Bus changes

[pirate33]

I’m not really sure which forum to put this in so I made my best guess. Anyway, I arrived at WDW today (!) and noticed that many of the internal WDW transport buses are not the regular Disney buses but instead are run by a company called “Academy” and are more like a touring couch with rows of seats like on an airplane, rather than seats along the perimeter walls like the Disney buses. Does anyone know why this is so? Maybe it’s because they needed extra buses due to the Epcot monorail being closed.

Also I didn’t see anything that looked like a lift for wheelchairs and ECVs.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I’m not really sure which forum to put this in so I made my best guess. Anyway, I arrived at WDW today (!) and noticed that many of the internal WDW transport buses are not the regular Disney buses but instead are run by a company called “Academy” and are more like a touring couch with rows of seats like on an airplane, rather than seats along the perimeter walls like the Disney buses. Does anyone know why this is so? Maybe it’s because they needed extra buses due to the Epcot monorail being closed.

Also I didn’t see anything that looked like a lift for wheelchairs and ECVs.

Yeah, there have been occasional reports of this since approximately late March. It’s to handle the extra bus demand from social distancing requirements, and presumably DIsney doesn’t have enough of their own buses (or bus drivers), or would prefer to outsource the extra bus capacity needs for the moment.

As for ECVs, I believe the consensus is generally these buses are being alternated w/ regular Disney buses, so guests requiring ECV loading may need to wait for the next Disney bus. I suspect the folks on the disABILITIES Board can comment on the latest.

Hope that helps!

 

[pirate33]

Thank you! This time around, I got the more portable version of ECV rather than the heavy duty version I used last time. The version I have now is much more feasible to break down to put in a car. However, perhaps having a mid life crisis, I rented a convertible—definitely not suitable for an ECV!!! I managed to get the ECV in the car in but it is a bother and not a pretty sight. Plus, it is quite hot now so I can’t really drive with the top down anyway. The last couple of trips here I took were in January and February, when it was much cooler, and I gleefully drove around with the top down all the time!

No big deal—lesson learned. I’m just grateful to be here after a year of lockdown and family tragedies.

 

[heresabe]

I was hoping the addition of the Academy buses might be a harbinger for an announcement that Academy would provide airport transportation to WDW.
Academy is a major bus provider in the NY/NJ area, offering commuter, charter and casino (at least pre-pandemic) service.

 

[Dug720]

I was hoping the addition of the Academy buses might be a harbinger for an announcement that Academy would provide airport transportation to WDW.
Academy is a major bus provider in the NY/NJ area, offering commuter, charter and casino (at least pre-pandemic) service.

Mears has already announced they will be doing MCO to WDW. For a fee, but still.

 

[heresabe]

Mears has already announced they will be doing MCO to WDW. For a fee, but still.

Well...Mears announced it would begin accepting 2022 reservations in May (2021) and they have postponed that starting date without providing a new one. I know I am hoping for something that is not likely to occur...

 

[Olaf63]

Disney has struggled to get drivers for many years but it has been even harder of late.

 

[Lewisc]

Well...Mears announced it would begin accepting 2022 reservations in May (2021) and they have postponed that starting date without providing a new one. I know I am hoping for something that is not likely to occur...

Mears is now saying reservations will start being accepted soon, summer 2021. Shared shuttle service doesn't typically even require a reservation.

Mears has to negotiate terms with Disney and with MCO.

 

[Lewisc]

I was hoping the addition of the Academy buses might be a harbinger for an announcement that Academy would provide airport transportation to WDW.
Academy is a major bus provider in the NY/NJ area, offering commuter, charter and casino (at least pre-pandemic) service.

Your wish was granted. Academy is one of the bus companies working with Sunshine Flyer project

https://www.tms.com/sunshineflyer/

 

[heresabe]

Your wish was granted. Academy is one of the bus companies working with Sunshine Flyer project

https://www.tms.com/sunshineflyer/

Thank you Lewisc. Glad to hear there will be transportation options from MCO to the resorts.

 

[Shelleyfs]

The buses from Flamingo Crossing Village (DCP housing) are also Academy. You will see them all the time transporting to some resorts and the 4 parks.