Something needs to change with bus transportation at Saratoga Springs because of DTD

[dcibrando]

Let's say for example that on the buses for Saratoga Springs anyone staying there needs to show a valid Key To The World Card to ride on them. What would happen if onsite guests staying at another WDW Resort want to go from the Magic Kingdom to Downtown Disney, would they not be allowed to ride on the Saratoga Springs bus from the Magic Kingdom?

This is EXACTLY what I am referring to... Disney needs a bus stop and bus transportation FROM each theme park TO Downtown Disney to keep from guests filling up resort busses when people that are staying there need to use them to get back to their resort.

I understand why people do this, but to me it doesn't seem fair when guests staying at those resorts close to DTD (or any resort for that matter) have to wait on another bus because one is full or have to stand up with an infant because half of the bus going to DTD is sitting in the seats.

 

[dcibrando]

While that maybe true how many other people who visit WDW actually know that? I mean if they found out that the Saratoga Springs buses were exclusive to those guests staying there you don't think they would be upset about the buses or other forms of transportation not being exclusive to them. Now I know that WDW will never make the Resort Monorail exclusive to guests just staying at the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian and Grand Floridian, however there have been times when I needed to wait for 2 or 3 Monorails until I finally got on one. Now I am willing to bet that a lot of guests waiting were not staying at the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower or the other Monorail Resorts, however if they were not allowed to ride it maybe I would get on a lot faster. So it's not just guests are Saratoga Springs that have transportation issues with people not staying there using their buses, despite the fact we don't pay any members fees for use of the Monorail.

but that's not a valid comparison in my opinion... guests staying at Monorail resorts have both Bus and Monorail (and even some boat) services at MK for example. Those of us staying at SSR have bus which is becoming more and more used by those not staying at SSR

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This is EXACTLY what I am referring to... Disney needs a bus stop and bus transportation FROM each theme park TO Downtown Disney to keep from guests filling up resort busses when people that are staying there need to use them to get back to their resort.

I understand why people do this, but to me it doesn't seem fair when guests staying at those resorts close to DTD (or any resort for that matter) have to wait on another bus because one is full or have to stand up with an infant because half of the bus going to DTD is sitting in the seats.

Well when people walk from Downtown Disney to the Contemporary they are also taking up space on the bus for guests staying there plus Bay Lake Tower, the Polynesian and Grand Floridian since they share bus service in the afternoon/evening. So how is that fair to guests staying at those resorts?

Yes I also know that it's the same thing when those same guests take the bus going to Saratoga Springs from the Magic Kingdom so they can visit Downtown Disney, however I always thought of that of the better option and this is why. It's a direct ride from the Magic Kingdom to Saratgoa Springs and I already mentioned how the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower share bus service with the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. So all I am saying is taking the Saratoga Springs bus is the faster route and that's what guests want to know.

 

[marie1981]

Last month, I was at SSR for 3 weeks, in the Congress Park. I did not notice that there was more people at this bus stop (the one you can walk to from Downtown) than any other bus stop at SSR.

I could be very wrong, but I do not think that many 'outsiders' use the SSR busses to go to the parks.

By the way, the service was excellent. Did not wait much long, except for 2-3 times.

 

[dcibrando]

Last month, I was at SSR for 3 weeks, in the Congress Park. I did not notice that there was more people at this bus stop (the one you can walk to from Downtown) than any other bus stop at SSR.

I could be very wrong, but I do not think that many 'outsiders' use the SSR busses to go to the parks.

By the way, the service was excellent. Did not wait much long, except for 2-3 times.

that's correct... most don't use DTD to park and ride SSR busses...but I did see this on occassion on my trip when I was there for 2 weeks. The problem is people from the theme parks using SSR busses to go to DTD

 

[dcibrando]

Well when people walk from Downtown Disney to the Contemporary they are also taking up space on the bus for guests staying there plus Bay Lake Tower, the Polynesian and Grand Floridian since they share bus service in the afternoon/evening. So how is that fair to guests staying at those resorts?

Yes I also know that it's the same thing when those same guests take the bus going to Saratoga Springs from the Magic Kingdom so they can visit Downtown Disney, however I always thought of that of the better option and this is why. It's a direct ride from the Magic Kingdom to Saratgoa Springs and I already mentioned how the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower share bus service with the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. So all I am saying is taking the Saratoga Springs bus is the faster route and that's what guests want to know.

The reason you have shared busses at those resorts is because the # of rooms and bus stops compare to that of SSR.

I can definitely see where this could be a problem as well people from DTD taking Contemporary bus to get to the MK

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The reason you have shared busses at those resorts is because the # of rooms and bus stops compare to that of SSR.

I can definitely see where this could be a problem as well people from DTD taking Contemporary bus to get to the MK

Well the only other option is for WDW to bring back direct buses from the parks that go to Downtown Disney. Although since they took them away because people parked at Downtown Disney and took the buses to the parks from there to avoid the parking fees, I doubt that will happen. However it would solve the problem of guests walking over to the Contemporary to use their Downtown Disney bus or getting on the Saratoga Springs buses.

 

[nhdisnut]

Last month, I was at SSR for 3 weeks, in the Congress Park. I did not notice that there was more people at this bus stop (the one you can walk to from Downtown) than any other bus stop at SSR.

I could be very wrong, but I do not think that many 'outsiders' use the SSR busses to go to the parks.

