Disappointed with the bus service

[mamamac]

I have to say that I was NOT impressed with the bus service between the parks and the resorts. Maybe I didn't research it enough, but I thought the app that I bought on the iPhone would be accurate about transportation times. It told me it would take 22 minutes to get from WL to Epcot. They don't tell you that the buses run every 20-25 minutes, they don't tell you that they will stop at the Grand Floridian, and they don't tell you that they will pack you in there! How can that be safe? I understand a few people standing, but having 23 people standing when all the seats are taken, plus several strollers, how can you tell me that is safe? There were kids that were standing because some adults would not get up. Maybe I am just a safety freak, but I would think Disney would address it. They obviously needed more buses. By the third day we had figured it out to just take the boat to either MK or Contemporary and get on the monorail. Also at WL, the boat for MK did not start till 30 minutes prior to the park opening. We were never told that until after we waited 20 minutes at the dock. Again, I had no idea. There were several other folks that voiced their frustration about the buses too. I think our next trip we will stay at the Contemporary or the Polynesian for the monorail since 90% of our time is at MK.

 

[dburg30]

If you dont want to stand, wait for the next bus. The bus should have said where it was going (not sure about the whole MK area, as I've never figured out the buses over there). 20 minutes between buses is well known and standard.

IMO, it just sounds like you didnt do any real research.


edit: actually looking at your sig, I cant believe that you didnt know this from your previous visits..

 

[vicki_c]

Did you think that the buses were continuous, coming to the resort one after another after another? That would just be unrealistic anywhere. It probably does take 22 minutes from WL to Epcot on the bus from the time the bus leaves to the time the bus arrives. You always have to figure in waiting time.

General advice always is to allow 1 hour for transitions from one place to another -- even the Disney CMs tell you that when you are making dining reservations.

 

[pennyplanner]

The bus from the WL to the MK takes 5 minutes. Did you ever use that option?

We like the relaxing boat ride when we are leaving the park and returning to the WL for the afternoon or after the fireworks.

Bus transportation is generally adequate or better at the WL for us. We have not, however, traveled in May.

Hope you enjoyed your trip in spite of your transportation issues!

--pennyplanner

 

[kaytieeldr]

The WDW on-property buses are the same types, and operated in the same manner as, many cities' public transportation. When I worked in Boston, I regularly saw buses so full I was positive they were going to roll over - but no. Really, they are safe even with people standing. Guests, including parents with children, who wish to not stand on a moving bus, can (and do) simply step aside and allow others behind them to board a filling bus, then get back in their place at the front of the line to wait for the next bus.

 

[skiingfast]

Maybe I didn't research it enough, but I thought the app that I bought on the iPhone would be accurate about transportation times. It told me it would take 22 minutes to get from WL to Epcot. They don't tell you that the buses run every 20-25 minutes, they don't tell you that they will stop at the Grand Floridian, and they don't tell you that they will pack you in there! How can that be safe?

I guess there wasn't an app for that?

The buses as you saw get packed full often. At least daily when the parks are closing.

Like PP said they are safe, and on my local buses I see people fall all the time. But they have ski boots on and the floor is wet. Also the buses get packed to standing room very often as well. They are the same bus cabin designs as WDW.

I can't remember exactly what WDW says is the time you should expect for transit, somthing like 1 or 1.5 hours. I think the tell you if you have an ADR in a park. I forget where I heard it. Sounds like you were still making it in under and hour. Sorry it didn't work out like you hoped.

 

[Figmificent]

The quoted 22 minutes is the approximate time, without major traffic delays it will take to get from WL to EPCOT. I have to agree you did not do enough research or picked a really bad app Common quotes everywhere is busses run approx. every 20 min. As far as standing, this is not a Disney thing, it's a public transportation thing and it is done basically everywhere I have seen mass transit. If you need a seat, wait for the next bus. You never know what the people who are sitting might have difficulty standing because of (you don't have to see it to have it, I've been there). As far as the boats, the info you got when you checked into WL should have had info as far as the boat transportation I believe, as well as there are signs posted at the dock saying what time the boats start launching. In fact, you can see a pic of it that says 1/2 hr before MK opening in the WL FAQ thread (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2319081). Sorry you had trasnpo issues, but having been before I'm surprised you didn't know this was a possibility and hopefully next time you'll be better prepared and have a better trip

 

[ancestry]

Sorry you had a bad experience. That stinks!

