"I LOATHE the BUS..."

[stacyp9]

I also hate the buses. At the end of an exhausting day at the park, I like sitting down for the ride home without being glared at by various other people who want my seat.

We rent houses off-site now though so the bus isn't even an option. We also like being able to spread out at the end of the day, on big beds in rooms with doors that we can close to drown out each others snoring,lol.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am not sure I understand why being in a scooter jumps you to the front of the line.

Because the scooter must be parked in the designated scooter space (if people are seated there they will have to get up and move to allow the scooter to be placed there) and tied down.

I usually note that I'm off the bus and probably halfway into the destination by the time they are able to unload the scooter from the bus at the other end so it doesn't bother me at all.

I also think Disney is correct in not forcing persons using a scooter or wheelchair to possibly split their party onto separate buses. If it means I have to wait, then I have to wait. Waiting is part of a theme park and part of public transportation and since I can't possibly tell if the wheelchair/scooter user is abusing the system by using that device, I'll do the waiting.

 

[Alabama Minnie]

I agree with the PP about the Scooter/Wheelchair policy on the buses. It needs to be done more fairly. I think it is being abused often.

 

[PiperMickey]

The buses are part of what makes a Disney vacation magical for me. I do most of the driving for my family on other vacations and family outings so it is very relaxing for me to not have to do so at Disney.

I think, given the number of people they have to move they do an extraordinary job.

The key is allowing enough time when getting somewhere to count on a bus being there immediately. But that is within my control.

Different strokes...

 

[Broncobilly83]

We never did the DTD buses, since we were at POFQ, so we took the ferry, but otherwise, we did not have an issue with the buses, and that was the week of Christmas

 

[leahjade]

Is the problem getting worse in the past few years or does it depend on your resort? When we start at French Quarter and Boardwalk, the buses were great. However, our last trip at AKL, I thought the buses were few and far between and ended up costing us a lot of our day.

 

[rgf207]

I agree with the PP about the Scooter/Wheelchair policy on the buses. It needs to be done more fairly. I think it is being abused often.

Exactly. I have no problem with scooters boarding first but it's the 15 other "family members" that get to jump the line that really bothers me.

 

[CookieDiva]

Is the problem getting worse in the past few years or does it depend on your resort?

We have been "doing" Disney since 1996 and attempt their transportation every so often just because of positive things that we read on this board. We have stayed at Ft. Wilderness, the Values, and several off site locations. Unfortunately our experiences, are no different than they were in 1996 (when we had two strollers) than they they are now (when we are reduced from group of 6 to a group of 4 ) - we just do not have the patience, whatever, to do Disney transportation.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We stayed at AKV in March and had no issues with the buses.

Personally I enjoy the buses. I like that while I am on vacation I do not have to worry about anything including driving.

 

[Doc CW]

I love the buses, sure they have a few drawbacks and can sometimes be less than efficient, but overall I havent had bad bus service and I use the buses whenever I go anywhere in Disney unless I can walk to it.

 

[MonkersMama]

We've had some pretty horrendous bus experiences (i.e. bus driver forgetting where he was taking us and driving one hour out of the way - seriously...one hour!!), but this was the kicker: on our last trip it was pouring rain and the MK bus shelter was over full - after 2 hours of waiting for the POFQ bus and there was little hope in sight we finally decided to take the boat to WL, then the bus to DTD via another stop at GF (then it was too late to take the boat to POFQ) and our DARLING CM bus driver took us directly to POFQ off bus route - after she sought permission to do so, her idea. 3 hours to get back to the hotel. NEVER again.

After that it is drive for us, bus during the middle of the day for nap time only. AAA parking spots are golden.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Wrong thread.

 

[BarbieGal457]

I agree with the PP from Queens. I am so accustomed to the absolute horrors and inefficiency of SEPTA that Disney busses are a dream come true! A clean seat not covered in spit and trash with a driver who doesn't curse at me? Even my friends couldn't believe it! I don't really have a preference in bus v. driving, but all I know is, there are much worse busses roaming the good ole USA, and I would gladly stand on a Disney bus any day over my home bus/subway!

 

[Jamie77]

I can pretty much deal with any bus situation except the DD and AK buses back to my resort. I've waited over an hour from each location although while waiting for my bus at the AK, the drivers would pull up to my stop and tell me they weren't picking up anybody from that stop, just dropping off. I was only upset because I was going to miss my lunch reservation and I made sure to get to my bus stop 1.5 hours ahead of time and still was late. I think I liked the buses better when the drivers could just pick up anyone waiting (especially long lines of people waiting) instead of having to go where they are programmed to go.

 

[branv]

Our first trip as a couple, we used only the bus. We have to drive all over kingdom-come to get anywhere at home, so thought it would be nice to let someone else do the driving. Wroooong. We didn't have any big problems with buses showing up per se, but it just took so long to just get down the road a little ways. Add to that the herd mentality (stampede!) and rudeness of guests to each other (and no, I don't remotely mean whether someone gives someone else a seat), we were just in general. I mean, we won't wait in line for a ride longer than 30 minutes, but we'll take a bus that takes us at least double the time to get there vs. a car? Not for us.

So we've rented a car since and it has been incredible. The only time we don't use it is when we are in a direct route to MK via boat or monorail. In fact, I was just looking at our last trip (May '08), and noticed the time stamps on our night of arrival. We left WL about 4:15 pm, and I have a picture of myself in the parking lot at DHS at 4:29 pm. We took the tram, entered DHS, rode ToT twice, had dinner at CS, shopped 2-3 shops, and the next picture has a time stamp of 6:58 pm of me on MK Main Street with the castle (Spectro night). And that INCLUDES the time it takes drivers to MK having to make a second connection via monorail or boat.

In comparison, one afternoon that same trip, about 3 pm, we decided to take the bus to Epcot. We waited about 30 minutes for one to arrive, then it had to make another stop for guest pickup, and overall about an hour later we were just pulling up to Epcot. Oy... That same journey using a car would have taken maximum half that time to be standing at the gate with ticket in hand. And no one would have wacked me in the head with their bag as they walked past me to a seat

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Ok so don't get on it. Sounds simple to me.

Maybe for you.

For me, part of the appeal of WDW is that I can park my car and not look at it again for a week. So yeah, it does make it more of a vacation for me.

I agree completely.

For those of you public transit users that may help but I'm not completely convinced. I had never set foot on any public transit (and my city doesn't offer one) but never had an issue with Disney busses. Its about perspective. We have drove a handful of times the last year (b/c checking out those days) and didn't find anything about it to be shorter/save time.

 

[jenniferhouston2]

On behalf of all of us car drivers, THANK YOU for using the bus!!

I couldnt imagine the parking lot crowd if buses/monorails/ferrys were not available.

 

[Figment632]

As do I, imo the answer to WDW transportation issue is to use the TTA on a big scale.

 

[disneychic]

For me, part of the appeal of WDW is that I can park my car and not look at it again for a week.

Agreed

 

[all4disney98]

On behalf of all of us car drivers, THANK YOU for using the bus!!

I couldnt imagine the parking lot crowd if buses/monorails/ferrys were not available.

And vice versa