Shared Bus Service at OKW?

[disneyokw]

My family and I believe that we will have to share with SS. Both resorts are close to one another, other resorts are sharing and Disney is trying to find ways to cut back.

In regards to boat sharing: Last month my mother and I had asked Eddie the boat drive at the Old Trumbo Ferry at OKW the same question. He said that in regards to the boats that we will be sharing boat service with SS. He pointed to an area at SS where they will be building the dock area. He said this Fall OKW are suppose to be getting bigger boats. But the one problem is that one of the bridges is too low and has to be raised. He had pointed to a different bridge and said this one was built with a bigger boat in mind. Personally they both looked the same to me. He did not know if the boats were going to be the same size as the ones at POR. My family loves the size and feel of the boats at OKW. I especially love sitting up front with only the water in front of me. My family gets a more relaxing feeling by riding the OKW boats as compared to the ones at POR. We have rode both several times.

We all will have to wait and see any sharing come into fruition.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by disneyokw
My family and I believe that we will have to share with SS. Both resorts are close to one another, other resorts are sharing and Disney is trying to find ways to cut back.

Keep in mind, the resorts that share also only have one stop. OKW has 5, and SS will probably have 5-7. This is a big factor.

 

[Pa@okw95]

To those who defend the bus service and think it is great ,I say that is fine. You measure the bus service with your measuring stick and I will use mine. The bus service has always been bad at OKW in my opinion. I will use my car with the exception of a trip now and again to MK. For those of you that continue to see the whole WDW though rose colored glasses that is fine with me, but I see the whole place as going down hill for years. That is my opinion. I just had a thought that given the way disney is, they may start sharing buses, OKW and Saratoga Springs. Like I have said so many times, there will come a day when buying a ticket to WDW will not be for me, just snow birding it at OKW will be just fine, without the bus service for me.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
Chip n' Dale--the last time I rode the bus from Animal Kingdom and it will be the last time-I waited a full 20 minutes for the bus to show up at AK-actual time with my watch-not a guess. Then when I got on the bus we sat there another 10 minutes-after 30 minutes at the bus stop at AK I finally left AK to only have to stop at the water park. We went through that route there. Now by the time we pulled into OKW it was about 50 minutes after I started to wait for the bus at OKW. It took so long to get to OKW I got off the first bus stop at OKW rather than ride around aonther 5 to 10 minutes to get to my stop. Now for those of you that out there think this kind of service is no big deal then fine but had I taken my car, I would have gotten in my car immediately, not had to wait 20 minutes for a bus even to show up. Oh, the tram ride would have taken about the same time it takes to walk over to the bus stop in case you bring that up. Now how long do you think it would take me to drive my car to my front door at OKW from AK-I would guess 10 minutes. Now I have horror stories to tell about the bus service from MGM in the middle of the day to OKW but that is another story. This story is a normal situation, taking about 50 minutes from the time you start waiting for the bus to arrival at OKW. Like I have said so many times things at WDW have gone down hill over the years.

I don't think you will find many people criticizing the amount of time the busses take because for one, they are on vacation. Time should not matter when you're on vacation. If you have plans to be somewhere else, take it slow and give yourself PLENTY of time to get back to the room, shower, relax, then head out again. If we are at the parks, and have PS at a resort restaurant, say at 6PM, then we leave the park around 3PM. That give us room on both ends. To get back to the resort, and enough time to leave and get transportation to our dining.

I for one LOVE Disney transportation. It is so nice after a long hot day in the park to just step up onto an ALREADY cold, air conditioned bus ( if I drove my own car it would take a few minutes to cool down)and sit my fat butt down and close my eyes for the duration. Can't do that if I am driving.

I also think it is fine if you have a problem with Disney transportation. But your post ( and I know written words can be hard to decipher the tone) sounded like the fact it took you 50 minutes from the time you started waiting until the time you stepped off the bus was the most disgusting thing that has ever happened to you. Kind of like finding a fingernail in your soup at an upscale restuarant, you know? I just don't agree that tthe Disney Transportation is THAT bad. I have had days where I sat on the bus along time, but I am on vacation, really, where do I have to be? I also have 3 small children, and they LOVE the Disney busses, it is the highlight of their trip. (Go figure, the one thing we do not have to pay for, and that is all they talk about after we get home. LOL)

 

[MiaSRN62]

I for one LOVE Disney transportation. It is so nice after a long hot day in the park to just step up onto an ALREADY cold, air conditioned bus ( if I drove my own car it would take a few minutes to cool down)and sit my fat butt down and close my eyes for the duration. Can't do that if I am driving.