However I unfortunately must agree with some of the others who said you didn't do enough real research about the bus system. Disney always say to allow at least an hour to get anywhere on their transportation system. Sometimes you wait a few minutes for a bus sometimes you wait longer. It depends on when you happen to arrive at the bus stop and whether or not another bus has just left. Many of the buses share a route with other hotels especially during value or regular season when the hotels/parks aren't as crowded.

The standing and packing people in buses is common practice for any public style transportation system. Any major city packs people on their buses the same way every single day.

 

[drinkme]

I'm with you! I really hate the buses at WDW. I would much prefer to stay at the CR where you can take the monorail to 2 of the parks.

I have always said to plan for about an hour to get from your hotel room to the park entrance when taking a WDW bus. I don't see how people go back to their rooms in the afternoon for a nap. That's 2 hours in travel time!

BTW, we're not the only ones who don't like the buses. There are posts I've read on the DIS of families that rent cars just so they don't have to deal with the buses.

 

[NewEnglander]

Whose "they", the IPhone App or Disney? If it's Disney, then you 're correct in saying that you didn't do enough research. It's announced on the buses that they run approx. every 20 minutes. That's the wait time not the riding time.
Sounds like you were expecting the bus system to be something that it will never be, a private shuttle.
The bus system is not there to impress anyone. It's there to move people from point A to point B and most times, it does it well.
Sounds like your IPhone let you down and not Disney.
It's not the bus system that determines the level of bus service, it's the resort that determines the frequency and number of stops. Your complaint should be sent to the WL.
Next time maybe renting a car is best for you because you'll never be happy with the bus system. It's not for everyone. A car is the best way to get around WDW, but not by much, after you factor everything in.
As for safety, over all the years, how many people have been injured riding on Disney buses?
I'm curious, how do you know there were 23 people standing on that bus?
I don't understand why you took the boat to MK. If you wanted the quickest way, the bus ride, not including the wait, is only about five minutes.

 

[francie57]

We have never had any trouble with the buses. We usually stay at the BWV and know going in that the buses run every 20 min. The buses are always clearly marked for where they are headed. Unfortunately the WL is also further out than some of the other resorts and that will take longer in itself. As others have said, the 20 min. between buses is standard. After reading posts on there about transportation and other things, I would never take the times on a phone app as being exact.

 

[nancyoliver23]

The buses seem to be just fine, doing what they’re supposed to do. Yes, they do get crowded and people do stand all the time, but they’re safe and the most affordable mode of travel once you get to Disney. You just need to plan a bit in advance. Do hope you enjoyed your trip though.

 

[Tara]

I'm no bus apologist (I always rent a car and almost never take a Disney bus), but you made an error in judgment in relying on an app to set your expectations of bus service. I don't know what app you used, but it is almost surely one that takes the distance between points and estimates travel time. NO app can tell you how long you'll wait for any given bus, how full it will be when it arrives at your stop, where else it might stop (buses do make unscheduled stops), or how much traffic you might encounter on the way. No app can factor in time to load guests in ECVs/scooters, or unprepared guests who haven't folded their strollers - nor can an app account for driver change overs.

Remember that there is no official Disney app for transportation (or anything else other than the Verizon-only app, which I've never heard good things about), so any app you are using is from a third party without inside information.

 

[mamamac]

I already admitted that I didn't do enough research on the bus situation. Now I know how it all works. I'm not asking for my own private bus, but I was shocked at how they pack you on there. I now know on our next vacation to stay at a monorail resort where I won't have to wait for a bus except for DTD or DHS.

IMO, it just sounds like you didnt do any real research.

edit: actually looking at your sig, I cant believe that you didnt know this from your previous visits..

We had always used the monorail or had our own car for our other visits. This was our first time using them.

I'm curious, how do you know there were 23 people standing on that bus? I don't understand why you took the boat to MK. If you wanted the quickest way, the bus ride, not including the wait, is only about five minutes.

I was on the bus and started counting.

The morning of our ADR at MK we did do the bus, but again it stopped at other resorts before actually going to MK. That was on our first day and we didn't know that's how the buses ran.


Now we know. It is funny though that when you have always had your car you swear all you ever see are the Disney buses, but when you don't have your car it seems as if the buses aren't there.

 

[Jalva22]

No points to make regarding bus service, positive or negative, but I think your plan to book a monorail resort next time sounds like a good decision.

