SSR buses, is it just me????

[flyingcat2003]

We just returned from a 7 day trip @ SSR (Nov 22 through Nov 29). We had a wonderful 1br in the Springs building. Everything was good about the trip except the buses. We NEVER waited less than 30 minutes for a bus. On Wednesday night, we left Epcot before Illuminations ended only to wait 30 minutes on a bus (the wilderness lodge got 4 buses before we ever got 1). Once the bus arrived, there were so many people waiting that we were packed like sardines (only half the people waiting got on the bus). Our driver must have been new or something. He missed the turn out of Epcot and proceeded to back the bus up so be could make the turn. He hit 4 curbs on the way to SSR! It was so bad, we got off at the first stop and walked to the springs. We left MK on Thanksgiving @ 3pm. We waited 50 minutes on a bus. Once again, all the other resorts got several buses before we ever got one. I can't help but feel that we are getting shafted when it comes to the bus service because we are DVC members and they already have our money. Does anyone else feel this way or is it just me? By the way, we ended taking the car after the MK bus issue. I love SSR but if the bus issue doesn't improve, I'll be driving to the parks.

 

[richardsa98]

Sorry about your bus problems We have alwasy been very lucky with SSR bus service. We have stayed there 3 times now and never waited for more than 10 minutes at the Congress Park Section. The only problem we ever had was at epcot one night, around 10 pm, we waited 5 minutes in line for a bus and was in the process of trying to get my sleeping 4 year old out of the stroller fold it up, had a 5 month old strapped to my chest, my husband was getting all the bags and taking the stroller from me, and two men who saw the bus and came running, avoided the whole turnstyle, looked at me trying to carry both kids and my husband trying to grab everything we needed and jumped on the bus ahead of us, taking the last two spots! They then turned their backs so they wouldn't have to look at us, knowing full wrong how surprised I was that two men could be so ungentleman like. The bus driver said that he saw what happened and instead of being squished to wait right here and he'd take care of getting another bus there as soon as possible. Too tired to argue we just smiled and said thank you. Not even two minutes later, a bus pulled up and said a good friend called and said you needed a ride to SSR right away and helped us and everything else we had on the bus. He didn't even wait for any other customers he just drove us straight to SSR and told us to have a magical night! We had the whole bus to ourselves (normally I would say what a waste, but after the stress level reaching where it was, it was like a DREAM FASTPASS for us)The best part is we beat the original bus that had to leave us behind back We saw the bus and the two rude men pulling into the bus stop as we were already on our way into our room

 

[toocherie]

We were at SSR Nov. 1-8 and never had a bus problem--and there were two of us on scooters. I think the most we waited was 20 minutes and other than our last night there were always two scooter spots available. Leaving Epcot the last night another lady on a scooter was waiting before us--so instead of splitting up we waited--it wasn't 5 minutes before another SSR bus pulled up--we got right on and "home" we went. We were in the Paddock and I think that helped because we were an early stop.

 

[rantnnravin]

The best part is we beat the original bus that had to leave us behind back We saw the bus and the two rude men pulling into the bus stop as we were already on our way into our room

I would have turned around and said to them: "Thanks to you two gentlemen having been so rude, we were given a private ride back to the resort. Hope you enjoyed standing for your trip."

In all honesty though, I think Disney is gearing up to begin charging resort guests for parking at the theme parks. In order to ensure that they receive the extra revenue, they will make using the bus system untenable.

 

[Tara]

In all honesty though, I think Disney is gearing up to begin charging resort guests for parking at the theme parks. In order to ensure that they receive the extra revenue, they will make using the bus system untenable.

What would make you say they are gearing up to charge resort guests for parking?

(That aside, I find it hard to believe that Disney would intentionally create poor service for any reason, least of which to force customers to use their own transportation so they can turn around and charge them for parking. Seems they'd lose a lot more revenue in value guests who would just stay offsite if bus service was that bad and they had to pay for parking anyway.)

 

[rantnnravin]

(That aside, I find it hard to believe that Disney would intentionally create poor service for any reason

I don't.
Disney corporate has been replete with bad decisions as of late- most of them involving cutbacks to guest experience. They are currently seeking ways to decrease expenditures while increasing profits. This would simply be another revenue stream.

