disney reading?

[mbtileguy]

i dont know if this is where i should put this but .........do you think disney would be beter off reading on the dis boards than doing other research or surveys???

 

[CanadianGuy]

The problem with reading on the DIS is that it doesn't meet the usual statistical standards for data gathering.

The DIS members are a very small subset of all of Disney's guests. Not to toot our own horn too much, but the DIS board member is usually a very well informed, well planned Disney visitor. We're not a good
'average sample' of Disney travellers.

We're hardcore.

Plus, just from reading these boards, important data points normally gathered in these types of surveys would and could be missing from their data gathering.

Disney probably does read the boards but I think more for informational purposes than 'hard' statistical purposes.

Knox

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have it on good authority that Disney does read these (and other) Disney forums... a little Mouse told me

 

[goofy4tink]

Yep, they do reads these boards. But, as was already said, we aren't a good cross section. If Disney truly wanted to get a cross section of WDW guests they would (and are) best served by doing surveys the way they do now, just grabbing people as they pass by. Or sending them those survey postcards when they return from a resort.

 

[mbtileguy]

good... hopefully they will listen to some of the negitive things, like more BUSES please.

 

[disneysnumber1fan]

good... hopefully they will listen to some of the negitive things, like more BUSES please.

i agree!!
i find it ridiculous that YC/BC, Swan/Dolphin, and BWI ALL share a bus to and from downtown disney/pleasure island, poly and grand floridian, etc. and that the HUGE all star resorts share a bus at certain times of day, at certain parks, and certain seasons. especially at a deluxe resort, where people pay so much money to stay there...they should not have to wait forever to get a bus, or have to pile onto a bus with no room to breathe!(imo.) its not like they're in debt or anything...they're building one vacation club resort(VAK) and planning the next at CR, so the least we're asking is a little transportation!

 

[mbtileguy]

i know what you mean disney fan i didnt want this to turn into a bus war but, inmo the buses need to be fixed and its a easy fix (more) or more often ? there are a lot of people around here that will say there is no problem with the buses but i think most people would say they need some fixing. that is my main beef with the disney world resort.i dont mind waitng in line for a ride i expect it ,but at the end of the day i dont want to wait a hour to get back to my room. and i know here come the posts i never had to wait that long for a bus ,but i have and its not made up and i come back every year and i love the place but that part could really use some work.

 

[CanadianGuy]

mbtileguy:

I posted this in another thread.. but you might want to have a look at what they have planned for the buses..

----

I had heard Disney was working to improve the bus service by having a better way to monitor the bus routes to improve the waits.

And yes... Disney is implementing a very fancy new GPS tracking system for all buses. This combined with real-time monitoring of bus stops via cameras.. will identify the hot spots that need buses and then in the next step as part of this phased program, buses will (eventually) be automatically routed with computerized messages to the drivers. So a bus that JUST left Pop and dropped off at Blizzard Beach might then proceed to All Star Sports and take guests to Epcot and then take departing Epcot guests to the Magic Kingdom. (for example)

This would obviously maximize the efficiency of the buses on the road at any given point in time; and in theory should shorten wait times and make the service much better in the long run.

What I think is even more interesting about the new system is that it will include Disney themed music AND 'audio spiels' (similar to the monorail spiel) for you to listen to which will be triggerred by the GPS location of the bus. So as you drive by Blizzard Beach, it might say "To our left of forward motion is Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park featuring ...."

The audio programs will be slowly phased in over the next 12-18 weeks from now thru the end of June/July (pending any problems or bugs that might pop up). The full on GPS bus scheduling will kick in sometime later this year.

Thanks!

Knox

 

[nbodyhome]

The one thing with reading these (and other boards), Disney does need to keep up with the "hardcore". We are the ones who will keep going when there is a downturn in the economy, etc. Same with Florida Residents, passholders, DVC, etc. - I'm not saying at all that they need to cater to us, just that I'm sure they keep up with the fan base pretty strongly.

 

[mbtileguy]

i hope the new bus system works out, but even if you know where the problem areas are. you still need xtra buses and more important drivers to move the people.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You know, even though Disney does read these boards, if anybody has a specific issue that they feel should be addressed by Disney, the absolute BEST way to communicate that to the company is directly. Both the snail-mail and e-mail addresses are readily available in a number of posts throughout these boards; in addition, you can go to disneyworld.com and contact them through the Contact Us link/information there.

 

[CanadianGuy]

i hope the new bus system works out, but even if you know where the problem areas are. you still need xtra buses and more important drivers to move the people.

Actually that's the 'big idea' behind this project. Rather than moving nearly empty buses on some lines when not needed.. using GPS to know where the buses are.. and software programs to generate the routing structure on a real-time basis.. they'd re-route those buses to the 'hot spots' or problem areas.

One of the big problems with this current setup.. is that in some locations buses are running borderline empty.. while at the exact same moment, others are running fully loaded as fast as they can. Some buses end up doing lots of 'empty backhauls' to pick up guests and so on.

You will always have some level of wait when you exit a park at the end of a parade or fireworks show. They can't build the entire system around the BUSIEST time.. they have to build the system to work well at the busy times but also work well at the slow times.

This new routing and flagging system should move the buses more quickly to where they are needed rather than having dedicated buses sit, idling, empty and waiting for guests who may or may not show up.

Think of this kind of scenario.

A bus could leave MK and bring guests to Coronado Springs. And then leave CS empty and return to MK to bring back more guests. That's how it has kinda worked up til now.

Under the new system, a bus could leave MK and bring guests to Coronado Springs. Change the sign, and then take waiting guests from Coronado Springs to DTD. Then it would change the sign again and take waiting guests from DTD to the Contemporary. Quick change of sign again, back to MK and taking more guests to Pop Century.

While that bus was gone.. other buses could be dynamically assigned to take waiting guests from MK to CSR as well. Rather than waiting for the 'dedicated' buses under the old system. AND it freed up two maybe even three dedicated buses to be re-routed dynamically? Less empty miles, better use of the buses and drivers they already have and if all works as designed = less waiting time for guests.

Now imagine that across all the resort and park destinations.

I worked in the transportation industry routing loads on transport trucks. "Empty miles" is a huge logistical problem that software and GPS routing can really help with. The Disney bus problem is the same idea on a smaller scale. I think this will be a huge improvement in service even if they do not add buses or drivers.

Knox

PS> I should add for clarity that the buses don't work exactly as described above currently. There is SOME dynamic routing going on.. but it's all based on verbal radio communications and not as reliable or advanced as what's planned.

 

[mskay]

Wow, Canadian Guy! This sounds really interesting! Looking forward to seeing it implemented!