BCV bus troubles

[MrsG]

In all honesty, who do we write to so we can complain? Imagine how bad the problem really is when you add in all those that use a car instead of the buses!

I thought it very interesting that we didn't get a satisfaction survey (we forgot to ask for one, too). Perhaps they don't want to hear the complaints about the buses. And I really do feel badly for the people at the Boardwalk. Most times, few were able to get on the bus which left a whole crowd still waiting.

 

[PHILCT]

I have read on MOUSESAVERS there are TAXI'S available for the resorts, with preferred yellow cab vendors.
Supposedly you can hire one for about 10.00 to anywhere in the Walt Disney World Resorts.

Has anyone else used these taxi's to get around?

I have the same fears about the Magic Kingdom without a rental car.

I also wondered if it was possible to go to EPCOT and hop the monorail to the TTC, and then hop the other monorail to the MK.
Is that possible in the early morning or worth it?

I think in the end the rental car is the solution.

Phil

 

[PHILCT]

ignore duplicate post

 

[PHILCT]

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[PHILCT]

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[MrsG]

Just received an internet survey from BCV. Of course, we had a wonderful visit to the resort, but I let them have it on the MK buses. I rated the transportation "poor". That will get their attention.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by PHILCT
I also wondered if it was possible to go to EPCOT and hop the monorail to the TTC, and then hop the other monorail to the MK.
Is that possible in the early morning or worth it?

It's possible, but it may be more walking than you think.

Also, you need to take Early Entry into account. If you want to get to MK before 9am for EE, Epcot will not be open yet. You won't be able to cut through Epcot until the gates open.

 

[Bellesmama]

Originally posted by minniesota
Has anyone ever used a cab to get back and forth between MK and BCV? Where can you find a cab at MK and do they have the van-size (for 8 people) available? Thanks much for any info!

We used a cab from BCV to WL one night when we were heading over to Whispering Canyon Cafe for dinner since it takes so long to use the transportation system to travel from resort to resort. I can't remember if we called down ahead of time or if the bellman got us one when we got down to the BC main entrance. I'm sure it couldn't have been more than $10. It was really convenient.

I would imagine that if you need a large van size cab you would probably have to call down to the concierge desk and have them get one for you.

Speaking of transportation problems - I do recall we waited a VERY long time(at least 30 mins.) for a ferry over to MK(we were heading over to MNSSHP) from WL that same night . That didn't make a very good impression to us and made us think twice about ever staying at VWL.

 

[lenshanem]

I apologize for not reading the whole thread, but we just got back from BCV, too. The bus transportation STINKS! It is absolutely ridiculous to have that many hotels on one bus line. And I don't think they have any more extra buses running because of it either. So much for deluxe! The values have way better bus service IMHO. We saw a guy FREAK OUT last week cause his family waited almost an hour from BB. They had a baby who was crying hysterically. When he questioned the driver as to how often the buses were supposed to run the driver just shrugged his shoulders, never would reply back to him with a I'm sorry, nothing! The sad thing is that guy said there were families left behind that had been waiting even longer than them that didn't appear to have gotten on. I was amazed we even went to BB cause our bus was already full to begin with with people standing. We also saw someone with a clipboard at the bus stop at BCV a couple mornings. I hope they figure something out!

Whenever we had a PS at another resort we drove. Just so much easier and nice with BCV parking so close by. We made the mistake last month at BWV trying to use buses to get to other resorts. Big mistake!

 

[kweaver]

Originally posted by CarolMN
I've read (don't know if it's true or not) that WDW is experiencing a severe shortage of bus drivers - seems they cannot hire them fast enough and that bus service in general isn't so great because of it.

Your post sparked a memory from our last trip. In June, we spoke to a very friendly bus driver. I'm not sure about the shortage of drivers, but this man told us that Disney is actually very short on buses right now. This subject came up because we inquired about the age of the bus we were in...and original according to him...as he showed us the stickers showing how many times it had been overhauled.

Supposedly, the new buses they ordered are slow coming in. In addition to the standard ones, he said they ordered 30 of the special (hydraulic?) buses that handle the loading of scooters and wheelchairs more easily. However, the company they were ordered from stopped making them (or went out of business) - so they had to reorder from a company in CA.

Of course, this is one of those bus driver stories...so you have to take it with a grain of salt. He's worked as a driver for WDW for a lot of years though...seemed to know his business. I wish I would have thought to get his opinion on the BCV/BWV, S&D issue!

