Kind of a Weird Disney Bus Driver Question...

[tinkerhon]

Ok, wasn't sure where to post this-- might be a weird question, but were the Disney Transportation Bus Drivers told (or kind of told) not to talk when they are driving (or sometimes when they stop) ?

Reason I ask is this---- I know a few years ago, the bus system basically became automated, but it seems like there are times when the drivers don't speak even when the system isn't working. For example, we always stay at CBR-- when the bus gets to a certain stop/Island, the system will tell you which one-

Well, a number of times of the last few years, the system didn't work, and the driver didn't announce the stop.

DW and I go back to the days when the drivers (some of them) used to tell interesting disney facts, or even play trivia--- (not to mention the awful "the wheels on the bus....." Days .. Lol

We would always get a nice greeting when we got on the bus... Now, it's sometimes.. Was just curious if anyone else (any other old-timers out there???)
Has noticed this?

 

[Saimaeve]

I believe it's a safety thing now. Talking while driving is considered a distraction by some insurance companies that specialize in commercial transportation like this.

I've spoken to a driver a couple times when it was just me and my then 7 year old daughter on the bus. (We're late night park people)

But it was just very basic things. I do greet them when getting on and thank them when disembarking. But it seems they're required to stay pretty quiet.

 

[tinkerhon]

I believe it's a safety thing now. Talking while driving is considered a distraction by some insurance companies that specialize in commercial transportation like this.

I've spoken to a driver a couple times when it was just me and my then 7 year old daughter on the bus. (We're late night park people)

But it was just very basic things. I do greet them when getting on and thank them when disembarking. But it seems they're required to stay pretty quiet.

That's what I figured-- I actually work in the insurance industry-- we don't write that much auto insurance, but we do write some bus companies, so I can understand the concern-- but I wonder why some of the drivers don't even say "hello" now when you get on the bus (and it obviously is not in motion at that time-)

 

[Saimaeve]

I wonder if it's a paranoia thing? Many busses are equipped with microphones and or cameras. Perhaps they're worried about getting into trouble?

Or may just be worn out and overwhelmed by people.

I do wish it hadn't changed as I love trivia and things like that.

 

[smraynor]

Put me in the category of missing the days of interactive bus drivers. I liked the trivia and the ones that said that children left on the bus will be forever attached to the floor of It's a Small World.

 

[freckles04]

I'm not sure how long ago you mean, but we had one bus driver on our October trip last year who was full of trivia Q & A's and witty jokes, even while driving. He was the only one I remember doing that.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Also for years people would post things here "oh a fifth villains gate is going to start in oct a bus driver told me".

The bus drivers use to talk a lot and give bad advice as well as restarting bogus rumors.

I bet that played into it b

 

[tinkerhon]

I used to love the Epcot acronyms !!!

 

[tinkerhon]

I'm not sure how long ago you mean, but we had one bus driver on our October trip last year who was full of trivia Q & A's and witty jokes, even while driving. He was the only one I remember doing that.

I am going to say around 7-10 years ago... Maybe a little less--- once the buses became automated, the trivia and fun facts basically stopped. But over the last few years, they hardly say anything at all (at least most of them don't)

 

[Dan Murphy]

I too miss the days of the animated bus drivers, so much fun after a long day at the parks.

 

[turkey1031]

This past June we had a bus driver who had us sing happy birthday to one of the girls on board and we clapped for another couple that was celebrating their anniversary. It definitely reminded me that we were on a disney bus.

 

[tinkerhon]

This past June we had a bus driver who had us sing happy birthday to one of the girls on board and we clapped for another couple that was celebrating their anniversary. It definitely reminded me that we were on a disney bus.

That happened to us few weeks ago!! Someone was celebrating their bday-- DW and I our 20th anniversary--- driver made an announcement-- that's what made us think about the way things used to be.

 

[Toadlover]

This is sad. Those animated bus drivers really made the drives fun especially the long late ones.

 

[LaurenT]

what I miss more is the days when the Jungle Cruise Capt could go off on his/her own tangent....

 

[bastos]

Perhaps it's us, but we had rather interactive bus drivers. One told us a story about how all of the resort area hotels were modeled after a land in Magic Kingdom on our way from Animal Kingdom Lodge back to the parks in the evening. Another sang to us. This was in May.

 

[surferdave]

Also for years people would post things here "oh a fifth villains gate is going to start in oct a bus driver told me".

The bus drivers use to talk a lot and give bad advice as well as restarting bogus rumors.

I bet that played into it b

On my most recent trip I had a resort bus driver from Riverside to Epcot who did this. I remember the sinking feeling as we pulled out of the resort when I realized that she was not going to shut up. It was bad enough that she was giving some really bad advice and false information (mixed in with a few true things that were mostly common sense, not insider tips), but she was using the bus intercom to do it for the whole trip. She seemed to have a little fan club of moms sitting near me who knew her by name and clapped; one of them shot me a look when she saw me pull some Mack's Ear Plugs out of my backpack (that I carry around the parks in case my noise sensitive DD needs them) and put them in my ears to blot her out.

 

[AngiTN]

Ok, wasn't sure where to post this-- might be a weird question, but were the Disney Transportation Bus Drivers told (or kind of told) not to talk when they are driving (or sometimes when they stop) ?

Reason I ask is this---- I know a few years ago, the bus system basically became automated, but it seems like there are times when the drivers don't speak even when the system isn't working. For example, we always stay at CBR-- when the bus gets to a certain stop/Island, the system will tell you which one-

Well, a number of times of the last few years, the system didn't work, and the driver didn't announce the stop.

DW and I go back to the days when the drivers (some of them) used to tell interesting disney facts, or even play trivia--- (not to mention the awful "the wheels on the bus....." Days .. Lol

We would always get a nice greeting when we got on the bus... Now, it's sometimes.. Was just curious if anyone else (any other old-timers out there???)
Has noticed this?

While I can see why they have asked them not to be so talkative while driving this is a problem. The verbal announcements of stops are for blind or vision impaired, as much as anything. It's required by most all public transportation to announce stops. If the system isn't doing it for some reason then the driver should be. I guess Disney buses might be exempt from this regulation if they are not considered public transportation but they sure seem like it would be required of them too.

 

[L&Lfan]

We usually let them do their job, but several times late at night my boyfriend and I have been practically the only ones on board and the driver has engaged us in conversation as s/he takes us back to our resort.

 

[pinkvol7]

In June on the way back from EMH at DHS, our bus driver told jokes all the way back to VWL. My son loved it!

 

[floreksa]

On our last trip in April (2013) we had a bus driver standing in line with our family leaving DHS for a shift change who was awesome. He was explaining all the different types of buses that Disney uses. Pointing out the vintage and probable mileage on each one that pulled up - which kinds he liked driving, which he didn't and why... I never noticed how many different styles there actually are. You'd think it would have been the dullest conversation ever - talking bus models, but he made it incredibly interesting! He even had the kids pointing them out.