Go back to showing hotel ids for transportation?

[disneyfinatics]

Has anyone else noticed the number of people using Disney transportation to get off at Congress Park and walk to Downtown Disney? This use to be our favorite place to stay, but this past January we were glad we weren't there. I can't tell you how many people I heard were using the buses to get to DTD. I wonder how many people use DTD as a way to avoid paying for parking at the parks. All they have to do is make it there and take the buses from there. I would like them to go back to having people show their hotel room key or some type of bracelet. We stayed at a resort this June that had you wear a rubber bracelet to use the amenities. It was nice because I didn't have to worry about showing a room key. Does anyone else agree? If so what could be done to get Disney to do this?

 

[ransom]

I wouldn't want to wear a bracelet, but I wouldn't mind showing my room key. If it makes the bus service more efficient, I'd be in favor of it.

 

[ahalla]

We will be staying at SSR this December and I am already nervous about this. When we were there last December we brought the bus back one night and it was so jammed packed full of people that you couldn't breathe. I would not have an issue with wearing a bracelet, hey even a neon flashing sign after that ride. Hopefully Disney does something about this and soon, as that is the only thing I am not looking forward to on our next trip!

 

[shellybaxter]

I don't think Disney wants to discourage people from using the buses to go to DTD. When we visited with a large family group my teen nephew wanted to go to DTD and the disney transportation folks at EPCOT told him to hop on a bus to SSR and walk from there. He wasn't staying onsite and no one asked if he was. Disney wants people to get to their shopping and dining establishments

 

[disneyfinatics]

I can understand that. They need to have buses dedicated to DTD then, because it is a huge pain if you're staying in that area of Saratoga. Having exclusive use of transportation has always been one the "perks" of staying on property that we no longer seem to have, but that they still advertise.

 

[crisi]

A hopper entitles you to all Disney transportation - not staying at a resort. They would have to change the entitlement before they gate, and I don't think they will do that - people not staying at Disney resorts still visit the resorts to shop, go to restaurants, visit the resort to consider future stays....

Of course, with gas prices increasing they may decide to try and reduce bus use, restricting bus access would be one way to do that.

 

[disneyfinatics]

Could you please tell me where you saw that info.? I've never heard that before or read it on Disney's site. This was all I could find:

Add the Park Hopper® Option to your ticket to come and go through multiple Theme Parks on the same day for the entire length of your ticket.

Enjoy the freedom to be more spontaneous and relaxed with your daily vacation plans. And if you're a Guest at a Disney Resort hotel, then no matter where you begin your day, the Park Hopper® Option lets you go from Park to Park to enjoy up to four extra Theme Park hours a day with the Extra Magic Hours benefit!
Enjoy the freedom to be more spontaneous and relaxed with your daily vacation plans.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Does anyone else agree? If so what could be done to get Disney to do this?

Much to do about nothing, as far as I'm concerned. If people want to use the SSR buses to get to DTD, so what. We stayed at SSR 3 weeks ago and really had no problems with the buses at all.

 

[Caskbill]

A hopper entitles you to all Disney transportation - not staying at a resort. They would have to change the entitlement before they gate, and I don't think they will do that - people not staying at Disney resorts still visit the resorts to shop, go to restaurants, visit the resort to consider future stays....

Of course, with gas prices increasing they may decide to try and reduce bus use, restricting bus access would be one way to do that.

It didn't use to be that way, and I don't recall ever seeing anything in print that says they changed it. In the past those with park hopper tickets could use transportation that went between the various parks. To use a bus that went to any of the resorts you had to show your resort key. I guess they just thought it was too much bother to check resort keys and just let anybody on.

The SSR busses as far as I know are paid for entirely out of SSR members' dues. I doubt very much if the SSR members are getting any type of credit toward the bus service from Disney tickets. In this case it means people who are not paying for the SSR transportation in any manner are using it basically for free, and at the expense of SSR owners.

What might make sense is to have the currently dedicated SSR busses have a completely unique paint scheme. Something about DVC member's transportation. They could do the same for OKW. The other DVC resorts would be more difficult since those busses also share hotel guests.

But i find it disconcerting to be paying SSR dues for transportation expenses while Disney encourages non-SSR guests to use that bus to get to DD.

