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

[rcraw45425]

Sunday is marathon day

 

[sharonabe]

So if AK closes at 9:30, would there be one last bus at 10:00 to MK if they are open later? Here's my scenario: I have a FP for ROL. ROL starts at 9:15, and runs for about 15 minutes. AK closes at 9:30. MK has EMH from 10:00-midnight. Buses from AK to MK run at 00/30. Would there be a bus at 10:00 to MK or would the last bus be at 9:30?

I hope you're still following, because you may not be able to do this. Keep an eye out for AngiTN to post tomorrow:

I can ask tomorrow to be sure but it's my understanding it does not run to a park after normal operating hours are completed

 

[Sajchinook2015]

I will be trying this for my June trip. We have always wanted to try 4 parks in 1 day. I think this express bus will help us achieve our goal. Yahoo!!

 

[wehrengrizz]

Thank you for this, but I still don't quite understand how to read it. Are the times all from 12 as the 00? So in your schedule the :10 would be 10 past the hour; the :40 would be 40 past the hour, is this right?

Sorry for the late reply, you're reading that right!

 

[Kaytie]

Twice we had just missed the bus and had to walk around to kill time till the next bus. We felt that we could have gotten a bus faster outside the park.

Sure, it takes a bit of planning, along with being somewhat close to the departure area as the time approaches. Say you're in Tomorrowland and want to go to Epcot. It's 11 AM. You head over to the kiosk, bus departs at 11:10. Ride from MK backstage to Epcot backstage is about 15 minutes, so by 11:25 you're at Epcot, disembarking the bus and about to appear onstage near Guest Services.

Or, walk from Tomorrowland over bridge, down Main Street, under railroad, through tapstiles, to monorail ramp, up ramp in line with potentially hundreds for guests. Get assigned to boarding corral anywhere from zero seconds to ten+ minutes (assuming uninterrupted service.) Ride to TTC, exit monorail, wait for Epcot monorail, board monorail, proceed to Epcot, exit monorail, approach security lines, get checked, enter park at front, proceed to GS for reasonable comparison . Forty five minutes or so. Missing the 11:10 bus means leaving 30 minutes later - so 45 minutes total.

Do they have a limit on how many they sell? Is it possible that the bus could fill up and you'd have to wait another half hour for the next one?

A poster on the disABILITIES board asked what the plan is if more than two mobility-assisted guests want the same bus. She was told WDW would divert a regular-route bus. For occasional incidents, it would make sense to follow the same procedure. When standard usage increases, more lik e lying they would schedule additional buses.

If you miss the express you're losing the time advantage that you paid for in the first place and are now just paying for convenience. Some may people find it still a good value, most would not.

I think "most" is extremely exaggerated. I'd use the word "many", but I disagree with your assessment that the majority of the market wouldn't see the value.

There is no guarantee that express transportation will save you time, it can but it isn't guaranteed. Some may find it more convenient to get to the bus stops whenever they want without fear that they might wait 30 minutes for the next one (especially on trips that are 1-3 days).

The reasonable action would be to not arrive at a time that would effect a 30 minute wait. Guests plan FPs, ADRs, park days, attractions. How inconvenient is it really to plan to be at the MK kiosk at 11 AM, instead of Astro Orbiter?

 

[goofygal531]

We'll be dining at 'Ohana at 5pm then have reservations that evening for ROL at 8:45 pm. I'm wondering if we should enter MK and take the express Bus from there over to AK? Since we'll be coming from the Poly I'm hoping to encounter a shorter security line at their boat dock than at the front of AK.

With the new MK security stations and this new Express transportation, I trying to figure out what would be our best option.

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

For those concerned about missing the departure times and having to wait an extra 30 minutes, here's something that DH and I have planned for our upcoming trip. Around the time we know we're going to want to hop, we've scheduled in activities that aren't tied to a specific time but are ongoing, so that we can shorten or lengthen the time as needed. For example, when we plan to hop from Epcot to AK, our last few hours at Epcot will be touring the World Showcase and using Flower & Garden booths for lunch. We don't expect to do any shows/rides during that time. Our plan is to use the 1:50 bus. If we notice that it's getting close to 1:30 and we were considering going to another booth, we'll either skip the booth and head over, or just get another dish and catch the 2:20 bus. Likewise, our first AK activity might be to walk around the Gorilla Trails or Discovery Island trails. We can opt to skip those if we happen to catch a later bus, so that ADRs or other time-restrictive activities aren't jeopardized.

Long story short, my advice would be to plan non-essential activities around the general times that you would like to hop. This will hopefully keep your schedule more flexible

 

[SgtTibbs]

We'll be dining at 'Ohana at 5pm then have reservations that evening for ROL at 8:45 pm. I'm wondering if we should enter MK and take the express Bus from there over to AK? Since we'll be coming from the Poly I'm hoping to encounter a shorter security line at their boat dock than at the front of AK.

With the new MK security stations and this new Express transportation, I trying to figure out what would be our best option.

Question, not a suggestion, would't taking the Monorail from the Poly be a faster way to MK?

