UPDATE PAGE 8 - A very serious issue with WDW...

[bonnielynn]

They could just make a monorail system that would go everywhere..

 

[kaelarad]

I am beginning to worry now about Christmas. If the bus system can't handle a less crowded time, I can only imagine what Peak/holiday season will be like.

Like another poster said: DIsney needs to fix the issue or lose people to offsite resorts and people renting cars and spending more time at other Theme parks and dining off property.

 

[GuySmiley]

I am beginning to worry now about Christmas. If the bus system can't handle a less crowded time, I can only imagine what Peak/holiday season will be like.

Like another poster said: DIsney needs to fix the issue or lose people to offsite resorts and people renting cars and spending more time at other Theme parks and dining off property.

Im sure that Disney adjusts the buses to some predicted crowd size. So not handling transportation well on off seasons doesn't mean it'll be even worse at busy times. The trick would be to go when disney's predictions are higher than actual crowds. If anyone can figure out how to do that, please let me know!

 

[DaveH]

I have found the more folks at Disney the more busses they have running. I think they try to see how few they can get away with. I am going on my soapbox again. Tell the mangers at the resorts and email Disney, or write them when and where this happens. The more noise the guests make the more Disney will listen.

 

[boettj]

I have found the more folks at Disney the more busses they have running. I think they try to see how few they can get away with. I am going on my soapbox again. Tell the mangers at the resorts and email Disney, or write them when and where this happens. The more noise the guests make the more Disney will listen.

Just a question about this. I agree that Disney would add more buses during the Xmas season, but don't you think that there will be more people not renting cars? Thus even more strain on the bus system. Just a thought.



Jason

 

[SueM in MN]

the few times we stayed at SSR, we would walk over to DTD to catch a a direct bus. Hardly a wait. But another option is always call a taxi, kind of defeats the purpose, but the only places we have done that are SSR and OKW. I would definately contact whoever and explain to them what happened, I don' t care how busy it was, the buses should be ontime, or the resort should have comped you a taxi after waiting that long! I almost sounds like they were skipping your stop altogether, was it just at sSR you had problems or all over the place.

Just for clarification - you can take a bus from DTD to any of the resorts.
There are no buses that go from DTD to any of the theme parks.

 

[Lynn5700]

DVC actually called me late last week - but a crazy weekend prevented me from returning their call until yesterday.

Anyway - a representative called me and let me know that they DID get my email...they DO take these things seriously...and they actually even researched the times/dates that I gave them and agreed that the system broke down several times during my trip and that my waits were unacceptable. They promised that they DO relate these things to the Powers that be and that the bus system is a huge issue these days and they are doing everything possible on their end to relay the concerns of guests.

The MAIN thing she said is that we NEED to ABSOLUTELY report these issues because if we don't beat down their door...the issues are not addressed.

If nothing else - she seemed genuinely apologetic and thoroughly honest about the issue.

I'm glad I called....if even one bus on my next trip is on time.... I'll feel that I helped the cause a bit

That is great!!! Glad they got back to you.

We had great bus service at SSR. Waited maybe 10-15 mins a the most for a bus..but my BIL and his GF, who stayed there with us, had to wait 45 mins they said for a bus from Epcot to SSR. I guess we made it to the bus stops at the right times.

POR is the only place I have stayed where the buses take flipping forever.

When we stayed at Sports we never waited longer than 5-10 mins for a bus lol. That place had great bus service.

Staying at AKV next may..hopefully they will have great service. When we went there to Boma one morning for breakfast the buses there were quick as well. Didn't wait long.

 

[disneygal55]

We have always rented a car. My DH doesn't even want to consider ME...thinks that we would lose valuable disney minutes! We also drive to Universal for the day. Sometimes we take the bus if we're not in a hurry {always to MK} but if we're at SSR we tend to drive to most of the parks.
We were at SSR late October and did not have to wait long for buses this time. We were kind of surprised because we have had long wait times in the past. "Lionqueen" where did you rent a minivan for 12 days for $416?? We need to get a minivan for next June and the prices are really high.

 

[jennypenny]

Just for clarification - you can take a bus from DTD to any of the resorts.
There are no buses that go from DTD to any of the theme parks.

When we were there in August, they had signs explaining to people how to get to the parks using the buses. It said to take the AK Lodge bus and transfer to AK bus there, etc. I was a little annoyed. It's bad enough people park at DTD and do this--why is Disney *expaining* how to do this??

