the ssr bus people

[crisi]

I think you are far more likely to get paid/validated parking at DTD than you are to have the SSR grounds restricted. Disney doesn't restrict grounds at any resort, they DO have paid parking lots. I think grounds restriction would be a huge shift for Disney to contemplate - and cause a lot of issues. Disney resorts are destinations onto itself - resort touring at Christmastime is a big deal, plus the restaurants and shopping at Disney resorts, add in that anyone can go rent mouseboats over at WL or do the pirate cruise at the Y&BC or fish out at POR. And Disney likes having that sort of resort access - it convinces people that their next stay should be at one of those resorts.

 

[bavaria]

Quite frankly, if I'm at the AK and want to get to Epcot, I'm hopping the the Epcot resort bus if it comes before the Epcot bus (which is likely) or if I want to go the World Showcase first. Likewise, if I'm at AK or MGM and want to to the MK, I'm hopping an MK resort bus (probably contemporary) rather than the one to the TTC. In doing so, I'm possibly 'denying' an MK resort guest a seat if the bus is crowded, but hey - I'm only following the rules.

This is exactly what was going through my head when I started to read this thread - how is this any different than if I am at AK and want to go to MK - I may take a bus to CR and walk to MK. I don't consider that 'taking a seat away from a CR guest' as Disney does not restrict who travels where on their busses.

Think back to when AKL opened. Disney decided that the resort would be so popular with lookie-loos that they would only allow access with a room key for that resort, or if one had a dining reservation (and they would check the list). Once the novelty wore off (or once they realized that there was no need to restrict potential guests from the resort) the policy changed.

If the SSR to DTD bus issue is truly an issue, Disney will address the problem, just as they removed the Park to DTD routes a few years ago.

Unlike others on this thread, I DO own DVC and I HAVE stayed at SSR several times. I have not yet encounted the 'ssr bus people' issue. I also do a lot of resort hopping by foot, boat, bus or monorail. I am using WDW Transportation and the facilities as Disney intended.

 

[Pluto 2]

i wonder what this is doing to our maint fees. it has got to add more on to transportation

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I know people park/resort hop often. The reason I believe it is a problem is the sheer volume.

Okay, let's take the Beach Club bus from AK. Some people use this way to get from AK to Epcot instead of waiting for the Epcot bus. Same with MK, maybe walk to CR and grab the MGM bus.

But since there are dedicated buses to do this as well, and the fact that everyone does not park hop at the same time, the volume is down.

With SSR, there are no dedicated buses to DTD from the parks. So EVERYONE heading there is on the same SSR bus. And since evening tends to be busier at DTD, if everyone going from park to DTD gets on the bus at the same time. KWIM?

Also, with some of the parks, there are several resorts to grab a bus on. For Epcot, BC or BW or the TTC. For MK, you could go to GF, CR, POly, WL even, or the TTC bus. Even with MGM, you could go to BW or BC and walk/boat over.

For DTD, it is only SSR. Although you could go to POR or OKW and boat over, as well. But it does not seem like those routes are being included when someone asks how to get to DTD from a park.

Anyway, I also wondered about the transportation costs in MF, Pluto. If they have to add SSR buses because of volume to get to DTD, do we pay that extra??

 

[pilferk]

My thought is that resort room keys should be shown to get on the bus. SSR bus is being used by people who don't want to go to there home resort and transfer to the DD bus. Also people who try to keep from paying for parking use DD and then walk to SSR and use there bus service. This puts a burdon on the SSR bus and our dues pay for that bus service.

The problem with that idea is this:

There are legit reasons to go to SSR when not staying there. The Spa being one....the restaurants being another.

 

[crisi]

The problem with that idea is this:

There are legit reasons to go to SSR when not staying there. The Spa being one....the restaurants being another.

Getting to DTD is a legitimate reason. Park passes entitle holders to ALL Disney transportation and Disney does not restrict access to resort. If you want to ride the buses all day, that's legit.

 

[pilferk]

Getting to DTD is a legitimate reason. Park passes entitle holders to ALL Disney transportation and Disney does not restrict access to resort. If you want to ride the buses all day, that's legit.

Oh, I agree...

I'm saying....even from the "objecting" posters perspective....you can't limit the use of the transportation to SSR without limiting outside use of it's facilities. And that's something Disney is certainly not going to do....

 

[Mtnman44]

Instituting validated parking at DTD solves or prevents the potential of this issue I would think. As a plus, Disney could then once again start direct park service between DTD. Bus service could remain completely open to anyone. Only thing it does is prevent abuse by using free parking at DTD which I think is really the only concern. Validation would still allow free parking to legit DTD patrons and would prevent cheapskates from getting a day's free parking and clogging SSR busses just for park access.

I'm fine with the fact that park tickets entitle user to Disney Transportation. The free parking at DTD create a bus problem which is why disney doesn't not have direct park buses there, right? DTD deserves some direct park busses.

 

[carolina_yankee]

Comments from several posters:

Regarding Validated Parking at DtD. I live in NJ and am use to validated parking areas where parking is scarce. The problem with DtD is that Disney wants locals to visit there as well - and Floridians generally don't have to pay validated parking. Besides, the volume alone would make getting into DtD a nightmare if you had to get a ticket and pass through a gate. Let alone, getting out, if you pay on a time basis or get a refund by presenting a validated ticket.

dwelty makes a good observation about Anaheim, but I see it as a totally different beast given the compact nature of the resort. Don't forget, the Convention center is also near by. Plus, Californians are more accustomed to validated parking than Floridians (or the average guest visiting from suburban middle America).