 

[shellybaxter]

I pretty sure Disney wants people to visit their resorts (all of them) to shop at their shops and eat at their restaurants. I can't even imagine Disney telling an offsite guest with reservations at Jiko that they can't ride the bus over from AK.

As an SSR member I agree that we are probably paying for transportation for guests to get to DTD. I'm not sure how Disney could stop this and really don't think they want to. Perhaps SSR folks should ask for Disney to pay part of the bus fees, or perhaps they already do

 

[disneyfinatics]

Something else to think about is anyone can use our pools. The things like transportation and pools are suppose to be for guests only, but it's not regulated.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

What might make sense is to have the currently dedicated SSR busses have a completely unique paint scheme. Something about DVC member's transportation. They could do the same for OKW. The other DVC resorts would be more difficult since those busses also share hotel guests.
But i find it disconcerting to be paying SSR dues for transportation expenses while Disney encourages non-SSR guests to use that bus to get to DD.

I totally agree and I like your idea Caskbill. We had a horrific time with the busses during our stays at SSR. We heard the bus driver give this information to someone who asked how to get to DTD. They got the last seats on the bus and we had to stand holding a sleeping 2 year old DGS. Probably wouldn't have bothered me if I hadn't been so tired from a full park day. We have solved the problem by now driving ourselves to the parks so we're lucky in that respect I guess.

 

[spiceycat]

But i find it disconcerting to be paying SSR dues for transportation expenses while Disney encourages non-SSR guests to use that bus to get to DD.

that is what I wanted stopped.

if Disney wants guests not staying onsite to use DTD fine - have them walk over to the CR (at least for now) when at the MK, or BC if at Epcot.

not telling everyone to use SSR - but hey since Disney isn't paying for it - they probably encourage it. Remember back when they first did away with the buses to DTD from the theme parks - then they were saying to ride the OKW bus, even when DI was still around...

either stop this policy - or Disney needs to pay for more of the transportation costs to SSR.

 

[Sammie]

The thing is with this issue is it creates no problems for Disney.

Problems for Disney come in two kinds, the kind that costs them money and/or time for their staff and the kind that causes a public outcry so loud they can't ignore it.

According to friends in management at SSR, they receive very few complaints about this issue.

So basically if you don't like it, complain and complain again. Complain while at the resort and to DVC.

 

[WOW]

We have been going to WDW since 1985 (we are DVC owners) and have NEVER had a bus driver check to see if the practice was being abused by those who were not entitled to get on the bus. It has never been a problem for us, but it seems like the buses are getting very crowded, so things may change. As others have said, Disney wants people in the shopping area of DTD, so I don't think it will happen.

 

[culli]

I guess I have never really paid attention, we have been on busy buses and not so busy. If in fact our dues go to pay for bus transportation and others are getting a free ride - I guess I can see that an issue.

However, it is one thing to post it here but have any of you sent these concerns to Disney or DVC? No action will ever be taken on any issue if it is not brought up to the appropriate people.

 

[disneyfinatics]

I sent an e-mail to Disney today. I will let you know what they say. I hope others will do the same.

 

[JimMIA]

Although we hear about this issue from time to time, I doubt it will be changed. I sympathize with my fellow SSR owners who depend on the buses, but as Sammie rightly said, it's not a problem for Disney.

As long as the DTD-hotel guests walk from their hotels, it shouldn't pose a problem for the Mouse. If they drive and take up all the parking at DTD, that's a different story, but I'd expect Disney to focus on the parking rather than the buses in that situation.

If the SSR buses are funded entirely by SSR dues, the logic is certainly there for a change, but the difficulty would be enforcement. Disney's not much good at enforcing anything.

 

[Christine & family]

I just sent a note to DVC member services since I'm sure Disney doesn't care. Hopefully DVC will listen. I'll let you know what I get for a response.

 

[mvc1997]

This just seems so wrong. If you are not staying on Disney property you should not be able to just board a bus anywhere and go to any resort you feel like. I have always felt safe for my family, because to get into the resort you have to use Disney transportation, OR show some kind of ID or ressie at the Gate.
If anyone can just wander in, and roam around how safe is that? And why bother with the gate at the main entrance of each resort?
Just makes me uncomfortable.

And if the bus service is coming out of member dues, CM's should not be offering it! JMHO