Well I'm with Pa@OKW95 on the whole Disney bus situation. I don't find it relaxing at all. I think it's a 50/50 chance we get to "sit our butts down" on the busses. I lost count how many times we've had to stand the whole drive back to the resort, or if we're lucky enough to get a seat, have standing passengers elbows, strollers etc sticking in our face. If I close my eyes on the bus, it's only to prevent someone's elbow from poking them out <g>.
Then again, in all fairness, there have been times where we're the only ones on the bus......but it's really evenly hit-or-miss in my personal experiences. We've been to WDW during every season over the years and I've had some horrible experiences with the All Stars, Dixie Landings and WL in particular. There have been times when we felt like cattle being herded onto the busses---no organized lines. My husband has tried to joke about it.....mooing' as we shuffled in line to board.
The Disney bus debate has long been a heated one over the years. I've been in several long/heated debates on other wdw boards also. No matter what resort I'm staying at (and I've stayed in at least half the Disney hotels) I've encountered some sort of trouble. I'll give one example. One year, (early Dec '98) we were trying to leave MGM to head back to Dixie Landings because my then 5 year old was very ill. High fever, vomiting, ear aches etc. It took us slightly over 1 hour to get back. We were wishing we had our car that day. I find using our own vehicle much more convenient, relaxing and non-stressful and I KNOW many would disagree. That's ok. I could write another couple paragraphs about the Disney bus woes we've encountered, but won't get into all that now. It's nice the busses are offered for those who are satisfied with the service and enjoy the ride. I'd rate the Disney busses about a 6 on a scale of 10.
As far as OKW and SS sharing a route......I don't think I'd ever use the OKW bus again if this happened. I might give it one try, but I'd have a pretty strong suspicion I wouldn't like it due to too many stops.

 

[Scott H]

Thanks Tyler for the info, I for one appreciate the information you provided.

I used to always write in my comment letter about a internal tram to the Hosp House at OKW.
The answer makes sense, but I would still like it set up like the Conch Train in Key West. I think it would be kinda cool.

Thanks again,

 

[WDWDaisy]

With DVC members paying for the bus in the dues, how could the add SS with out asking us first. I don't think they will put both together for this resaon. As for the people bithching about the bus ride and having to stand, you don't have to get on a full bus, wait for the next one and get a nice seat. I have only had a few long waits. One thing you can do is ask what the time they will be back, like top and bottom of the hour or 15 & 45, and this will give you when to get back to the bus stop. If you know this, get out of the park at the right time or stay in a shop for a few extra min. JM2C

 

[Dean]

DVC pays for the bus system and if they shared, they'd just split it up appropriately. While I think SS will have several stops, it looks to me like it will be only 3-5 instead of more and even then it looks like they'll pretty much be like stops around corners and not in and out. We shall see.

 

[DeeP]

With DVC members paying for the bus in the dues, how could the add SS with out asking us first. I don't think they will put both together for this resaon.

Why in the world, would you think OKW members would be asked for permission before Disney could combine the bus routes????? WLV, BCV, & BWV members were never asked for permission to combine bus routes and all of these resorts have combined bus routes. Disney owns the resorts, they can do pretty much anything they want with them as long as it does not violate our DVC contracts and obviously combining bus routes is not a violation of our contract or the other DVC resorts would not have combined bus routes.
We will have to all just wait and see what Disney does with the bus routes between OKW and SS, but I would not be surprised if the routes are combined in some form or another.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by DeeP
WLV, BCV, & BWV members were never asked for permission to combine bus routes and all of these resorts have combined bus routes.

Well, don't forget... these resorts were already in existance, before they added DVC.

 

[MiaSRN62]

As for the people bithching about the bus ride and having to stand, you don't have to get on a full bus, wait for the next one and get a nice seat. I have only had a few long waits.

Well I'm glad you've only had a "few" long waits, but your experiences may not necessarily be someone else's ? We have waited for the next (hopefully less crowded) bus, but sometimes when you've already waited for 25-30 min, and have somewhere to be or a reason to want to get back to the resort, you just get on the one that you've just waited for. Like I mentioned, we've had about 50/50 satisfaction with the Disney busses and this is my personal experience---might not be yours.
For the record, I'm not "*****ing".......just reporting my experiences like everyone else here (I thought that was allowed here on these boards ?). We actually enjoy spending our family vacations in WDW and we're quite happy to use our own vehicle to get to and from where we want to be.

 

[DeeP]

Well, don't forget... these resorts were already in existance, before they added DVC.

BWI/BWV were both built at the same time. But the point I was trying to make is Disney does not have to ask permission from DVC members to combine bus routes. The resorts belong to Disney and they can run the buses however they feel is most efficient for them.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by DeeP
BWI/BWV were both built at the same time.

