BWV Bus Service

[BroganMc]

But 15-20 minutes diesn't seem outrageous.

No, but I sure wish people wou'd read what the OP is explaining happened. The OP waited only 15-20 minutes because he/she was smart enough to hop a bus to BCV when it showed up and walked back to BWV instead. (The BWV bus still hadn't shown.) The family in front who waited on the BWV bus had been waiting 30 minutes already and had not gotten the same bright idea.

I dunno. Maybe SSR owners are a bit more independent thinkers. Just kidding.

FWIW, I remember when I did my 4-park-in-a-day marathon at SSR the longest trek I had was that ferry from MGM to EPCOT. I was itching to just hop off the boat at BWV and walk it, but I wanted to give all the transportation a fair shake. I'll know more when I stay this Fall and see what it's like. But then I'm only planning on visiting MGM and EPCOT while I'm at BWV.

 

[BroganMc]

With all the technology out there, why in the world does a man have to sit in a van at the bus entrance to MK to tell the buses where to go next?

It could be the new satellite tracking they started last Fall. Instead of central dispatch directing or redirecting bus routes, the computer is supposed to do it. Busses are tracked by geo-satellite and frequency governed by expected demand at each resort (which is in turn based on occupancy rates).

What the system lacks is anyway to determine how many people are waiting at a given bus stop during the day. This is especially true mid-day when demand is at its lowest. That's why they employ spotters to see what stops have a crowd.

The old system was a strict time schedule that wasted deisel if no one was at the stop.

I think it's still possible for bus drivers to radio central dispatch if he/she notes a problem. When a handicapped bus ramp fails to work, for instance, the bus drivers will radio in a call for another bus.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I'd have given up by then, hopped the monorail and walked through EPCOT to get back. Might be about the same time, but way more interesting.

I'm with you. If I'm at Boardwalk or Beach Club there is no way I'm not walking to WDW no matter what park I want to end up at. This is half the fun of staying there

 

[UP Disney]

It could be the new satellite tracking they started last Fall. Instead of central dispatch directing or redirecting bus routes, the computer is supposed to do it. Busses are tracked by geo-satellite and frequency governed by expected demand at each resort (which is in turn based on occupancy rates).

What the system lacks is anyway to determine how many people are waiting at a given bus stop during the day. This is especially true mid-day when demand is at its lowest. That's why they employ spotters to see what stops have a crowd.

The old system was a strict time schedule that wasted deisel if no one was at the stop.

I think it's still possible for bus drivers to radio central dispatch if he/she notes a problem. When a handicapped bus ramp fails to work, for instance, the bus drivers will radio in a call for another bus.

Unfortunately, the spotters weren't helping at least at DHS. Seriously, they had two different buses go to one stop that had no one waiting before we got our bus.

The morning that we waited over 40 minutes for an Epcot bus, we found out that there had been some glitch with the computer system and they hadn't dispatched Epcot buses. It was a WDW resort wide issue according to one of the bus drivers.

One time the only reason I think we got a bus is because I went over to one of the other bus stops and requested they radio dispatch to let them know how long we had been waiting. We had a bus within a few minutes after that.

It just seems like with the technology that Disney has access to that they could do a better job with this.

This is our fifth trip the first week in March. I have never seen things this bad. I'm hoping that it wasn't just OKW. However, one of the bus drivers told me to make sure I talked to OKW since they paid the bill. It made us wonder - do each of the resorts pay for the number of buses that are used at their resort? So if OKW doesn't want to pay as much, they can say "Only send x amount of buses per day?" It was just the way the bus driver made the comment that had us wondering.

 

[WALTSAGOD]

I actually had to wait 16 minutes once!! Boy was I fuming!

 

[DVCPAT]

our experience is that SSR has the absolutely best bus transportation, and
BWVs trans is pretty much in line with all the other DVCs.

fortunately, all the resorts excel in certain areas & might not be as strong as a different resort in another (e.g., BWV's nightlife & trans to EPCOT/DHS are excellent, SSR's "quiet walkways" are actually quiet ~ strong points for each, perceived weaknesses for the other).

I’ve found the best transportation service is at the DVC resort that’s currently selling. Once SSR sells out, it will fall in line with the other resorts. In the future, I wouldn’t be surprised if a few SSR routes don’t swing by OKW.