 

[BeckyV]

We just returned from a week at Old Key West and the buses were great. Never waited longer than 20 minutes except when we ventured to Epcot and the Dolphin to use our DVC discount. It was 11:25pm when we arrived at the bus stop, but had to wait almost an hour for a bus to Pleasure Island to transfer to OKW. Another woman was there from Port Orleans trying to do the same and she was furious. She was playing minigolf across the street and had checked at the resort about what transprotation to use. One bus stopped and apologized because this was his last run and he was going to Grand Floridian after dropping off guests at the S and D. Another came about ten minutes later and he really did not want to pick us up, but did. He took us directly to the resorts after dropping a family off at MGM's parking lot who was stranded at Downtown Disney.

Both drivers said to complain because next year when we return it will be worse. Disney is on the bus on demand schedule and the drivers said it is a mess. Disney does not ask the drivers for their opinions and they are the ones who hear all of the complaints. This system is not working and the new manager needs to change it. The drivers did not mention a problem getting drivers, but said it is the management trying to cut back to look good on paper to California. Disney has gone to less drivers on this new plan.

We did have a wonderful trip and the buses at OKW were just great. Too bad the Boardwalk area seems to have the most problems. This is my home resort and I was upset that the transportation seems to be better at OKW when my dues are so high at BWV.

Just wanted to pass on the advice we were given to complain to Disney. I was told to go through the Vacation Club and let them follow up on the complaints.

BTW-Another day guest was stranded during our week at WDW and tried to use the boat transportation from MGM to Epcot parking lot except none of the boats would take him there. They dropped him off at Boardwalk and told him to catch a bus and it would drop him off at Epcot. He and his family rode the bus to DD and then a manager got on the bus because he was demanding to go to Epcot. I really felt sorry for the driver because he could not just change his route and the guy was so demanding about going to Epcot to his car. We changed buses and left on the one to OKW and the manager was there on the bus for a while.


Becky

 

[BeckyV]

Oh and I forgot to add that Disney does need new buses. We were caught in a terrible storm from BB and the driver warned that the bus leaked. Well it didn't leak, it poured in on me and my ds. Luckily we were already wet from BB.

 

[psharrock]

We are currently at BCV and they have definitely not fixed the BC/YC buses to MK

Last week we went to MK and on the way back we were 1st in line (so probably just missed a bus), and we had to wait 45mins + for the next bus, during this tiime we saw three buses to the Swan and Dolphin and two buses for most of the other resorts

Paul

 

[pgjam]

When we stay at BW or BCV we will walk thru Epcot & take the monrail to TTC & then another monorail to MK. It did not seem to take very long but maybe it was because we were constantly moving as opposed to waiting for a bus. I love the walk thru Epcot in the morning passed the rose gardens.
pgjam

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by pgjam
When we stay at BW or BCV we will walk thru Epcot & take the monrail to TTC & then another monorail to MK. It did not seem to take very long but maybe it was because we were constantly moving as opposed to waiting for a bus. I love the walk thru Epcot in the morning passed the rose gardens.
pgjam

We sometimes do this in reverse - from the MK back to the BWV.

If you want to be at the MK for EE or even just for park opening, this way just doesn't work. You can't walk through the park to the monorail until EPCOT opens.

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

We must have been lucky at the beginning of July. We stayed at the BW and most of the time we didn't have to wait very long for a MK or AK bus. And they weren't full.

But e-ride night was a different story. The bus was full. This one woman refused to move when the bus driver asked everyone to move to the back of the bus. We got to the Swan and the bus driver said if you were going to the BW, you could get off here and you would beat the bus to the BW. Nobody took him up on the offer. At 1:30 in the morning, nobody wanted to walk. As it turned out most of the people were going to the BW. But we stopped at the Swan, Dolphin, YC, BC and finally the BW.

 

[JLS]

I agree with how horrible the transportation is from the Epcot resorts. Its an insult to guests who pay huge dollars to stay there. I really can't fathom that anybody who has experienced this before will do it again - RENT A CAR!! Rental cars can be had on Priceline in Florida usually for less than $20 per day. Parking in the parks is free if you are on onsite guests. You don't use that much gas, and you have your own transportation to/from the airport instead of dealing with some annoying shuttle or expensive towncar, so the rental car all but pays for itself just with that.

