Asking a Disney Transport bus driver to make an un scheduled stop

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

In a different thread I had posted how when leaving MGM my Dad & I were running to catch a Disney Transport bus to the Contemporary, only to see it drive away. Anyway I had mentioned how we got on a bus going to the TTC & then took the Monorail back from there.

I had mentioned to my Dad about asking the bus driver if he could have made an un scheduled stop at the Contemporary, after everyone got off at the TTC but my Dad said not to. Anyway I was wondering if we had asked would the driver had said yes or no, or would it have depened on if others had got on the bus? I only thought about asking since the Contemporary is not to far from the TTC & we would not have had to wait on the Monorail as it went to the Polynesian, Grand Floridian & the Magic Kingdom.

So what are your thoughts?

 

[dudspizza]

In a different thread I had posted how when leaving MGM my Dad & I were running to catch a Disney Transport bus to the Contemporary, only to see it drive away. Anyway I had mentioned how we got on a bus going to the TTC & then took the Monorail back from there.

I had mentioned to my Dad about asking the bus driver if he could have made an un scheduled stop at the Contemporary, after everyone got off at the TTC but my Dad said not to. Anyway I was wondering if we had asked would the driver had said yes or no, or would it have depened on if others had got on the bus? I only thought about asking since the Contemporary is not to far from the TTC & we would not have had to wait on the Monorail as it went to the Polynesian, Grand Floridian & the Magic Kingdom.

So what are your thoughts?

I am curious as well. I do know that early morning buses will drop you off at a resort for a dining ressie if they are not busy. An example would be the MK bus dropping you at CR for a ADR at Chef Mickeys. There are never any guarantees, but it would be worth asking.

Duds

 

[robinb]

It's worth asking, but most times they are on a schedule of drop off and pick ups and won't do it.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It's worth asking, but most times they are on a schedule of drop off and pick ups and won't do it.

Thanks for the information. I thought it would have been ok because a few years ago while waiting at Downtown Disney Marketplace, we asked a bus driver going to Wilderness Lodge when the next Contemporary bus would arrive, because we had been waiting for a while. He said come on his bus & once everyone was droped off, he would take us to the Contemporary. I don't remember if anyone got on after at the Wilderness Lodge but I thought it happened once before without asking, so why not ask this time & see what happens.

 

[robinb]

I guess it's worth a try. You might find a driver who will make a special trip for you. We tried on our last vacation and were told "no".

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I guess it's worth a try. You might find a driver who will make a special trip for you. We tried on our last vacation and were told "no".

Your right because the worst they can say is no. However if we had to ask that would mean one of 2 things. Either we just missed the bus we were supost to go on, or it's taking forever to arrive. So that is why I hope we will never have to ask for a favour when it comes to taking a Disney Transport buses.

 

[goofy4tink]

We had the most awful wait time at TL one summer. We were staying at the Polynesian. There must have been 4 buses that came from the Polynesian and dropped people off at TL but didn't pick us up. The drivers all kept saying that our bus was coming but that they couldn't take us...all 4 of them. After about an hour our bus came. So, it would seem that they do have pretty set routes/schedules.
Sure, I guess you could ask them to make a 'special trip' for you. But the thing you need to remember is that what looks like an easy side trip to you, may in fact be a more difficult thing for the bus. I would plan on taking the correct bus rather than put a driver in the position of having to tell a guest no.

One funny story....while waiting for a bus at AKL, we were standing around watching another family get more and more upset about the lack of a bus to the GF. After about 15 minutes, I politely informed them that there was no bus to the GF from AKL. But that she could take the MK bus and then transfer over to the monorail or take a boat. THe woman rudely told me I was wrong...that they could get a bus to GF from there..as she rolled her eyes and said in not so quiet tones...'people that think they know everything...sheesh!'. It was raining, she didn't want to get wet...or anyone else in their party of about 10, including her wheelchair bound dh..who was looking somewhat uncomfortable with his dw's actions. Well, along comes the bus to MK..the driver hops off in order to help aforementioned gentleman onto the bus....the woman starts on the driver..."We need to go to the GF, not MK...are you taking us there?" Of course, the answer was sorry but that's not possible. And he explained how they could transfer to the monorail at MK to get to GF....her answer? "Is it covered? It's raining and we can't be getting wet. So I hope it's a covered walkway for your sake." The poor driver..told her exactly the same thing I had told her. She was not a happy camper. She moaned and groaned and complained all the way to MK.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

In February we were at the Polynesian and needing to get back to Port Orleans Riverside, so we were going to take a bus to Dowtown Disney and then transfer. When the DTD bus arrived we asked the driver if we were doing the right thing by getting on that bus and then transferring. He said "yeah, sure, that would work, but I'll take you straight back to your hotel." He was so nice, he took us straight to Port Orleans, even to our very bus stop! So, we didn't ask, but I bet if we had he would have said yes.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I think I'll chime in here...

Suffice to say, there are very few times when a driver can stray from thier pre-set route. The majority of times, thier route is a round-trip, so they still have the 2nd leg of thier trip to do. Even if they have completed thier route, and not recieved thier next dispatch, they might be urgently needed for guests who are waiting, and do not have the time (even if it might only be 5 minutes) to vary from thier route.

For example, on the way to the MK, a guest wants to go to the Contemporary. Sure, it's only a 5 minute diversion... but there are 5,000 guests waiting in the bus loop, because the parade just ended. 5 minutes to those folks is an eternity.


Now, it's not to say a driver can't vary from thier route... if the operation allows, and the circumstance warrants, a driver can ask permission from thier dispatcher.

So, it's always a good idea to talk to the driver and ask... but just remember, if they say no, it's because they have other places that they really need to be.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I guess you can say if your staying at a Magic Kingdom Resort which is on the Monorail line (Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian), it's nice to know that there maybe a bus to the TTC if you just miss the bus going directly to your Resort, because you can just take the Monorail.

 

[Dis31]

Last year we had gone to the BC for dinner from our resort the WL. On the way back we took a bus to MK from the Bc and then would take the bus back to the hotel. Well I got terribly sick after dinner and asked the bus driver if there was anyway to drop us off at the WL(we were the only ppl on the bus also) but he told me he was very sorry that couldnt go off route but he offered to pull over for us lol.

 

[TCPluto]

This past Sunday, we checked out of OKW and in to BWV. I had to bus hop from OKW to another park to get transportation to BWV.

I got on an OKW bus headed for MGM. I told the driver what I was doing. Without having to ask, he rerouted straight to BWV and dropped me off, then he continued on to MGM.

We also had a bus driver do this for a couple heading to Typhoon Lagoon from DTD. It wasn't on his route, but he did it anyway.