically have gone to Mickey and Friends.

 

[disneychrista]

Disney has a seat on the board of ATN so they have known this is a possibility way longer than last week. There is not a chance they haven’t been working on an alternative for the Toy Story lot and possibly even for the hotels as well. Disneyland simply does not have enough parking for everyone to drive to the parks. I would be surprised if the replacement, again at least for the Toy Story lot, is not announced by the end of this month.

 

[DLandgirlie]

It’s unlikely that Disneyland is just going to say the guest has to walk. OCTA used to be the contracted operator before ART, so switching operators isn’t a new thing. ART is going to have a bunch of unused buses, and I would think Disney is more than willing to lease or buy them. I recall they switched pretty much to just using the ART bus fleet (especially the BYD electrics) without the Toy Story graphics. Even then, sometimes ART would use one of their standard buses for the Toy Story line. One issue might be that ART is legally public transportation and their vehicles have exempt plates, but that’s a pretty minor detail to just pay for annual registration.

There’s also no requirement to park there. I specifically have gone to Mickey and Friends.

There's no requirement but that's the incentive for parking for the lower tiers: the discount.

Yes, it would be uproar to insist guests walk or Uber from Toy Story lot [uber doesnt logistically make sense]. Can't wait to see the resolution.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

I mean people are like Disney knew about this...then why not have a statement ready to let us know what is replacing the toy story busses?

The hotels, I get but would have liked Disney to announce by now that they have a plan at least.

Freshbaked pointed out once the Eastern parking is done, Toy Story lot will be retired after that since once they have the parking and bridge ready there will be no reason to have toy story open if they are paying for drivers now

Also insane for all these years this was not costing Disney...like they have every advantage in the world and still choose to pay CMs not a livable wage...just insane to me they were getting this as a FREE service and still we had to pay for parking

 

[LKing]

Freshbaked pointed out once the Eastern parking is done, Toy Story lot will be retired after that since once they have the parking and bridge ready there will be no reason to have toy story open if they are paying for drivers now

Wasn't the Toy Story lot proposed as a second DTD in the Disneyland Forward plans?

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Wasn't the Toy Story lot proposed as a second DTD in the Disneyland Forward plans?

It will be something in the future. The art looks like DTD but its the next phase

But more I think the timeline for Toy story lot will be less time now because Disney in some way should be paying to get people from that parking to the parks for the next 2+ years until the new parking is done

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

My family has a lengthy (and I mean lengthy -- 70 years+) history of operating city buses, school buses, charter coaches, etc. Essentially, mass transit. There is no money in subsidized mass transit. The costs to operate increase and there is no way to increase prices to cover costs. That's why my grandfather (many, many years ago) stopped operating city buses and he had buses in 5 different cities and focused on non-subsidized transit. He had bills to pay and couldn't with mass transit.

TWDC can build a new, parking super-structure. Charge high fees. The State and County and city can tax the parking structure and parking fees too. Heck, even put some electric charging stalls in the new structure so that you can call it sustainable or green or whatever buzz word that young people eat up. And then TWDC can declare victory.

 

[disneychrista]

I mean people are like Disney knew about this...then why not have a statement ready to let us know what is replacing the toy story busses?

They may not have it finalized yet. They did say they are working on something. So it is not as if they have been silent.

 

[irlandaise]

Also insane for all these years this was not costing Disney...like they have every advantage in the world and still choose to pay CMs not a livable wage...just insane to me they were getting this as a FREE service and still we had to pay for parking

Please cite the source of where you read that Disney was exempt from the ART fees that other businesses were paying for their guests to use the service.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Please cite the source of where you read that Disney was exempt from the ART fees that other businesses were paying for their guests to use the service.

I heard it was a 5% tax on local hotels

The hotels were paying more fees besides that?

 

[disneychrista]

Also insane for all these years this was not costing Disney...like they have every advantage in the world and still choose to pay CMs not a livable wage...just insane to me they were getting this as a FREE service and still we had to pay for parking

I assumed that Disney contracted with them separately than the hotel service.

 

[bcla]

There's no requirement but that's the incentive for parking for the lower tiers: the discount.

Yes, it would be uproar to insist guests walk or Uber from Toy Story lot [uber doesnt logistically make sense]. Can't wait to see the resolution.

Isn’t the parking fee the same?

 

[DLandgirlie]

Isn’t the parking fee the same?

Well the fee is the same $40 but Enchant Explore and Imagine only get the 25% discount if they park at Toy Story lot. If they park at M&F it's standard $40.