WDiW to spend 15 million dollars on Disney Transportation

[Peter Pirate]

I don't even know what the heck you guys are talking about and I USED to be one of the best muddlers in the business!

 

[crusader]

How about this. What percentage of the non-employees who use the system would you guess purchase absolutely nothing from Disney. Not staying at a resort (including the S/D, which pay for the service), purchased no park ticket, purchasing absolutely no food, beverage, or merchandise. No dinner, no t-shirt, no lunch, no cotton candy, no coffee, nothing.

I asked you first.

As for how much of the cost of the transportation system the paying guests cover, that's actually an important question, isn't it? But of course none of us know the answer. What we do know is that its an important question for WDW in particular because of its financing and revenue structure, which is far different than Chicago's.

Different only with respect to the source and use of funds. The projected cost shouldn't change whether it be FL or Disney overseeing this venture. (unfortunately, that's never the case with the proverbial fleecing of our gov't entities).

It's a question the company can answer and repeatedly does. This transportation announcement is very big. Improvements are being made which enhance the system greatly and effectively service the guests.

Nobody likes to wait for transportation or get delayed on a transport vehicle. The longer they wait, the more miserable they become. Disney's primary focus is to insure their guests are comfortable and satisfied which in turn, enhances their enjoyment.

At Disney, the bus has the capability of servicing that need more effectively and more efficiently than any other economically equivalent transportation option available.

The existence of a board with tips for free and cheap stuff is proof that significant numbers of people are utilizing Disney's transportation and spending absolutely nothing?

It proves Joe is out there. You have absolutely no idea how many Joe's are sitting next to you. Never assume.

 

[All Aboard]

It proves Joe is out there.

No it doesn't. Mary's page is there for people who are on vacation at WDW, spending gobs of money, looking for some extras to do that don't cost incrementaly more $. Who the heck is driving over to DTD, parking, hopping a bus, joyriding monorails, busing back to DTD and going home? C'mon do you honestly think anyone does this?

 

[Peter Pirate]

Well actually All Aboard, it's funny you should ask. Just this last trip on a visit to Epcot, you remember where the Pirate met up with All Aboard and Disney Kidds?...Anyway on the bus ride to Epcot from where we parked (wink, wink) we were on board with two ladies who were talking to the bus driver asking her how to get certain places. The driver tried explaining some nice things at Epcot and the one lady said "no, no we just want to ride the busses around and see all of WDW. Can we do that?"

So while this may have been Josephine Smith, I guess they are out there. Now once again explain the relevence of this?

 

[CarnotaurDad]

About two pages back (maybe more), I mentioned how confused I was about what the discussion was all about.

In the two pages since then, it has gotten even worse. What is it we are actually discussing anymore?

 

[raidermatt]

So while this may have been Josephine Smith, I guess they are out there.

Not so fast, my swashbuckling buccaneer friend!

Perhaps the ladies were staying on-site? Or perhaps they were still going to be spending money somewhere, as a supplement to their tour?

Now once again explain the relevence of this?

There is none. Nobody really thinks people like, possibly, the two ladies you encountered exist in any kind of significant enough numbers to cause significant funding challenges for WDW's transportation system.

But its an unproveable point that detracts from the main issues, so some are clinging to it.

At Disney, the bus has the capability of servicing that need more effectively and more efficiently than any other economically equivalent transportation option available.

Except that this once again ignores the added value that less mundane forms of transportation can have, as well as the potential for greater efficiency through a more varied and integrated approach to transportation.

Which of course brings us right back to where we started.

 

[DisneyKidds]

About two pages back (maybe more), I mentioned how confused I was about what the discussion was all about.

In the two pages since then, it has gotten even worse. What is it we are actually discussing anymore?

I'm not really sure either.........but I would like to know if Pirate or the Old Lady spent any money wherever it is that they boarded said bus from .

 

[raidermatt]

In the two pages since then, it has gotten even worse. What is it we are actually discussing anymore?

Nothing worth the effort it would take to figure out. There's a few reasonable discussion points buried in the thread, but somehow we can't agree to focus on those, and instead are told that freeloaders who ride WDW busses, but don't buy a single thing, prohibit WDW from doing anything but investing in more busses.

If that makes sense to you, perhaps you can carry on.

