Driveless cars (shuttles) coming to WDW.

[writerguyfl]

thank you. that's awesome. No more designated driver..

Please tell me that you were being facetious here. It's not okay to be drunk behind the wheel of a "self-driving" Tesla.

 

[Madonna3]

Please tell me that you were being facetious here. It's not okay to be drunk behind the wheel of a "self-driving" Tesla.

That's an interesting point you bring up. What would be the rules/morals/ethics of people being too impaired to drive being in one of these?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I don't think this is the same thing. These are driverless, but the news story about Disney's Uber-like transportation said they were hiring drivers.

I don't know how they could justify having both.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

That's an interesting point you bring up. What would be the rules/morals/ethics of people being too impaired to drive being in one of these?

Right now, you are still considered to be the driver, even when fully automated. But there are concept cars that do not even have steering wheels or other controls for a driver. When we get to that point, I expect the rules of the road to change.

 

[OKW Lover]

I don't know how they could justify having both.

Perhaps for different transportation needs? Like monorail, boat, tram, bus?

 

[Amelia :)]

At least we won't have to tip... every cloud

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Perhaps for different transportation needs? Like monorail, boat, tram, bus?

And they need to add 3 more? Uber, driverless and gondola?

 

[writerguyfl]

I don't know how they could justify having both.

From the linked article:

"Though the shuttles are capable of driving 25 mph or more, their speed is usually limited in initial deployments to 5 to 10 mph."
​

The distance between Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Magic Kingdom is roughly 8 miles. At 10 mph, that trip would take 48 minutes. Thus, these driverless shuttles clearly aren't going to be replacing buses or their new on-demand car service.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

From the linked article:

"Though the shuttles are capable of driving 25 mph or more, their speed is usually limited in initial deployments to 5 to 10 mph."
​

The distance between Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Magic Kingdom is roughly 8 miles. At 10 mph, that trip would take 48 minutes. Thus, these driverless shuttles clearly aren't going to be replacing buses or their new on-demand car service.

We'll see.

 

[OKW Lover]

And they need to add 3 more? Uber, driverless and gondola?

Sure. For the right task.

 

[cranbiz]

WDW is the perfect place for these and using them in the cast shuttles will work.. There are 2 cast shuttles at MK, one at EPCOT and one at DAK. All of them are repetitive, limited access, fairly short routes. While they (at present) won't replace the current buses due to capacity, these should be really successful. They are not going to put drivers out of work, there is plenty of routes that need drivers that driverless shuttles are not going to see service on and this may actually free up drivers for high peak times. They could also be expanded to the CB internal shuttle, possibly the SSR-Treehouse shuttle (but maybe not, they would need to traverse Vacation Club Way and that is a risk Disney may not want to take) and probably the Fort too. They are not ideal for out on World Drive, BVD, etc at this time.

 

[disneynutz]

A shuttle would be nice in the utilidors or between the parks and CM parking.

Bill

 

[writerguyfl]

A shuttle would be nice in the utilidors or between the parks and CM parking.

That crossed my mind, too. One of my Disney jobs was in "Magic Music Days", which hosts performing groups. I was based at Magic Kingdom. The office is located behind Pirates of the Caribbean next to the parade float buildings.

Although I was eventually able to pass the security clearance to drive my car and park at that office, the first few weeks had me parking in the main Cast Member parking lot for Magic Kingdom. From there, I'd take the bus to the entrance to the Utilidors (aka tunnels). I'd make the long walk to end of the tunnel at Pecos Bill's. Up the stairs into the park and back out through a gate by Pirates of the Caribbean. Cross under the railroad and eventually get to the office. If I had to guess, I'd say it was at least a half mile. That hike got old really quickly...especially days when I had to start at the office, drive my car to Disney Springs to host a group, and then return to host a second group at Magic Kingdom.

Having self-driving shuttles that connect the parking through the Utilidors to various points like Adventureland or Tomorrowland without walking would make life easier on Cast Members. It would could be a good way to update Cast Members on any important information about the day's events via in-vehicle TV screens.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

Based on my recent experience driving around Atlanta and to and from Orlando, there are a number of human drivers who care little for life in or outside their vehicles.

That's one of the many reasons I almost never venture 25 miles north on I-75.

 

[Accident]

To me it seems the last few months, disney has started to make the roads wider. I just assumed for more capacity or a dedicated bus lane but I could see it being a bus lane with plans to put these things in them as well. or they are just making them wider for more capacity