But people should keep complaining because Disney needs to know that it is not acceptable on any level to pack people in to buses and use one bus for 6 different resorts!! (BW, BCV, BC, YC, Swan, Dolphin).

 

[Deep-Thots]

Originally posted by finster

1. The bus still services Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk, in that order. Simply put, there are too many resorts being serviced by a single bus. I echo the statements of someone else, I take offense at the fact that Swan/Dolphin are on the same route, especially in light of the cash we've all invested in the DVC resorts.

I agree wholeheartedly that Disney tries to service *too many* resorts with too few buses, and that the S/D-Y/BC-BW bus is just too congested (because I've experienced it myself). But taking offense at the fact that Swan and Dolphin are on the same route as DVC resorts bears some re-thinking, I believe.

First, I am certain that Starwood/Westin pays WDW an arm and a leg to provide transportation services to these hotels/resorts -- which are *on* Disney's website, and for which you can make reservations using Disney's website. In fact, WDW transportation is one of the benefits touted as a teaser for staying at these "other deluxe resorts" (this is what they're called on the website). So, like it or not, Disney undoubtedly is making a profit in this venture, and probably won't be changing the terms of its agreement with Starwood/Westin any time soon.

Second, *not all* of those people who are staying in the general vicinity of the Yacht and Beach Club Resort and the Boardwalk Resort are DVC members. Remember, you can stay in non-DVC, "deluxe" accommodations at both of these places. Given the fact that the non-DVC guests staying at these resorts probably have not invested large amounts of cash in the resorts, should they consequently be subject to a special non-DVC transportation fee because they want to ride the buses? (You can arrive at this conclusion via your line of thinking.)

One of the advantages/perquisites of being a DVC member is free parking at the parks. Several people here have said that they make liberal use of this perk, to their great advantage.

Given this course of events, it seems to me that there are two courses of action possible here:

1. You can continue to use WDW transportation, completely aware that at times it's really going to frustrate you. If you choose this option, however (knowing what you know), then railing against the apparent injustice of it all seems counterproductive, at best. By all means, continue to voice your opinions to DVC, but, well... you do have another, very logical option:

2. You can find an alternate means of transportation (like renting a car, or using your own car if you're driving to WDW) that not only allows you to make use of your DVC membership, but also leaves you in a much, much better frame of mind (i.e., increases the magic).

Aggravation/irritation, or slight effort/peace of mind? To me, it's pretty much a slam dunk. But then I've sometimes been accused of approaching problems via a logical rather than an emotional bent.


(Donning [hopefully] flame-retardant suit)

 

[finster]

Kim -

The car rental, as I pointed out in my original post, is definitely something we already make use of.

Why aren't Swan and Dolphin bundled up with Dixie Landings, or Port Orleans, etc? Yes, I know the proximity of the resorts make a lot of sense to bundle the existing route, but they can just as easily change that.

I think you missed the point of my post though. I'm fully aware that non-DVC members make use of BC, BW, YC, etc.

Why is it that BC, BW, YC, Swan, Dolphin all share one bus when OKW has it's own, Corronado has it's own, DL has it's own, and virtually every other (with a few exceptions) resort have their own route?

I'm not sure of the OKW current capacity, but I'm fairly certain that the combined number of rooms at BC, BW, YC, Swan, and Dolphin dwarf that of any other single resort on the property that has it's own line.

I think my approach is fairly logical too. The numbers don't lie.

Originally posted by Deep-Thots
I agree wholeheartedly that Disney tries to service *too many* resorts with too few buses, and that the S/D-Y/BC-BW bus is just too congested (because I've experienced it myself). But taking offense at the fact that Swan and Dolphin are on the same route as DVC resorts bears some re-thinking, I believe.

Aggravation/irritation, or slight effort/peace of mind? To me, it's pretty much a slam dunk. But then I've sometimes been accused of approaching problems via a logical rather than an emotional bent.


(Donning [hopefully] flame-retardant suit)

 

[mwstar]

We were at BCV the week of July 4th. Luckily we had our own vehicle so we used that for evening dinners and BB. One morning an EE MK morning we got to the bus stop. Tons of people. There was a CM with a clip board. When the bus arrived and you knew immediately it would not hold all of the people, she radioed for another bus. That bus appeared instantly like it had been staged just in case. If there had not been so many people and just a few left behind I am not sure the bus would have been called. I found just as much problem with the check in process, 20 minutes in line every time I had to go there. Ugh.