***EPCOT Resorts- New Bus Routes***

[donmil723]

"The trip back we took the bus,same route,S/D first Y/BC then BWV.

We got off at the Swan and were in our room 5 minutes before the bus got to the stop. (We are across from the bus stop.)"


Poorman--Just to clarify for me, please. If you got off at the Swan, how do you know the bus also stopped at the Y & BC before going to the Dolphin on the return?

Thank you!

Donna

 

[FriendsOfEeyore]

All I know is this is exactly why we have always driven ourselves to the parks. In the past we have always had a rental car, as my FIL lives about an hour south of WDW in Avon Park. We always visit him, when we are in Orlando.

This year we are driving. I know that the bus is supposed to take you to entrance of MK so that should be faster, but we really enjoy the flexibility of driving on our own terms. Besides, then we are sure to always have a seat.

Our last trip we stayed at the WL, and we enjoyed the boat service to the MK. We tried the bus one night from EPCOT (we had taken the boat to MK, spent part of the day there, and took the monorail to EPCOT. We hated the bus ride home from EPCOT. It was not very convenient with our stroller and then 15mo ds.

We bought DVC-BCV so that we would be walking distance to EPCOT (our favorite resort).

I understand that this is off-topic, but it is these kind of bus situations that make us think that driving is the right answer.

Interesting thread... I have been following this thread the whole time.

 

[Poorman]

Originally posted by donmil723
"The trip back we took the bus,same route,S/D first Y/BC then BWV.

We got off at the Swan and were in our room 5 minutes before the bus got to the stop. (We are across from the bus stop.)"


Poorman--Just to clarify for me, please. If you got off at the Swan, how do you know the bus also stopped at the Y & BC before going to the Dolphin on the return?

Thank you!

Donna

I did it the easy way,I asked the bus driver.

I went into DVC whole hog. I bought 1220 points. I am seriously think of selling a lot of my points if the situation doesn't get better. I just sent in my dues check,about $5000.00. This does not sit well with me. I have a rental car and I guess I should drive to MK and AK but we wanted to see if the bus service got any better, NOT. If we are in a luxury resort I feel we should be accorded luxury service. At MK last night after Wishes we were at the bus stop waiting for a bus. While we were there 2 ASR and 2 PC buses came,0 BWV. There were more people waiting for the BWV buses than AS and PC. If you want to know how I know, I looked across the driveway and saw the bus stop.

 

[GrimGhost]

Clearly the new routes have not taken effect.......

Poorman--have you asked any of the bus drivers if they have heard about the proposed new routes or the communication letter Doc had mentioned ??

 

[PKS44]

poorman-

it is not just that you deserve luxury service because you are staying at a luxury resort--you are paying for that service with your dues and depending on where you own you may be paying more than others...as it appears the BWV owners are charged well more than the service they could possibly use (it appears they pay about 19% of the costs but comprise only about 11% of the guests)

Please please please plan to write to complain about this situation.

 

[patsal]

That's awesome news! Now if they would just give WL a dedicated bus rather than sharing iwththe campground I would have no more complaints. I find that transportation is the only thing I really have been frustrated with. I would imagine the campers can't be too happy when the busses arrrive there with standing room only.

 

[donmil723]

Thanks for the clarification, Poorman!

I guess I'm one of the minority here and really haven't had a problem with the bus service at either BCV or BWV. I do think it will be a good idea to split the bus routes like Doc reported they are planning to do as I have seen them get very crowded at times.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your visit and that the new bus routes are implemented while you are still there!

Thanks!

Donna

 

[Poorman]

Originally posted by PKS44
poorman-


Please please please plan to write to complain about this situation.

I wrote to them in September after our last trip. I got a response 6 weeks later saying they were aware of the problem and are working on resolving it. If the e-mail took six weeks the fix should take a while longer.....

