Article: Broke Disney Local Experiences Magic For Free

[Nayan]

On one hand, I get it. Disney is expensive and DS is a great way for locals to get their fix. OTOH, I could see Disney either start charging for parking or making the buses exclusive to hotel guests only. I know 'things' that locals have done (I will not say) to get Disney perks that should have been only for hotel guests, as well as other questionable practices that they do that can impact others experience wanting to stay onsite at a certain resort. As a local, I go to DS but I do not use the buses or go anywhere else, it has enough 'magic' for me (plus yummy food!).

https://people.com/broke-disney-loc...nce-all-the-magic-for-free-exclusive-11970751

 

[gottalovepluto]

Disney is aware as the holiday DS bus restrictions showed. But yeah, sounds like they need to consider making that a permanent thing. Until people talked about how many people were turned away at DS over Spring Break I had no clue how big this thing has gotten.

 

[Mle8308]

Someone on the boards posted that they had on" good authority" Disney was going to make the bus monitoring a permanent thing. I'm all for it, but so far, no evidence of that.

 

[tink2424]

On one hand, I get it. Disney is expensive and DS is a great way for locals to get their fix. OTOH, I could see Disney either start charging for parking or making the buses exclusive to hotel guests only. I know 'things' that locals have done (I will not say) to get Disney perks that should have been only for hotel guests, as well as other questionable practices that they do that can impact others experience wanting to stay onsite at a certain resort. As a local, I go to DS but I do not use the buses or go anywhere else, it has enough 'magic' for me (plus yummy food!).

https://people.com/broke-disney-loc...nce-all-the-magic-for-free-exclusive-11970751

I'm not sure why you think that what she is doing is wrong. If Disney had a big problem with non hotel guests using the busses they would do something about it. The only time recently that they seem to do that is during really busy times of the year which seems reasonable. This seems like nothing to get upset over.

 

[HopperFan]

Is People hurting for content? That was such a "nothing burger" article. I really expected some kind of great insight in to things to do that cost minimal but there was no news here. A local should have found better tips.

I don't know if Disney will restrict transportation aside from very busy times. We have often stayed offsite and used the transport system to do a bar crawl or snack/dine at a variety of places - often spending a great deal of money.

In April we stayed offsite but did a monorail crawl starting with lunch at the Poly followed by an expensive tab for 6 adults, & 1 kid at Trader Sams, then new bar in GF, then dinner at Contemporary. Overall we spent lots of money. Without that option we'd likely not come on to property that day.

I remember when we used to have a Hotel Transportation Card we had to show to get on a bus, but I think Disney found opening up the transportation to all was for their benefit. And off property guests were likely not using it during peak times.

 

[Nayan]

I am not upset over what she's doing. However, at one time, Disney did have an issue with locals using things that were truly meant for hotel guests only so they took steps to stop some of it (locals using the buses to go to the hotels to use the pools).

 

[tink2424]

I am not upset over what she's doing. However, at one time, Disney did have an issue with locals using things that were truly meant for hotel guests only so they took steps to stop some of it (locals using the buses to go to the hotels to use the pools).

I agree that using the amenities that truly are just for hotel guests (ie; the pool & gym) should be protected but things like transport to go to hotels and walk around it would be stupid to restrict that. Like the PP there are many who go and look around and then spend money on dining or at the gift shop. I really don't see Disney having any issues with what this woman is doing.

 

[gottalovepluto]

…However, at one time, Disney did have an issue with locals using things that were truly meant for hotel guests only so they took steps to stop some of it (locals using the buses to go to the hotels to use the pools).

Hmm… there have been many reports that issue has resurfaced…

 

[DCLMP]

I agree that using the amenities that truly are just for hotel guests (ie; the pool & gym) should be protected but things like transport to go to hotels and walk around it would be stupid to restrict that. Like the PP there are many who go and look around and then spend money on dining or at the gift shop. I really don't see Disney having any issues with what this woman is doing.

That does seem like it would be counter productive in some ways. I'm sure there are people that stay in the offsite hotels around Disney Springs that want to go to one of the Disney resorts for a breakfast, lunch dinner or a character meal.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

I don't have a problem with what she's doing. I enjoy all types of park contest, the parks themselves, Disney Springs, hotels/resorts, whatever. I'm glad people do other things besides simply a day at the parks. And I don't think WDW has a problem with it either, otherwise, they'd stop people from bussing from DS to different resorts.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Disney will always do whatever nets the most $. I'm sure people coming over just to dine and shop are helping them profit.

 

[Willow Ufgood]

That does seem like it would be counter productive in some ways. I'm sure there are people that stay in the offsite hotels around Disney Springs that want to go to one of the Disney resorts for a breakfast, lunch dinner or a character meal.

Not really workable for breakfast because buses do not leave from Disney Springs to the resorts until after 10 AM. Kind of a moot point on my part because parking at a resort is free for 3 hours if you have a dining reservation and it's much more convenient than using DS buses.