 

[mouseketeer70]

sorry to hear you had such a bad bus experience. we just returned last night from SSR (Nov. 23-28) and had nothing but praise for the busses. We were afraid of how awful it would be after reading all the negative posts on the dis. My DH was prepared to drive if he had to. Luckily our van never left it's parking spot until we left yesterday! Our longest wait was almost 25 minutes from EPCOT Thanksgiving night (I tried to time all of our waits and travel times to post for others). Other than that the buses were frequent at all times of day, coming and going, to and from all parks. We only had to stand twice. All of the drivers were very pleasant. My DD even got a disney bus license and we got a cute pic of her in the driver's seat. All in all we were very happy with the bus service.

 

[Starr W.]

We too were just at SSR(11/21-11/28) and by far had the best bus service ever(including non-holiday times). We were at CP and I think we had to stand only twice on a bus.

But then again we were heading out pretty early(8:15-8:30 am) and headed back to SSR around 1pm ish.

 

[Weluvdisny]

This was our first time at SSR Grandstand (11/8-11/14) and I was really worried after reading all about the bad bus issues. Every morning there was a CM at the stop keeping track of all the buses and asking everying where they were going. He said he had 3 buses waiting in the parking lot nearby and he would call them up to use if anyone had waited over 30 minutes for a bus. We never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes for a bus. I was very impressed.

 

[TisBit]

We are at SSR now and have been here since 11/24, I have no complaints with the busses. We have missed a bus by a few minutes and had to wait 20 minutes for the next one like twice. I think one bus from a park took awhile to get there, but no more than 30 minutes. And one bus ride where they had to load ECV's at both Congress Park and than Springs, and he had trouble with the doors after the second one, I think it took almost 40 mintuest to get out of SSR, but stuff like that just happens.

The first couple of days I noticed that CM working the bus stop was doing a good job redesignating busses. If a bus pulled up with Epcot, but there had not been a Magic Kingdom bus since the last Epcot, they changed its destination. The last couple of days I haven't seen them so diligent about it.

I really have come to the conclusion that the time and stop have a LOT to do with the spotty reports of bus service from SSR. We are at Grandstand (first stop) and not had any issues, but people boarding at Springs seem to report long waits (even when boarding).....I know that if the bus fills up it just leaves SSR, so I think that is part of the problem that Springs is having. Not to mention there is always a big crowd there in the morning, from the people staying there, plus everyone going to AP for breakfast/coffee.

I think in the future I will always just walk to Grandstand than wait at Springs.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We left MK on Thanksgiving @ 3pm. We waited 50 minutes on a bus. Once again, all the other resorts got several buses before we ever got one.

That can happen to any of the WDW Resort buses and a few years ago my family and I had the same situation waiting at Downtown Disney Marketplace for a Contemporary bus. We must have waited at least 40 minutes and saw multiple number of buses for the All Star Resorts, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs, until the next Contemporary bus had arrived.

 

[minnie2]

We were there 11/17-11/22 and the busses were great! I didn't have any expectations at all. Sure a few times buses had come for the same place and not where we wanted to go but to me it is just part of it. A few times it was packed but no biggie. On a whole i thought they were great.

 

[photobob]

I think there are times that bus times get thrown out of whack for a variety of reasons regardless of where you are staying. You get differing reports from people staying the same time at the same resort. Whether you get good service, bad service or some of both, it mostly rests on whether or not you had fortunate timing when you got to the bus stop.

 

[dburg30]

I don't.
Disney corporate has been replete with bad decisions as of late- most of them involving cutbacks to guest experience. They are currently seeking ways to decrease expenditures while increasing profits. This would simply be another revenue stream.

Well, if they dont have the number of reservations / guests, there is no reason to keep a FULL staff, we were there 11/13 - 11/22 and had no service issues at all, as a matter of fact, there were many places that there were hardly any people waiting in lines for food / drink etc.

All of our buses were within the 20 minutes (I timed a number of them when I would walk up just as a bus was leaving). I dont see how people expect Disney to keep on a full work force when there are very few times you need it. As you stated they are a business, but there is a point to where they would be cutting their own throats, but I dont think they've done anything like that yet.

 

[Y-ASK]

Disclamer: I own at SSR, OKW, VB and Marriott Horizon's. Just got back from our trip and unfortunately SSR was a disappointment. We got a 2 Bdr lock off for two nights at the end of our ten day trip. The studio smelled really foul like terrible bad breath. The bed was really hard and so uncomfortable that we lasted only one night. The bus service was slow for that one day and I do plan to use my personal auto the next time we go (if we continue to have problems).