 

[starbox]

Out of all the DVC resorts (and I've stayed at all but BCV) - I liked the bus service at BWV the least. With all the Swan/Dolphin/BCV/Waterpark stops it was a nightmare getting to/from AK and DTD - and we waited over 40 minutes for a MK bus the one time we were trying to make a dinner reservation (took us over an hour including travel time).

BUT - we ended up taking full advantage of being able to walk to EPCOT and even walked to MGM. We spent about 5X as much time in EPCOT as we normally do and only did AK once - it was a fun vacation to switch up our normal routine for a change. If I stay again, I'll do the long walk and monorail thing - just because it's a neat perk to staying there.

I think one great thing about owning DVC is being able to take different sorts of vacations. I did not have to think "Oh my gosh! I am missing my AK time!" because I knew I'd be at AKV later in the year and I'd get to see it all without the crazy bus stress. I don't normally chill in the WS every afternoon of my vacation - which is what we ended up doing. It was really relaxing and interesting, and I feel like we were able to get the most out of the location and really appreciate the uniqueness of being so close to the back gate.

 

[BroganMc]

The morning that we waited over 40 minutes for an Epcot bus, we found out that there had been some glitch with the computer system and they hadn't dispatched Epcot buses. It was a WDW resort wide issue according to one of the bus drivers.

Uh oh. Sounds like the new satellite system isn't working as the techs promised. Surprise, surprise there. (Insider Tech joke. Sales geeks promise this new fangled program or gizmo will slide bread AND cook breakfast, but after installation you hear all sorts of things about "quirks".)

I had a big discussion with a spotter at SSR a few mornings last October about this new system. He was skeptical. And like I said, they really have no way of providing human oversight to the system. That is a big issue.

But I have faith that if anyone can figure it out, it's Disney. They are the best people handlers in the business.

This is our fifth trip the first week in March. I have never seen things this bad. I'm hoping that it wasn't just OKW. However, one of the bus drivers told me to make sure I talked to OKW since they paid the bill. It made us wonder - do each of the resorts pay for the number of buses that are used at their resort? So if OKW doesn't want to pay as much, they can say "Only send x amount of buses per day?" It was just the way the bus driver made the comment that had us wondering.

No, it was just a flippant remark that part of dues go toward the bus system. So do ticket sales. Pretty much everyone is that bus driver's boss, and he probably hears it a lot.

 

[BroganMc]

I think one great thing about owning DVC is being able to take different sorts of vacations. I did not have to think "Oh my gosh! I am missing my AK time!" because I knew I'd be at AKV later in the year and I'd get to see it all without the crazy bus stress. I don't normally chill in the WS every afternoon of my vacation - which is what we ended up doing. It was really relaxing and interesting, and I feel like we were able to get the most out of the location and really appreciate the uniqueness of being so close to the back gate.

I feel lucky in that pretty much all my Disney trips are mixed. I go from offsite guests stuck to parking lots and cars one week to onsite guest having the freedom to hop busses.

But that said, when I start my October vacation at BWV I'm only concentrating on EPCOT and MGM. And when I get around to AKV, I'll concentrate on Animal Kingdom. Same is true at VWL.

At SSR I spend more time at DTD but split my time among the parks. Offsite, I just visit everywhere sampling different types of vacations.

 

[Starr W.]

Unfortunately, the spotters weren't helping at least at DHS. Seriously, they had two different buses go to one stop that had no one waiting before we got our bus.

The morning that we waited over 40 minutes for an Epcot bus, we found out that there had been some glitch with the computer system and they hadn't dispatched Epcot buses. It was a WDW resort wide issue according to one of the bus drivers.

One time the only reason I think we got a bus is because I went over to one of the other bus stops and requested they radio dispatch to let them know how long we had been waiting. We had a bus within a few minutes after that.

It just seems like with the technology that Disney has access to that they could do a better job with this.

This is our fifth trip the first week in March. I have never seen things this bad. I'm hoping that it wasn't just OKW. However, one of the bus drivers told me to make sure I talked to OKW since they paid the bill. It made us wonder - do each of the resorts pay for the number of buses that are used at their resort? So if OKW doesn't want to pay as much, they can say "Only send x amount of buses per day?" It was just the way the bus driver made the comment that had us wondering.

40 minutes for an Epcot bus, it just must be when I go there seems to be an abundance of Epcot buses. Last 2 Thanksgivings at SSR, you'd hear "Not another Epcot bus", same thing at VWL in early May. We were heading to Epcot but the rest of the stop said that's the 2nd Epcot bus in the last 15-20 min and no AK/MK/DHS bus.

