interesting comment by our bus driver

[durango kid]

Hi all,

I was at SSR last week. Every morning DW and I had the bus to the park all by ourselves. No, I'm not kidding!

One morning I mentioned to the driver that I had heard rumors that some of his coworkers had been directing Downtown Disney Partyers to take the SSR bus and walk over. His response to me was that may have been true in the past...but they were now telling people to take the bus over to one of the economy resorts and catch a bus from there. He further said, you spend the big bucks to stay at SSR and deserve not to have that happening.

He said it not me!

 

[OneMoreTry]

Did he seem sincere?

Maybe not all the CM's are antagonistic toward DVC members.

 

[pplasky]

This is good news. You will still have the occasional few who figure out to do this on their own, but it should be much better without the bus drivers and other cast members telling them to do it.

 

[durango kid]

one more try:

He was being very sincere. He honestly felt that when you pay more you deserve more.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That is good news, if it is true! I would hope he isn't just one individual who feels that way.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

One morning I mentioned to the driver that I had heard rumors that some of his coworkers had been directing Downtown Disney Partyers to take the SSR bus and walk over. His response to me was that may have been true in the past...but they were now telling people to take the bus over to one of the economy resorts and catch a bus from there. He further said, you spend the big bucks to stay at SSR and deserve not to have that happening.

He said it not me!

I feel stupid for asking but I'm a little confused. What do you mean when you say take the SSR bus and walk over ? From where? And if they are being told to take the bus over to one of the value resorts (from what starting point) and catch a bus from there, (to where)? Sorry if this is a stupid question. I'm just not getting it.

 

[tjkraz]

I feel stupid for asking but I'm a little confused. What do you mean when you say take the SSR bus and walk over ? From where? And if they are being told to take the bus over to one of the value resorts (from what starting point) and catch a bus from there, (to where)? Sorry if this is a stupid question. I'm just not getting it.

Disney does not run busses directly from the Theme Parks to Downtown Disney, reportedly to discourage guests from parking in the free DD lots and taking a bus to their destination park.

There were reports after SSR opened that drivers and other Disney folk were telling guests to take the bus to SSR then walk over to Downtown Disney. Obviously some were very upset at the potential for the SSR busses to fill with non-resort guests at park closing times. It would also add to the foot traffic through the resort.

On top of that, it's just poor information to give. From the Congress Park bus stop, it takes about 10-15 minutes to walk to the DD Marketplace. Those headed to PI or the West Side would be in for quite a hike. And, the path is not exactly easy to find from the bus stop if you are unfamiliar with the area--particularly in the dark.

It was just bad advice all around. CMs should just be telling people to take a bus back to their resort and then wait to catch the DD bus.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

Thanks tjkraz. Now I get it.

 

[mickeyc]

This was a good post. Thanks for the clarification. I was also confused.

 

[thelobstershanty]

Disney does not run busses directly from the Theme Parks to Downtown Disney, reportedly to discourage guests from parking in the free DD lots and taking a bus to their destination park.

There were reports after SSR opened that drivers and other Disney folk were telling guests to take the bus to SSR then walk over to Downtown Disney. Obviously some were very upset at the potential for the SSR busses to fill with non-resort guests at park closing times. It would also add to the foot traffic through the resort.

On top of that, it's just poor information to give. From the Congress Park bus stop, it takes about 10-15 minutes to walk to the DD Marketplace. Those headed to PI or the West Side would be in for quite a hike. And, the path is not exactly easy to find from the bus stop if you are unfamiliar with the area--particularly in the dark.

It was just bad advice all around. CMs should just be telling people to take a bus back to their resort and then wait to catch the DD bus.

I believe this information is being given to people that are not staying at a WDW resort. Any disney admission ticket includes transportation to all areas in WDW. The bus driivers are giving these people the easiest routes to take. The Epcot resort buses are recommended by the bus drivers for people that want to go from AK or MK to Epcot or MGM; OKW is recommended for people that want to go from a park to Downtown Disney, VWL is recommended for someone to go to MK. As long as all Disney transportation is included in any admission ticket, the bus drivers are giving the quickest and easiest way to get from point A to point B; to people that are entitled to the use of any form of Disney transportation.

 

[tjkraz]

I believe this information is being given to people that are not staying at a WDW resort.

Not true. We're talking about people leaving a theme park who asked a CM "how do I get to Downtown Disney", and were simply directed to the SSR bus.

As long as all Disney transportation is included in any admission ticket, the bus drivers are giving the quickest and easiest way to get from point A to point B; to people that are entitled to the use of any form of Disney transportation.

I never said they weren't entitled to use the busses. But I heartily disagree with the assertion that taking a bus from the theme park to SSR and then walking on to DD is the "quickest and easiest way" to get there. "Quickest" will vary from one moment to the next, and it's certainly not the "easiest" by any stretch of the imagination.

Those headed for the Marketplace have at least a 15-minute walk ahead of them once arriving at SSR. The walk takes them through several resort buildings, past the Quiet Pool, into a wooded area and out near the main road before emerging near the DD Marketplace bus stops.

Those headed for Pleasure Island have the same route, plus walking through the entire markeplace--25 to 30 minutes on foot.

Those headed for the West Side could face a 45 minute journey, unless they want to take the path in the opposite direction around the lake which is almost completely unmarked and unlit.

Anyone who thinks they are doing a Disney guest a favor by routing them through SSR to reach DD on foot is mistaken.

