New buses coming in early 2024 - ECV restrictions

[snowwite]

Was there a reason why you had to backup onto the bus? I always had guests go forward which is difficult enough.

It was the driver. He wasn’t going to let me board if I didn’t do it his way. This was like 10 years ago. He had me crying. Awful experience

 

[FastPasser.]

It was the driver. He wasn’t going to let me board if I didn’t do it his way. This was like 10 years ago. He had me crying. Awful experience

I could see that for the lift type but not for the ramp type.

I was driving then and because they were desperate for drivers, had recently hired a lot of drivers that they shouldn’t have. They could hardly speak English. How they ever got through training was beyond me.

 

[starlite_]

I could see that for the lift type but not for the ramp type.

I was driving then and because they were desperate for drivers, had recently hired a lot of drivers that they shouldn’t have. They could hardly speak English. How they ever got through training was beyond me.

You do know that not speaking a language very well does not mean you don't understand it right??

 

[FastPasser.]

You do know that not speaking a language very well does not mean you don't understand it right??

I know that very well, I was born and grew up in Portugal. I spoke and understood zero English when I migrated to the US.

 

[Evita_W]

You do know that not speaking a language very well does not mean you don't understand it right??

But you can definitely tell the difference between someone that doesn't understand the language and someone that does and just doesn't speak it well.

 

[starlite_]

But you can definitely tell the difference between someone that doesn't understand the language and someone that does and just doesn't speak it well.

Agree, I'm just saying that barely speaking English does not mean the drivers mentioned did not understand the language or that they were bad drivers because of it.

 

[Evita_W]

I could see that for the lift type but not for the ramp type.

I was driving then and because they were desperate for drivers, had recently hired a lot of drivers that they shouldn’t have. They could hardly speak English. How they ever got through training was beyond me.

DH also had one driver back his scooter on the ramp, but he transferred and the driver did it for him. In that case though, there was a valid reason, there were already other people on the bus and the front spot was already filled and the design of the bus allowed him to safely back it on and the driver was a pro at doing it.

 

[Evita_W]

Agree, I'm just saying that barely speaking English does not mean the drivers mentioned did not understand the language or that they were bad drivers because of it.

If they couldn't understand English, then they would not be a good driver. Yes, they might be safe, but they wouldn't be a good fit for driving a bus around Disney World.

 

[jo-jo]

DH also had one driver back his scooter on the ramp, but he transferred and the driver did it for him. In that case though, there was a valid reason, there were already other people on the bus and the front spot was already filled and the design of the bus allowed him to safely back it on and the driver was a pro at doing it.

My DH had two experiences when at a multi stop resort, boarding with people seated already. This was not backing up onto bus.
DH was terrified hitting someone. I wish bus driver would have asked the people to stand and move toward the front of the bus for a few mins.

 

[starlite_]

If they couldn't understand English, then they would not be a good driver. Yes, they might be safe, but they wouldn't be a good fit for driving a bus around Disney World.

That is not what I said. I can understand French, but I cannot speak it.

Again, there is a dif between understanding a language and speaking it. The person I original responded to mentioned the drivers they encountered didn't SPEAK the language very well, which is NOT the same as not UNDERSTANDING the language.

I truly do not want to keep repeating myself, there is not a lot of ways to keep saying the same thing in hopes you'll actually read what I said.

 

[Evita_W]

That is not what I said. I can understand French, but I cannot speak it.

Again, there is a dif between understanding a language and speaking it. The person I original responded to mentioned the drivers they encountered didn't SPEAK the language very well, which is NOT the same as not UNDERSTANDING the language.

I truly do not want to keep repeating myself, there is not a lot of ways to keep saying the same thing in hopes you'll actually read what I said.

Well, in all fairness, again it doesn't make them an unsafe driver, but if they can't speak english either, it does mean they aren't a good fit for driving Disney World Busses, as they need to be able to communicate with the guests, the majority of whom do speak english.

 

[eandt]

I could see that for the lift type but not for the ramp type.

