Is Disney trying to lower attendance at water parks?

[bryanb]

Please help me figure out what I'm missing. Here's how I remember the "old way" from my last visit in November vs the new way. (Has it been different in the summer?)

Going Before 1:00pm:

• Old way: The bus used to stop at Typhoon Lagoon on the way to Disney Springs. No need to transfer buses.
  
• New way: They reversed this, so the bus stops at Disney Springs on the way to Typhoon Lagoon. No need to transfer buses.

After 1:00pm:

• Old way: You used to have to stop at Epcot, then transfer buses to either your resort or Typhoon Lagoon.
• New way: You now have to stop at Disney Springs, then transfer buses to either your resort or Typhoon Lagoon.

So in the morning, all they did was switch the order of the stops? And in the afternoon, the real reason for the change might be that the bus plaza at Disney Springs is opening, and with 3X the space, it makes more sense for Disney Springs to be a transit hub, than to crowd all the Typhoon Lagoon onto the Epcot buses.

 

[kdonnel]

We went to BB today from Fort Wilderness. The times are from the front bus stop at Fort Wilderness and don't include the time from our site to there.

Getting there took 1hr 15mins.

Getting back.........

My kids left BB 45 mins before my wife and I. We actually rode on the same bus from AK to Ft Wilderness. The kids sat at AK for 45 mins waiting on a bus. They counted 16 buses that arrived from BB before a single Ft Wilderness bus.

I don't like the new system.

 

[megster1123]

We went to BB today from Fort Wilderness. The times are from the front bus stop at Fort Wilderness and don't include the time from our site to there.

Getting there took 1hr 15mins.

Getting back.........

My kids left BB 45 mins before my wife and I. We actually rode on the same bus from AK to Ft Wilderness. The kids sat at AK for 45 mins waiting on a bus. They counted 16 buses that arrived from BB before a single Ft Wilderness bus.

I don't like the new system.

That's ridiculous. Thanks for that update, sorry your family had that kind of experience.

 

[Shanti]

I know this is a matter of opinion, but for me a crowded WDW water park is less fun than a crowded WDW theme park. There is no FP+, you stand out in the hot sun in the queues to wait to get on the water ride and there's just less overall room than in the theme parks...I'd guess most people who fly in and stay on property don't rent a car, but rental car deals can be had really cheap.

I like the fact that there are no FP's or ADR's of any kind at the water parks. It's all first come, first served, a welcome relief from the planning and scheduling of the "dry" Disney parks.

I've been to both the wet & dry Disney parks in peak summer, and never felt any crowding at water parks that was remotely equivalent to what you get at the "dry" parks at the same time of day. It's a much less hectic atmosphere. Yes, there are lines in peak season, but because you don't have to wait for FastPassers, the lines always move at a steady pace.

I also have no desire to rent a car while on a Disney vacation. That takes me out of the bubble. I'm from a spread out, western city and drive long distances daily- have for over 20 years. I like turning over the wheel to Disney while on vacation. Besides, Disney transportation is part of what I'm paying for while staying at a Disney resort.

I wish they'd have a dedicated water parks bus.

 

[Mom of Jack 2009]

We went to BB today from Fort Wilderness. The times are from the front bus stop at Fort Wilderness and don't include the time from our site to there.

Getting there took 1hr 15mins.

Getting back.........

My kids left BB 45 mins before my wife and I. We actually rode on the same bus from AK to Ft Wilderness. The kids sat at AK for 45 mins waiting on a bus. They counted 16 buses that arrived from BB before a single Ft Wilderness bus.

I don't like the new system.

What?? That is ridiculous!! I was planning 2 waterpark days, and on both days I have dinner reservations I have to get to. There is no way I can rely on the busses if this is the new norm. If Disney is going to market free transportation as one of the big benefits of staying on property, the need to be more efficient than this.

 

[21stamps]

We went to BB today from Fort Wilderness. The times are from the front bus stop at Fort Wilderness and don't include the time from our site to there.

Getting there took 1hr 15mins.

Getting back.........

My kids left BB 45 mins before my wife and I. We actually rode on the same bus from AK to Ft Wilderness. The kids sat at AK for 45 mins waiting on a bus. They counted 16 buses that arrived from BB before a single Ft Wilderness bus.

I don't like the new system.

A Ft Wilderness bus didn't come to AK for 45 minutes? Who does FW share with? That's crazy!!!!

Why the 1:15 there? Did you transfer somewhere?

 

[kdonnel]

A Ft Wilderness bus didn't come to AK for 45 minutes? Who does FW share with? That's crazy!!!!

Why the 1:15 there? Did you transfer somewhere?

That is just how long it took. They had to ride to the AK in the morning but didn't have to transfer. That included wait time at the outpost in FW.

 

[21stamps]

That is just how long it took. They had to ride to the AK in the morning but didn't have to transfer. That included wait time at the outpost in FW.

Does FW share with any other resorts?

