repeated BUS ABUSE ON OUR TRIP THIS PAST WEEK

[MiaSRN62]

but that would be about as much as I could bare if i came down to the pool and it was full of locals or off site guests.

I know....I read this happens at Vero Beach quite often. If this becomes a problem for SSR guests/owners down the line, I'd think the CM's would have to check ID's at the pool areas.......and be strict about it like they are at the SAB pool.

 

[Chuck S]

I'm trying to figure something out...it used to be that off-site people with multi-day hoppers used transport from park to park, and occasionally went to a resort for a meal or to shop. Using resort busses required showing a resort ID...why did that change and why couldn't they go back to a two-tier system? Park passes or resort ID for inter-park transport. Resort ID, or AP only for use of the resort busses. Now I'm not talking about specific resort IDs, but valid on-site WDW operated resorts...so DVC members could go to WDW resorts and the reverse would be true.

 

[Beca]

beca,

Doesn't someone who stays in a Disney Resort and purchases admission pay twice as well?

Yes, I posted that and more on page 5 (post #73) of this thread. Here it is again:

Okay....I have a couple of ideas. Why doesn't WDW:

1) Gate off DTD and go to validation

2) Subsidize the ENTIRE cost of the transportation from park tickets. If those are the people who are "entitled" to use the transportation system. Why not charge accordingly? It seems the way the system is now, offsite guests actually are getting more of a bargain because all onsite guests are charged twice....once from their park tickets, and once from the resort they are staying at (either DVC or WDW). And, then you have the people at the Swan/Dolphin who are being charged a $10 fee up front. I was told that was to cover bus service to those parks. But, aren't people who are going to the parks already paying for the bus service via their park tickets? I am assuming, therefore that the subsidy of transportation may be split between resort fees and park tickets. But, that means that resort guests are being charged twice for something that non-resort guests are getting a lot cheaper.

It doesn't make much sense. I think they should remove the subsidy from the resorts, and up the price of the park tickets...that would be fair if they want to have the usage policy that they do now.

But, that would decrease attendance because it would look so expensive to go to WDW. And, they own it....they make the rules. However, they do need to have some "safeguards" in place for SSR resort guests to get to and from their rooms. Maybe they need to offer a "front of the line" access to anyone showing an SSR room key when boarding. All others can then get on the bus if there is room available. I do think this is a unique situation due to the resort's proximity to DTD...WDW needs to accept this and deal with it.

The fact that this is becoming a problem does shoot a hole in the theory that "DTD is not enough of a destination to make SSR a valuable property" now doesn't it?



Beca

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I'm trying to figure something out...it used to be that off-site people with multi-day hoppers used transport from park to park, and occasionally went to a resort for a meal or to shop. Using resort busses required showing a resort ID...why did that change and why couldn't they go back to a two-tier system? Park passes or resort ID for inter-park transport. Resort ID, or AP only for use of the resort busses. Now I'm not talking about specific resort IDs, but valid on-site WDW operated resorts...so DVC members could go to WDW resorts and the reverse would be true.

from what i can guess is disney wants EVERYONE to be able to get to the resorts. they want any off site guests to be able to use the busses for visiting the resorts for shopping, eating, previewing for future visits.

obviously SSr has added a twist to everything, but in the past i would assume this was the thinking


maybe Im wrong , but thats my take

 

[Deb & Bill]

Okay....I have a couple of ideas. Why doesn't WDW:

1)...

2) ... Maybe they need to offer a "front of the line" access to anyone showing an SSR room key when boarding. All others can then get on the bus if there is room available. I do think this is a unique situation due to the resort's proximity to DTD...WDW needs to accept this and deal with it.

I liked this idea a lot. They should do that with all the resort buses. Only wheelchairs and scooters would have priority over the home resort guests. (you really need to load them first anyway).

Plus if they would gate the walkway from SSR. You can get out (or maybe not), but not back in without a room key. 'Course you would always have people standing around waiting for someone else to open the gate for them ala Vero Beach pool. They could post warning messages for your safety in the SSR resort newpaper about not helping non-resort guests to enter the property illegally.

Also, why don't the cheaters park at the water parks (other than they don't open until a bit later in the AM)?

 

[manning]

beca,

Doesn't someone who stays in a Disney Resort and purchases admission pay twice as well?

Don't hold me to this but I think at one time when you bought park tickets at the resorts and presented your room key you got a small discount. This discount reflected the transportation fee.

 

[MiaSRN62]

from what i can guess is disney wants EVERYONE to be able to get to the resorts. they want any off site guests to be able to use the busses for visiting the resorts for shopping, eating, previewing for future visits.

