SSR and OKW Epcot Bus Combined.

[B'rer Karen]

Originally posted by mickeymouse710
I make this assumption based on the number of posts that I have read in reference to the ability to park a car in front of the OKW buildings and not have to use valet parking, etc, being a very valued aspect of this resort. Maybe I have incorrectly assumed, but I assumed if the ability to park in front of your villa was important--then the guests would be driving their own car????
I am still confused as to the actual travel time for an OKW bus to complete the circuit. I have read it is very short, no longer than an Epct resort, but B/rer Karen's experiences did not sound that way?? What is the travel time for the whole OKW loop to then a park?

The drive from Epcot to OKW is not very long at all, you are correct. I'm just saying that if you are the last stop at OKW it takes a long time. Or at least it seemed that way to me in February.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Sounds to me like it's time for some people to call or E-mail MS to MAKE SURE that this is sharing of buses is only a temporary thing. What I'm afraid of is that if DVC doesn't hear from SSR people that this is acceptable temporarily, but NOT permanently, it will just stay this way.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

During our trip (6/28 to 7/7), there were only a couple of times that we shared a bus with OKW.

The first time was after an e-ride night at MK. We were the only people waiting for a bus at the SSR stop. After about 10 minutes, the gentleman who was directing the incoming bus drivers where to go told us that he was short on buses and directed us to the OKW bus. He then told the driver to drop us off at SSR after he finished at OKW. Was this inconvenient? Yes, but then again, we understood the circumstances and it really wasn't a big deal to us.

The second time was leaving EPCOT. While waiting at the stop, an OKW bus came thru and picked up everyone going to OKW. We asked the driver if he was also going to SSR, but he was not, so we waited. After about 10 minutes, the SSR bus came through. By that time, there were several other families waiting to go to SSR and many more waiting to go to OKW. Someone asked if the bus driver could also go to OKW, he said yes, but that he would go to OKW after going to SSR. After that, everyone remaining got on the bus (standing room only).

I'm sure that the bus sharing will diminish as SSR continues to open the remaining buildings. Keep in mind that besides these 2 trips, every other trip to and from the parks was on a bus that only went to SSR

 

[Melrosgirl]

We were at SSR 2 weeks ago for a week and our bus never shared with any other resort for Epcot or any park.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Just another reason not to use the bus at OKW or now especially SSR. I haven't taken a bus to Epcot since 96, I don' remember going through the front gate of Epcot in years. Use your cars.

 

[LisaSt]

We find the bus system very good and why waste the gas if you have free transportation right there makes no sence tro me. Honestly what is an extra 15 mionutes or so when you are talking about 10 or so hours that day in a park or on your vacation not a hassle IMHO.

 

[DVCPAT]

Originally posted by Simba's Mom
Sounds to me like it's time for some people to call or E-mail MS to MAKE SURE that this is sharing of buses is only a temporary thing. What I'm afraid of is that if DVC doesn't hear from SSR people that this is acceptable temporarily, but NOT permanently, it will just stay this way.

Consolidating transportation lowers cost and I believe will be permanent. I think Disney should start with the transportation routes they intend to use. Disney changed WLV and BWV transportation after the resorts sold out.

Disney knows the most efficient routes to move people from point A to point B. I don’t agree with the multiple resort bus loops, but I would rather see them start out with the efficient routes, rather than sell a transportation set-up and change it once they’ve sold the resort out.

 

[disneycrazed139]

Unfortunately, there just aren't enough guests at SSR at this point to justify a separate bus for all parks at all times. When we were there we almost always had them entirely to ourselves. I'm sure if they are combining any routes now, that will change after a few months of expansion.

 

[DebbieB]

What changes were made to BWV and VWL transportation after they soldout? Anytime I've stayed at BWV, they always shared with YC/BC and usually S/D. Did they initially sell it as a dedicated BW bus? I know WL used to share with the Poly and GF, don't know if that has changed.

I always rent a car and usually prefer to use it rather than ride the busses. It's not only a time thing but a comfort thing. I hate getting stuck standing on a crowded bus, smashed in like sardines. I'd rather hop in the car, turn up the AC and the radio and go. I don't mind driving, getting around WDW is very easy once you learn the roads.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by B'rer Karen
Thanks for the heads up. I hope it's not like this at the end of October. If it is I may just go out the International Gateway and catch a bus to DTD from BC. Then I can just walk to SSR.

