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

[wildernessDad]

Perhaps something could be put up where pedestrians traveling from DTD to SSR would have to swipe their resort ID in order to be allowed access to SSR.

 

[hakepb]

Parking charges at dtd would not eliminate some of the non-Disney dtd resorts from walking over. In addition, the freeloaders would then start parking free at the water parks, and that would clog up the SSR to AK bus (that stops at BB), too.

 

[Chuck S]

Perhaps something could be put up where pedestrians traveling from DTD to SSR would have to swipe their resort ID in order to be allowed access to SSR.

That would stop some of it, for a little while, but probably not most of it.

People are "nice" on vacation, they hold the gates open, or someone could say they need to go to the front desk because they lost their key, and someone would let them in. Plus there is the whole thing about the restaurants and spas being open to the public.

Charging for DTD parking would discourage the locals, but you'd still have the folks walking in from the DtD area hotels.

 

[dcibrando]

I agree with letting FL residents park for free (those with annual passes that is) surprised they weren't already doing that

 

[Chuck S]

I agree with letting FL residents park for free (those with annual passes that is) surprised they weren't already doing that

Florida Annual pass holders do park free, seasonal pass holders do not. Seasonal passes are highly discounted passes good most of the year, but they do have black out dates. Seasonal passes are $259, not valid during Easter, mid-June to mid-August (the hottest part of the year) and mid-December through New Year's day.

 

[cbnsoul]

I just got back from a quick 3 day trip and stayed at OKW for 1 night then SSR the next. While I don't think I saw people going directly from the parks to SSR just to get to DTD, I can tell you there REALLY needs to be some form of service from the parks to DTD. Whether it be an annual pass or KTTW card, I do feel they need to ask for proof that people are not trying to skirt the system by parking at DTD. It is really a hassle if you want to go from a park to DTD or DTD to a park as we did this weekend. This is the first time in 10 years going to Disney I have ever used the bus system for any trip and pretty much hated it (I'm not a patient person). We waited FOREVER on two occasions (once going from and once to OKW) while the other times the buses came relatively quickly. The lack of direct service to DTD, though, necessitated a transfer at our hotel twice costing us a fair bit of time, something especially important for such a short trip.

Thankfully, our next trip is to BCV so we will only use the buses to DTD once and AK once. My 3 yr old loves the monorail so we use it every chance we get and we much prefer it to the bus system. I will likely keep using the buses for 3-4 day or shorter trips to save a little money but for weeklong stays, I'm going for the rental car. You just can't beat it for convenience.

 

[cheezNE1]

I just got back from a quick 3 day trip and stayed at OKW for 1 night then SSR the next. While I don't think I saw people going directly from the parks to SSR just to get to DTD, I can tell you there REALLY needs to be some form of service from the parks to DTD. Whether it be an annual pass or KTTW card, I do feel they need to ask for proof that people are not trying to skirt the system by parking at DTD. It is really a hassle if you want to go from a park to DTD or DTD to a park as we did this weekend. This is the first time in 10 years going to Disney I have ever used the bus system for any trip and pretty much hated it (I'm not a patient person). We waited FOREVER on two occasions (once going from and once to OKW) while the other times the buses came relatively quickly. The lack of direct service to DTD, though, necessitated a transfer at our hotel twice costing us a fair bit of time, something especially important for such a short trip.

Thankfully, our next trip is to BCV so we will only use the buses to DTD once and AK once. My 3 yr old loves the monorail so we use it every chance we get and we much prefer it to the bus system. I will likely keep using the buses for 3-4 day or shorter trips to save a little money but for weeklong stays, I'm going for the rental car. You just can't beat it for convenience.

That's exactly why I added BLT, the convenience alone is worth it. I too have no patience waiting for the bus. That's Park time taken away from me.

 

[zev]

People complain about the busses all over WDW for all sorts of reasons.
Why Disney is not better at recognizing peak times and adjusting for that I have no idea. Of course they are supposed to have a system in place, just does not sound like it works that well. More people should mean more busses. Unless they want to build that monorial extension and use that easment in SSR. Yeah not going to happen.
I remember a post about people PARKING IN SSR and OKW without being resort guests and using the busses. That would drive me nuts.

 

[Disneypirate85]

I like the thought of paid parking at DTD, and not to shut out the Locals, use a validation process. You shop at DTD get your ticket validated or show a receipt pretty easy I would think. Shawn

 

[Mtnman44]

What about this?

DEDICATED SSR busses for resort guests only (key card required) and maybe one out of every 4 SSR busses for ALL RIDERS.

Non SSR folks and the cheaters might be mildly irritated and hopefully deterrred while SSR guests should have no trouble?

That, combined with four hour parking at DTD should take care of 80% to 90% of the problem I would think?

 

[Chuck S]

What about this?