Many times, when making PS at hotel restaurants, I've been asked on the phone by the CM, "which resort are you staying at". When I stated "Vistana" and proceeded to ask for directions to the hotel it was actually suggested to me that I could utilize WDW transportation system if I had a valid Hopper. Now this is going back 6-7 years. I don't know if they still do this because I've had no need to ask for directions for a very long time now. But I think offsite guests are welcomed and encouraged by Disney. I've never gotten a snooty attitude or a CM unwilling to assist me when they found out I was an offsite guest. Here's an example : In '95 (I believe), we had Hoop De Doo ressies while staying at Vistana. The CM told me on the phone exactly how to get from the MK to Ft Wilderness using disney transportation.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Also, why don't the cheaters park at the water parks (other than they don't open until a bit later in the AM)?

Because they close earlier than the parks and it would be difficult if not impossible for these people to get back to their cars, I'd think.

 

[goldilocks_63]

Screeching breaks, noisy..... We prefer the electric ones, cause they're more quiet.

Offtopic, but we think that going to multiple parks in a day is almost a waste, unless you can drive, walk, or monorail it, cause the transportation system is so slow.

We thought it was designed this way as part of crowd control. (ie if you make it hard for people to move around, then they are kind of a captive audience )

Goldi

 

[DrTomorrow]

I've got a question, and I hereby invoke my "I'm an SSR owner" privileges :

What, exactly, is the problem that everyone's trying to find a solution for? It can't be simply that folks leaving a park and heading to DTD are told to use the SSR bus, because as long as everyone gets a seat, I don't care where what my fellow riders' destination is. It can't be that folks other than guests at WDW resorts are using the bus, because according to their admission media, they're allowed to do that. It can't be that non-resort guests are going to resorts, because you can be darned sure that Disney wants as much of that happening as possible. So, has anyone experienced an actual problem caused solely by non-SSR/non-WDW resort guests riding the SSR bus? If so, I'd love to hear the details; otherwise, it just seems like everyone is worried about solving a problem that hasn't yet manifested itself.

Once again, I was one of the first to raise this issue last May as a possible future issue; so far, not only has it NOT been a problem, there were times that I wish that a dozen or so DTD-bound riders had been with us at the stop to SSR at MK and AK - it might have made Dispatch send a bus a little sooner than if just DW and I were waiting (over 40 minutes, while every other resort bus came a went, some multiple times).

Hey, I appreciate a pro-active atitude - an ounce of prevention and all that - but so far all I've seen is either people worried that it "may become a problem in the future" or people with an (IMHO very unfortunate) "if they ain't resort guests keep them outta my resort" attitude. Yeesh, people - this is Disney World; does the desire for everyone to have a good time stop at your DVC property line?

IMHO - YMMV

 

[ErinC]

I've got a question, and I hereby invoke my "I'm an SSR owner" privileges :

What, exactly, is the problem that everyone's trying to find a solution for? It can't be simply that folks leaving a park and heading to DTD are told to use the SSR bus, because as long as everyone gets a seat, I don't care where what my fellow riders' destination is. itself.


IMHO - YMMV

Thats just it, You won't get a seat! A couple of evenings there was standing room only on the bus. Are you going to be happy to wait for all those heading to DD to take the 1st bus, while you wait for another bus to come as an SSR guest? I certainly wouldn't. If there was standing room only on the SSR bus with only Congress Park open, what's it going to be like with the Springs and Paddock buildings added? Hey, I don't own at SSR, but I sure don't want my dues to continue to rise, due to the need of increased bussing, so that everyone that wants to get to DD has a ride. They need to tell these folks to go to the Ticket center, and have DD busses there. JMHO!

 

[Beca]

I've got a question, and I hereby invoke my "I'm an SSR owner" privileges :

What, exactly, is the problem that everyone's trying to find a solution for? It can't be simply that folks leaving a park and heading to DTD are told to use the SSR bus, because as long as everyone gets a seat, I don't care where what my fellow riders' destination is. It can't be that folks other than guests at WDW resorts are using the bus, because according to their admission media, they're allowed to do that. It can't be that non-resort guests are going to resorts, because you can be darned sure that Disney wants as much of that happening as possible. So, has anyone experienced an actual problem caused solely by non-SSR/non-WDW resort guests riding the SSR bus? If so, I'd love to hear the details; otherwise, it just seems like everyone is worried about solving a problem that hasn't yet manifested itself.

Once again, I was one of the first to raise this issue last May as a possible future issue; so far, not only has it NOT been a problem, there were times that I wish that a dozen or so DTD-bound riders had been with us at the stop to SSR at MK and AK - it might have made Dispatch send a bus a little sooner than if just DW and I were waiting (over 40 minutes, while every other resort bus came a went, some multiple times).