We arrived at Blizzard Beach in 20 minutes from Poly. It would have totally messed up our plans for the day with that kind of round trip travel time. We are staying at the contemporary during our upcoming trip, I'm hoping to experience 20 min travel time to other parks again.

 

[RedAngie]

I want it right NOW and I want it for free!!!

 

[21stamps]

I want it right NOW and I want it for free!!!

Well, bus service isn't exactly "free", it's included in the price of your resort accommodations.

I'm usually quick to get annoyed by people complaining about Disney, but when I'm paying 600-700 per night for accommodations that include bus service- no, I don't want it to take 1:15 to get from a resort to AK on a direct route.

I'm still confused on how that happened.

 

[luvallprincesses]

Über sounds like a great plan for those who don't need car seats.

 

[kdonnel]

Does FW share with any other resorts?

We arrived at Blizzard Beach in 20 minutes from Poly. It would have totally messed up our plans for the day with that kind of round trip travel time. We are staying at the contemporary during our upcoming trip, I'm hoping to experience 20 min travel time to other parks again.

No resort sharing on the buses we took.

 

[bryanb]

The perfect bus system isn't so easy, but I believe if you compare it to what it was before, it's really no worse. I would much rather transfer busses at Disney Springs, with its vastly expanded transportation hub, than to have to go down to Epcot (which is much much farther away from Typhoon Lagoon) and mix in with the massive number of people there.

Right now, I don't buy into everything from Disney being a terrible cost cutting motive designed to frustrate us. I'll check it out in a few weeks and report back with an honest report to say if it's really that bad.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Honestly, this really isn't much different or new.

I've lost track of how very many times we've waited over 30minutes to board WDW transportation.

This is why we get a rental car. If you wish to stay in the Disney bubble, and rely on WDW transportation, then you are subject to all the transportation warts that going along with it. The warts aren't new, nor are they few. IMO, using a rental car saves us money. It isn't an added expense to us; we see it as additional vacation and eliminated frustration.

This past winter we tried to use a WDW bus and wasted over 45minutes. We tried to go from FtW to WL. A CM at the bus stop told us the WL/Ft.W dedicated shuttle would be quick, but we never saw it!

Our plan was to see Wishes from our WL balcony. Instead, we ran to the Ft.W beach, where a large group of very drunks folks SHOUTED very crude things to each other through the entire show. It just wasn't quite the magic I'd imagined. It reinforced the value we place on controlling our transportation at WDW.

I AM sympathetic to craving a break from baby gear and commuting. Truly. I just don't see WDW as the place for it. Universal, yes. WDW, not for us.

 

[21stamps]

Honestly, this really isn't much different or new.

I've lost track of how very many times we've waited over 30minutes to board WDW transportation.

This is why we get a rental car. If you wish to stay in the Disney bubble, and rely on WDW transportation, then you are subject to all the transportation warts that going along with it. The warts aren't new, nor are they few. IMO, using a rental car saves us money. It isn't an added expense to us; we see it as additional vacation and eliminated frustration.

This past winter we tried to use a WDW bus and wasted over 45minutes. We tried to go from FtW to WL. A CM at the bus stop told us the WL/Ft.W dedicated shuttle would be quick, but we never saw it!

Our plan was to see Wishes from our WL balcony. Instead, we ran to the Ft.W beach, where a large group of very drunks folks SHOUTED very crude things to each other through the entire show. It just wasn't quite the magic I'd imagined. It reinforced the value we place on controlling our transportation at WDW.

I AM sympathetic to craving a break from baby gear and commuting. Truly. I just don't see WDW as the place for it. Universal, yes. WDW, not for us.

WDW is not our only destination. Last year 9 nights WDW, 8 nights SoFla- I rented a car on the last day of our WDW portion to have for the following week.

This year- 6 nights total and a 7 night DCL cruise. 1 night at WDW pre cruise, 5 after.

I stayed at Poly last time for several reasons- not least of which was MK access and Epcot monorail access. I definitely don't see a need for a car at that resort.

Our upcoming trip- CR, 2 MK days, 1 Epcot/HS day (monorail to Epcot) and another Epcot/HS day. 1 day we will do a pirate adventure cruise and a breakfast at GF- monorail ride as well.

I stay at the monorail resorts bc I like the easy access and I LOVE not having to drive for a few days out of my life.

If I was staying at Animal Kingdom- I would definitely rent a car.

I'm already planning on Uber to Disney Springs and now based on this info here, I'll Uber to Mickey's winter summerland as well.

We aren't doing AK this trip, but if we were, I definitely wouldn't expect the bust to take 1.5 hours! I didn't experience anything like that last time.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I'm not trying to start an argument with anyone, but even at the monorail resorts, we like a car. We tend to favor CR, but we've stayed at almost all WDW. We often walk when that is an option. (BC/HS/Epcot area, CR to MK, etc.)

These days, monorail resort doesn't = access to a running monorail. Very many times having our own car saved our plans!

We've been to WDW many times with extended family and saw first hand exactly how much time we saved, because part of our group used the car, and part of our group didn't. Leave Epcot any time between 8:30-9:30pm on a night when the monorail is down; lookout!

