Pete's Disney Springs Parking Rant

[Suvadoo]

I loved Pete's rant on Disney Springs. Of course, that's because I agree with everything he said. However, now even the resort buses are taking 1 hour each way to reach their destination. I've seen several posts from recent travelers who recommend taking taxis.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Downtown Disney resort buses have been taking an outrageous amount of time for the past year or so. I spend a few days each trip at DTD and have noticed this to be the case most often on the way back to the resort in the afternoons. In February, for example, I waited 75 minutes for a bus. A few months earlier, I waited 45-85 minutes during several visits. It's ridiculous and has only gotten worse.

I actually wrote to WDW about this on their FB page and encourage others to complain to them directly. It's the only way that things will have a chance of being fixed.

I coined this hash tag during podcast chat yesterday and stand by it. Feel free to use it...

#DTDepicfail

 

[Suvadoo]

Unfortunately it seems like there are a lot of failures lately. I just don't understand why everything Disney builds takes sooooo long to complete. It's so disappointing.

 

[kermit116]

When is the construction supposed to be done? I know Pete mentioned it taking a year, but when did this project officially "start"?

 

[Suvadoo]

According to Pete, it started last fall. I think he said last October and it's supposed to be completed spometime this fall. So it's going to take at least 1 year.

 

[kbelle8995]

It is really ridiculous. Shows that they weren't thinking at all. I was going to go over there and check out the Co-op on my next visit but Now I don't think I will bother.

 

[DVC Kathy]

We'll be at AKL - Kidani for two nights before our DCL cruise in early December. Our plan had been to hop a bus to DTD after we checked in.

Not any longer. We'll have a much better time (and probably spend less money) relaxing at the resort.

 

[Suvadoo]

We'll be at AKL - Kidani for two nights before our DCL cruise in early December. Our plan had been to hop a bus to DTD after we checked in.

Not any longer. We'll have a much better time (and probably spend less money) relaxing at the resort.

Maybe the garage construction will be done by December

 

[fluffykalie]

How r the boats from the resorts to and from downtown disney

 

[Suvadoo]

How r the boats from the resorts to and from downtown disney

No problem, but now they're restricting parking access at POR and SP to prevent people from parking there and catching a boat to DD

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I agree with some of petes rant on the podcast but the transformers comparison was a bit much as it was the third time they had built it. They had already built it in Universal Hollywood and somewhere overseas before, and they probably had construction running 24 hours a day where as Disney may not be. Plus it's a parking garage they want it built safely as they don't want to have it collapse on opening day.

 

[Hunterr]

I go to DTD maybe 1 to 3 times a month, so it's been interesting to see what area is closed off every time I go.

Yeah, it's a huge cluster f right now, the parking garage looks damn near finished. So if nothing else, that'll be ready.

If you're going before 5-6pm, parking at the Cirque parking lot always has spaces. Otherwise, it's best just to park at Team Disney. Not because there aren't spots elsewhere, but the traffic/lines just to get out of parking that isn't TeamDisney or Cirque is ridiculous.

 

[j2thomason]

We have been to WDW 5 times since construction started last fall at DTD. We always go to DTD on each trip, but after all of the traffic we ran into during the winter, we decided to skip it on our last 2 trips. It's just too much trouble and time out of our day. Even if you do finally do make it over there, all you get to see is construction walls everywhere. I totally agree with Pete. Disney put no thought into how all of this construction would effect the guest experience. Disney needs to pick up the pace with all of this construction they have going on everywhere. Geez....I don't spend a bucket load of money to go see a variety of creative construction walls!

 

[Kristina4109]

Does anyone know how long it took to build the DisneyLAND parking garage? (Tom Bell? Nancy? Mary Jo?) Because that would be a good comparison. Incidentally, I always think it's weird that in the DisneyLAND parking structure has a sign saying that the Walt Disney World company is not liable for any damage to vehicles...

 

[*NikkiBell*]

When is the construction supposed to be done? I know Pete mentioned it taking a year, but when did this project officially "start"?

According to Pete, it started last fall. I think he said last October and it's supposed to be completed spometime this fall. So it's going to take at least 1 year.

Disney Springs is actually being completed in phases much like New Fantasyland was. The Landing is the first phase and is set to open in 2015 with shopping and dining options. Disney has said a few times now that they "expect" construction to be fully completed on the entire area by 2016. Something tells me that isn't going to happen unless they really change the dynamics of how things are being done. I guess time will only tell.

 

[kbelle8995]

Disney Springs is actually being completed in phases much like New Fantasyland was. The Landing is the first phase and is set to open in 2015 with shopping and dining options. Disney has said a few times now that they "expect" construction to be fully completed on the entire area by 2016. Something tells me that isn't going to happen unless they really change the dynamics of how things are being done. I guess time will only tell.

ITA. I seem to remember that Disney originally stated that they were going to open the Co-op early spring. No date. Than it became summer. They say that they will have things open and then it opens much later.

Whether that has to do with construction issues or the project becoming bigger than they expected, I can't say.

 

[Cold71]

I agree with some of petes rant on the podcast but the transformers comparison was a bit much as it was the third time they had built it. They had already built it in Universal Hollywood and somewhere overseas before, and they probably had construction running 24 hours a day where as Disney may not be. Plus it's a parking garage they want it built safely as they don't want to have it collapse on opening day.

Still... at the end of the day, it's a parking garage made up of concrete and supports. Granted Disney has personally never made a parking garage but it's not like Iger is out there with his sleeves rolled up and a cement mixer. I'm sure which ever company was contracted to build this garage has put up more then three of them (at least one would hope). This was Disney's project and it's Disney's fail.

 

[Hunterr]

Does anyone know what they are building at the Cirque parking lot? It's a building(s) of sorts. More shopping or restaurants? When they first started doing stuff there, I thought it was going to be another parking garage, but it's not.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Still... at the end of the day, it's a parking garage made up of concrete and supports. Granted Disney has personally never made a parking garage but it's not like Iger is out there with his sleeves rolled up and a cement mixer. I'm sure which ever company was contracted to build this garage has put up more then three of them (at least one would hope). This was Disney's project and it's Disney's fail.

That's not what I meant at all comparing Transformers to a parking structure is like comparing a banana to an apple. Transformers is a mostly steel building with a ride that they had already built before and could be built off site and shipped in. A parking structure is completely different as it's all concret much like when they build a new hotel.

 

[kbelle8995]

I wonder if the issue is too much construction.

1) Construction at DTD.
2). Construction at MK
3). Construction at the Poly.

Am I missing anything? And DTD is a major re-haul. Disney has no excuse though they knew this was coming. Plans for alternative parking should have been more thought out.