Hey, I appreciate a pro-active atitude - an ounce of prevention and all that - but so far all I've seen is either people worried that it "may become a problem in the future" or people with an (IMHO very unfortunate) "if they ain't resort guests keep them outta my resort" attitude. Yeesh, people - this is Disney World; does the desire for everyone to have a good time stop at your DVC property line?

IMHO - YMMV

I would be concerned about my dues going up to cover the additional traffic thru the resort. Once completed, either your busses will be extremely crowded, or WDW will have to assign more busses to SSR ...at your cost.

I, personally don't like the idea that any DVC resort (and its owners) are being taken advantage of by WDW...and that is what is going on here. DTD shop owners, and WDW are benefitting by this foot traffic....SSR owners are not.

If the BWV owner had not sat down to figure out that BWV was being "overcharged" for transportation...BWV owners would STILL be overcharged. I am so happy they did that!!

SSR is "breaking new ground" for DVC....it is the only 100% DVC resort that is attached to a "destination location". That means that SSR owners are covering the unsubsidized (by WDW) transportation costs by themselves...and there are no benefits for them of this traffic. I am upset about this, and I do not pay dues there!!! I think WDW needs to ensure that they are covering their costs, and let DVC owners cover theirs. But, if WDW has to add busses to SSR to cover all of this traffic, SSR owners will be unfairly subsidizing the WDW bus system. I don't think I, as a DVC owner ought to have to pay a penny to shuttle non-DVC members anywhere. I KNOW it is a small amount....but even $1 per year X 30,000 members is $30,000 more dollars that WDW is saving because of the inequities in the way the transportation system is handled. I personally think that if it is okay with WDW if people use SSR as a "walkway" to and from DTD (and utilize the WDW bus system to do so), that WDW ought to pick up a larger percentage of the transportation costs of SSR....owners should NOT be doing so.



Beca

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

3DisneyNUTS,

Can you tell me out of the total SSR budget what per cent DVC members pay as opposed to cash paying guests as opposed to what money would be subsidized from park admittance for SSR Transportation?

Can tell me what scarlett letter you would put on someone who may be breaking rules, which at this point seems to be a lonely local, as opposed to someone visiting the DVC models as opposed to someone with a valid resort ID or multiday park admittance?

My guess is that WDW/DVC and whatever the acronym for the DVC Developer is, know full well what is happening and and set it up that way.

You are asking for something un-enforceable and IMHO not reasonable but I understand you paid your money and you deserve, no demand, what you think is right for you.

I would expect that people abusing the bus system to not pay parking fees or staying at a non DVCwdw resort not be ENCOURAGED by Cast members to us the Congress Park bus stop as a go anywhere terminal. When I have my sleepy son in my arms with no where to sit because someone was too cheap to pay for parking or chose to stay offsite why should they get my seat? Roll you eyes all you want but I would at least expect people not to condone those who are scamming the "system" Find any loophole you would like it doesn't mean since it is there people are entitled to it. I pay dues to have a seat on the bus. If fellow SSRs beat me to it, be my guest, but don't tell me someone staying offsite should be able to walk from DTD and take up seats on the bus without me getting upset. I pay to use the bus and it looks like I paid twice since I have a PAP too.

 

[DrBond007]

ok then that makes it definate, no non resort guests on the walkway to DTD. i am pretty easy going on vacation and not much bothers me, but that would be about as much as I could bare if i came down to the pool and it was full of locals or off site guests.

You may have to get used to it. Vero sure has a problem with it. I think it is one of the inherent dissadvantages of SSR. I don't condone it, but it is predictable.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

I've got a question, and I hereby invoke my "I'm an SSR owner" privileges :

What, exactly, is the problem that everyone's trying to find a solution for? It can't be simply that folks leaving a park and heading to DTD are told to use the SSR bus, because as long as everyone gets a seat, I don't care where what my fellow riders' destination is. It can't be that folks other than guests at WDW resorts are using the bus, because according to their admission media, they're allowed to do that. It can't be that non-resort guests are going to resorts, because you can be darned sure that Disney wants as much of that happening as possible. So, has anyone experienced an actual problem caused solely by non-SSR/non-WDW resort guests riding the SSR bus? If so, I'd love to hear the details; otherwise, it just seems like everyone is worried about solving a problem that hasn't yet manifested itself.

Once again, I was one of the first to raise this issue last May as a possible future issue; so far, not only has it NOT been a problem, there were times that I wish that a dozen or so DTD-bound riders had been with us at the stop to SSR at MK and AK - it might have made Dispatch send a bus a little sooner than if just DW and I were waiting (over 40 minutes, while every other resort bus came a went, some multiple times).

