BW bus transportation

[JandD Mom]

I want to say at the outset, thank you Tyler for being so up front about the bus situation with the BW and all of the Epcot resorts. My complaint about BW bus sort of follows what everyone else has said.

Why is it that virtually all of the other resorts have their own dedicated bus route from MK and AK, while the Epcot resort route is shared by 7 hotels (including BWV and BCV)? I did not see the problem so much in the mornings, but it was evident when leaving the MK at closing, during a slow night, that this service is less than adequate. The night I Was there (11/11) the queue for the Epcot resorts was huge, and in fact, was the only real queue remaining for people trying to get back to their resorts. All other resorts, including all stars, had dedicated buses so their lines cleared out almost immediately. In fact, while they had buses double-parked trying to get all of the people to the Epcot resorts out, people at the all star and Coronado Springs resorts were just walking on their buses and sitting down.

I really don't understand why people that stay at one of these 5 deluxe resorts, and 2 DVC resorts, have to stand in massive lines, endure never-ending sardine-packed buses, and then endure 30 minute plus rides back to their resorts after the parks close (the bus must make 5 stops on the return).

I understand the 2 or 3 resorts may have to share transportation to certain places (Poly, CR and GF share a route I know) but 7??? There is simply no justification - at least not one that is customer oriented.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

There are many times that the resorts are split... it's not always the 5 resorts. Just last night, on my way home from POP, I saw buses for Swan & Dolphin, and a separate bus behind it for Yacht, Beach & Boardwalk.

There's really a lot that goes into it... On the way home, dedicated buses really isn't a priority... getting the people OUT is. What you probably didn't notice is that as soon as the All-Stars crowd goes down, they get combined back up again. All-Stars only gets separated because of the MASSIVE demand that is much larger than the Epcot Resorts.

As for other resorts sharing... Caribbean Beach already has 7 stops, Coronado has 4, Old Key West has 5, and currently Port Orleans has 4. So, getting these resorts to share is not practical. If French Quarter was open, you can bet it would be sharing with Riverside.

The Epcot Resorts on the other hand only have one stop per resort. In the grand scheme of things, 5 stops is really not as bad as many have said it to be. When I was a driver, I would do a full ROUND TRIP... from MK, all 5 resorts, and back to MK in about 30-35 minutes. That means the guest was on the bus for an AVERAGE of 15 minutes per trip... possibly 10 to get there, and 20 to return, or vice versa. This of course can feel like twice that.

 

[JandD Mom]

Tyler, again I want to say thank you for your response on this. I have the utmost respect for your posts and the information you give. I do want to respond to what you said but please understand that my info is based on my perception as a guest at the BW. I know my perception was shared by the 9 other people in my party. Also the problem with transportation for BCV and BWV is also a topic being discussed on the DVC boards.

While OKW or CB may have several stops within the resort, aren't those stops within the same complex? My perception is that the bus pulls into the resort, then follows the road around the resort stopping at the individual bus stops.

On the other hand, at the Epcot resorts the bus goes into and out of 5 resorts. That means going up the driveway, through the gate, to the bus stop, loading/unloading, going back out the gate, merging into traffic, and doing the same thing over and over again for the next 4 stops. It just seems like going to 5 resorts is more tedious and time consuming than doing the same number of stops within the same resort. That's my perception and the perception with all of those around me.

Also, when loading and unloading people packed like sardines in these buses (and as I said in my initial post there seemed to be fewer buses for the people for these 7 resorts so they were packed) it takes a while to finish each stop. And that does not even include the loading and unloading of the disabled folks on wheelchairs etc. When the buses are packed, and/or carrying special needs people, I can't imagine the entire route could possibly be as quick as 30 minutes. It certainly wasn't on 11/11 when we were on our way home.

I again appreciate your comments. From a logistical standpoint at the transportation HQ it might make perfect sense to run the route this way. However, I suggest that Disney have some of the CMs responsible for designing these bus routes stay at the BW for a few days, and go to the MK at opening and come back after closing. Then I wonder if they will feel these routes make sense.

I can say I have stayed at several Disney resorts in the past 4 years, and have read these boards throughout that time, this bus route seems the only one that myself and others have consistent complaints about.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by JandD Mom
While OKW or CB may have several stops within the resort, aren't those stops within the same complex? My perception is that the bus pulls into the resort, then follows the road around the resort stopping at the individual bus stops.

Although they may be in the same complex, it might not be as simple as following a road. Old Key West is a prime example of this. With OKW, the bus goes up and down roads, turns around, and goes down more roads. It takes the same amount of time to do the 5 stops on the Old Key West internal run as all five of the Epcot Resorts. And just like the Epcot Resorts, Old Key West frequently gets negative comments regarding the time it takes to go around the resort. Caribbean Beach also gets those comments about its 7 stops, although perhaps not to the same degree.

Even in the resorts that have a exterior loop, stops are not close to each other, so the time it takes to go from one stop to another might only be a few seconds shorter than it takes to go from one Epcot Resort to another.

Originally posted by JandD Mom
On the other hand, at the Epcot resorts the bus goes into and out of 5 resorts. That means going up the driveway, through the gate, to the bus stop, loading/unloading, going back out the gate, merging into traffic, and doing the same thing over and over again for the next 4 stops. It just seems like going to 5 resorts is more tedious and time consuming than doing the same number of stops within the same resort. That's my perception and the perception with all of those around me.

Unfortunetly, there are many things that might influence perception. I've actually timed it many times. Going in, stopping, and going out, and onto the next resort only took an average of 120-180 seconds from one stop to the next. That also includes load/unload time. That doesn't sound like a lot of time, but if you get out a stopwatch, and just sit for 120 seconds, doing nothing... it can feel like a lot longer. I usually am only at a stop for 10-30 seconds. Feels like longer, but its just like waiting at the bus stop, where 10 minutes FEELS like 20-30.



Now... we'll say for example, it takes another driver 12 minutes to do all five resorts. Nice even number. If you're at the Boardwalk, your bus will go directly from the Boardwalk to the MK. Therefore, you've spent 0 minutes doing extra stops. On the way back from the MK, you've spent 12 minutes doing extra stops. Next we'll say, you're at the Yacht Club. On the way TO the MK, you'll spend 7 minutes doing other stops. On the way back, it'll be 5 minutes. Once again, a total of 12 minutes. It's not 12 minutes each way. In the grand scheme of things, 12 minutes is not a long period of time.

The bottom line is that if someone does not like public transportation, and the things that come with them (potential for crowds, and multiple stops) then Disney Transport is not for them. They might be more fitted to a rental car. When you really think about it, Disney Transport in both Monorail and Bus form is public transportation, Disney style. (Actually, from what I hear from guests, we're a heck of a lot better)

 

[JandD Mom]

Originally posted by Chip 'n Dale Express


The bottom line is that if someone does not like public transportation, and the things that come with them (potential for crowds, and multiple stops) then Disney Transport is not for them. They might be more fitted to a rental car. When you really think about it, Disney Transport in both Monorail and Bus form is public transportation, Disney style. (Actually, from what I hear from guests, we're a heck of a lot better)

I think that sums it up. Our group has already agreed that we enjoy this resort area too much not to stay there again. However on our future trips we will probably drive ourselves to AK. I am not sure that driving is a viable option for MK.

I did not even mention how we were late picking up our kids from the Wonderland Tea Party because we were "trapped" for 30 minutes on the silver monorail while they were trying to fix it on 11/12, but that's a topic for another post.

Thanks again!