 

[raidermatt]

I'm not really sure either.........but I would like to know if Pirate or the Old Lady spent any money wherever it is that they boarded said bus from

There's rum in WDW, so of course the Pirate spent money. The question is whether the old lady stayed on the bus, or set sail with the Pirate...

 

[manning]

Round 10....Ding!!

 

[raidermatt]

No mas?

 

[airlarry!]

Thank you Ms. Waring for the quick and excellent post. Did you notice you received no reply? I did.

Should the company add transportation options to the resort that quickly and efficiently move people from room to park, and then from park to shopping or entertainment, and then from there back to the room, all without ever riding on the exact same busses you can find in every blighted downtown across America?

Of course they should. Its not even up for debate. Taking a bus back from the park after a long, long day at the parks is hands down the worst thing about the resort.

It would take some hard work. It would take an investment of ideas, sweat, brains, and creativity...and money, to boot. But it can, and should, be done. Post haste.

The company needs great leaders who when fortune frowns upon them are not discouraged. Are you comfortable, Mr./Ms. Crusader, that this particular management team is up for the challenge of fixing what is broke?

 

[crusader]

Who the heck is driving over to DTD, parking, hopping a bus, joyriding monorails, busing back to DTD and going home? C'mon do you honestly think anyone does this?

People who can't afford anything else.

instead are told that freeloaders who ride WDW busses, but don't buy a single thing, prohibit WDW from doing anything but investing in more busses.

You're the only one that drew that parallel. Same way you deduced she was an "old" lady or only degenerates would board the transportation system without being resort guests.

The possibilities are endless -

Free Things to do at Walt Disney World


Whether you can't afford a day at the parks, or you just want a day off from touring the parks, here are some suggestions for things that you can do for free at WDW. If you have anything to add to the list, please email me.

Visit the different resorts, walk around & take in the details and atmosphere.

Ride the monorail - ask to ride up front in the driver's cab, & don't forget to ask for your free co-pilot license.

Go to Downtown Disney, you don't have to go in any of the shops, just sit back & take in the atmosphere, look at the lego sculptures, people watch, let the kids play in the fountains...

Go to the Fort Wilderness campfire. Take your own marshmallows to roast over the fire, & a blanket to sit on while you watch the film.

Go to one of the Magic Kingdom resorts & watch the electric water pageant from the beach.

Watch the MK fireworks from the beach of the Grand Floridian or Polynesian, or from the California Grill at the Contemporary.

Spend time on the beach at one of the MK resorts, paddle your feet in the lake or relax in a hammock.

Take the free tour at the Wilderness Lodge, or ask for the list of hidden Mickeys, & go on a hidden Mickey hunt.

Visit the petting farm at Fort Wilderness.

Take a boat ride from one of the resorts - Wilderness Lodge to MK; Boardwalk to Epcot or MGM; Dixie Landings to Downtown Disney, etc.

Take the free garden tour at the Yacht & Beach Club Resort, or the free tour of the Grand Floridian.

Visit the BoardWalk in the evening to watch the entertainment & take in the atmosphere.

Watch the MK fireworks from outside the California Grill on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort.

Walk along by the Sassagoula River from Port Orleans Riverside to French Quarter.

Go on the nature walk at Fort Wilderness.

Free souvenirs from Disney. At Innoventions East, guests can send a 10-second, video e-mail message to friends back home (Video D-Mail booth located at the Innoventions Internet Zone). At Innoventions West, guests can send a picture postcard of themselves by e-mail, provided by IBM's Networked Living Exhibit.

"Take the free lobby tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Very informative and fun! Plus you get to see numerous Hidden Mickeys."

"Another freebie in Epcot: In the futureland part, the "Ice Cave" hides free drinks. Rather than spend the money to buy drinks, go to the Coca-Cola exhibit of world sodas and drink your fill in the cool - just a note though, the Aspartif drink isn't the most pleasant tasting drink on Earth."

"Walk around the "Walk around the World" path that circles Seven Seas Lagoon. Look at the names of the people and see if there is anyone from your hometown or near your hometown."

"Hidden Mickey tour at Animal Kingdom lodge will give you a free trading card if you manage to get them all right."

"If you go to the Animal kingdom you can do a tasting tour where you get to try some of the reciepes made in their two main service resturants"

"People watch in your hotel. You may be surprised at how much you see."