Having a car has also alleviated many minor emergencies. Lost luggage? Forgot to pack underwear? Sneakers fell apart? The huge outlet mall is just over by I-4. Come down with a minor illness? The 24 hour Walgreens is just off WDW.

Any time your bus makes multiple stops, a car is much faster.

A car = having a seat, a place to leave jackets, water, towels, almost anything that doesn't spoil/melt. ( no CHOCOLATE!!!!) Mind, we don't usually go to the car mid-day....but we have been known to freshen up on the way to dinner.

A car makes it much easier to dine at the resorts and/or offsite. One offsite meal easily saves at least $40, and the food is better than WDW TS. If we eat just two meals offsite: coming to/from MCO, we eat healthier food AND come very close to covering the cost of the car.

It doesn't always work out, but we've also discovered flying out of Tampa usually saves us a bundle off airfare, especially if we also stay there one night. I've sometimes lowered our vacation cost over $1,000 that way. The difference between WDW-MCO and WDW-TPA is only about 75minutes.

We also usually buy a case of bottled water. We don't have to drive out of our way for it, they sell it at the Hess stations on property. the Car care center has the biggest selection (on property). Other times, our one offsite meal is at the Whole Foods on Sand Lake Dr. (WDW doesn't offer enough produce for our tastes.) From Tampa, there's a Publix just off WDW, and Orange World is just a little further!(Mmm...honeybells!)

 

[21stamps]

I'm not trying to start an argument with you....but even at the monorail resorts, we prefer to have a car. We tend to favor CR, but we've stayed at all three. From CR we walk to MK. We also walk the entire BC/HS/Epcot area, but we're not above the value resorts either. AoA is very cute.

These days, monorail resort doesn't = access to a running monorail. I can't tell you how very many times having our own car saved our plans!

We've been to WDW many times with extended family and saw first hand exactly how much time we saved, because part of our group used the car, and part of our group didn't. Leave Epcot any time between 8:30-9:30pm on a night when the monorail is down; lookout!

Having a car has also alleviated many minor emergencies. Lost luggage? Forgot to pack underwear? Sneakers fell apart? The huge outlet mall is just over by I-4. Come down with a minor illness? The 24 hour Walgreens is just off WDW.

Any time your bus makes multiple stops, a car is much faster.

A car = having a seat, a place to leave jackets, water, towels, almost anything that doesn't spoil/melt. ( no CHOCOLATE!!!!) Mind, we don't usually go to the car mid-day....but we have been known to freshen up on the way to dinner.

A car makes it much easier to dine at the resorts and/or offsite. One offsite meal easily saves at least $40, and the food is better than WDW TS. If we eat just two meals offsite: coming to/from MCO, we eat healthier food AND come very close to covering the cost of the car.

It doesn't always work out, but we've also discovered flying out of Tampa usually saves us a bundle off airfare, especially if we also stay there one night. I've sometimes lowered our vacation cost over $1,000 that way. The difference between WDW-MCO and WDW-TPA is only about 75minutes.

We also usually buy a case of bottled water. We don't have to drive out of our way for it, they sell it at the Hess stations on property. the Car care center has the biggest selection (on property). Other times, our one offsite meal is at the Whole Foods on Sand Lake Dr. (WDW doesn't offer enough produce for our tastes.) From Tampa, there's a Publix just off WDW, and Orange World is just a little further!(Mmm...honeybells!)

I'm not arguing. Just stating why I didn't feel it was necessary, but would if I was staying elsewhere.

I actually had planned on renting a car this upcoming trip (but leaving it parked while at WDW), because I wanted to be able to get to/from the port faster than with DCL transport. But, I've shaved off that expense, since it would including paying for parking for a week at Port Canaveral, and am now spending the money on somethhing else during the trip. I am renting one way from WDW to Port Canaveral, but will turn the car in there before the cruise.

 

[NotUrsula]

Water parks have always been intended more for locals and Cast than for domestic hotel guests; you can tell that by the way that they are set up and the fact that they still allow coolers there. It's also telling that while Disney sells a Premium FL Annual Pass, they also sell a FR Annual Water Parks Pass, and it's the more popular option. Locals also tend to know the weather patterns better, so they get out in the middle of the afternoon most days.

We were at TL on Sunday, May 29th (Memorial Day Weekend), and by 10:30 am when we arrived, the last of the striped overflow lots was about to fill up. They ended up using all of the extra CM parking and all of the grass overflow parking as well. The lazy river was so crowded in late morning that at least 1/2 the people in it were not using tubes because there were no more tubes available. However, the crowding died down nicely by about 3 pm, and the rain didn't hit until after 5 that day.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Water parks have always been intended more for locals and Cast than for domestic hotel guests; .

Historically, prior to pool fences, the water parks probably helped to keep the resort pools free of non-hotel guests.

 

[gdrj]

I agree. It always seemed like a giant waste of time. I hated being on the bus that had to detour to the water park, for maybe 1 or 2 guests.

...AND when it was raining or cold.