 

[Boston5602]

I think you guys are probably right in that the new system contributes to a longer wait for some.

I also like to remind myself when we stop at the Swan and Dolphin on the way to a park that this helps to keep my dues down. The buses charge the resort a fee for the service and the more buses that run the higher the fee. If it was for one resort only then yet again higher dues. It helps SSR to have a lot more dues paying members then BWV to get more bus service. Some of the bus service and the lack of any counter service place ( Like Mara's , I would love that ) are all that I like to gripe about BWV!! <G>



I do Love BWV

 

[crisi]

No, but I sure wish people wou'd read what the OP is explaining happened. The OP waited only 15-20 minutes because he/she was smart enough to hop a bus to BCV when it showed up and walked back to BWV instead. (The BWV bus still hadn't shown.) The family in front who waited on the BWV bus had been waiting 30 minutes already and had not gotten the same bright idea.

I've always thought that part of the trick to being happy with Disney bus transportation was being flexible on how to use the system, and having some give.

We often skip the bus back from the MK - taking the monorail and doing the long walk through Epcot to the BWV. But each time we go through, we knock off another "left side FW attraction" - Nemo or Imagination or Spaceship Earth or even Soarin if there isn't much of a line. Sure it takes longer, but we are moving, the monorail ride to Epcot is as much a favorite ride of ours as PotC, and its a walk we enjoy.

We've been known to take the bus to MGM from the AK - then walk or catch the boat (if its right there) - again, it probably takes a little longer, involves a walk - but there are FOUR bus stops at AK that get us within walking distance of our resort.

From Boardwalk, if we watch a bus pull out, or one doesn't arrive in our timeframe, we grab a cab. During the period we go, we never have to wait for a cab, there are plenty at the BW. Yeah, its $15, but a few cab rides are still a lot cheaper than renting a car.

However, I also don't trust people who claim to have been waiting "30 minutes" for a bus. I've overheard some people make that claim in lines for attractions, who arrived after I did and I'd only been standing around ten. Granted ten minutes of standing in the Florida heat can seem like 30.....

 

[Shellandscott]

We stayed at BWV in October and I got the postcard to do the survey from Disney, the general transportation for that resort was my only complaint, otherwise the resort was wonderful. It was a big one though. From the start at the airport we shared our ride with 3-4 other resorts. More stops between point A & B = more time on said transportation.
What seems to be missing from the OP is that once you wait 15-20 minutes for a bus you have to then stop at Swan, and then move to Dolphin then to the parks. Same on the way back from the parks. This was for every mode AK, MK, DTD, and the boat to Epcot & MGM.
Waiting, then getting taken to the parks would be one thing, but if it takes 45-60 minutes to make it from the "board spot" at the resort to your park can be annoying. IMO the main issue is that the DVC resort shares its transportation with two hotels with two separate time consuming stops.

 

[tjkraz]

IMO the worst thing about the BWV bus service is the fact that it's shared with the Dolphin and Swan.

We had two truly memorable experiences due to the shared service:

1. A delivery truck parked in the bus lane at either the Dolphin or Swan. The driver apparently had no options (or wasn't willing to pursue any), because we simply sat for about 20 minutes. Including wait time at the stop, that trip to the MK took us 75 minutes.

2. The mid afternoon bus loop to Typhoon Lagoon, which goes something like this: BW to Swan to Dolphin to DTD Marketplace to DTD Pleasure Island to TL. Ugh!

We also had a really bad return trip from the MK once where we waited a looooooong time even for a bus to arrive, and then the route the driver took was ridiculous because we were sitting on the bus itself for over 30 minutes.

Other than that, I don't recall any terribly long wait times for the bus to arrive. I do wish the BW had its own busses and they left it to the Swolphin to share. The BWV/BWI combo is bigger than OKW and not much smaller than SSR.

Whenever possible we just stick to driving. We were at BWV last week (including a stay at BWV) and I never set foot on a bus. One time I even drove to Epcot.

 

[UP Disney]

However, I also don't trust people who claim to have been waiting "30 minutes" for a bus. I've overheard some people make that claim in lines for attractions, who arrived after I did and I'd only been standing around ten. Granted ten minutes of standing in the Florida heat can seem like 30.....

I also have not trusted people who said they were waiting for more than 30 minutes because I had never had the same experience. It always seems so much longer when you are waiting. However, this was a test trip to OKW because we are taking my niece & nephew in June. I was paying close attention to my watch. I can guarantee that my wait times were what I said. There was no estimates.