New Express Transportation: $19/day or $29/week-SERVICE ENDING AUGUST 23RD 2017

[Gina Starr]

Been keeping an eye on this thread to see if this is extended. I leave tomorrow and really want to use it!

 

[scrapquitler]

Been keeping an eye on this thread to see if this is extended. I leave tomorrow and really want to use it!

We leave on Wednesday, and I'm watching closely for this information, too.

 

[mexi]

So they give out departure times for each park? Do they give this to you when you add the service or do you need to stop at each park and ask for one somewhere?

 

[MamaMeggie]

I am hoping this continues in February because we park hop each day of our trip, it sounds to be worth it for sure. Thanks for the reviews from the folks who have tried it.

Me too! Don't forget to call guest services to tell them - the more enthusiasm they hear hopefully the more likely it is that it is continued.

 

[Gehrig1B]

Talked to the folks at the AK express bus kiosk last night. They said they have not received any information about whether the service will be extended. Numbers have been pretty good and they thought the lack of any real Disney promotion of the service was by design.

We bought our passes when checking in at Wilderness Lodge. Seems for the time being the only way to find departure times is to ask at a departure kiosk within the parks.

 

[AngiTN]

So they give out departure times for each park? Do they give this to you when you add the service or do you need to stop at each park and ask for one somewhere?

You have to ask at each park for the schedule for your destination. They said they aren't publishing times as they are subject to change. Seems like so far they are keeping them fairly consistent.

 

[DisneyOma]

I'm pretty sure Disney buses can carry more than 30 people at a time. I believe, and by looking at pictures of the interior they have seating for 35 and then everyone they fit standing up

So if they are there first, sure, they'll all get on - but you never know how many can cram on the bus, and then they stop letting people on. Sounds like there are very few full buses at the moment, which is a good thing, but maybe not a good thing in that the service is not paying for itself and will get canceled. They may not even do the 'crammed bus' scenario for this service - it makes for a less elegant trip, as in, why pay to be crammed on yet another Disney bus?

 

[yulilin3]

So if they are there first, sure, they'll all get on - but you never know how many can cram on the bus, and then they stop letting people on. Sounds like there are very few full buses at the moment, which is a good thing, but maybe not a good thing in that the service is not paying for itself and will get canceled. They may not even do the 'crammed bus' scenario for this service - it makes for a less elegant trip, as in, why pay to be crammed on yet another Disney bus?

I actually asked this the day I used it and they told me that the buses would load just like all the others, if need be they world fill it with people standing up.
Also the point for them to have the service bought same day is to know how many are using it that day and will plan accordingly if another bus is needed

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Took us about 15 minutes to go from HS to EPCOT via the bus

Good to know - thanks!

 

[j2thomason]

Me too! Don't forget to call guest services to tell them - the more enthusiasm they hear hopefully the more likely it is that it is continued.

You can also tweet about it to WDWtoday. Believe it or not they will respond almost immediately to any comments on that Twitter account. There is someone monitoring it constantly. I tweeted about how much I loved the new bus service last week and they thanked me, and then several others also liked the tweet. That account is also a great way to compliment cast members.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

You have to ask at each park for the schedule for your destination. They said they aren't publishing times as they are subject to change. Seems like so far they are keeping them fairly consistent.

Really?? So this needs to be subrated from time saved as well.

MG

 

[yulilin3]

Really?? So this needs to be subrated from time saved as well.

MG

They cm at the pick off drop off points has the schedule, so you are not substarcting time saved, you ask for the park you want to go next and they tell you right then and here

 

[stenmarks]

They cm at the pick off drop off points has the schedule, so you are not substarcting time saved, you ask for the park you want to go next and they tell you right then and here

This, exactly. Our family never felt like we had to "wait" on a bus because we took the opportunity to use the restroom or trade out our Fuel Rod if we had extra time before the bus was scheduled to depart.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I shot a quick email to WDW to let them know I thought this was a really good idea and hope they continue it. I also asked for a stop in WS. I would love to take advantage of the lunch options there. We normally do MK RD in AM then lunch outside of MK but it can take awhile to go from MK to EPCOT, even if you take the bus to BC and walk through the IG.

We eat lunch at WS 2-3 times a trip and unlike dinner, even during crowded peak season WS doesn't see much of a lunch crowd.

We'll only be at WDW for 4 days (Pre and post cruise) and I was seriously considering non park hoppers. FP+ has made, for us, hopping unattractive. There is no chance of getting a FP+ during peak times for headliners same day, believe me I tried. There is NO WAY I will wait 2 hours for anything. Increased crowds and added security makes traveling between parks mid day not worth the lost time.

If the Express bus moves people out of the turnstile lines and off the regular bus I see this as a win-win situation.

 

[MamaMeggie]

You can also tweet about it to WDWtoday. Believe it or not they will respond almost immediately to any comments on that Twitter account. There is someone monitoring it constantly. I tweeted about how much I loved the new bus service last week and they thanked me, and then several others also liked the tweet. That account is also a great way to compliment cast members.

This might be worth signing up for twitter

 

[ShellieMimi]

Here now and LOVING this service. Today I got to see some cool backstage areas at EP & HS, including the HS Christmas tree in pieces - a "so THAT'S how they do it!" moment. Right now, I am sitting on a warm bus instead of standing outside in the cold, waiting for one.

They also let me buy the service for a week, so it has definitely been extended somewhat.

 

[DisneyKoolaid]

Just got on a bus at AK to MK, (literally the only person on this bus right now - left RIGHT at 6:30, no waiting around for stragglers) and I asked the CM that brought me to the bus and she said that it's going through the end of January and they're going to reevaluate after that

 

[KristinU]

I just got an "It's Almost Time" email from Disney Destinations regarding my stay starting next Saturday. How to find DME at the airport, using the MDE app, etc. But it also mentions Express Transportation with a link to additional info on it, so...I would take this to mean that they are extending it. At least until next weekend!

 

[SuperTink]

I just got an "It's Almost Time" email from Disney Destinations regarding my stay starting next Saturday. How to find DME at the airport, using the MDE app, etc. But it also mentions Express Transportation with a link to additional info on it, so...I would take this to mean that they are extending it. At least until next weekend!

I need 2 more weeks after that!!

 

[Gehrig1B]

I shot a quick email to WDW to let them know I thought this was a really good idea and hope they continue it. I also asked for a stop in WS. I would love to take advantage of the lunch options there. We normally do MK RD in AM then lunch outside of MK but it can take awhile to go from MK to EPCOT, even if you take the bus to BC and walk through the IG.

We eat lunch at WS 2-3 times a trip and unlike dinner, even during crowded peak season WS doesn't see much of a lunch crowd.

We'll only be at WDW for 4 days (Pre and post cruise) and I was seriously considering non park hoppers. FP+ has made, for us, hopping unattractive. There is no chance of getting a FP+ during peak times for headliners same day, believe me I tried. There is NO WAY I will wait 2 hours for anything. Increased crowds and added security makes traveling between parks mid day not worth the lost time.

If the Express bus moves people out of the turnstile lines and off the regular bus I see this as a win-win situation.

Park hopper works great for us. We FP+ the second park and rope drop park one. This week we used the express bus for dinner at Epcot as well.