I was driving then and because they were desperate for drivers, had recently hired a lot of drivers that they shouldn’t have. They could hardly speak English. How they ever got through training was beyond me.

lol as Mickey would say ‘Oh Boy!’ …

 

[starlite_]

Well, in all fairness, again it doesn't make them an unsafe driver, but if they can't speak english either, it does mean they aren't a good fit for driving Disney World Busses, as they need to be able to communicate with the guests, the majority of whom do speak english.

No mute drivers allowed. Got it

 

[snowwite]

I could see that for the lift type but not for the ramp type.

I was driving then and because they were desperate for drivers, had recently hired a lot of drivers that they shouldn’t have. They could hardly speak English. How they ever got through training was beyond me.

I ended up calling the transportation department, getting a manager and leaving my phone on speaker while this guy ranted about how if I didn’t grow up and stop crying he’d pull over and leave me and my kids on the side of the road. His manager met us at AKL where we were staying. Hopefully he chose a different career path!

 

[Groot]

Once a bus picked me up (I think we were going to MK iirc) and when the ramp deployed, it was extremely run down and was barely being held together by the bolts and wires. I didn’t feel safe driving up the ramp, but after some coaxing the driver helped me in and off of the bus. After getting off I recommended that he take the bus to the shop so no one would get injured going on that ramp. (Hopefully he did.)

 

[Evita_W]

I ended up calling the transportation department, getting a manager and leaving my phone on speaker while this guy ranted about how if I didn’t grow up and stop crying he’d pull over and leave me and my kids on the side of the road. His manager met us at AKL where we were staying. Hopefully he chose a different career path!

Yikes! That does seem like a terrible driver.

 

[Debbie Jean]

DH also had one driver back his scooter on the ramp, but he transferred and the driver did it for him. In that case though, there was a valid reason, there were already other people on the bus and the front spot was already filled and the design of the bus allowed him to safely back it on and the driver was a pro at doing it.

Just had this exact thing happen coming over to AK from AKV. Boarded at Jambo with someone already in the front spot from Kidani… one of the large oversize scooters.

Difference is the driver had me stay on the scooter and backed it up the ramp! I have to say I was nervous but he was a pro… had it place in 5 seconds, took longer to tie it down.

I’ve asked lots of drivers about the new buses and the only thing that is consistent is they will be phasing them in next year. Other that that, reports are all over the place: one ramp? two ramps? back on? drive straight on? They don’t know. They agree a locking-in mechanism will be in place so that will make their job much easier. But I still can’t get a straight answer on how you get the scooter on. Not for nothing, all the videos online show the scooter in place… not my issue! Or a power chair which again not a problem at Disney… they are far more responsive and the people who use them are clearly experts.

One driver offered that he figured it was gonna be his job to drive each mobility device onto the bus… I didn’t say anything since I could think of a million reasons that could never work. LOL

Best answer I got was new buses will be phased-in over 2024 and the drivers will get the details in training. More than that, I’ve come to the conclusion is a lot speculation and not many specifics.

 

[Starwind]

Having to back up the ramp would make sense if:

- the ramp is at a rear entry location (like now) on the bus, and
- the primary lockdown location(s) are rear-facing, like in the video that was linked

In the video they mentioned that ADA requires one lockdown location to be forward facing, so if there are three positions on the bus then two primary could be rear facing and then one be forward facing to meet that requirement.

For an ECV to get into a rear-facing position from a ramp that is at the back of the bus, they would most likely have to back up the ramp then 90 degree turn and back up the aisle and back into the position.

And you thought getting into the positions on the current busses was a challenge for many (most?) people...

 

[Groot]

I think that the forward facing spot will be reserved for scooters. Although that could mean that the waiting times could increase exponentially.

 

[Euby]

I still think if someone can engineer a plane to allow cars/tanks/semi-trucks to drive on to them to fly somewhere, then surely someone can design a bus that will allow ECVs to do the same without have to come in from the side. Maybe a double-decker style? ECVs load on the bottom deck while ambulatory guests load up a flight of stairs to the second deck. Does anyone remember the mega-bus? It was a semi-truck that looked like it was converted into a double decker bus. That thing could hold over 100+ guests. I remember seeing it at EPCOT years ago (that's the last pic).