 

[thelobstershanty]

Not true. We're talking about people leaving a theme park who asked a CM "how do I get to Downtown Disney", and were simply directed to the SSR bus.
I never said they weren't entitled to use the busses. But I heartily disagree with the assertion that taking a bus from the theme park to SSR and then walking on to DD is the "quickest and easiest way" to get there. "Quickest" will vary from one moment to the next, and it's certainly not the "easiest" by any stretch of the imagination.

Those headed for the Marketplace have at least a 15-minute walk ahead of them once arriving at SSR. The walk takes them through several resort buildings, past the Quiet Pool, into a wooded area and out near the main road before emerging near the DD Marketplace bus stops.

Those headed for Pleasure Island have the same route, plus walking through the entire markeplace--25 to 30 minutes on foot.

Those headed for the West Side could face a 45 minute journey, unless they want to take the path in the opposite direction around the lake which is almost completely unmarked and unlit.

Anyone who thinks they are doing a Disney guest a favor by routing them through SSR to reach DD on foot is mistaken.

What route would you suggest? I think taking a bus from any park to a value resort and then waiting for a bus to DD would be about the same time, if not more time involved, along with several bus changes. For families with little kids and strollers, the less bus transfers, the easier it is. The walk of 15-20 minutes is less time than waiting for a bus at a value resort and then the additional time the bus ride takes.

 

[tjkraz]

What route would you suggest? I think taking a bus from any park to a value resort and then waiting for a bus to DD would be about the same time, if not more time involved, along with several bus changes. For families with little kids and strollers, the less bus transfers, the easier it is. The walk of 15-20 minutes is less time than waiting for a bus at a value resort and then the additional time the bus ride takes.

If the primary concern is ease, I'd recommend that anyone just take the bus back to his/her own resort and then wait for the DD bus. That keeps guests in familiar territory rather than dropping them into the middle of an unfamiliar resort with no CMs nearby to offer assistance.

Being a bit more savvy guest, I'd probably grab the very first resort bus I saw and transfer busses at whatever resort that might be. By getting a bus that's sitting right at the gate, I'm virtually insuring that the first leg of my journey will only be 8-10 minutes of travel time. Then I just need to wait for the DD bus.

Speaking as someone who does travel with two small kids and a stroller, making one extra bus transfer in the course of my stay is the least of my worries.

 

[thelobstershanty]

Speaking as someone who does travel with two small kids and a stroller, making one extra bus transfer in the course of my stay is the least of my worries.

Shows how different we all are. We have 2 small kids with a double stroller and another baby on the way. We always take the least amount of buses as possible. We try to avoid the buses as much as possible. We find them very cumbersome when dealing with babies, toddlers, strollers, diaper bags and all the other stuff we carry for our kids.

 

[Donald's#1Fan]

What route would you suggest? I think taking a bus from any park to a value resort and then waiting for a bus to DD would be about the same time, if not more time involved, along with several bus changes. For families with little kids and strollers, the less bus transfers, the easier it is. The walk of 15-20 minutes is less time than waiting for a bus at a value resort and then the additional time the bus ride takes.

If the goal is to get back to your car as was the stated goal of people parking at DD to avoid paying to park at the various theme parks, then I would say, um, just pay to park at the parks like you are really intended to do. It saves you at a minimum of at least 1-1 1/2 hours total in a day and if your primary concern really is the children, then why would you drag them through all of the loop holes in the system just to avoid paying for parking? If you are going to a disney theme park in a day w/ 2 children then you are obviously not getting in for free, so for less then the cost of a mixed drink on property, save everybody else and yourself the hassle and ante up for parking.

 

[Sammie]

If changes have been made it was due to complaints by DVC members to Member Services and DVC managment. As it should be, they should listen for the amount of money everyone has invested.

It will be interesting if this was just one case or it will continue to be so.

 

[TiggerFreak]

snip

As long as all Disney transportation is included in any admission ticket, the bus drivers are giving the quickest and easiest way to get from point A to point B; to people that are entitled to the use of any form of Disney transportation.

I agree with this up to a point.
As long as the cost of providing said transportation is supported by ticket sales.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the bus transportaion proviided to all of the DVC by WDW Transportion subsidized mainly by member dues?

 

[russct]

I am not encouraging taking buses to SSR to get to DTD, but it definitely doesn't take 45 minutes to get to DTD or Marketplace. I have stayed at
SSR 3 times already and the walk is not far at all. Fifteen minutes tops.

 

[tjkraz]

I am not encouraging taking buses to SSR to get to DTD, but it definitely doesn't take 45 minutes to get to DTD or Marketplace. I have stayed at
SSR 3 times already and the walk is not far at all. Fifteen minutes tops.

Assuming you're addressing my post, you'll note that 45 minutes was attributed to walking time from SSR to the West Side, NOT the Marketplace.

From the Congress Park bus stop, my guess is that travel times run about like this on foot:

CP to Marketplace: 15-20 min
CP to Pleasure Island: 25-30 min
CP to West Side 35-40+ min

That's assuming a familiarity with the walking trail, and that one is taking the walk in broad daylight.

Yes, there is a path one could use to go the other direction around the lake, through the golf course, and arrive at the West Side in less than 40 minutes, but that path is unlit and largely unmarked. I don't think it's even listed on the SSR maps, so guests dropped blindly at SSR hoping to make their way to DTD would have no idea to look for that path.

 

[Nanajo1]

If someone parked at DD to avoid the parking fees wouldn't they have had to figure out how to get to the parks from DD? and consequently how to return? I would just tell someone who asked me how to get to DD from a park to hop on the first resort bus and then change to a DD bus.