resort bus service ponder

[Luv2Roam]

DH and I have been to WDW at various times and park and resort hop frequent.

This is what I always wonder --

Why do the All Stars have a clearly organized/marked area to wait for busses and the mods don't?


Partly I think it is because at AS, there is no cover to stand under. At the mods there is. So the bus waiting area is more condensed at the mods.

But from our experience, the best bus service we have had at any of our stays have been at AS. CSR was pretty darn good (only exception was returning from DTD).
AS has maybe one time given less than stellar bus service. (One time out of several DOZEN I consider a great track record.)

I just wonder why the value is organized with great service. When the mods are more of a free for all. (No defined markings. They may have signs, but the busses just seem to pull up whenever and wherever.)

From our experiences, AS often has CM's supervisoring the bus comings and goings. POR had CM's that didn't do any good at all, if there were any there. And I have never seen a CM at the bus area at CSR. (But can't say I ever felt one was needed at CSR. It always went smooth.)

Your thoughts -- ponderings -- rants?

 

[April76]

First let me say that I have always been extremely happy with the bus service at ASMo!!


Now, I have nothing to base my thoughts on here -- but I'm wondering if the All Stars were all built more recently (except for AKL) and the multi-stop system was a new idea?? Or perhaps there are more bus stop locations at the other resorts and having multi-stops throughout the resort would be unrealistic?

Hmmmmm, I will continue to ponder....... (and wait for someone who really knows the answer to respond!)

 

[jennymouse]

Originally posted by April76
First let me say that I have always been extremely happy with the bus service at ASMo!!


Now, I have nothing to base my thoughts on here -- but I'm wondering if the All Stars were all built more recently (except for AKL) and the multi-stop system was a new idea?? Or perhaps there are more bus stop locations at the other resorts and having multi-stops throughout the resort would be unrealistic?

Hmmmmm, I will continue to ponder....... (and wait for someone who really knows the answer to respond!)

April76, you may be on to something. I've only stayed at two WDW resorts so far: ASMu & AKL. I found the bus service to be excellent at both. Do the older deluxes have specific spots for each park like ASMu & AKL do? I'll be at the Poly & BWV soon and am hoping the bus service is as fantastic as what I'm used to.

 

[seashoreCM]

The All Stars were designed with one stop per resort and there was room to have separate boarding areas (berths) for each theme park.

Moderate resorts with several bus stops do not have four or five berths at every stop. Usually there is just one platform long enough for a bus to pull over to and pull out of. Usually two buses can fit at the same time but may arrive and stop in any order. I have seen two berths at at least one stop at POR and IMHO if there are signs then the buses should stop at the properly marked places. Otherwise it is a problem worth complaining about.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

A rule I just heard about for the Boston MBTA is that bus drivers are not expected to pull to the curb if snow or parked cars leave less than 80 feet worth of bus stop to pull into. Also if the bus can't get all the way to the curb, then the driver is expect to miss by at least three feet so people are not tempted to jump between curb and door and possibly slip and fall.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Anyone ever seen the VIP buses cruise through the bus areas?

I have seen them a couple of times at MK and at AK... I have never seen anyone got off or on them.. any idea who they are for? (I KNOW they are not for me!!) LOL

>>^..^<<

 

[SueEllen]

Having stayed at all of the "classes" of resorts (value, moderate, deluxe, home away from home) I have found that they best "marked" bus stops are at the All Stars.
For those of you who have not stayed there before, they have a separate "pull up" area for the bus based on where the bus is going. Therefore there are separate waiting areas for each park bus. At the moderates there are separate bus stops where the bus makes its rounds, where you wait in one area for all of the bus routes. At the deluxe resorts they have a similar system to the All Stars in which there is one bus area, and you wait for the bus to the park that you want. There is not a separate "pull up" area for the bus to stop at though; still kind of a free for all.
I like the bus service at the All Star resorts, but I have also been happy with the bus service at all of the other resorts also.
I don't know why they made the bus system at the All Star's so different than the other resorts, but it works well.
Sue Ellen

 

[Poohbear123]

This is WHY I stay at the All Stars for EVERY Trip! Bus Service, and area is GREAT even in the RAIN! Just put on a poncho and WAIT! (not for very long though, they average a 5-9 min wait tops)! During HEAVY season, I hardly wait at all.

 

[t2simon]

When DH & I went down in 1997, we were meeting my DB, SIL & their 3 DS (ages 1, 2, & 4). It was their 2nd to last day and our first full day. When they tried to get on the bus with their triple stroller, the driver very rudely would not let them because it would not fold (it was one of those Peg Perego's with 3 seats front to back). He complained to guest services, and they supplied them with a VIP bus for the remainder of the stay. When they need a bus, they just had to have a CM call transportation and a bus would be sent. We also got priority seating for SpectroMagic (I think that was it at the time)!

So, I guess they are used for special situations like this or maybe high profile guests.

 

[betterlatethannever]

I think it a matter of logistics.

The All Stars have more than 3,000 rooms with only one bus stop for each resort. Deluxes have less than 1,000 rooms (except for AKL). Mods have 1,000+ rooms with multiple bus stops so the passengers per bus stop is fairly small. Mods and deluxes don't need dedicated pull in spots.

Chip and Dale over on the transportation board probably knows what the break point is for the various resort bus stop designs.

Ed

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

It's really just a matter of crowd density, and space available.

Each All-Star only has one bus stop area... and because of the extremely LARGE crowds, its pretty neccessary to have a seperate stop for each theme park. If you note, All-Star Sports and Music were built prior to DAK, and as such one load zone is combined with two areas. (DTD and Studios share) Makes for a bit of confusion.

At Port Orleans... you have 5 different stops spread throughout the resort... so you have all the people spread out as well. The perimiter stops are rarely crowded. Each stop can handle two or three buses. The two main stops (FQ & South Depot) have two different stops... one for MK & Studios, and the other for Epcot, DTD and DAK. Each stop can handle two buses each. This splits them down to two manageable areas.

Caribbean Beach has 7 stops, and each stop can typically handle 2 buses at a time.

As for other resorts that have them... Wilderness Lodge (3), Animal Kingdom Lodge (5), and Beach Club (3) have them. (For WL, each sawtooth serves 2 buses)

The areas that have them - they work out very well... however, they do require a lot of space. For the style to work out best, you need a space for each bus that comes in. That requires 50ft per space. For shared spaces, guests get confused. (Apparently, the bright orange LED destination sign becomes invisible)

One thing to note... the Polynesian is getting a new bus stop. Construction just began. Not sure if it will be sawtooth style or not, but I doubt it. More information as it progresses.

Pop Century has the same style load zones as All-Stars... except they are closer to the shelter...

In regards to "SPECIAL" buses... that's just what a driver puts up on the destination sign to signify that he/she is not going to be picking anyone up... For example, a Character Breakfast bus that is dropping guests off for thier breakfast. Or an Upstream bus dropping guests off at thier resort. It could also be a bus that fills up before making all stops, or a bus that is starting mid-way.

In regards to the triple stroller... it's not up to the driver to allow the stroller on board... laws require that all strollers be folded on the bus. If DOT does an inspection, we can get into serious trouble for any violations on board our bus.