interesting comment by our bus driver

[patsal]

While I'm glad that they are not encouraging people to take the SSR bus I would have to say that I would not want them telling people who are trying to evade parking charges to go to a value resort either. If they are staying on WDW property they should be directed to take the bus back to their resort and then to take the DTD bus from there. It is a simple statement, "Take your resort bus back to your resort and then take the DTD bus from there." Even those evading the parking fee will get the picture go to any resort and take it from there, but at least it will not be encouraged to go to one place over another.

 

[tjkraz]

I think there are a couple of different issues being confused:

1. Disney does not run busses directly between DTD and the theme parks to discourage guests from parking free at DTD and taking the bus to a park. This would obviously not apply to AP holders or WDW resort guests who already get free parking, but it sounds like there was past history of off-site day guests doing it to save a few bucks.

2. Since they do not provide busses from theme parks to DTD, guests asking about the best route to take have previously been advised to take the bus from the theme park to SSR, and then walk on to DTD. These could be resort guests or non-resort guests--anyone just wishing to get to DTD (mostly in the evening would be my guess.)

 

[Disney Doll]

Did he seem sincere?

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

Have you found CMs to be antagonistic?? Because I never have. I have pretty much always found CMs to be quite helpful and pleasant.

On the rare occasion I have encountered a "sub-par" CM, they were sub-par with everyone, from my observation, not just with me as a DVC member.

 

[russct]

Sorry TjKraz not to disagree, but even walking from CP to Westside would be 20 minutes or less. I done it many times. Guess it depends on how fast you walk. Thanks

 

[tjkraz]

Sorry TjKraz not to disagree, but even walking from CP to Westside would be 20 minutes or less. I done it many times. Guess it depends on how fast you walk. Thanks

You can walk all the way from CP to the Marketplace, through PI and over to the West Side near DisneyQuest and Cirque in 20 min??? You're my hero!

My ole' dogs just ain't movin that fast.

 

[Cruelladeville]

russ, I agree that it should not take more than 15 minutes to walk from Congress Park to the Marketplace. I did it in less than 10 minutes, and had had two recent abdominal surgeries two weeks before that, so I would assume that I was walking alot slower than most would have.

The second issue was that some people were being told that if they stayed at the Grosvenor, Hilton, etc. resort area, they just needed to walk to SSR to catch a bus directly to the theme parks' front door, since disney tickets seemed to give them permission to do so. This made the SSR buses very crowded, according to some members.

The third issue is those stupid double strollers with the kids sitting side-by-side that some people have the rudeness to use. If I had "the power"(s Jim Carey had in "Bruce Allmighty"), all double strollers, and their owners, would be dust.

 

[Deb & Bill]

... 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.

There is NO bus transportation from a theme park to DTD. If you ride the bus to SSR, you are not riding a bus to DTD. That's the big difference. Non-SSR people are wandering around the SSR. They are not conducting business at SSR, why should they ride the SSR bus?

I guess if they got a bus to SSR and then took another bus from SSR, that might be different. They should not be wandering around the resort unescorted.

I don't know where you stay when you come to WDW, but would you like total strangers (non-resort guests) wandering around your resort or hotel?

 

[russct]

I've been to SSR July 4th weekend, first week of Decmeber and May 2006 and never experienced crowd buses. Everytime I have visited SSR the resort has never had a crowd feeling even when resort was booked.

 

[wtpclc]

I love going to the other resorts, wandering through their gift shops, etc. If I go from MK to a theme park (other than Epcot), I just hop on the monorail and catch a bus from the closest resort. Disney likes you to check out other resorts. Good advertising. Would I rather people find other routes? Sure, but until I miss the first buss to SSR because everyone is using it to get to DTD, I'm not concerend. IIRC, SSR buses are not 100% funded by DVC. This goes with the fact that a ticket allows you the right ot use all WDW busses.

 

[tjkraz]

I think it's wrong to imply that non-SSR guests shouldn't be using the busses just because they aren't guests at SSR. As wtpclc (and others) pointed out, there are a lot of reasons for taking busses to resorts at which one is not staying. And theme park tickets grant one the right to use that transportation however one sees fit.

But I'm sticking with my comments that using an SSR bus is not the most efficient, user-friendly way of getting folks from a theme park to DTD. I have to wonder how many folks followed CM advice to get on the SSR bus, and were then left at the resort asking themselves "OK, now what do I do?!?" Those expecting clear, billboard-sized directional signs that read "Downtown Disney THIS way" did not find them. Those who got off at the first SSR bus stop found themselves with another 5+ minutes added to their walk, and may not even have been able to see DTD off in the distance to guide them.

