New articulated buses are in use at wdw saw te first ine and very nice

[disney david]

Just wanted to give an update te new nova articulated buses are very nice looking. Also these buses will be the first Disney bus that will load wheelchairs and ecvs in the front door like I thought. It the new paint job I think it only on the mk route it was turning to go towards pop and said magic kingdom. Will give more updates as I get them I think I am the only one that might be excited about a new Disney bus.

 

[bidnow5]

I can't wait to see them

 

[disney david]

I can't wait to see them

I saw another during our if mk and I have to say the new paint job look so much Better on those buses then the regular buses.

I just want to see it load a wheelchair and parked at the stop but these buses will making ecv and wheelchair users loves better because it can hold a lot more people so it might make it one more of a chance for a guest in wheelchairs and ECvs to get on quicker. And fitness to wait my mean a less of a wait time for them as they can take almost re whole que in one bus.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I'm curious, too!

 

[pugdog]

Right now they are only going between AoA and MK. AoA is the only resort that can handle them. They are doing some work around the POP stops so maybe they will be next.

 

[Talking Hands]

how many wheelchair spots?

 

[disney david]

how many wheelchair spots?

I think two sooty as a pp mentioned their using them for now at aoa to mk.

 

[disney david]

Right now they are only going between AoA and MK. AoA is the only resort that can handle them. They are doing some work around the POP stops so maybe they will be next.

Thanks I heard pop would get them but didn't know so thanks for the update.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Any pictures of HOW they load ECVs & wheelchairs on these buses?

 

[disney david]

Any pictures of HOW they load ECVs & wheelchairs on these buses?

They load them through the front door no pictures yet but will try but it hard with a low number if them.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Thanks, disney david! You always keep us informed of bus issues. You're a great guy to care about all of us.

Any further info on buses is greatly appreciated!

 

[disney david]

Thanks, disney david! You always keep us informed of bus issues. You're a great guy to care about all of us.

Any further info on buses is greatly appreciated!

Thanks I try to always keep this forum in re know about buses as best I can. So a guest get to Disney and see the new big buses and dose not panic.

Now when they use the front door that means guest will have to turn around in the bus to get to the tie down. But now the driver dose not have to get up and will have less excuse why they wouldn't load a wheelchair.

So for the first time guest in ecv please don't be worried they can't use them on that many routes as the size of the bus is a issue.

Righht now only mk is suited for the bus I read somewhere they filled permits for the ak bus station to make some changes but not sure. Epcot and Dhs would have to readjust the chains as this bus has three sets of doors. I am also very interested to find out how the arenas the seating as they my have to have more seats as their more wheel wells.

Also with the new stops they are much further away from the entrance. So if any guest might have issue I strongly suggest renting a ecv or wheelchair off site. Not sure if their benches their to wait for another member to get a courtesy wheelchair to get to the front.

 

[disney david]

Thanks, disney david! You always keep us informed of bus issues. You're a great guy to care about all of us.

Any further info on buses is greatly appreciated!

Here a video of them I found it also looks like these was I think the gillig I know nova bus is also supposed to be used. As they was they one to give Disney a free bus to test.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Am5mwbOoI6k

 

[KPeveler]

Drivers will still have to get up to tie down the scooters. And yes, the scooters or chairs will have to turn around once inside, whether upon loading (if you stay in it) or upon leaving if you transfer. It may be easier to turn around after others have gotten off. I don't know. I do know I have used these buses before and did not find them any easier for people with wheelchairs.

 

[disney david]

Drivers will still have to get up to tie down the scooters. And yes, the scooters or chairs will have to turn around once inside, whether upon loading (if you stay in it) or upon leaving if you transfer. It may be easier to turn around after others have gotten off. I don't know. I do know I have used these buses before and did not find them any easier for people with wheelchairs.

Yes i Know that they will have to get up to toe the ecv/wheelchair down unless disney invented a self tie sown system. i meant they won't have to get up to go to the back door which will speed things up.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I think it will always be on loading that turning around will need to happen. I don't know of any front-loading bus in the US that allows wheelchairs or ECVs (even empty) to be tied down facing backwards.

A tip for those using ECVs is that if you are the only person who needs the wheelchair/ECV space, you can always ask to have the seats on both sides lifted temporarily to give you a wider turning radius. It does also mean that the smaller ECVs are probably going to be the easiest when using buses (I know they were before, but it may be even more true now). The good news is that it's easier to get off the bus in general now. It should especially be much easier in cases where a bus has multiple stops and other guests remaining on when the ECV or wheelchair user needs to get off the bus.

It's unfortunately that they couldn't find a way to put more than two tie-down spots on the articulated buses. I know most cities don't, but, since WDW does have a much higher percentage of bus users with mobility aids than most cities, it would have been nice.

 

[disney david]

I think it will always be on loading that turning around will need to happen. I don't know of any front-loading bus in the US that allows wheelchairs or ECVs (even empty) to be tied down facing backwards.

A tip for those using ECVs is that if you are the only person who needs the wheelchair/ECV space, you can always ask to have the seats on both sides lifted temporarily to give you a wider turning radius. It does also mean that the smaller ECVs are probably going to be the easiest when using buses (I know they were before, but it may be even more true now). The good news is that it's easier to get off the bus in general now. It should especially be much easier in cases where a bus has multiple stops and other guests remaining on when the ECV or wheelchair user needs to get off the bus.

It's unfortunately that they couldn't find a way to put more than two tie-down spots on the articulated buses. I know most cities don't, but, since WDW does have a much higher percentage of bus users with mobility aids than most cities, it would have been nice.

It actually an dot and ads regulation depending on bus length which way you face. Disney buses are to long so you have you face the front of the bus. In band and smaller buses they have the option which way you face.

It might not be that Disney dose not want to put more tie down spots it they may be limited on what they can so with seating on this bus.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I thought that ECVs & wheelchairs would enter in the front door & exit out one of the rear doors. I assumed there was no turning necessary. I see now that I am wrong!

It was a GREAT idea when I thought it was real!

 

[disney david]

I thought that ECVs & wheelchairs would enter in the front door & exit out one of the rear doors. I assumed there was no turning necessary. I see now that I am wrong! It was a GREAT idea when I thought it was real!

No sorry those buses are to big and the way the axel is they couldn't tilt the bus so they could have the back door as the loading and unloading for ECVs so you enter turn around to face front and exit you go out straight out the front door.


It a safety risk for you not to face the front that way the Ada puts the restrictions in for different size of the bus just think if they tie down e ECV back words and then the bus stops hard the heavy end of the ECV could cause the tie downs to break and tip over. And if your in a wheelchair it could do the same but seriously hurt the guest and or cause a lot of damage to the chair.



Another update on dhs bus stops


They have added back the separate que for ECVs wheelchairs that put you at the back door for the regular buses so you don't has go through the main que any more but still only five guest plus the one in the wheelchair or ECV. I guess the drivers banded together to get Disney to referees the policy and make these changes or a enough guest complained to get these separate ques back.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I just watched the video provided by disney david. Thank you!

Those buses are loooooong! How do the drivers turn a corner without taking out the first 3 parked cars???????

Going to WDW on Dec 27th. I want to ride one of these buses!