betterlatethannever
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2002
- Messages
- 3,184
Just got back from WDW and have a few comments about getting around WDW. I had a rental car. If you recall, on my last trip, I kept on missing turns because I either was reading the signs or not reading the signs. In any case, it wasnt my fault. LOL
This time it was a complete success. No mistakes.
We drove all over pressing pennies. We must have traveled on every major and minor road at WDW. Even found the Sand Trap Restaurant and had lunch there.
When you go to the AKL, you turn into the resort, but the road continues. Do you know where it goes? NOWHERE. Actually it goes to some backstage areas. But interestingly, when you take the road to nowhere, the speed limit is 15 MPH. When you are coming back from nowhere, the speed limit is 30 mph.
I though we were going to get arrested at Saratoga Springs
. There was supposed to be a pressed penny machine at the old Disney Institute. So my DW and I drove over to Saratoga Springs. Now, we dont look like golfers and it is obvious we never have had a spa treatment, so when we pulled up to the guardhouse, the guard was a little skeptical/suspicious and asked us what we wanted. When I said we were looking for pressed penny machines, I thought he was going to call security. Well, after a few tense moments 
he said there were no pressed penny machines there. I said thank you and drove out.
Buses
Only used the buses a few times, once to get from the AK to AKL after the Sunrise Safari. So, wouldnt you know it, as we were walking up to the bus stop, the bus pulled away.
Well, we had to wait 9 WHOLE MINUTES for the next bus . I dont know how people put up with such loooong waits 
.
The other two times was to get to the meadows trading post at FW from the Settlement and back to press pennies at the trading post. Waiting times were negligible, except for the one I caused. I knew I needed the orange bus so we went to the settlement depot to wait for it. A couple of other busses pulled in and out of the depot while we waited. When the orange bus got there, it stayed in the road (didnt pull into the depot). So I stood there looking at the bus (waiting for him to pull in) and the driver was looking at me. This staredown lasted for what seemed to be a couple of minutes, so I walked up to the drivers window and said I needed to get to the Meadows Trading post. He said get in. I guess I didnt realize that not all busses pull into the depot.
Boats
While we were staying at the WL, we used both the large boats to get to MK, and the small boats to get to FW. There were at least two large boats running so waits were very short.
The friendship boats that travel on the seven seas lagoon in Epcot now have a different pattern. I dont know if it has been this way in the past, but Ive never seen it.
They do not stop anymore near Canada. There is only one boat and it travels in a circular pattern from Morocco to Germany to (near) Mexico every 20 minutes.
Actually, I would like to think that WDW took and modified my suggestion. I wrote them last year suggesting that the boats drop off at opposite corners (Canada to Germany) (Mexico to Morocco). That way, people who use the International Gateway can actually get somewhere in WS using the boats.
Monorails
We didnt take any monorails (too busy driving all over for pressed pennies). However, we did meet a monorail driver at one of the Flower Power concerts. George was his name. Hes been a driver for 5 years. He was telling us some stories about monorail breakdowns between shows.
Anyway, it was a great time and I think I am ready to move down and become a WDW bus driver .
Ed
This time it was a complete success. No mistakes.
We drove all over pressing pennies. We must have traveled on every major and minor road at WDW. Even found the Sand Trap Restaurant and had lunch there.
When you go to the AKL, you turn into the resort, but the road continues. Do you know where it goes? NOWHERE. Actually it goes to some backstage areas. But interestingly, when you take the road to nowhere, the speed limit is 15 MPH. When you are coming back from nowhere, the speed limit is 30 mph.
I though we were going to get arrested at Saratoga Springs
. There was supposed to be a pressed penny machine at the old Disney Institute. So my DW and I drove over to Saratoga Springs. Now, we dont look like golfers and it is obvious we never have had a spa treatment, so when we pulled up to the guardhouse, the guard was a little skeptical/suspicious and asked us what we wanted. When I said we were looking for pressed penny machines, I thought he was going to call security. Well, after a few tense moments he said there were no pressed penny machines there. I said thank you and drove out.Buses
Only used the buses a few times, once to get from the AK to AKL after the Sunrise Safari. So, wouldnt you know it, as we were walking up to the bus stop, the bus pulled away.
Well, we had to wait 9 WHOLE MINUTES for the next bus
. I dont know how people put up with such loooong waits .The other two times was to get to the meadows trading post at FW from the Settlement and back to press pennies at the trading post. Waiting times were negligible, except for the one I caused. I knew I needed the orange bus so we went to the settlement depot to wait for it. A couple of other busses pulled in and out of the depot while we waited. When the orange bus got there, it stayed in the road (didnt pull into the depot). So I stood there looking at the bus (waiting for him to pull in) and the driver was looking at me. This staredown lasted for what seemed to be a couple of minutes, so I walked up to the drivers window and said I needed to get to the Meadows Trading post. He said get in. I guess I didnt realize that not all busses pull into the depot.
Boats
While we were staying at the WL, we used both the large boats to get to MK, and the small boats to get to FW. There were at least two large boats running so waits were very short.
The friendship boats that travel on the seven seas lagoon in Epcot now have a different pattern. I dont know if it has been this way in the past, but Ive never seen it.
They do not stop anymore near Canada. There is only one boat and it travels in a circular pattern from Morocco to Germany to (near) Mexico every 20 minutes.
Actually, I would like to think that WDW took and modified my suggestion
. I wrote them last year suggesting that the boats drop off at opposite corners (Canada to Germany) (Mexico to Morocco). That way, people who use the International Gateway can actually get somewhere in WS using the boats.Monorails
We didnt take any monorails (too busy driving all over for pressed pennies). However, we did meet a monorail driver at one of the Flower Power concerts. George was his name. Hes been a driver for 5 years. He was telling us some stories about monorail breakdowns between shows.
Anyway, it was a great time and I think I am ready to move down and become a WDW bus driver
.Ed