By the way, the service was excellent. Did not wait much long, except for 2-3 times.

This has been our experience as well.

 

[spiceycat]

Well the only other option is for WDW to bring back direct buses from the parks that go to Downtown Disney. Although since they took them away because people parked at Downtown Disney and took the buses to the parks from there to avoid the parking fees, I doubt that will happen. However it would solve the problem of guests walking over to the Contemporary to use their Downtown Disney bus or getting on the Saratoga Springs buses.

the reason that I heard was not the people parking there - never enough to hurt the bus system.

some offsite hotels were taking their buses to DD and telling their guests to ride the DD buses to the theme parks.

this was way too many people for the buses to handle w/o adding extra buses.

the big problem was these buses were not paying the WDW fees that would be required at the theme parks. Their guests were costing WDW money on the bus system.

so they stopped having DD going to the parks.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

the reason that I heard was not the people parking there - never enough to hurt the bus system.

some offsite hotels were taking their buses to DD and telling their guests to ride the DD buses to the theme parks.

this was way too many people for the buses to handle w/o adding extra buses.

the big problem was these buses were not paying the WDW fees that would be required at the theme parks. Their guests were costing WDW money on the bus system.

so they stopped having DD going to the parks.

If that was really happening where were those offsite buses dropping people? They couldn't enter the area for the WDW buses and the parking lots are always busy with parked cars, so I doubt there was room for them to go there.

 

[spiceycat]

If that was really happening where were those offsite buses dropping people? They couldn't enter the area for the WDW buses and the parking lots are always busy with parked cars, so I doubt there was room for them to go there.

off site buses still come to Dtd - been in one - they are further back - almost along the street - and just one stop - more in PI (or what was PI than WDW buses do)

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

off site buses still come to Dtd - been in one - they are further back - almost along the street - and just one stop - more in PI (or what was PI than WDW buses do)

Honestly I never knew that until you mentioned it.

 

[TisBit]

that's correct... most don't use DTD to park and ride SSR busses...but I did see this on occassion on my trip when I was there for 2 weeks. The problem is people from the theme parks using SSR busses to go to DTD

But I think that is the whole point here is if it only happens on occasion and it doesn't adversely affect the bus system from SSR, what does it matter?

 

[dcibrando]

#1 - Disney needs busses running from each theme park to Downtown Disney
#2 - These busses could also transport people from DTD back to the theme parks but only with a valid key to the world card (1 per family)?

would this solution work? wouldn't stop people parking at DTD and walking to SSR to ride the busses... but that is certainly not the biggest issue at the moment... it's people using SSR busses to get to DTD when they are at a theme park

 

[zev]

Gotta go with the paid parking at DTD with free time and more time with validation. Keyed access to SSR I want anyway. Nothing wrong with street pedestrians checking in/stopping at the guard shacks if they are not staying at a WDW resort, just visiting SSR etc. This extra step/time might deter the cheaters some (yeah the really determined ones will find another way in) but will also give some accountability to the numbers using SSR for DTD. Already paying security dues, might as well. Otherwise if "Disney" tells everyone to use SSR busses for transportation to/from DTD then I want a large reduction/subsidy in my SSR transportation and security dues.

 

[casper]

I haven't read this whole thread. But what I have read is interesting.

It seems to me though that the problem is the long lines waiting at the bus stops for SS. I have no problems with people riding SS bus to get to Downtown Disney, if the wait time on the bus is not that long. I have had situations where I have seen the lines for SS very VERY long and see 3 buses stop at another resort were there are no people at all. If bus drivers could get another bus dispatched to the SS stop quickly, then most people wouldn't mind those heading to DTD for a late snack.

Like all things on crowded Disney days...Patience.

 

[dcibrando]

the solution... transportation TO Downtown Disney from the Theme Parks...period!

also, I agree with other posters, if "Disney" tells everyone to use SSR busses for transportation to/from DTD then I want a large reduction/subsidy in my SSR transportation and security dues.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

the solution... transportation TO Downtown Disney from the Theme Parks...period!

also, I agree with other posters, if "Disney" tells everyone to use SSR busses for transportation to/from DTD then I want a large reduction/subsidy in my SSR transportation and security dues.

Well since WDW has said that all their transportation options are available to all their onsite guests each of the WDW Resorts, it might be hard to get a large reduction/subsidy on your SSR transportation dues. That's if it really got out of hand of guests using the SSR buses for getting to Downtown Disney from the 4 parks.

 

[Sammie]

On a daily basis, this is probably not a severe problem.

The nights of MNSSHP it was really bad and so was the Epcot bus during Food and Wine.

Unless you have stayed at SSR and experienced it personally it is hard to imagine the incovenience.

Disney simply needs to increase the number of buses going to SSR during certain times.

Disney quit running buses from the parks to DD for this very reason to prevent people from parking at DD and taking the bus to the parks to avoid paying to park.

However they fixed one problem and created another.

 

[Sammie]

But I think that is the whole point here is if it only happens on occasion and it doesn't adversely affect the bus system from SSR, what does it matter?

It does adversely affect it though. There are more people riding the buses to SSR then alloted buses. The number of buses needed are based on occupancy and you throw several hundred extra people in the mix then that means SSR guests are going to have longer wait times than other resorts.

So in reality SSR guests are punished for being close to DD.