We stayed at Marriott's Cypress Harbour for our 1st seven nights and the place was wonderful. No smells and the beds were soft. So maybe I was just spoiled at Marriott but last time I checked I paid more for DVC.

We go again in Feb. this time to OKW for a full week and I hope that stay is going to be better since we're bringing along two other families with us.

As to the smell at SSR. The Studio is what smelt the worse but after I had the interconnecting doors opened the entire place smelt bad. I tried to air it out by leaving the sliding glass doors opened in both rooms for more than four hours and it still smelled after close them that evening. Of course I now had to fight with a few flying critters because they don't have any screen doors installed. The balcony at Cypress was fully screened and almost twice as big.

Having traveled to WDW several times in the last couple of years here's my list of timeshares and the order of the quality that I have seen (1 being the best):

#1. Marriott Cypress Harbour
#2. OKW
#3. Marriott Horizon's
#4. Grand Beach II
#5. Sheraton Vistina or Vista or whatever
#6. SSR Nov. 28 & 29 2008 Rooms 4323 & 4325 Springs section.

I had a tough time picking the Sheraton or SSR, both were pretty bad...

Y-ASK

 

[rantnnravin]

Well, if they dont have the number of reservations / guests, there is no reason to keep a FULL staff, we were there 11/13 - 11/22 and had no service issues at all, as a matter of fact, there were many places that there were hardly any people waiting in lines for food / drink etc.

All of our buses were within the 20 minutes (I timed a number of them when I would walk up just as a bus was leaving). I dont see how people expect Disney to keep on a full work force when there are very few times you need it. As you stated they are a business, but there is a point to where they would be cutting their own throats, but I dont think they've done anything like that yet.

It's not staffing only. Guest experience encompasses a wide range of things and there are several areas that have seen "enhancements" that have diminished the quality of service a guest receives. A short line doesn't mean the service received was necessarily good.
It's wonderful that your perception was that you had no issues and were pleased with your vacation. Corporate will continue to shave off bits of the Disney quality without most people noticing a difference.
The buses in general - especially at park opening and closing - provide very bad show. They used to run every 15-20, now they don't consider it a problem unless a guest has been waiting 30 mins or more. That number will continue to rise - forcing people back into their cars. And when Disney finds that enough resort guests have begun driving to the parks themselves, they will begin charging for parking. They will most likely begin with charging DVC members - because they already have our $ and don't have to woo us to stay on property.

 

[TomD]

WEverything was good about the trip except the buses. We NEVER waited less than 30 minutes for a bus. .

I was in the Carousel area on Wednesday-Saturday in a 2 bedroom and Grand Stands Saturday through today in a studio and for the 1st time thought the bus situation was fixed. We never waited more then 10-15 minutes. The longest wait we had was from Studios to SSR yesterday in the downpour.

 

[dupont2406]

waited 10 minutes

 

[TK Brown]

We stayed at SSR back in May of this year and our only complaint was with the buses. We were at the Grandstand and some times there would be 3 buses, for the same park, back to back to back. Idont remember which park we waited for, but I know it was a 50 minute wait for one of the parks!

But just like I told DW, if that was the only "problem" we had on our trip, I can live with it. Nothing is ever going to be 100% perfect. But I do hope it improves!

 

[wic0721]

We just returned from a 7 day trip @ SSR (Nov 22 through Nov 29). We had a wonderful 1br in the Springs building. Everything was good about the trip except the buses. We NEVER waited less than 30 minutes for a bus. On Wednesday night, we left Epcot before Illuminations ended only to wait 30 minutes on a bus (the wilderness lodge got 4 buses before we ever got 1). Once the bus arrived, there were so many people waiting that we were packed like sardines (only half the people waiting got on the bus). Our driver must have been new or something. He missed the turn out of Epcot and proceeded to back the bus up so be could make the turn. He hit 4 curbs on the way to SSR! It was so bad, we got off at the first stop and walked to the springs. We left MK on Thanksgiving @ 3pm. We waited 50 minutes on a bus. Once again, all the other resorts got several buses before we ever got one. I can't help but feel that we are getting shafted when it comes to the bus service because we are DVC members and they already have our money. Does anyone else feel this way or is it just me? By the way, we ended taking the car after the MK bus issue. I love SSR but if the bus issue doesn't improve, I'll be driving to the parks.

We were there 11/16 - 11/23 and we must have had the same driver, except ours got lost coming back from Hollywood Studio's, we finally caught on after we passed the Tower of Terror sign for the 3rd time. He also hit the curb at every bus stop!