the ssr bus people

[BroganMc]

I don't think we are going to come up with a solution that solves everything!

We can alleviate it just by having CMs at the parks NOT direct guests to use SSR busses. I'd bet most don't even think of it otherwise.

Supposedly they're getting off at Congress Park and getting lost anyway.

And by encouraging this use of the busses, you're already encouraging parking at DTD to avoid fees. All those folks who got off, certainly know how to get on.

 

[Sammie]

I would suggest if this bothers anyone, contact DVC and let them know. When asked about it, I was told it was not a major concern of theirs.

Disney created the problem by eliminating the buses from DD to the parks. So they are very much aware that the drivers are encouraging the use of SSR buses.

Until enough complain, it will not change.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

An easy solution would be to run busses directly to DTD from EPCOT with a stop only in the resort bus dropoff area. Then gate off the parking lots closest in front of DTD and Westside. I'd probably gate it all the way down to the movie theatre. You can get a ticket that lets you park for free for three hours. During the morning Disney can just leave the exit gates up. At 1pm the attendant comes on duty. If you've parked for more than three hours your initial charge is $10. The price goes up $3 an hour from there.

To keep parking free for DTD guests they have the option to keep extending their parking window by going to certain locations to get a new timestamp. All they have to do is make sure they get a new one before the old one expires.

All that said I have to question if that many people are parking in DTD to avoid the fee. After all there are a ton of other places they could park for free if they wanted to. Any hotel other than the big three would work pretty easily (see also the very valid complaints of the BW/BWV guests). I suspect the non-SSR guests fall into two categories...daytrippers who want to check it out from whatever park they are currently at and nearby offsite hotel guests. After all if your feet are in good shape the quickest way home would be via SSR rather than waiting for your own less frequent shuttle. I can't really see why a Florida resident who wanted to game the system would bother with parking over at DTD when they could just as easily park inside of SSR, CSR, POR, CBR etc.

 

[carolina_yankee]

I'd be suprised that this is really a problem - DD guest clogging SSR buses. Sure, it might happen a couple of times, but not enough to be a royal pain. Personally, as long as a my being a WDW guest or multi-day ticket holder entitles me to Disney transportation, I expect to have full access to Disney transportation.

Besides, this is probably just karma for those times DVC members take advantage of valet parking at other resorts where they're not staying/visiting.

Dirk

 

[crisi]

We can alleviate it just by having CMs at the parks NOT direct guests to use SSR busses. I'd bet most don't even think of it otherwise.

Supposedly they're getting off at Congress Park and getting lost anyway.

And by encouraging this use of the busses, you're already encouraging parking at DTD to avoid fees. All those folks who got off, certainly know how to get on.

Except that this is the most efficient way for guests to get to DTD. You want the CMs to give YOU good information, don't you? Why shouldn't they give good information to other guests who are entitled to use the transportation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Except that this is the most efficient way for guests to get to DTD. You want the CMs to give YOU good information, don't you? Why shouldn't they give good information to other guests who are entitled to use the transportation.

But the problem is that the guests taking the SSR bus to get to DTD usually don't have a clue about how to get to DTD from where they get off the bus. They get off the bus and DTD is nowhere in sight. Now what do they do???

Do we direct them back to the main gate and then tell them to walk all the way around? Would that deter them in the future? Or do we let them figure it out themselves???

 

[3DisneyKids]

No, you are right, any multiday ticket entitles you to use of all Disney transportation.

I think they need a paylot at DTD - that would probably help a lot. If they want to validate parking with adequate purchase, that would be fine.

I agree. It would be great if the DTD lots cost money as the other lots do. And if you already paid for parking that day (at a park, for example), then your day's parking tag is valid at DTD as well.

I believe that there are several "unofficial" Disney guides/websites that list taking the bus to SSR and walking to DTD as a "tip" on how to maximize your time and deal with travel, etc.

 

[dwelty]

Perhaps a better idea would be a gate that you have to use your room key to get through on the walkway from DTD to SSR.

Great Idea. I say they enforce the rules that say that only Disney Resort Guests can use ANY transportation would solve this problem. I don't care if people staying on resort property use the SSR busses, I just don't like people parking at DTD and hopping on a park bus at SSR to save 10 bucks!

 

[DisneyFreaks]

But the problem is that the guests taking the SSR bus to get to DTD usually don't have a clue about how to get to DTD from where they get off the bus. They get off the bus and DTD is nowhere in sight. Now what do they do???
Do we direct them back to the main gate and then tell them to walk all the way around? Would that deter them in the future? Or do we let them figure it out themselves???

This happened twice during our trip. People asking us where the heck DTD was after they got off the bus. Once we heard some folks talking among themselves as to whether they should just remain at the bus stop and wait for a DTD bus to come along. We were nice though and DH showed them the way. I guess all they are told upon asking is to "take a bus to SSR". Not very accommodating directions. I agree with your questions as well. It is annoying to have to stand on a crowded bus when most of the people sitting are using it as a pass through to DTD but it's also true that if this is what Disney is telling them to do then they're really not breaking any rules either.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

DisneyFreaks, we are planning our first SSR stay for about the same time as you in October. What area have you requested? Any suggestions?