As for maintenance fees - if they have to increase buses by 5 to cover the 'SSR people' I doubt seriously it would add more the $1-2 to our member fees - and I mean the total bill, not price per point. Quite frankly, I'd pay $52 more per year in MF if it means buses every 10 minutes instead of 20 - because then I wouldn't spend $150 to rent a car for a week!!!!

Finally, Disney is never going to prohibit anyone from visiting a resort if they don't have a key or reservation (the AKL experiment aside, which proved to be a non-issue). All you have to do is say, "I want to look around" and show your driver's license, and you're given entry to any resort you want. I've done it at every single Disney resort (really looked around, not stolen a parking spot - I pay valet when I do that. )

Dirk

 

[fishermouse]

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 say send them on a wild goose chase, word will get out that it's not that easy to get from SSR to DTD.

 

[tomandrobin]

Just go back today from our short trip. I tried to pay more attentin of the DTD bus use by non-SSR owners. On our bus travel to and from, we only saw two different occasions of non-SSR owners, non-disney guests on the bus.

When we were in EPCOT I heard one of the CMs tell some people wanting to go to DTD to catch the AllStar bus, then catch the DTD bus from that resort.

 

[bavaria]

Just go back today from our short trip. I tried to pay more attentin of the DTD bus use by non-SSR owners. On our bus travel to and from, we only saw two different occasions of non-SSR owners, non-disney guests on the bus.

When we were in EPCOT I heard one of the CMs tell some people wanting to go to DTD to catch the AllStar bus, then catch the DTD bus from that resort.

but how did you know that they were non-Disney guests and non-SSR owners?

What if they were OKW owners? or guests who bought into SSR sight unseen and were staying elsewhere? or someone like me who doesn't always dress in 'American theme park casual attire' as I often have business combined with pleasure?

I was recently on a bus from AKL with some wives of people attending the Homebuilder's conference. We all spoke German and didn't dress like your usual Disney guest. I own OKW and VWL. I can only imagine the assumptions that people made?

 

[dwelty]

We all spoke German and didn't dress like your usual Disney guest.

Bavaria, let me guess, shorts with black dress socks?

 

[bavaria]

are you saying that we germans don't have taste??

We were all wearing dark straight leg jeans, sensible black walking shoes, nice rain coats. Ask jdvm how stylish I can look in 'German theme park casual'....

 

[tomandrobin]

but how did you know that they were non-Disney guests and non-SSR owners?

What if they were OKW owners? or guests who bought into SSR sight unseen and were staying elsewhere? or someone like me who doesn't always dress in 'American theme park casual attire' as I often have business combined with pleasure?

I was recently on a bus from AKL with some wives of people attending the Homebuilder's conference. We all spoke German and didn't dress like your usual Disney guest. I own OKW and VWL. I can only imagine the assumptions that people made?

LOL....Well, believe it or not we just talked to them. The buses were pretty much empty. The first time they asked the bus drive how to get to DTD from SSR and we took it frim there. The second time we were sitting across from a family and it just came up in conversation.

 

[bavaria]

LOL....Well, believe it or not we just talked to them. The buses were pretty much empty.

Well, ok then - so long as you weren't walking around the bus asking for DVC membership cards, room key cards, and other forms of 'official SSR bus ID'

 

[dwelty]

are you saying that we germans don't have taste??

We were all wearing dark straight leg jeans, sensible black walking shoes, nice rain coats. Ask jdvm how stylish I can look in 'German theme park casual'....

I was joking of course. I was a cast member at Disneyland during college 1987-1990. We could spot European Guests a mile away, due to the shorts and black dress sock combo. Our family business has a branch in Estonia, we have 40 Estonian Employees. Whenever we fly them to California, they get off the plane in the same costume.

 

[Disneyhappy]

I have no problem with non SSR guests people usuing SSR buses to get to DTD as long as;
1) the buses are not overcrowded as a result, and,
2) the owners are not charged for the extra buses that become necessary to handle the increased traffic of guests. Let Disney cover that expense and not the owners in their maintenance fees.

One question - Why would non resort guests take the bus to SSR for DTD? I guess I am assuming that they would use the same transportation they used to get on WDW property. Maybe I am wrong in my assumption that off site guests use automobiles to get to the parks. I guess some use hotel shuttles.

 

[BroganMc]

One question - Why would non resort guests take the bus to SSR for DTD? I guess I am assuming that they would use the same transportation they used to get on WDW property. Maybe I am wrong in my assumption that off site guests use automobiles to get to the parks. I guess some use hotel shuttles.

Look further up in this thread. It has to do with people parking for free and DTD and using the busses to get to the parks, thus avoiding the $10 parking fee.

You'd have to work really hard for that though. I think it more reasonable to assume guests staying on Hotel Plaza Blvd walked to DTD and hopped a bus.

As long as it doesn't make the busses overcrowded, I'm not bothered with it.

 

[tomandrobin]

One question - Why would non resort guests take the bus to SSR for DTD? I guess I am assuming that they would use the same transportation they used to get on WDW property. Maybe I am wrong in my assumption that off site guests use automobiles to get to the parks. I guess some use hotel shuttles.

The one couple was staying outside of DTD and walked over. The second group was meeting the other half of thier party. Apparently they had split up and the other group drove to DTD to pick them up by the second bus stop at DTD.