New Disney Buses

[soccercruiser87]

just wanted to say that the new disney buses are awesome! my handicapped friend Steve who cant get out of wheelchair and usually has a hard time on the older buses loves the new buses too.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

The department is quite pleased with them as well. Unlike the Novas, these don't break down every half hour

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

The department is quite pleased with them as well. Unlike the Novas, these don't break down every half hour

Hmm ... perhaps Disney can pawn off the rest of the lease on some of the Novas to Dynamic ... busses that break down every 1/2 hour would fit very well with the rest of the Dynamic fleet.

(Dynamic is a local Orlando charter bus company, it's rare for me to go even 2 days without seeing a Dynamic bus sitting at the side of the road, broken down)

 

[4formickey]

I work for chicago transit and novas are the best buses that we have.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I work for chicago transit and novas are the best buses that we have.

LOL... that's scary!

 

[KilleriMac17]

just wanted to say that the new disney buses are awesome! my handicapped friend Steve who cant get out of wheelchair and usually has a hard time on the older buses loves the new buses too.

what are the new buses? when I went last time, they had the regular buses(with the stairs that come out), and they also had the 'kneeling' buses. is this a new bus that was added recently?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

what are the new buses? when I went last time, they had the regular buses(with the stairs that come out), and they also had the 'kneeling' buses. is this a new bus that was added recently?

A "Kneeling bus" is any bus that can lower the entry door for easier entry. Both the low-floors and the standard floor RTS bus can kneel.

We currently have three types of buses.

1.) The standard RTS bus. This is the bus that has the stairs, and is the workhorse of our fleet. Minus any recent retirements, we should have around 175 of these in service.

2.) The Nova LFS low floor bus. This bus was added to our fleet in 2000. We have 71 of these buses. They can kneel in the front, or tilt to the side.

3.) The Gillig Advantage low floor bus. We have 35+ of these in service, depending on delivery. They are brand new, feature a low floor, with a stepped rear deck, and a flip out rear door ramp. They also have padded seats.

 

[soccercruiser87]

the gilligs are my favorite. I remember when i first went to disneyworld, well stayed on property there were the older buses that had the orange stripe on the side that says walt disney world transportation or something similar to that.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Those were the RTS buses. The very same buses are still in service! (Just have been repainted, is all)

 

[soccercruiser87]

oh wow really? i never knew that. When did Disney start using the buses?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

The first RTS buses that we bought new were back in 1980. 2701-2712. These buses are still in service today. In fact, 2701, 2702, 2707, 2710, and 2711 are all excellent running buses, perhaps better than a lot of thier younger siblings.

On a related note, we do have some 1979 models in our fleet, they were purchased used, and rebuilt in 1998. The original Disney buses have never been rebuilt, as they have been meticulously maintained throughout the years. All they need is cosmetic updates. (Especially 2711) However, since they are slated to be retired in 2005 they will not recieve them.

 

[DVC-Don]

Those Nova seem to have downhill fast. Last summer we rode on a few that shook something awful.

 

[soccercruiser87]

wow, thanks for the information tyler. I didnt think they had the buses that long ago. At least the buses last.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

We call that the Nova Wobble. It happens between 40-50mph on the majority of them. It has to do with a design flaw in the bus causing the tires to warp so badly, that they are no longer round. (The bus doesn't flex or lean, thus reducing energy transfer... I dunno, it has something to do with that)

We can reduce the problem greatly by using a special Michelin tire, but unfortunetly, due to a contract with our lovely sponsor Goodyear, we can only have 20% of the fleet using non-Goodyear tires.

 

[soccercruiser87]

ok tyler i have a question about the monorail...well im just wondering how can u become a monorail driver? where do you go to college or what do you study? im just wondering because being one seems fun and interesting.

 

[KilleriMac17]

They also have padded seats.

hopefully not cloth. hehe. thats probably the only way I could tell the new ones from memory (HEy these are the new padded seat ones)

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

ok tyler i have a question about the monorail...well im just wondering how can u become a monorail driver? where do you go to college or what do you study? im just wondering because being one seems fun and interesting.

I'm studying business management in college. However, one doesn't need a college degree to drive the monorail. (However, I'd highly recommend getting ones degree and pursuing a higher paying career)

 

[4formickey]

Chicago Transit Authority,better know as CTA is known for buying things that wil not last. Our novas were breaking down while they where being delivered. one problem that we have with them is when we are on the expressway going 45-50 to mph, they will shut down. Now we have installed gps units on the destation sign [clever devices]which is to heavy for that area so the clip break causing the sign to hit any one in the area in the head. Yes it is the best bus for the CTA. Over 60%of our fleet is made up of this bus.They beat out the TMC and the Flexible!!!!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Yes, we have that problem with the engines shutting down as well. Ours do it at any speed, though. Ours were shipped via flatbed down to Disney, for the exact reason that too many were breaking down when the first batch was driven. I remember one night, I had one with only 300 miles on it. First day in service. Died at the All-Star gate. Another with only 4,000 blew a turbo. Yet another cracked a rear axle at 7,000.

Thankfully, they're leased, and will be gone soon. (Who would have thought the 25 year old RTS would outlive the Nova?? LOL)