 

[joelkfla]

As a Disney bus driver, in defense of the OP:

There easily could have been 23 standees. All of the buses except the older RTS's (with the stairs at both doors) are configured to seat around 30 guests, and stand more than that. I'm sure that that many people packed on a bus can be uncomfortable and even scary to someone not used to big city public transit (which, when you come down to it, is exactly what the WDW bus system is.)

As Tara pointed out, there are uncountable potential reasons for buses to be spaced unevenly, causing waits longer that our target service level of every 20 minutes.

Disney has been trying to implement a dynamic scheduling system to adjust for delays on the fly, but they have not yet been successful. The latest I heard was maybe sometime next year.

 

[keishashadow]

The WDW on-property buses are the same types, and operated in the same manner as, many cities' public transportation. When I worked in Boston, I regularly saw buses so full I was positive they were going to roll over - but no. Really, they are safe even with people standing. Guests, including parents with children, who wish to not stand on a moving bus, can (and do) simply step aside and allow others behind them to board a filling bus, then get back in their place at the front of the line to wait for the next bus.

sounds like public transportation in Pittsburgh during rush hour...no fear of falling when standing on the bus as we're jammed in so tightly no room to move

All it took for us was one bad go-around of a trip (combo of multi stops incoming ME and tiring of giving up our seats to those who visibly needed it more & hoping we'd hang on tight enough around the corners) and i've found a way to shift priorities & budget in a rental car for all our trips.

 

[cranbiz]

As a Disney bus driver, in defense of the OP:

There easily could have been 23 standees. All of the buses except the older RTS's (with the stairs at both doors) are configured to seat around 30 guests, and stand more than that. I'm sure that that many people packed on a bus can be uncomfortable and even scary to someone not used to big city public transit (which, when you come down to it, is exactly what the WDW bus system is.)

As Tara pointed out, there are uncountable potential reasons for buses to be spaced unevenly, causing waits longer that our target service level of every 20 minutes.

Disney has been trying to implement a dynamic scheduling system to adjust for delays on the fly, but they have not yet been successful. The latest I heard was maybe sometime next year.

Welcome aboard, glad to have another driver on board.

I'm not hopeful that a dynamic system will ever come. It's hard enough now to get the ops center to answer a radio call when you need them. Somehow, I can't see them trying to adjust buses with the way the current system works. I thought most of the funding had been cut because of the cost overruns.

I had high hopes for the system 3 years ago, not so now.

 

[ccgirl]

I'm right with you and detest the bus service as well. We were at MGM/Hollywood Studios last week and needed to get to DTD. It took 2 hours!!!! First, we were told there was a direct bus. After waiting where a CM told us to, we asked a passing bus and they said there was no direct bus. We had to go to a resort to transfer. Took the boat to the Swan as it was the first stop for the boat. Took the boat 20 mins to get there. A bus pulled in that said Magic Kingdom so we did not get on it. He then switched his sign to DTD and immediately drove away. 15 mins later another DTD bus appeared. We got on it. It stopped at the Dolphin, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, POR, POFQ, Saratoga Springs. I don't remember the exact order but it really did stop at all those resorts!!!! We were 45 minutes late for our ressie at T-Rex but they were still kind enough to seat us. I could have driven to DTD from Tampa quicker than staying in the park. I will be renting a car from now on when I stay in an on site resort.

 

[cranbiz]

I'm right with you and detest the bus service as well. We were at MGM/Hollywood Studios last week and needed to get to DTD. It took 2 hours!!!! First, we were told there was a direct bus. After waiting where a CM told us to, we asked a passing bus and they said there was no direct bus. We had to go to a resort to transfer. Took the boat to the Swan as it was the first stop for the boat. Took the boat 20 mins to get there. A bus pulled in that said Magic Kingdom so we did not get on it. He then switched his sign to DTD and immediately drove away. 15 mins later another DTD bus appeared. We got on it. It stopped at the Dolphin, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, POR, POFQ, Saratoga Springs. I don't remember the exact order but it really did stop at all those resorts!!!! We were 45 minutes late for our ressie at T-Rex but they were still kind enough to seat us. I could have driven to DTD from Tampa quicker than staying in the park. I will be renting a car from now on when I stay in an on site resort.

You always have to go to a resort and transfer. Thank the Orlando Sentinel and other off site guests who parked at DTD and hopped a bus to the parks to avoid paying to park.

The Epcot resorts are probably the worst placed to transfer to DTD. The best is either POP (close resort and direct bus from there to DTD with no other stops) or SSR and walk over from Congress Park