WDW bus transportation - still a problem?

[GreatGranny]

Some time ago there was a discussion about changes in the way WDW buses are dispatched, a new computerized system, or something like that (early this year), which caused lots of headaches.

Have the problems been ironed out yet? (I have enough wrinkles and don't need any more )

GG

 

[brockash]

I'm not sure about what has changed if anything, but we were just there last week and used the buses. We went towards the end of Jan. back in 06, and really had no problems (at least waiting wise) with the buses. Granted it was pretty slow, but honestly I think last week, at least for rides, was slower. We didn't mind using the buses this time either. I thought the waits on average were longer then in Jan.,but it wasn't unbearable. We stayed at ASMo, and our average wait to and from the parks was about 10-15 min. (in Jan. I think we were just pretty lucky) except for one horrible night leaving MK at closing. They had line issues with the chains and it was an absolute nightmare (took over an hour and a half from the time we stepped in line until we stepped off the bus at our resort.) I'm not including that time in our average though, because I think it was just a nightmare fluke. If you don't have kiddos that need strollers, then the buses are easier. We had a stroller for my 17 month old, and it was still doable, but would have been easier of course without it.

 

[GreatGranny]

Thanks for your response. We will have a stroller but a small one - "umbroller" style (well...that's what we called them 30 years ago...lol ).

I just discovered today that one of my co-workers was at WDW a few months ago and stayed in the same place...POP. They had no issues with the bus

GG

 

[MICKEEP]

There was a serious problem a few years back with the implimentation of a bus dispatch system, which used palm pilots. That system was immediately scrapped. The system that is now used, uses radio dispatches which is very efficient and sends buses out from their individual Hubs at 20 minute or less intervals. Of course you still may experience the occasional extended wait for a bus based on many factors such as road conditions, traffic, wheelchairs, crowds, etc.

The next stage of the bus dispatch saga will be automatic dispatches through the onboard computers. Presently there is a lot of problems with this system. Disney, based on there experience with the palm pilot disaster, will not put this new system into effect until all the bugs are worked out.

But to answer your question, the bus system is, for the most part, very reliable and efficient. It is not something you should be conscerned with.

 

[Nie0214]

Was @ ASMusic, 9/5-9/9. The buses weren't too bad, they lumped all three All-Stars together pretty often. It was fine when it wasn't busy during mid-day, but at park-closing it was just dumb IMO. Only annoyances:

Sunday 7th, after Fantasmic: Took an hour to finally get on a bus back to the All-Stars because they put Sports & Music together. It wasn't too, too bad, they did have buses pulling up every few minutes.

Monday 8th, around 4pm: My mother and I waited 40 minutes (and there were people who had been there longer) to get a bus from ASMu to Downtown Disney. We had left our hotel room around 3:15 and didn't get to DTD until 4:15pm.

Overall, it wasn't bad. I didn't mind, mostly because the parks were so empty that I wasn't waiting in line all day, and I wasn't missing anything by waiting for a bus.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The system still has a few bugs to work out. For example last month when my family and I stayed at the Contemporary we were going to Hollywood Studios and when we 1st got to the bus stop there was an Animal Kingdom bus there. Well the next bus that arrived was another Animal Kingdom bus and the Cast Member standing there keep track of them said it should have been a Hollywood Studios bus and said the new system is still not 100% perfect. He also mentioned how the buses could change their routes after they arrive at the parks because the buses that went to the Animal Kingdom could be told to now pick up guests at Port Orleans Riverside, so they would not return to the Contemporary.

 

[Nie0214]

He also mentioned how the buses could change their routes after they arrive at the parks because the buses that went to the Animal Kingdom could be told to now pick up guests at Port Orleans Riverside, so they would not return to the Contemporary.

We had something like this happen to us. We were at HS and wanted to go to Typhoon Lagoon. We were told there are no buses for HS->TL, so we would have to go to a resort. We hopped on a bus that was available and going to Port Orleans. We got off that bus at PO, figuring we'd wait for the DTD/TL bus. Well just as we got off the bus and went to sit down, the bus we were ON changed its sign to "Typhoon Lagoon"!

Needless to say, we were annoyed. We ran across PO to see if we could make it to the other side and catch that bus before it went all the way around PO. We did make it, and the bus driver laughed as we boarded the bus that we'd just gotten off.. I was a little annoyed, though it didn't last long.

 

[GreatGranny]

Thanks so much for all responses - only one week to go!

Grandchildren (4 and 7) don't have a clue that they are going, it will be so much fun when they drop grandma off at the airport for her "business trip", and are then asked if they would like to come with me, and when on the plane, then told where we're REALLY going!