They do listen when you email...:)

[Esmerelda]

I had emailed a few weeks ago to Disney regarding how folks abuse the buses that go from DTD to SSR to the parks. (these are folks that are simply parking then abusing the bus system from downtown) What was happening is we were finding the buses quite full many times but the people would get off the bus at whatever stop...then hop on a park bus? It wasn't too hard to figure out what was going on. We had some friends down in Oct who also noticed this issue. Its not fair to those of us who are paying (or DVC members in our case) to not be able to sit on the buses to the parks.

I suggested that in DTD they ask to see your resort card or have a way for it to be scanned upon entering? Whether either one will work, I don't know...I just hate to see the system abused.

Anyhow, I got a call from their marketing division and they said they received my email and they are definitely looking into a way to resolving this issue as far as SSR is concerned. Apparently, I'm not the first that has brought this to someone's attention. The lady on the phone was VERY nice and said "we ARE listening...and we appreciate emails such as yours".

I was truly impressed!
Esmerelda

 

[Pootle]

I know this has been a hotly-debated issue on these boards before, but last month at OKW I witnessed people looking for the best way to get back to DD a few times. The bus drivers were very helpful to them each time. I doubt OKW gets used as much as SSR for this purpose.

The discussion here usually comes around to the fact that the ticket medium includes Disney transportation and so these people are doing nothing wrong.

My view is that if Disney are taking notice, it's because it's hitting their bottom line. I drove to DD one day (to shop) and parking was just so difficult I drove away again. If many people are taking up spaces at DD whilst making their way to the parks via resorts, they are a) depriving Disney of the theme park parking fee and b) preventing potential shoppers from parking at DD.

Call me a cynic, but I believe this is the sort of thing that Disney would take notice of and I think that whether they do anything about it will be determined by how much they think it affects them and the costs involved in doing something about it.

Good luck with fighting your corner though

 

[fishermouse]

Not to debate whether there are people using SSR buses to get to DTD,there are, I don't think it's all a parking issue. I always use the bus system to my advantage, often when leaving MGM or Epcot I'll go to BW and take a bus to DTD. I'm not parked there but I want to go there to eat or PI. I will also walk over to DD to get a bus to other resorts for dinner or to meet up with people staying there, then return to DD to walk back to SSR. I've written before if there is a problem with parking at DTD they need to address that problem at DTD. They should not do this by annoying SSR guest with demands to see your key, and slowing the boarding process even more. Will they need to see everyones key or just at CP? Will they also check keys at all park and resort bus stops? This would be the only FAIR way to do it. As the old saying goes "be careful what you ask for" My guess is 9 out of 10 people will not have thier key ready when getting on the bus, that should make boarding FUN. But even if 9 out of 10 have thier key out we will still have to wait for the 1 in 10 to dig out thier key. Not to mention the dropped keys, etc while they're digging. We've been down for F+W, and every season, busy and slow, point is we go at all times of the year, and very rarely have to wait for a bus only to have it full. I just don't see this as a major problem. Would I like to see some improvement? Sure, there is always room for improvement, I just don't think checking room keys or closing the path, which I use extensivly is the way to go, IMO this would be a disaster. They did it years ago when the transportation system was smaller and it did not work well for the above reasons...... Can we say parking vouchers!!!!! Works in CA....How about a DD to TTC bus, along with parking fee and vouchers for shoppers this should make everyone happy and bring more shoppers to DD.

 

[PBader]

I really don't see it as an inconvenience to show your KTTW card when getting on the bus. It would be quite easy for all the cm telling guests at check-in that the bus drivers need to see your card. As long as you have a KTTW card you should be allowed to ride any Disney bus at anytime. But this would stop the people who stay offsite from using Disney transportation. I agree that it is an ongoing problem more so for some resorts than others.

 

[Esmerelda]

I would have absolutely no problem with showing my resort key to anyone. If it means that my family might get to sit (or stand) on the bus to get back to SSR, I am ALL for it. It only takes 2 seconds.

Pootie: "My view is that if Disney are taking notice, it's because it's hitting their bottom line. I drove to DD one day (to shop) and parking was just so difficult I drove away again. If many people are taking up spaces at DD whilst making their way to the parks via resorts, they are a) depriving Disney of the theme park parking fee and b) preventing potential shoppers from parking at DD."

I totally agree with this statement. Disney loses on both ends of this one.

E..

 

[Madi100]

I have noticed this, too. I have no problem with people who are staying at other resorts on Disney property using the Saratoga Springs resort bus to get to Downtown Disney from a park. But if people are parking at Downtown Disney and using the bus transportation to get to a park that is just wrong. I would think that they coudl easily monitor this, especially in the morning.

 

[Chuck S]

They could stop a lot of it, if it is the parking that is causing the problem, by simply charging for parking at DtD...free to resort guests and AP holders, 3 hours free with a validated stub AND purchase receipt from a DtD location or eatery. No receipt, charge the same as the parks.

What this wouldn't stop is folks walking to DtD from the nearby hotels, as the Disney transportation is better than at the DtD area hotels.

They would still be honoring the fact that transportation is on the park tickets, just not allowing free parking at DtD...unless there is some sort of FL law that states you can't charge for parking in an area designed mainly for shopping (I doubt it, but I guess it is possible.)

 

[Madi100]

They could stop a lot of it, if it is the parking that is causing the problem, by simply charging for parking at DtD...free to resort guests and AP holders, 3 hours free with a validated stub AND purchase receipt from a DtD location or eatery. No receipt, charge the same as the parks.