WOW!

Unless there's a specific reason for stopping at DD, I'd like to hear how that route is a quicker method of getting from Epcot to SSR.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by JJSWDW
Other things to think about...
There are 2 issues here...
1) the most efficient way to get people out of the parks
2) the most efficient way to get to your hotel

these are not the same. from what the driver said in the original post, the goal is #1 which makes some sense because if people stand too long in line at the park bus stop, they don't feel service is fast enought, etc. As for #2, if people feel like they're going somewhere it's better than standing going no where. While at 10pm, after being in the parks all day, an extra 10-15 minutes may seem like an eternity, it's really not too bad considering the number of people disney shuffles around as the parks close.

JJSWDW, I think you read my mind. If "standing in line at a bus stop" is the LEAST desirable set of circumstances, it stands to reason that goal #1 would be to get people on a bus--any bus--as quickly as possible. Dedicated bus service to SSR may prove to be quicker for the folks staying at that resort, but it's also likely to leave the bus running at less than capacity each trip, and it means more wait time for the folks arriving just after departure.

From this POV, the system described in the original post makes total sense.

Last, you really can't complain too much about the bus being packed to capacity in this instance, because they are normally packed to capacity when they are draining the queues as the parks close.

Again, I couldn't agree more.

Seems to me that once it was standing room only, folks could have decided to wait for the next bus if they really wanted a seat. The driver is going to try and accommodate every person that he feels the vehicle is capable of safely transporting. Taking less than a full load means longer wait times. End of story.

BTW, welcome to The DIS!

 

[B'rer Karen]

Originally posted by tjkraz
WOW!

Unless there's a specific reason for stopping at DD, I'd like to hear how that route is a quicker method of getting from Epcot to SSR.

Well, let's say I'm already in the World Showcase. This is a safe assumption since FW closes early. It would probably take the same amount of time to walk to the Boardwalk hotel bus stop as it would to walk to the main bus stop at the front of Epcot (I'm basing this on the normal speed I walk and many times making both those walks). So I would get to the bus stops at the same time. Let's also assume I wait the same amount of time for a bus to arrive and load. As this would be Epcot closing, the bus to OKW/SSR will be more crowded than the bus to DTD. Once on the bus to OKW/SSR I would have to stop at 5 bus stops prior to getting to the first SSR stop. The BW stop is the last one prior to leaving for DTD, so the first stop I'd come to would be the Marketplace. It is then just a short walk to SSR from there. It probably would only be a few minutes faster, but it would seem better, kind of like when you're stuck in traffic and you take back roads to get where you're going. In the long run you probably get there at the same time, but it doesn't seem so bad when you're acutally moving. JMHO.

 

[Sammie]

While this setup might be less than ideal, I personally feel if getting somewhere in a hurry is important then a vacation somewhere other than Disney World would be more enjoyable.

Daily I rush to work, rush to get home, rush to appointments. When I am on vacation I rush nowhere. I enjoy every moment including waiting for buses and riding buses. It's all part of the total experience.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
Just another reason not to use the bus at OKW or now especially SSR. I haven't taken a bus to Epcot since 96, I don' remember going through the front gate of Epcot in years. Use your cars.

If you are using your car and not going through the front gate, where are you parking? There are no other parking lots that offer access to Epcot except through the front gate.

 

[mickeymouse710]

Disney knows the most efficient routes to move people from point A to point B

I totally agree with this statement. The vast majority of WDW resorts have combined bus routes. These resorts have more guests than SSR & OKW have --at the present time. Why shouldn't these buses be combined? The travel time will be no greater than the travel times of all the other resorts with combined bus routes and the volume of guests does not warrant seperate buses.

 

[Morganpics]

I agree with Sammie. We rush all the time when at home doing our daily whatevers. When at WDW, I just want to relax. If that means getting on a crowded bus and riding 5-10 minutes more than I would have to drive, so be it. I appreciate letting someone else do the driving for a change. We enjoy sitting at the bus stop waiting for the bus. Yes, it can get tiring waiting for a bus to leave a park, but we survived it . Of course, it's now just DH and me, no kids. If there were small kids, overtired, that might make a difference. JMHO.