DEDICATED SSR busses for resort guests only (key card required) and maybe one out of every 4 SSR busses for ALL RIDERS.

Non SSR folks and the cheaters might be mildly irritated and hopefully deterrred while SSR guests should have no trouble?

That, combined with four hour parking at DTD should take care of 80% to 90% of the problem I would think?

It would work if people cooperated, however, I think such a scheme would backfire and anger many guests, especially those that may not be resort guests but have a spa appointment or are dining at SSR.

I think the best solution, though not perfect, would be a parking charge at DTD, with AP holders and onsite guests exempt...just like the parks.

 

[TDC Nala]

Charge for parking at DTD with validation at DTD establishments.

That's the only way to do it, I think excluding guests from the buses would not work. If I want to go eat at the Turf Club and I have to wait for every 5th bus I am going to go eat somewhere else.

pedestrians traveling from DTD to SSR would have to swipe their resort ID in order to be allowed access to SSR.

Again, not staying at SSR but I want to eat at the Turf Club. Or play golf, or use the spa, or visit the DVC building. The suggested restrictions would mean buses are restricted to SSR guests and I can't walk from DTD. I guess I could walk in from OKW until they figure out how to shut that down..

 

[DebbieB]

Charge for parking at DTD with validation at DTD establishments.

That's the only way to do it, I think excluding guests from the buses would not work. If I want to go eat at the Turf Club and I have to wait for every 5th bus I am going to go eat somewhere else.


Again, not staying at SSR but I want to eat at the Turf Club. Or play golf, or use the spa, or visit the DVC building. The buses are restricted to SSR guests and I can't walk from DTD. I guess I could walk in from OKW until they figure out how to shut that down..

That's the problem at BW. They don't want to exclude non resort guests from parking because people need to be able to park for the boardwalk dining & stores.

At least you don't have a problem finding a place to park your car at SSR like you do at BW.

 

[hakepb]

Although I noticed more DTD riders on the SSR stops a few weeks ago (usually 1 group on an afternoon trip) I do not think that group was the the reason I frequently saw SRO busses in the AM by the time they got to the Springs. I think the 'overcrowding' is more of a "resort full of park go ers" (vs staying in the resort or going outside Disney, or fewer car rentals?).

I have often looked at threads like this and wanted DVC to get a transportation credit for those DTD abusers, but in reality, SSR guests (like me) probably use more of other resorts transportation than I see DTD guests using SSR's transportation.

 

[dcibrando]

the biggest problem is people hopping onto ssr busses at the theme parks to get to dowtown disney while ssr resort guests stand in line much longer or have to wait on another bus. basically what i'm saying is its not fair to ssr guests to have people swamp onto our busses to get to downtown disney from the theme parks....disney needs to provide a bus to dtd from the theme parks

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Frankly, I think they could cut down on a lot of it with the simple act of charging for parking at DTD. If they had parking meters and a 4 hour limit, you wouldn't have the people trying to bypass paying for parking just to get to the parks.

Yes. Paid, timed parking is the solution. The system works well at Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort. And people who go to Downtown Disney for shopping, entertainment, and dining still pay nothing.

Here's how it works:

The Downtown Disney parking lot in Anaheim provides up to 3 hours of free parking, or up to 5 hours with validation from table-service restaurants or the AMC cinemas. After that, steep parking rates kick in. It's $6 per hour, in 20-minute increments, up to a maximum of $30.

 

[LauraLea]

The Downtown Disney parking lot in Anaheim provides up to 3 hours of free parking, or up to 5 hours with validation from table-service restaurants or the AMC cinemas. After that, steep parking rates kick in. It's $6 per hour, in 20-minute increments, up to a maximum of $30.

sounds good to me. i could live with this as an SSR guest or when staying at another DVC resort.

laura

 

[Sheribo]

Yes. Paid, timed parking is the solution. The system works well at Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort. And people who go to Downtown Disney for shopping, entertainment, and dining still pay nothing.

Here's how it works:

The Downtown Disney parking lot in Anaheim provides up to 3 hours of free parking, or up to 5 hours with validation from table-service restaurants or the AMC cinemas. After that, steep parking rates kick in. It's $6 per hour, in 20-minute increments, up to a maximum of $30.

Agreed! A meter, a ticket booth or parking pass..... We just got back from SSR 2 days ago and we too overheard the driver telling people to exit the bus at the Springs and then take the boat behind the Carriage House to get to DTD. The bus was so packed that I was standing at the back so I know many more people heard it too.

 

[Sammie]

I agree with pay parking at Downtown Disney. It has been bad during our summer visits but our visit during Food and Wine the Epcot bus was just ridiculous. Every trip a huge group of people would get off and head to Downtown Disney.

They even were discussing it on the bus, how they park there to prevent having to pay to park.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Offer buses to and from DTD to the themeparks. Nothing to get on the bus, but you have to pay or scan your KTTW to get off the bus.