I stand corrected. I must have misread the info page on the Cast Portal. Oh well... your point remains the same, though.

 

[WDWDaisy]

Some of the dues we pay goto the bus ride. Because of that, I would think they might have to ask. As for the other resorts, non of the other are only DVC, so they split the cost with the cash paying side.

As saying someone was *****ing, sorry, I have been down to WDW 2 to 3 times a year since 96 and have only have a few long waits for the bus. Like someone else pointed out, your on vacation, so time should not be a problem. But, then if you don't like the bus wait, take a car, this give us bus people more room.

If they do put SS with OKW in the begining, how long do you think it would take to get to any of the parks? I would think this could add as much as 10 to 15 min or more to each trip. I think this would push the round trip time way to high. It would take a bus driver over an hour to goto OKW - SS - AK and back to start.

 

[DeeP]

As for the other resorts, non of the other are only DVC, so they split the cost with the cash paying side.

Therefore there should be more money for seperate bus transportation and yet the buses are still combined??????????????
Disney's top of the line, highest priced deluxe resorts: GF, YC, BC, Poly, Contemporary have combined bus routes. Why? Because it is more cost effective and efficient for the buses to be combined.

Like someone else pointed out, your on vacation, so time should not be a problem.

If they do put SS with OKW in the begining, how long do you think it would take to get to any of the parks? I would think this could add as much as 10 to 15 min or more to each trip. I think this would push the round trip time way to high. It would take a bus driver over an hour to goto OKW - SS - AK and back to start.

Sorry, but you can't have it both ways, if time should not be a problem it should not be a problem from whichever resort you are taking bus transportation from.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Personally, I am not going to get my knickers in a twist about this, I am going to wait and see and read what Tyler has to say about this, he is always "spot on" with his information.
I rarely take the bus (I really hate busses) and do rely on the car(that is one of the many reasons I stay at OKW, right DeeP?) and I really don't give a fig if it is hot when I get in it, I prefer that to the jolt my body gets from the frigid conditions on the busses.
I dread sitting down when I do ride the bus, I am old and shocks like that are not good for me.
I doubt DVC has to ask our "permission" to share a route, they will just adjust the cost of the busses when they get the bill from the transportation folks (which is a separate company and all resorts pay for the service).
They really don't ask our "permission" for much.

 

[MiaSRN62]

As saying someone was *****ing, sorry, I have been down to WDW 2 to 3 times a year since 96 and have only have a few long waits for the bus. Like someone else pointed out, your on vacation, so time should not be a problem. But, then if you don't like the bus wait, take a car, this give us bus people more room.

Thanks Daisy. I have about the same track record of visits to WDW as you---we started going on a regular basis 1-2 times a year since '95. I agree to a certain extent that strict time schedules shouldn't be a big factor since you're on vacation. But after as many trips as we've been on, while we haven't done the "commando itinery" in several years, we also don't choose to spend all of our valuable vacation time waiting for busses either. I totally understand this is just my perspective and others have no problem with it and that's fine. I'd rather be taking it slow sitting by the pool, or dining in a restaurant.....not waiting at bus depots or riding crowded busses that make 10-12 stops.
After some consideration, even though I wouldn't like to see SS and OKW share a route, I suppose it won't impact us personally too much. We're like Gail and prefer our car. I can honestly say, I only prefer the WDW busses over our car when visiting the MK because I feel that's the toughest park to get into via the whole TTC and needing to take the tram and then monorail (or ferry) to get into the park.

 

[baloo722]

pa@okw...you should just use the following quote from now on in your posts...it would save you some of that time you lost between AK and OKW...."grumble, grumble, grumble, ....complain, complain, complain".

 

[dianeschlicht]

I can see why they might share buses with OKW when SS first opens, but I suspect they wont keep it that way. Both resorts will be too large to combine.

We have been staying at OKW since '95, and the bus service has improved over that time. The past few years we have only waited longer than 20 minutes maybe 1 or 2 times. Usually it is 5 minutes or less. We have had guests who have driven to the parks while the rest of us took the bus. Even on returns from Epcot after Illuminations, the bus people arrived back faster than the car people. The only place that was not true was on the return from AK.

 

[PamOKW]

I'm more concerned about the information about the boats. While it does make sense, I would hate to lose the initmate size boats we have now to a "ferry". It would be nice if they could add a boat to OKW and then also add 2 to SSR.

The bus service at OKW is no better or worse than service I've had at any WDW resort. If you hit a bus wrong or have an unforseen circumstance it can be torture. If everything goes smoothly, there's no better way to get around WDW.

I also think Gail has the best advice of all

Personally, I am not going to get my knickers in a twist about this, I am going to wait and see