 

[PKS44]

poorman-
not sure whom you wrote in Sept-but my advice refers to writing to DVCMC along the lines that we are being overcharged and underserved...as I said, we are paying 19% of the costs and getting only 11% of the service ..what it sounds like they may have done is just changed the order of stops--BWV first instead of last--which should reduce BWV wait times since BWV guests should have fewer times that the bus is too full to take them after it had filled up at the other resorts...

but if they are still splitting the costs as before it could possibly be a violation of Florida Timeshare laws which do not allow timeshare dues to be assessed for nontimeshare things*..and technically and in reality that extra 8% of the cost is not going for BWV timeshare costs but is paying for the transportation of other nontimeshare guests...it will be interesting to see how they plan to address this whole question. and while they are already somewhat aware of it, the more people they hear about it from, the more serious they are likely to take it.

Paul
*the Attic room at the BWV is an example of this issue. There is a multifunction room for gathering in the BWV called the Attic....originally called the Members' Attic except it is not used by Members but instead is rented out by Disney. Currently there is a legal challenge to see if any dues were used for the upkeep and cleaning of this room since that would be a violation of the timeshare laws since it is not something that Members' had any use of or access to. so they should not be forced to pay for it..(it would be no different than using Members's dues to maintain the Wedding Chapel at the Grand Floridian for example.)

 

[DisneyConvert]

Please take my poll at:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=476634

Thanks!

 

[GrimGhost]

Bump!

 

[jaysue]

I was at DVC this past week staying at BWV. I did not see any change to the bus sevice from either AK or MK - it was the same S&D then YC then BC then BWV from both parks the 4 times I was on the bus from these parks.

Maybe the change is only for peak times and or days and will not apply all the time.

After having enough of this nonsense, I started hopping off at S/D and going across the bridge. Same with the boat from MGM - would get off at S/D and then hop over the bridge to BWV.

I really liked my BWV stay but the bus service to there and for that matter to BCV needs some serious help

thanks
jaysue

 

[GrimGhost]

...For the update Jaysue. It appears Webmaster Doc's OP is not yet panning out as it indicated the change would be effective 1/18?????

 

[Poorman]

Last update for BWV ,We leave today. Last evening, we waited 40 minutes.It was 5 PM and 3 AK and 1 DTD bus came in that time . Then our bus.

The good news is we went directly to MK.

All in all I would say the bus service at BWV is still horrible. Not what we should be getting staying in a deluxe resort.

I don't think they really care what we think.

There seems to be a lot of maint. problems, Mono breaking down, Dinoseaur, breaking down, just before our ride, had to get off and move to the other line.

Bus gate to BWV not working properly, bus had to wait a few minutes for it to go up.

I would say it is due to all the cut backs. They don't work on it 'til its broken.

I don't want to sound all negitive, we had a geart 1BR ,4103, no real problems with the room, very quiet,not too far from the elevator. Nice view of Illuminations.


It's just those darn buses...........................................

 

[TerriBelle]

Just back and no change to bus routes.

I was gong to write a quick trip report and the one complaint I had was the busses! We tried to use the monorail as much as possible to/from the MK but Sat. night after Spectromagic & wishes we took the bus. We waited a LONG time and the bus stopped at all the stops!

 

[Jcricket Fan]

We were at BVC from 1/19 - 1/28 as others have stated our trips to MK usually included all 5 resorts. Our longest wait for a bus was 20 mins. Most other waits were 5 to 10 mins.
Busses were crowded a lot of the time...standing room only.

Colleen

 

[Pumbaa_]

We were at the BWV Jan 17-22nd. We went to MK on the 21st. We were quite surprised when an empty bus pulled up tot he BWV (this was in the morning, 9:00 opening, it was around 9:15) We thought it was our lucky day until the bus took a LEFT out of the parking lot and then went past the BC/YC and went to the Swan (yes the Swan) picked up 2 people and then took a right out of the parking lot to go pick people up at the Dolphin. Then took another right and went back past the YC/BC and the BWV on its way to the MK.

To say we were not thrilled is an understatement. No idea why it would not go to the S/D then BWV instead of backtracking, but it did. Took quite some time too. I liked getting picked up last better In all our trips we have never rented a car. I think we will be next trip.)