Hey, I appreciate a pro-active atitude - an ounce of prevention and all that - but so far all I've seen is either people worried that it "may become a problem in the future" or people with an (IMHO very unfortunate) "if they ain't resort guests keep them outta my resort" attitude. Yeesh, people - this is Disney World; does the desire for everyone to have a good time stop at your DVC property line?

IMHO - YMMV

Well yes I would consider our encounter a problem. The last woman in the OP I wrote was quite annoying yelling at her husband making it intolerable sitting at the bus stop waiting for the bus with this woman shrilling how she needed a cab, there was no shuttle and how she couldn't walk but then walked over to the leisure pool in search of a bathroom and a phone then back. It was not very magical and most everyone at the stop waiting for their busses found it quite annoying especially after every attempt to help her was returned with a negative comment. Followed by more yelling at her DH and kids.

So magnify this when the resort is complete and make the area much more crowded and fill up the buses from the other stops and thankfully we were not awaiting the DTD bus because we would have been subjected to this for the ride there I am sure. So yes I have encountered a problem from it and hopefully this will not be a repeat event at the bus stop /pool over there. Especially with the pool so close to the walkway.

 

[JMC]

In general I agree with DrTomorrow- in that WDW would be quite happy with the free adverstisement of having non-resort guests driving through the on-site resorts while utilizing the WDW bus system.

And, I KNOW I will be frustrated one day after waiting too long for an SSR bus and resentfully pass the time trying to figure out which of my fellow riders is actually just a DTD parker and not an SSR guest. But, in the end, when we get off that bus we're heading to our cozy room while others are trekking to the parking lot of DTD- so for me it all evens out.

What DOES concern me is that non-resort guests can easily access a resort area at any time the buses are runing- i.e. late into the night. Additionally, SSR is only a short walk from DTD- which I'm certain serves more alchohol on the average day than all the parks combined. So can some random person have a few too many and then wander over to SSR, where the unit's doors open directly to the outside?

Is the walkway between DTD and SSR monitored or closed after hours?

 

[DrBond007]

....What DOES concern me is that non-resort guests can easily access a resort area at any time the buses are runing- i.e. late into the night. Additionally, SSR is only a short walk from DTD- which I'm certain serves more alchohol on the average day than all the parks combined. So can some random person have a few too many and then wander over to SSR, where the unit's doors open directly to the outside?

Is the walkway between DTD and SSR monitored or closed after hours?

Well, I think you have legitimate reasons to be concerned. I understand Dr. Tommorrow's points, but I think those views are so yesterday....

Frankly, the proximity caused us to shy away from SSR as a purchase. But that's just us, I can see why others like a nice boatride home from pleasure island.

 

[manning]

Maybe someday the walkway will be closed. But it won't until holy hell is raised with management.

What I'm reading here that won't be happening soon. Too much rationalization going on.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Well yes I would consider our encounter a problem. The last woman in the OP I wrote was quite annoying yelling at her husband making it intolerable sitting at the bus stop waiting for the bus with this woman shrilling how she needed a cab, there was no shuttle and how she couldn't walk but then walked over to the leisure pool in search of a bathroom and a phone then back. It was not very magical and most everyone at the stop waiting for their busses found it quite annoying especially after every attempt to help her was returned with a negative comment. Followed by more yelling at her DH and kids. [...]

While your experience was unfortunate, it has nothing to do with any SSR bus issues; I assure you that I've run into rude people almost everywhere at WDW, from all "classes" of WDW guest (one of the most disturbing was while we were at the Polynesian Concierge, and someone was complaining that they only had 5 different types of liqueurs available....). Disney relies on mass transit, which is just that - transit for the masses. DVC owners must mix with folks from other DVC resorts and even ::gasp:: off-site visitors. If the big complaint is that you want to avoid running into rude, "non-magical" people, then I'm sorry to let you know, but restricting SSR bus service to resort guests - or just to SSR owners - won't do the trick.

I'll say farewell to this thread now, as it's taking quite a disturbing turn. While I totally understand the need to restrict resort amenities (SAB is the best example) to resort guests, to say that only people who pay dues at a DVC resort should be able to ride that resort's buses is just plain wrong. If this keeps up, I know I'll someday see an SSR owner screaming at a bus driver, "I pay your salary!" Talk about non-magical

IMHO - YMMV - TTFN

 

[TDC Nala]

Not everybody is doing this to avoid parking fees. You might also have me on the bus - a Disney resort guest without a car who is trying to get from a theme park to Pleasure Island. The only way to do that, absent direct buses from the parks to DTD, is to transfer at a resort.

I have done this, riding from MGM to SSR because I wanted to see the resort; I then took the boat from SSR to DTD in order to eat and go to PI. I'd probably take the SSR bus again, because it's possible to walk from SSR to the West Side and that would save time over catching another bus.

How would the SSR owners keep me off their bus?