Car question! To buy one or not to buy one?

[QueenofPrideRock]

My parents have mentioned the possibility of me having a car for the program, but are kind of backing out on it.

So I have a few questions -

• Help me convince them to get me a car?
• Those of you who didn't have cars - I'm sure it was manageable and all that, but how did it work with closing shifts and stuff? Like, what were some difficulties and drawbacks you faced?

 

[Wishes Count]

I am currently on the program and I have my car with me. I would say if you have the chance to bring a vehicle DO IT!

The buses are very unreliable, lets say you need to be at work by 3:45 and the bus for your location comes on the :22 and the :42 you would need to get on the bus at 2:22, ride the bus for almost an hour, and get to work at around 3:30. But that is cutting it very close to the time you need to clock in. PLUS the traffic here is terrible, so it takes forever to get anywhere between 9-11 and 3-8! So you also need to take that into consideration to your travel time as well.

I took the bus once with my roommates to go to downtown disney. On the way back we stopped at Vista way and the driver got off, we waited there for 30 mins before the new driver got on. It took us an hour to get back from Downtown Disney whereas I could have driven from there in about 10 minutes or less.

I drive my car to work everyday, because I can't see riding a bus for over an hour when I could drive there myself in 10-15 mins.

Also if you are working at a resort, it takes even longer for you to get to that location because the bus stops at several different resorts, whereas the park ones just go to the park.

 

[cuethemusic]

I would read through here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2386573
there are some comments that will aid in your argument.

I'm sure it has crossed your mind but also consider what you can do to help them, perhaps giving them monthly installments of money for the car or something like that

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

thanks for the info guys! i have another question too -

If you're late because of the bus, you'll still get a point right? And if you work in a resort, you have to work out getting on the bus even earlier?

 

[cuethemusic]

thanks for the info guys! i have another question too -

If you're late because of the bus, you'll still get a point right? And if you work in a resort, you have to work out getting on the bus even earlier?

Yeah i've heard if you work at a resort it takes longer because unlike the buses for the parks that only go to one place, the resort buses go to multiple resorts so they stop more.

 

[Wishes Count]

thanks for the info guys! i have another question too -

If you're late because of the bus, you'll still get a point right? And if you work in a resort, you have to work out getting on the bus even earlier?

Yes you get a half a point on your card if it is between 1 min and 2 hours late. It is your responsibility to make sure you leave enough travel time.

As for the resort, it depends, I work at Pop century, but that bus also stops at 3 or 4 other resorts first, and mine is last, so it take about an hour ride to get from the apartment to the resort, while it is a little quicker for the parks.

 

[DisneyLover0526]

thanks for the info guys! i have another question too -

If you're late because of the bus, you'll still get a point right? And if you work in a resort, you have to work out getting on the bus even earlier?

Not true! If you're late..tell your manager that the bus was late..and you would not get a point....just be sure that if you notice the bus being late...ask the bus driver to write a written note....sometimes they dont have to write it...your manager would call the Transportation Bus Service..and they would confirm that yes..the buses were late

 

[fall08CP]

I did not have a car for either of my programs and was never late once, so don't worry too much. I've been on multiple buses that have broken down, not showed up at all, or were stuck in crazy traffic. Usually this was on the way home from work so although it was annoying, I had nowhere important to be.

Would it have been nice to have a car? Definitely. I hated being at work 40 minutes early because the buses ran at awkward intervals. But I also saved on car insurance, maintenance, and gas. The worst part was getting groceries, but I just walked to Publix which is only about a mile from Chatham/Patterson.