Outside companies to run WDW buses?

[Lilolvr]

Just returned Sunday from our first stay at WL. We were in a bus from DTD back to WL by ourselves, was talking to bus driver. He has worked for Disney for 17 years as driver thru week, does another job (sport photos) on the weekends. He told us that the Magic Express, and Cruise Line buses have been taken over by another company, as of the first of the year. The Cruise Line buses are in the process of changing buses and colors, mostly Navy, saw on last week. The Resort buses will be taken over by summer, as soon as all the equipment is installed. There will be new resort buses also. The entire system will be on computers. He was not sure how everything would work, but drivers would be tested, some old would be kept, new ones would be coming. There were alot of people observing the buses at every stop when we were there, he said some were Disney people, some the new company.

Just read this on the resort board. Anyone else hear this?

 

[bicker]

I haven't heard this, and would normally be quite skeptical, based the "creative tales" told to me in the past by bus drivers, but it sounds like a reasonable course of action, and perhaps a really good idea.

 

[Starr W.]

I maybe wrong but I thought the DME/Cruise buses are contracted through Mears transportation. The drivers wear Disney uniforms, but Disney pays Mears to run the operation.

 

[Lewisc]

Mears currently operates DCL and DME buses. Mears operated the buses for DCL and DME since the inception of both programs. Another company would have to be licensed to operate at MCO. I think we would have heard if Mears contract expired 1/1/07. I doubt Mears leased the buses necessary for DME with only a 2 year contract.

It was already posted that GPS tracking devices will be added to resort buses. I could see Disney having Mears run resort transportation. That's consistent with Disney outsourcing bell services and valet.

 

[DC7800]

The part of thre rumor about internal Disney Resort buses being taken over by an outside contractor (probably Mears) is at least plausible, though it would be the first I've heard of it. But as noted above by Starr and LewisC, Mears already operates the cruise line and DME buses, and has since the beginning, so the part about a new company recently taking those routes over is false.

 

[kaytieeldr]

That thread's been moved to this board, and the rumor has been refuted by two extremely knowledgeable posters.