Could Disney be testing a new bus?

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I spotted this articulated bus a few times this week. It's painted with advertising for the manufacturer, but is being driven by someone in a Disney Transportation uniform. It was serving one of the mega resorts -- I think it was Pop.

I wondered if Disney is experimenting with a loaner from the manufacturer, contemplating a purchase. Or perhaps it's just one they rented to deal with the Spring Break crowds. Seems like a great idea to me. The largest expense for a bus is the driver, so if you can increase capacity without increasing staff it's a win-win. I know every on-site guest has been in line at closing time and wished there was a larger bus at least once.

 

[Jestocost]

There was a thread on this a while ago detailing that they have purchased or are leasing several of these buses as a test. I don't recall all of the details.

 

[joelkfla]

I wondered if Disney is experimenting with a loaner from the manufacturer, contemplating a purchase.

Exactly.

Currently the bus is only being used between MK & Pop Century, and sometimes between MK & TTC to supplement a.m. monorail service. It's too long to be used in the existing load zones without impacting use of adjacent load zones, so the load zone assignments at Pop & MK have been moved around to minimize impact.

I believe the test is scheduled to wrap up later this month.

Meanwhile, this year's order of new buses has begun to arrive at the shops, where they are being prepared to be put in service to handle the additional load from AoA. They're Gillig low floors, same as the ones that have been added over the past 2 years.