Hoop Dee Doo Bus Fiasco

[rpumpire]

I have attended the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness over a dozen times in the past. Most often, I have arrived via boat from the Magic Kingdom. After the shows, I have used various forms of transportation to return to my resort.

On my latest visit a few days ago, however, I discovered that Disney has completely messed up the bus transportation from Hoop Dee Doo. Gone are the buses done by zones (i.e. each bus goes to several resorts). Now, the buses dump all of the patrons at the Magic Kingdom!

Why would they transport people to a location where there are already more people than they can reasonably handle? When we arrived at MK, we had to wait in line through four buses before finally boarding one to get back to Caribbean Beach.

It doesn't seem to make any sense add busloads of people to a theme park near closing time just to get in a long line for transport back to a resort. I can only imagine what a nightmare this must be when crowds are even larger!

 

[BigAlsGal]

That must have been awhile ago. I don't think I've seen busses go between resorts.

 

[rpumpire]

In the past (even as recently as December), they would have buses go from Pioneer Hall back to all of the other resorts by zones after the Hoop Dee Doo shows -- each bus would go to several resorts. They didn't just dump everyone at the park.

 

[tobikaye]

I have not read anything about the change of dropping off at MK. I wonder if it was just for that day for some reason. I know that occasionally there are buses in the evenings from FW to MK that pick up at the Settlement, but they would have the MK listing for their bus.

 

[rpumpire]

The cast member at Fort Wilderness said that is now the way they are doing it whenever MK is open. Bad idea, if you ask me!

 

[Hopefully]

I have not read anything about the change of dropping off at MK. I wonder if it was just for that day for some reason. I know that occasionally there are buses in the evenings from FW to MK that pick up at the Settlement, but they would have the MK listing for their bus.

I have read this reported several months ago. Only buses now go to MK if it is open

 

[TheRustyScupper]

It doesn't seem to make any sense add busloads of people to a theme park near closing time just to get in a long line for transport back to a resort

1) They are using the newly designed bus area at MK as a hub.
. . . saves manpower (drivers & dispatchers)
. . . saves buses
. . . saves fuel
2) Makes perfect sense.
3) Your option is to take a cab directly from The Fort to your resort.

 

[rpumpire]

1) They are using the newly designed bus area at MK as a hub.
. . . saves manpower (drivers & dispatchers)
. . . saves buses
. . . saves fuel
2) Makes perfect sense.
3) Your option is to take a cab directly from The Fort to your resort.

In my experience, the buses to the resorts from Hoop Dee Doo were always full. I don't see how it make sense to dump full buses of people to an already crowded bus hub at MK around closing time. After being dumped there, we waited nearly an hour -- through four bus arrivals -- before we finally made it on board for the trip to Caribbean Beach.

Perhaps you are right that it makes perfect sense -- for Disney's bottom line -- but not from a customer service standpoint. Next time, I will most certainly take a cab unless they return to a more customer-friendly transportation model.

 

[minnie mum]

3) Your option is to take a cab directly from The Fort to your resort.

Oh, they're allowing cabs down at Pioneer Hall now? I thought you had to take an internal bus all the way up to the main entrance to do that.

I agree with Rpumpire. This has nothing to do with sense, from a customer satisfaction viewpoint. It has everything to do with Disney cutting back on customer service. Just another cheapskate cost cutting.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

do not know how they could allow cabs at Hoop Dee Doo as there is no where for them to park. guessing you will have to take an internal bus to other end of campground to get a taxi. that might be faster but is still going to take some time

 

[watermusicdad]

You could also take a bus from the Settlement to the Outpost (orange, yellow or purple will get you there), then to Disney Springs, then to your resort. Not faster, but just another option.

 

[strmtroopr96]

This was our experience last August. After we left the late show at HDD, we expected to be able to get a bus back to our resort from Fort Wilderness as I had been reading for months was the current process. Well there were busses but they they were only delivering everyone to the MK.

 

[Govols1997]

We were there in October for the late HDDR. Took the boat over from MK. Bus straight back to Pop afterward.

 

[OKW Lover]

do not know how they could allow cabs at Hoop Dee Doo as there is no where for them to park. guessing you will have to take an internal bus to other end of campground to get a taxi. that might be faster but is still going to take some time

That's correct. If you want a cab can take the internal bus to the front parking lot. You could also take the boat to the Contemporary or WL and catch a cab from there.

 

[keishashadow]

That's correct. If you want a cab can take the internal bus to the front parking lot. You could also take the boat to the Contemporary or WL and catch a cab from there.

didn't think cabs could get to HDD directly, thanks.

we've had instance when staying @ VWL and weather turned bad = boats not running. Directed back from dock and had to wait for buses to be summoned. Would've walked but it was raining too hard.

hoop de doo is not cheap, they should offer bus service back, even if folks have to pre-register for it when making their reservations/combine bus service to multiple resorts imo.

it's getting to be an adventure just getting to/from FW.

 

[Shanti]

In my experience, the buses to the resorts from Hoop Dee Doo were always full. I don't see how it make sense to dump full buses of people to an already crowded bus hub at MK around closing time. After being dumped there, we waited nearly an hour -- through four bus arrivals -- before we finally made it on board for the trip to Caribbean Beach.

Perhaps you are right that it makes perfect sense -- for Disney's bottom line -- but not from a customer service standpoint. Next time, I will most certainly take a cab unless they return to a more customer-friendly transportation model.

Well, it makes sense from a customer-service standpoint if you're staying at Fort Wilderness. Taking Hoop Dee Doo customers to MK instead of directly to resorts cuts down on the number of noisy buses going through the Fort Wilderness campgrounds every night. Keep in mind when you go to Hoop Dee Doo, you're going into a resort, not a park, and since there are campgrounds, many guests are residing outside in tents.

Also keep in mind that while a taxi will be fine to take you to and from the Outpost Depot (at the front of Fort Wilderness), it will not be allowed to drive you to or from the Settlement Depot (in the back of Fort Wilderness by Hoop Dee Doo), for the same reason they won't let people park cars in the Settlement area. It would create too much traffic going through the resort & campgrounds. So you would also have to take an internal Fort Wilderness bus.

I recommend the boat to & from MK, instead. It takes you directly to and from the Settlement area.

 

[Robo]

Well, it makes sense from a customer-service standpoint if you're staying at Fort Wilderness. Taking Hoop Dee Doo customers to MK instead of directly to resorts cuts down on the number of noisy buses going through the Fort Wilderness campgrounds every night. Keep in mind when you go to Hoop Dee Doo, you're going into a resort, not a park, and since there are campgrounds, many guests are residing outside in tents.

The direct-to-resort post-Hoop buses did not drive through or past the campsite areas.
They only drove the road that heads (in the opposite direction) through the woods to/from Wilderness Lodge and Monorail resorts areas (parallel to the jogging/exercise path that is not in use at night.)

The current Hoop buses that take guests to be dropped at the MK gates bus terminal use that same route.
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The buses that DO run nearby and past the FtW campsites are the FtW Internal buses… and they run all the time.