"The walk from Old Key West to Downtown Disney to Saratoga Springs Resort. It's a long walk to be sure, but it doesn't have to be undertaken all at once. A beautiful stroll along the canal (OKW portion) and an easy walk from DTD to SSR around the perimeter of the "lake."

"Watch the wonderful magic peformed at Magic Masters in DTD."

"Try out the playgrounds @ the Coronado Springs and Port Orleans."

 

[airlarry!]

Is the point to say that we can't fix the broken transportation system because Jeaux Smith must be provided with free transportation on the bus system?

The article you cite above seems to me to be referring to people who are on-site and who want something to do for free. But then again, I'm just injecting common sense into my reading.

I was wondering. I have never seen any "No Shoplifting" signs at WDW. Is Disney encouraging me to shoplift? When I bring stuff home for display that I didn't pay for, as long as I don't tell anyone how I got it, I'm actually advertising for the Disney company.

Come to think of it, people that visit my house and see my new ill-gotten snow globe collection may actually inquire about it and plan a trip to Disney.

Heck. I didn't realize that by shoplifting, I'm actually helping the company's bottom line!

 

[Another Voice]

Yes, it's so clear now.

Disney can't afford to anything other than busses because no one pays for the "Hidden Mickey" tour of the Wilderness Lodge. It was a close call, but trade-offs have to be made.

It's so clear - I'm amazed they didn't teach this at business school.

Do you have a valid point with any of that list, or do you just like to listen to the sound of your own typing?

 

[2Xited4Disney]

A few of the things on the list say "In Epcot...."

How did Joe Smith get into these parks.... Oh yeah... Joe Smith is a scumbag and gets everything for free... he probably used Google Earth to find a good place to jump the fence (using the internet at the library cause he doesn't want to pay), hitch hiked to the Epcot (he'll be damned if he'll give the money for gasoline). Walked through the woods behind the Test Track... Jumped and then went to Innoventions to send his 10 second email



Come on the concept of Joe Smith makes me physically sick for our society. I am a VERY POOR college student... Like VERY POOR. I am planning my 3rd trip to disney this year... Because I love it. I find SOME way to make enough to go...




i'll go back to what I said before... If there really is a Joe Smith and he rides Disney transportation for free.. Then he CLEARLY loves disney enough to buy at least 1 thing that says "Walt Disney Corporation" on it

 

[raidermatt]

You're the only one that drew that parallel. Same way you deduced she was an "old" lady or only degenerates would board the transportation system without being resort guests.

Well, no. You brought up comparisions to cities. AV pointed out how WDW has funding advantages over cities. You countered that, with among other things, the "complimentary" use of the system.

As for the rest of that quote, c'mon, you can't be that bored.


The list...

As has been pointed out by Larry, AV, 2xited and the owner of the site (or a similar one) herself, your interpretation of the purpose of these sites is way off. It doesn't offer even one shred of evidence that people visit WDW solely to partake of these free things. Even moreso, it certainly doesn't suggest it happens in any significant numbers.

Heck, most of us have done at least some of these things ourselves, yet none are a member of the population you suggest is large enough to be a reason why Disney can't expand/improve its transportation system beyond some bus improvements.

Is the existence of these lists the only reason you believe the population of "feeloaders" exists? What else do you have? Further, since we are all having trouble deciphering your logic, tell us exactly how this supposed population in anyway prohibits Disney form doing any of the kinds of things we suggest they should do with their transportation system.

No proof for now. Just a simple (in deference to me), logical cause/effect relationship.

 

[crusader]

Well here's the unabridged version.

The list only serves to demonstrate Joe Smith can tour disney and not spend a dime. This is in response to Matt's belief that every rider is a patron.

 

[cristen]

And here is my unabridged version.


Mr.Crusader, your argument falls under the banner of extreme nit-picking and is stupid.




Sorry, I am not as eloquent or as patient as Mr. Raidermatt

 

[raidermatt]

To put it more diplomatically...

My assertion has never been that Mr. Smith CANNOT use WDW's transportation without spending a dime.

Only that he doesn't, or if he does, he's such a small percentage of the overall WDW population that he isn't significant to this discussion.

Which brings us to the next point... Whatever size this population is, how exactly does it contribute to prohibiting Disney from making the kinds of transportation improvements/enhancements some of us are suggesting?