Disney Bus "code" question

[DCTooTall]

I noticed something a couple weeks ago while down visiting the world, and thought I'd ask here to see if someone knew the answer.

One night while leaving the MK after close, I noticed several busses turning into the MK resort bus stops with "Rapunzel" on their destination signs. I also noticed another bus later in the week with the same sign, and one which said "Belle".


Now, I'm guessing that the princess signage on the busses would be a Disney version of the "Out of Service" markings we'll sometimes see on local public transit buses, but I'm wondering if the different princesses actually have a different meaning?

 

[ccudmore]

I read about this somewhere recently (sorry, can't remember where) but they said that these are just "Out of service" banners. The drivers are given some latitude in what they put on the banner when they're out of service and many of them choose to put up their favorite character names.

 

[joelkfla]

It is the equivalent of "Out of Service" (too negative-sounding for Disney), but the driver has no control over which character name comes up. It's determined by the version of the database loaded into the on-board computer that controls the marquee (Disney-speak for the destination sign) and the spiels. And they're not just princesses: we've had Stitch and Remy.

Really, all the buses should display the same character name, but there always seems to be the odd 1 or 2 that never got the updates.

Drivers will sometimes put up other signs to ward off guests, like "VIP Castmember" (guests won't try to board a cm shuttle) or "Training" (guests are too scared to approach .) Sometimes I put up "Zone 4" just to confuse everybody.

 

[SueM in MN]

It is the equivalent of "Out of Service" (too negative-sounding for Disney), but the driver has no control over which character name comes up. It's determined by the version of the database loaded into the on-board computer that controls the marquee (Disney-speak for the destination sign) and the spiels. And they're not just princesses: we've had Stitch and Remy.

Really, all the buses should display the same character name, but there always seems to be the odd 1 or 2 that never got the updates.

Drivers will sometimes put up other signs to ward off guests, like "VIP Castmember" (guests won't try to board a cm shuttle) or "Training" (guests are too scared to approach .) Sometimes I put up "Zone 4" just to confuse everybody.

I’ve seen both Stitch and Remy.
We also rode on a Belle bus on our trip in October. Our bus was involved in a fender bender (someone edged into our lane as the bus we were on was turning). A different bus was sent over to take the passengers on our bus to DHS and the new bus had a “Belle” sign on it.