 

[DCLMP]

Not really workable for breakfast because buses do not leave from Disney Springs to the resorts until after 10 AM. Kind of a moot point on my part because parking at a resort is free for 3 hours if you have a dining reservation and it's much more convenient than using DS buses.

Assuming you have a car. I was referring to people that stay in hotels within walking distance to DS.

 

[Willow Ufgood]

Assuming you have a car. I was referring to people that stay in hotels within walking distance to DS.

You're really grasping at straws to prove a point. On any given day, on any given DS-to-resort bus, approximately what percentage of passengers walked from their DS-area hotel to take a bus to a resort for the express purpose of dining in a table service restaurant? Is Disney really going to miss the revenue from that group if they were to limit transportation from DS to just onsite guests, especially when ADRs tend to fill up at those resort restaurants regardless?

Compare that to the larger number who are parking for free at DS and taking a bus to a resort so that they can avoid the parking toll at the TTC or other theme park lot. Or as the blogger in the People article suggested, just to grab a beverage and sit on the Poly beach to watch the fireworks, take a round trip on the monorail or soar back and forth on the Skyliner. Disney isn't making enough profit from that crowd that their $ will be missed if proof of an onsite reservation is required in order to board a bus.

 

[DCLMP]

You're really grasping at straws to prove a point. On any given day, on any given DS-to-resort bus, approximately what percentage of passengers walked from their DS-area hotel to take a bus to a resort for the express purpose of dining in a table service restaurant? Is Disney really going to miss the revenue from that group if they were to limit transportation from DS to just onsite guests, especially when ADRs tend to fill up at those resort restaurants regardless?

Compare that to the larger number who are parking for free at DS and taking a bus to a resort so that they can avoid the parking toll at the TTC or other theme park lot. Or as the blogger in the People article suggested, just to grab a beverage and sit on the Poly beach to watch the fireworks, take a round trip on the monorail or soar back and forth on the Skyliner. Disney isn't making enough profit from that crowd that their $ will be missed if proof of an onsite reservation is required in order to board a bus.

I'm not trying to prove anything. The whole thing is probably overblown.

 

[Mle8308]

I'm not trying to prove anything. The whole thing is probably overblown.

I'm not sure it's overblown, that's why they restricted the busses over the Easter/Spring break period. Will be interesting to see if anything is actually done on a permanent basis - as another poster said it's coming. But just based on hearsay, no actual facts. I'm all for it!

 

[SL6827]

Its all very interesting to say the least.

 

[Willow Ufgood]

I'm not sure it's overblown, that's why they restricted the busses over the Easter/Spring break period. Will be interesting to see if anything is actually done on a permanent basis - as another poster said it's coming. But just based on hearsay, no actual facts. I'm all for it!

Disney tends to "look the other way" until a practice has a significant impact on their bottom line. And then they act swiftly and without notice. They revamped the disability program after widespread abuse impacted lightning lane wait times. They banned independent tour guides from WDW property. Going back further, they killed the selling of partially used tickets by instituting the finger scan. Access to the Poly beach on NYE is limited to hotel guests only during the fireworks.

If the use of the DS buses as a means to avoid paying parking fees at the theme parks or as free public transportation is regarded by management as having a significant impact on revenue they will act accordingly. It will be interesting to see whether restrictions are put in place for any times other than periods of high attendance.

 

[Anthony1971]

30 years back give or take they had a transportation card as mentioned above. Also limited was local monorail access to those guests only. This was enforced.
Later a park ticket was required to use Disney transportation- I can fully see this being a first step to put back into place however for the record I do not recall ever showing my ticket.
Why let people ride for free when they can make some type of revenue? I can understand as no matter what extra free riders do cause wear and tear less seats and more employee expense no matter how minor each part is it adds up over time.
Doesn't bother me - the pools can but I have seen the pools enforced at the Poly and AK where people were asked to leave I however do not pay much attention so there was likely more I did not see.

 

[afan]

30 years back give or take they had a transportation card as mentioned above. Also limited was local monorail access to those guests only. This was enforced.
Later a park ticket was required to use Disney transportation- I can fully see this being a first step to put back into place however for the record I do not recall ever showing my ticket.
Why let people ride for free when they can make some type of revenue? I can understand as no matter what extra free riders do cause wear and tear less seats and more employee expense no matter how minor each part is it adds up over time.
Doesn't bother me - the pools can but I have seen the pools enforced at the Poly and AK where people were asked to leave I however do not pay much attention so there was likely more I did not see.

During busy times I get it, but I've been the only one on the bus from pop to AK in the evening. I've been one of five or less from DS to pop in the afternoon several times.

Even going to a deluxe from DS in the afternoon or contemporary to DS hasn't even been half full. A lot of the time it just won't matter.