 

[crisi]

We actually enjoy taking the busses once in awhile on our trips, but always rent a car.

A few years back, some very wise person on the DIS did a "Time Cost" analysis of what the wasted time waiting for busses actually costs guests. I've looked and cannot find the thread, but I remember distinctly that on our trip, waiting an average (this is a low average mind you) of 30 minutes per transportation was equal to over $800 for our average trips.

He equated the total cost of the trip (including airfare, park tix, resort etc), then broke that down daily and then hourly. And the one thing I remember him posting, which has stuck with me ever since, is that when you're on vacation, time really is money, and however you can best budget your time, the more enjoyment and value you get out of it.

We also don't like to be kept "captive" by Disney which is why we rent a car. We can head over to the supermarket and load up on fresh fruits and dairy instead of the expensive and "not so healthy" options at the resort. We can dine off property and get much more for much less. We also make a stop at the Super Wal-Mart and load up on bottled water, beer, toiletries (so we dont have to pack them) and Halloween decorations. So the money we spend on a rental car (this trip Minivan for 12 days @ $416.00) is more than absorbed by the money and time we save. Also, if you pay for valet at any Disney resort, that slip is good for the rest of the day at ALL Disney resorts! This saves us an INCREDIBLE amount of time and walking when resort hopping, dining & shopping

On the flip side, when we have taken Disney Transportation (bus & boat) we made sure that we were "lounging" and enjoyed the ride. Just my .02

We don't rent a car, but we do have a "cab point" - if we stand around waiting for a bus for long enough to get antsy, we grab a cab. We will also grab a cab for any hotel to hotel travel. Last trip we had to take one round trip cab trip to get to dinner and back - and bus transportation was dreamy (we had one longish wait at Typhoon Lagoon - where I always have a longish wait - but it was still within the 20 minutes). In a weeks trip, our cab bill is far less than a rental car would be - even if we have poor bus luck.

Without ME, the towncar + cab might be worthwhile to rent a car - or if we ever went offsite for anything.

 

[edith76]

Just dreaming...but wouldn't a total monorail system be great.

I just returned from a 2 month visit to disneyworld - 9/19 til 11/11. Most of the stay at SSR but I went all over Disney. I used the bus system all the time and found it to be great. One morning I had a bit of a wait for an Epcot bus (but think they had had some kind of problem) and one afternoon I waited for a bus. The rest of the time waits were short. I think sometimes luck is involved...and time of day does matter. I anticipate longer waits midday but would rather have to wait than have empty buses driving around wasting fuel.

I'm not trying to start an argument and a wait of 45 min or more is a very bad thing (and it usually happens when you are in a rush), but my experience on an extended visit showed me that most of the time the bus system does work.

 

[karmakimmie]

I just returned from a 2 month visit to disneyworld - 9/19 til 11/11.

OT, but I would love to try a 2 month visit some day!

 

[edith76]

The 2 months just flew by. My husband was there for the 1st week and the last 2 weeks...the rest of the time I had to myself. It was so nice!!!!!!!

 

[Disney-Kim]

All the bus complaints this year are valid IMHO....we had the same issues this past May trip . WE have been to WDW 13 times and are very familiar with the bus waits. so....with 13 trips we kind of know what to expect for waits and we know to be patient......but.....
we also know when its bad, really bad.

this year was the absolute worst in all the years. we waited for a buses at VWL this year for 45min + to go to every park at each time we went. So we started to realize we had to leave 1 hr 45min early or more to get to our dinner ressies at Epcot. We all know that this much travel time is excessive....and we would also see numerous empty buses for other resorts/parks.
whatever changes they made to the bus system this year stunk !!!

yes I know we are still at WDW...but we wait in lines enough...an hour for a bus just to come get you is really pushing it. JMHO

 

[Andrew Bichard]

When we were there in August, they had signs explaining to people how to get to the parks using the buses. It said to take the AK Lodge bus and transfer to AK bus there, etc. I was a little annoyed. It's bad enough people park at DTD and do this--why is Disney *expaining* how to do this??

When I was at DTD in October, there was a sign at the Marketplace stop saying ' Guests for Magic Kingdom should take a bus to Old Key West and change to the Magic Kingdom bus there'


Andrew