We stayed in Congress Park in december and have requested it again for our october trip. I'd love to have the same rooms again actually. They were wonderful. We had a lovely view of DTD across the water. We didn't think the walk from there to the main pool and restaurants was far at all and we had two small children with us. The walk to DTD was only about ten minutes. I was completely blown away with the beauty of this resort. I think any of the areas would be good.

 

[UConnJack]

Perhaps a better idea would be a gate that you have to use your room key to get through on the walkway from DTD to SSR.

I agree. I understand BroganMc's concern, but there is only so many ways to restrict the use of resort amenities and the key card is the easiest and most effective short of a guard. I would hope they make those readers accessible to people in wheelchairs?

Of course, I think it has to start with the CM's not encouraging the use of the SSR busses for DTD access. I don't think they have to add the DTD busses at the parks, it would be nice, but otherwise the CM's should instruct people to connect through the TTC. Normally, non-resort guest travel on the busses doesn’t create a big issue, but it could in the case of DTD.

Have people encountered a significant amount of non-guest bus traffic to visit the Boardwalk on the EPOCT resort bus loop?

Disney doesn't restrict access to the grounds of any of their resorts....why should they do it at SSR?

Of course they do, pools for starters. Health clubs too.

 

[UConnJack]

But the problem is that the guests taking the SSR bus to get to DTD usually don't have a clue about how to get to DTD from where they get off the bus. They get off the bus and DTD is nowhere in sight. Now what do they do???

Do we direct them back to the main gate and then tell them to walk all the way around? Would that deter them in the future? Or do we let them figure it out themselves???

I would. Your not lying, you are just not divulging the most efficient way of getting there.

The only other problem with restricting access to the bridge with a gate though, is I could easily see people jumping it rather than walking around to the main gate or going back on the bus to find some other means.

 

[crisi]

Of course they do, pools for starters. Health clubs too.

And those areas are restricted at SSR, aren't they? What makes the GROUNDS of SSR different than the GROUNDS at the BC or OKW or the Grand Floridian?

 

[UConnJack]

And those areas are restricted at SSR, aren't they? What makes the GROUNDS of SSR different than the GROUNDS at the BC or OKW or the Grand Floridian?

I just see the bridge access DTD as an amenity, not just a part of the grounds to walk around and enjoy. IMHO, non-DVC guest use of the busses to SSR just to use it's proximity and bridge to access DTD (and likewise to park at DTD to use the SSR busses to go to the parks) as no better than those who try to park at BWV/BW or BC/YC/BCV so they can access EPCOT.

 

[diznyfanatic]

I'm not familiar at all with the layout of the DTD access from SSR but perhaps there is a reason that Disney may choose to "look the other way" regarding DTD crowds using SSR transportation.

By any chance, do the bus stops and DTD access bridge/path/walkways at SSR pass by the DVC Sales Center?

 

[UConnJack]

I'm not familiar at all with the layout of the DTD access from SSR but perhaps there is a reason that Disney may choose to "look the other way" regarding DTD crowds using SSR transportation.

By any chance, do the bus stops and DTD access bridge/path/walkways at SSR pass by the DVC Sales Center?

Good point. You can never forget the potential marketing aspect when discussing Disney's reasons for doing (or not doing) anything.

 

[zev]

I remember as a kid also getting a resort id card. I only had to use it a couple of times for the resort monorail. Of course it may seem odd to cm's for some kid running around with out parents in tow. Adults have a way of giving off the aura of "I am supposed to be here so don't bother me".

 

[diznyfanatic]

I also just had to say that the title of this thread gives me a chuckle each time I see it..."the SSR bus people"...

Kinda like something out of Invasion of the Body Snatchers or The Others from Lost...

Sorry. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

 

[crisi]

I just see the bridge access DTD as an amenity, not just a part of the grounds to walk around and enjoy. IMHO, non-DVC guest use of the busses to SSR just to use it's proximity and bridge to access DTD (and likewise to park at DTD to use the SSR busses to go to the parks) as no better than those who try to park at BWV/BW or BC/YC/BCV so they can access EPCOT.

I see the porch at BW/BWV as an amenity, but it isn't restricted. Neither are the Savannah viewing areas at AKL, anyone can go to AKL and view the animals. As a BW guest, we've strolled over the the BC beach and sat in lawn chairs more than once. What is unique about SSR amenities?

I agree that parking lots should be restricted and DTD should be switched to a pay lot. The BW area "restaurant and shopping" parking lot should also be a pay lot with validation. But I don't see any reason why grounds should be restricted at any one resort, unless we are going to restrict grounds at all the resorts - and I hope they don't do that, resort touring is a favorite activity for a lot of people.

 

[UConnJack]

I see the porch at BW/BWV as an amenity, but it isn't restricted. Neither are the Savannah viewing areas at AKL, anyone can go to AKL and view the animals. As a BW guest, we've strolled over the the BC beach and sat in lawn chairs more than once. What is unique about SSR amenities?

I understand, but what I am saying (and I guess what is "unique" in this case) is that the bridge to DTD may be (or could in the future) affect the enjoyment of SSR by the resort guests. Namely, if the SSR buses becomes too crowded because of non-resorts guest using it for Park/DTD transportation, then restricting the access from SSR to DTD to DVC guests only would be a justified restriction. Much the same reason they restrict pools to resort guests. The other option wouldbe to restrict the transportation system, but that isn't going to happen.