 

[AngiTN]

I've asked 2 different CM today and both confirmed there are no express buses to a park that is operating in their extra magic hours
So, for example, if HS and Epcot both close at 9:00 there will not be 1 more bus running to each of those parks even if 1 is open for EMH. There is only 1 more bus after closing if the destination park is open for regular operating hours

 

[hiroMYhero]

I've asked 2 different CM today and both confirmed there are no express buses to a park that in operating in their extra magic hours
So, for example, if HS and Epcot both close at 9:00 there will not be 1 more bus running to reach of those parks even if 1 is open for EMH. There is only 1 more bus after closing of the destination park is open for regular operating hours

Thanks, Angi!

 

[goofygal531]

Question, not a suggestion, would't taking the Monorail from the Poly be a faster way to MK?

With the new security at MK, I *think* there will be less of a line at the boat dock than then monorail.

 

[hiroMYhero]

With the new security at MK, I *think* there will be less of a line at the boat dock than then monorail.

Monorail guests are screened at the Poly before they board the Monorail.

It's also dependent upon the timing for Spirit of Aloha. That can back you up at the Monorail and boats if the show ends around the time your dinner ends.

 

[AngiTN]

We've used these buses a bunch, over two different trips. It has never been hard or inconvenient to time ourselves to be in the necessary area 10 or so minutes before the bus is leaving. We've not sat around and wasted any time. Most of the time it's been 2, 3 minutes.

We just check the schedule of where we are headed, think about what general time we want to get to the next park and work backwards, figuring out which is the best bus to catch. Like today we wanted to get to MK about 7 (from Epcot) We knew that meant the best bus to get was the 6:40 bus. It was not hard to time things so we got to the check in point about 6:30.

We have even opted to take the express bus to MK and then walk out to get the boat vs walking to the WL bus stop. We decided an unknown wait for a boat was preferable to an unknown wait for a bus. Mostly because we find boats run more often. We've been quite lucky in that we've had a boat pulling up each time as we got to the dock.

 

[DuffyForPresident]

Wife and I used this three times during our four days here. Twice we were the only two people on the bus, the third time there were three other people with us.

Knowing when the buses would be leaving and being able to add that into our plans was an incredible time saver, and well worth the money. This is park hopping at its finest. I'm sure we'll use the service again next time.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I think "most" is extremely exaggerated. I'd use the word "many", but I disagree with your assessment that the majority of the market wouldn't see the value.

I don't know how you could disagree with so many empty seats. If the majority saw the value the majority would use it, which they don't. Disney has no intentions for the majority to find value in it because they don't want the majority to use it. I don't think its exaggerated at all and quite literal meaning, the greater number, etc. The transportation system is set up so that the majority use the busses, boats and monorail.

The reasonable action would be to not arrive at a time that would effect a 30 minute wait. Guests plan FPs, ADRs, park days, attractions. How inconvenient is it really to plan to be at the MK kiosk at 11 AM, instead of Astro Orbiter?

It may seem reasonable to you but most resort guests cant get to the bus stop on time in the morning with much less going on. If you find the value great. On some trips, I likely will too. At some point I hope it is possible for non consecutive days (like tickets).

There are many people who already don't like having to plan ADRS, FP,s etc but do so so far in advance and relish any it of spontaneity possible. While it may seen quit reasonable to be able to pass on things to make that bus departing at 4:10 pm it can also seem quite reasonable to jump on space mt with a 10 min wait after it reopens from a mid day closure, wait on grammy who had a tough time in the bathroom, take an extra 5 minutes ata dance party etc.

The express service can be a convenience to those wanting to avoid security at the park your hopping to and who don't want to walk to the front of the park. It may or may not be a time saver. To ensure it is a time saver you have to give up other conveniences. It doesn't mean it's bad it's just reality.

 

[wdwonmymind]

Question, not a suggestion, would't taking the Monorail from the Poly be a faster way to MK?

More than likely it would, but it depends on the wait at the monorail and the wait for the boat.

 

[summerlvr]

I hope you're still following, because you may not be able to do this. Keep an eye out for AngiTN to post tomorrow:

Yes, I'm following. Thanks!

 

[shoreward]

Disney started the Express Transportation program to increase revenue. If, after an undisclosed period of time, Disney concludes it's not meeting their expectations for increased revenue, or, if it's judged to be a loser, they will discontinue its operation. The cost has already been increased 1x, since its inception, and I don't think another increase in the near future will be tolerated by many guests. The other option would be to bundle, perhaps with AP or something like a Park Hopper+.

With Disney's Uber-like service to start in the near-future, will the Express Transportation remain as is?

 

[wdwonmymind]

Just saw this on the Disney site and thought i would share here for anyone who may be planning on using the service this weekend. Sunday in particular.




Please note that Express Transportation service will have a change in operating hours on Sunday, April 23, 2017, with service beginning at 1:00 PM and concluding at park closing. Normal operating hours will resume Monday, April 24, 2017. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

That's not cool! They aren't providing the service when people need it the most! During the 1/2!!!

 

[summerlvr]

I've asked 2 different CM today and both confirmed there are no express buses to a park that is operating in their extra magic hours
So, for example, if HS and Epcot both close at 9:00 there will not be 1 more bus running to each of those parks even if 1 is open for EMH. There is only 1 more bus after closing if the destination park is open for regular operating hours

Thanks for clarifying this.