What this wouldn't stop is folks walking to DtD from the nearby hotels, as the Disney transportation is better than at the DtD area hotels.

They would still be honoring the fact that transportation is on the park tickets, just not allowing free parking at DtD...unless there is some sort of FL law that states you can't charge for parking in an area designed mainly for shopping (I doubt it, but I guess it is possible.)

I would think if they charged for parking that would hurt their local business. We have a wonderful downtown here locally that I really try to support. However, it's a pain in the butt to have to pay the meter, because I NEVER have cash or change. And, it's hard to find a parking spot. We have three hour parking in our downtown, and to have to watch the clock is sometimes just not worth it.

 

[diznyfanatic]

They could stop a lot of it, if it is the parking that is causing the problem, by simply charging for parking at DtD...free to resort guests and AP holders, 3 hours free with a validated stub AND purchase receipt from a DtD location or eatery. No receipt, charge the same as the parks.

What this wouldn't stop is folks walking to DtD from the nearby hotels, as the Disney transportation is better than at the DtD area hotels.

They would still be honoring the fact that transportation is on the park tickets, just not allowing free parking at DtD...unless there is some sort of FL law that states you can't charge for parking in an area designed mainly for shopping (I doubt it, but I guess it is possible.)

Most, if not all, of our local downtown shopping areas charge for parking and we've often wondered why Disney didnt'.

Several years ago, we primarily stayed offsite at a couple of the DTD hotels and the hotel staff recommended and encouraged walking to DTD and catching Disney transportation, since their own transportation didn't run nearly as frequently.

I would like to see Disney start charging for DTD parking, unless you show a Disney resort parking pass or your KTTW.

 

[robinb]

This is OT, but happy 1,000th post!

Esmerelda
DVC'r 10/04/Dis Veteran

Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: in the middle of chaos..
Posts: 1,000

 

[DVC Mater]

I always thought that the use of the buses were for the guests of Disney hotels and not associated to the theme park tickets.

 

[tjkraz]

I don't know how big of a problem the DTD parkers are, but I can think of a couple other scenarios that may be coming into play:

1. Staff at the non-Disney Downtown Disney resorts recommending that people use SSR as a hub. Although most (all?) of them provide some sort of transportation to and from the parks, it's not as frequent as Disney's busses. I can easilly envision some staff members recommend guests walk to DTD or SSR and then use the Disney busses.

2. People who want to go from the theme parks to DTD in the evening. Since Disney has no transportation from the parks to DTD, many CMs will openly advise guests to take the SSR bus and then walk the rest of the way.

I'd like to think that Disney is working on some sort of solution. Time will tell.

 

[Esmerelda]

Thanks RobinB...I noticed that earlier....its been 8 years that I've been on here. I guess I'm a little slower in posts...LOL

I feel like I've graduated or something...

Esmerelda

 

[Chuck S]

I would think if they charged for parking that would hurt their local business.

Not if they got it free with a validation. 3 hours should be enough time, if not, extend it to 4 hours, but still put a limit on it so the "locals" won't park there to visit the theme parks. Locals already get a good (not great, but good) deal on park passes. If they spring for a discounted annual pass, it includes free parking.

 

[dismorgh]

Not if they got it free with a validation. 3 hours should be enough time, if not, extend it to 4 hours, but still put a limit on it so the "locals" won't park there to visit the theme parks. Locals already get a good (not great, but good) deal on park passes. If they spring for a discounted annual pass, it includes free parking.

I agree. Most won't go to the parks for less than 4 hours.

In addition, I think it is completely wrong for any person to park in DD, walk over to SSR, and then catch a bus to a park from there. I would be happy to show my KTTW card to get on a resort bus. The resort buses should be exclusively for resort guests.

 

[robinb]

Thanks RobinB...I noticed that earlier....its been 8 years that I've been on here. I guess I'm a little slower in posts...LOL

I feel like I've graduated or something...

Esmerelda

We joined the same time!

robinb

Every Child a Wanted Child



Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 13,593

Actually, I had joined months earlier but server glitches reset my post count at least twice.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think Chuck's idea is a good one, but I do NOT think the buses to the resorts should be limited to resort guests. There are plenty of reasons folks would leave a park to go to a resort they are not staying at. One is to access some of the good restaurants at the resorts. If they charged for parking at DTD with Chuck's peramiters it would stop most of those folks trying to get by with free parking and using the SSR bus to access the parks.

This last trip over Thanksgiving was the first time I saw folks get off a park bus at OKW and ask the driver how to get to DTD. I thought it was a strange question, but it does make sense now.

 

[dvc_john]

I think there are 2 issues here:
1) People parking at DTD and then using the SSR bus to the parks.
2) People going to DTD in the evening, especially in the last couple of hours before the park closes. These could very well include resorts guests, and I can certainly understand why they might not want to bus to the resort they are staying at to transfer to a DTD bus.

A simple solution to issue #2 would be to reinstate buses from the parks to DTD, but only in the evening hours. Perhaps beginning at 6 or 7 pm.

As for Chuck S suggestion, that's what they do at DTD in California. You get a time stamped ticket. You then get 3 hours of free parking, plus 2 additional hours if you have it validated at a restaurant or movie. If you exceed the time allowed, the minimum charge is more than the daily parking fee for the parks.

 

[lizanne]

They would still be honoring the fact that transportation is on the park tickets

I always thought that you had to be staying on-site to use WDW transportation. Does purchasing a park ticket entitle you to transportation?

 

[RCharnay]

Couldn't they just add another bus or two to the route? Relieve the stress a bit? No need to make everyone slow their boarding in an attempt to to screen out some folks.