Bad Weekend or just the Heat?

[JD&LYD]

This weekend, 9/19 and 20, we had a surprisingly bad experience concerning the Disney Transportation system. Specifically the buses and boats around Downtown. We had reservations at Wilderness lodge for a 1:05 PM lunch with visiting relatives from out state. We left OKW a hour and half early to allow for any mishaps along the way. Waiting for a Wilderness bus at the DTD terminal was very hot and long. One of the Bus guys ther kept telling us Just 5 minutes, Then told us to get out from under the shaded hut there because we were blocking foot traffic. Ok we can do that. After two more bus supervisors , I guess, told us 5 min. and then 4 min, a bus showed up. The driver said she was going to THe poly and GF not VWL. Its now been 45 min in the hot sun. Bus Supers no longer come near our hut. To make a long story a bit shorter, we waited 55 min. for a bus that is supposed to run every 20 min. Glad we were only 2 min. late for our Ressy. Then Sunday the 20th, took the boat from Saratoga to DTD West side. Boat was just pul;ling in and suddenly stopped and took off, Driver yelling a very nasty "Ill be right back". Coming back to SSR later that day, Same driver, tells a family that doesn't speak english very well "You have to get off, this isn't a park ride." Again Nastily. We have not seen this unpleasantness from Disney CM's in the 15 yeaRS WE HAVE BEEN COMING here. I'll just mark it up to being very hot. Thanks for letting me vent. I'll still come back...

 

[Dean Marino]

So sorry you had these experiences . Over so many trips that I've lost count? We have had one or two just like it .

GENERALLY, the WDW transportation system is pretty darned good (just our experience). But "stuff" can happen . So, I always have the number of the Mears Taxi Folks on my smartphone. Aside from the "MK proper", they can get just about anywhere - and we've used 'em when we detect a breakdown in the system . Probably not for everyone - but it's a backup alternative.

 

[Happy_Haunt999]

Transportation in the DTD/DS area really bad? I'm sorry to say I'm not really surprised by this. Unless I'm staying nearby I dread travel there for this exact reason.

FWIW, instead of waiting I would have jumped on the Poly/GF bus and taken that to one of those resorts where I would have transferred to the monorail, taken it to the Contemporary where I could have gotten a ferry/boat to the WL. Boom-there for ressies, yes it would have taken more effort on your part, but you probably wouldn't have been late for your ressie.

 

[dwight16]

Had a similar expearnce back end of August going to BLT and stopped at WL. We waited and waited in the heat was over 30 minutes total created a bunch of stress for the family. Not any shade.

 

[hakepb]

I never thought DTD transportation was supposed to be 20 minutes during the day. In the evening, yes.

 

[JD&LYD]

So sorry you had these experiences . Over so many trips that I've lost count? We have had one or two just like it .

GENERALLY, the WDW transportation system is pretty darned good (just our experience). But "stuff" can happen . So, I always have the number of the Mears Taxi Folks on my smartphone. Aside from the "MK proper", they can get just about anywhere - and we've used 'em when we detect a breakdown in the system . Probably not for everyone - but it's a backup alternative.

I had heard this spring that Mears was losing the bus contract. I figured maybe that was another reason for the service and bad attitudes.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Transportation in the DTD/DS area really bad? I'm sorry to say I'm not really surprised by this. Unless I'm staying nearby I dread travel there for this exact reason.

FWIW, instead of waiting I would have jumped on the Poly/GF bus and taken that to one of those resorts where I would have transferred to the monorail, taken it to the Contemporary where I could have gotten a ferry/boat to the WL. Boom-there for ressies, yes it would have taken more effort on your part, but you probably wouldn't have been late for your ressie.

Or go from the GF or Polynesian to the MK and take either a boat or bus from there to WL.

 

[Dean Marino]

I had heard this spring that Mears was losing the bus contract. I figured maybe that was another reason for the service and bad attitudes.

Oh - I hope not. Mears has the Magical Express Contract. This data would indicate an INTENSE upheaval with WDW transportation .

 

[DenLo]

We had excellent service from DTD to the Poly in June. We were staying at SSR so walked over to DTD bus station around 10:30 AM as we wanted to go to a MK resort, preferably the Poly. A driver told us to wait 5 minutes and then explained we would be going to the French Quarter, MK and then to the Poly. We were getting off the bus at the Poly in 30 minutes, in two of the segments we were the only passengers. The driver of the bus explained that they were doing something new and that they were routing buses from DTD to other resorts so to move guests from resorts quicker to the parks.

However, with the traffic problems around DTD, I can see it all going wrong like it did for the OP.

 

[OKW Lover]

I had heard this spring that Mears was losing the bus contract.

Mears only operates the DME and DCL busses. Not the WDW busses which are operated by Disney CM's.

 

[goofy4tink]

This weekend, 9/19 and 20, we had a surprisingly bad experience concerning the Disney Transportation system. Specifically the buses and boats around Downtown. We had reservations at Wilderness lodge for a 1:05 PM lunch with visiting relatives from out state. We left OKW a hour and half early to allow for any mishaps along the way. Waiting for a Wilderness bus at the DTD terminal was very hot and long. One of the Bus guys ther kept telling us Just 5 minutes, Then told us to get out from under the shaded hut there because we were blocking foot traffic. Ok we can do that. After two more bus supervisors , I guess, told us 5 min. and then 4 min, a bus showed up. The driver said she was going to THe poly and GF not VWL. Its now been 45 min in the hot sun. Bus Supers no longer come near our hut. To make a long story a bit shorter, we waited 55 min. for a bus that is supposed to run every 20 min. Glad we were only 2 min. late for our Ressy. Then Sunday the 20th, took the boat from Saratoga to DTD West side. Boat was just pul;ling in and suddenly stopped and took off, Driver yelling a very nasty "Ill be right back". Coming back to SSR later that day, Same driver, tells a family that doesn't speak english very well "You have to get off, this isn't a park ride." Again Nastily. We have not seen this unpleasantness from Disney CM's in the 15 yeaRS WE HAVE BEEN COMING here. I'll just mark it up to being very hot. Thanks for letting me vent. I'll still come back...

A few thoughts. First, if you ask anyone here, you will be told to never go to DTD to make a transfer!! Ever. It's the longest way to get anywhere, unless there is no other choice. If it had been me? I would have taken the bus to MK from OKW, and then the boat over to WL. Much easier.
Second? The buses at DTD have never run in 20 min intervals. The wait times there are the longest on property...especially during the daytime hours!!! And before noon? Just a bad idea.
As far as the boat pilot goes? Him I would have reported!!! There is no excuse at all for that kind of behaviour. That I'll be right back? Yeah....more than rude. And to tell someone they have to get off the boat because it's 'not a park ride'? That's just plain nasty. I would have stopped at a Guest Services counter at a park and put in a very negative report regarding his behaviour. And then followed up with an email to Disney Transportation!!!!

 

[loves to dive]

I have never not waited at DTD for at least 45 min. for a bus to come. I consider it a good day if it's 45 min. It has always been under cover though, I try not to go there.