In the end, I hope Disney considers running busses from the parks to DTD at least at closing time (which I assume is when 75%+ of this traffic occurs, and when bus overcrowding is most likely to be an issue.)

 

[wtpclc]

tjkraz - I do agree that if they don't have a sign pointing you to DTD when you get off, they should not tell people to go to SSR. Would you even know the best place to get off at? Yikes.

 

[tjkraz]

tjkraz - I do agree that if they don't have a sign pointing you to DTD when you get off, they should not tell people to go to SSR. Would you even know the best place to get off at? Yikes.

Would people know where to get off? Probably not.

Take a look at this map:

http://www.barrybedford.com/dvc/ssrresortmap.html

That's the exact map posted at public spots around the resort. The first bus stop is right around #3 on the map. The bus then proceeds down Broadway to the Congress Park stop, which is the #6 that is furthest right. That is where folks SHOULD get off if they want to walk to DTD.

Now find #12. That's the actual path to Downtown Disney. Folks need to walk from the CP bus stop through the collection of buildings, past the quiet pool, and up the path that runs along the water.

Also note that the only assistance from CMs would be at the Carriage House, which is back in the opposite direction (#s 1, 9, 10, etc.) Anyone concerned that they were heading in the wrong direction would have only the occasional resort guest to ask for help.

While the more adventuresome Disney guest might not mind this trip, my assumption is that anyone ignorant (and I don't use that word unkindly) enough to ask for advice will be very dissatsified with a journey that takes them down unlabeled pathways from SSR to DTD.

 

[wtpclc]

Yup. I'd get off at the CH (#3), because that would represent the main portion of SSR to me. From there, I'd ask a cm, maybe. Yes, these people could eb lost forever!

 

[thelobstershanty]

There is NO bus transportation from a theme park to DTD. If you ride the bus to SSR, you are not riding a bus to DTD. That's the big difference. Non-SSR people are wandering around the SSR. They are not conducting business at SSR, why should they ride the SSR bus?

I guess if they got a bus to SSR and then took another bus from SSR, that might be different. They should not be wandering around the resort unescorted.

I don't know where you stay when you come to WDW, but would you like total strangers (non-resort guests) wandering around your resort or hotel?

As someone else posted Disney encourages people to visit all their resorts. AKL, the MK and Epcot resorts have many "total strangers" wandering around "Disney's" resort that are not staying there. These are the resorts we stay at and have never been bothered by these "total strangers".
We never take a bus to SSR to get to Downtown Disney. We are AP holders and DVC members, so we get free parking. To the poster that stated we should ante up the money to pay for parking, please do not assume something about people that you know nothing about.
My original post was just to say I can understand why the bus drivers would advise taking a SSR bus to reach downtown Disney because it is the closest resort. I bet there are a lot more people that park or take buses/boats/monorail at the MK or Epcot resorts to get to MK/Epcot/MGM then there are people who are taking a SSR bus to get to Downtown Disney.

 

[thelobstershanty]

Double post.

 

[spiceycat]

I was there last week - not only the bus drivers were telling them to take the SSR bus - but the CM at the parks.

sometime they were willing to wait for the DD bus - other time when asked where the path to DD was - they were told by the bus driver they didn't know - then they would ask CM at SSR - again told they didn't know - or worst send to the other part that says path to DD.

It was much further off than just going to the back of the resort and start walking.

Sometimes I was helpful and told the "guests" where the path was to DD sometimes I wasn't.

this happened enough that I really think that DD should be helping with the bus service for SSR.

speaking of SSR bus service to the West DD was the worst!!! I went one morning to get my Star War tickets (great movie by the way) and I waited for 50 minutes to get back - worst was - no cover and I am allergic to the sun....another ten minutes and I would have broken out in a rash.

but the FW bus (who came back 4 times while I waited) - call the controller and he took me back. Now I could have walked this in 20 to 25 minutes - if I had known.

So warning SSR bus does not come back to DDWest side - like it does the marketplace in the morning. there is no shade at this bus stop. I moved the bench under the little tree.

what was really upsetting I saw 4 of every bus - from OKW to Pop century - plus even the Epcot and MK resorts bus come and go...No SSR bus.

the next day I walked back but I know then and didn't even wait - of course I shopped along the way - hey maybe that is it - SSR can walk back - so if you don't go get them they might spend more at DD.