What the heck is going on at WDW this week?

[kaytieeldr]

We started going to WDW in 1986 when there were only four onsite resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian, Disney Inn (now Shades of Green) and Fort Wilderness. Since then, Disney has added at least two dozen resorts and have plans for at least another in the near future. For transportation, nothing has been added to the monorail and boat transportation systems and relatively few buses have been added.

From four resorts/two parks, to 24+ resorts/four theme parks/two water parks/shopping & entertainment venue - and "nothing has been added to the ... boat transportation system and relatively few buses have been added"? Are you sure?

I don't know where my 1993 Unofficial Guide is at the moment (newer than 1986, I know), but let's see... there couldn't have been the launch between the MK and the GF back in 1986, so it's entirely possible there wasn't one to the Polynesian, either. There definitely wasn't boat transportation between WL and MK, either.

There couldn't have been any boat transportation between Epcot and MGM (now DHS) or any of the Epcot-area resorts because, well, the latter three didn't exist back then. But there's boat transportation now - so the quoted poster's claim about 'no new boat transportation is false. There was no Downtown Disney or Port Orleans/Dixie Landings or Disney Institute/Saratoga Springs back then - all of which exist now and which offer various boat transportation.

Buses? A reliable source reports 400 Walt Disney World-owned buses for their transportation system. If there were anywhere near that number back in 1986 - to support the quoted poster's claim of "relatively few buses have been added", the stockholders might want to initiate an investigation of why their money was being so wasted 24 years ago. Two monorail-connected resorts and two non-monorail-connected resorts surely wouldn't have required anywhere near even fifty buses, never mind a number that would support the claim of 'relatively few added in almost a quarter century'.

 

[sharonW]

Stayed at POFQ the first wk in nov, we had 0 transportation/bus issues!!
It was great!!! I guess you have to chalk it up to the busy christmas
season with the mouse!

 

[cm8]

Hate to tell you but Sept isn't as good as it was. We decided to go in Oct and it was very crowded and it wasn't supposed to be. At MK, we left after the main closing but before extra magic hours closing. They didn't have enough busses or monorails running, we waited forever. One little baby was tipped out of his stroller by someone pushing behind the parent. Yes the child should have been strapped in, but who would think that some "person" would actually push a stroller hard enough to tip it over. People were not happy. WDW is really screwing up, they aren't providing enough busses, monorails for people to use and you end up waiting forever.

I have been going to WDW ever since it opened and for the last 8 years, going at least 4-5 times a year. The serivce is going down hill ever time I go, they are just getting greedy and really don't care about service anymore. We loved WDW, people would tease us about it, it is the only place we ever went. At this pont, WDW will not get another dimes from me. They are pushing everything to the limit. Also everytime we go, multiple things break. They need to get their stuff together. I can expect to see more and more of this type of thing happening, with the money you spend at WDW, you should expect more.

Sorry about the rant, it is a sad day as we have given up the mouse, he just is too greedy and the service and value not worth it.

I strongly agree with your statement.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't get the problem. I would have WALKED to CR and either hailed a cab or gotten on the monorail to TTC there (if I needed my car). Or I could get on any bus to DTD and transfered.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Hate to tell you but Sept isn't as good as it was. We decided to go in Oct and it was very crowded and it wasn't supposed to be. At MK, we left after the main closing but before extra magic hours closing. They didn't have enough busses or monorails running, we waited forever. One little baby was tipped out of his stroller by someone pushing behind the parent. Yes the child should have been strapped in, but who would think that some "person" would actually push a stroller hard enough to tip it over. People were not happy. WDW is really screwing up, they aren't providing enough busses, monorails for people to use and you end up waiting forever.

I have been going to WDW ever since it opened and for the last 8 years, going at least 4-5 times a year. The serivce is going down hill ever time I go, they are just getting greedy and really don't care about service anymore. We loved WDW, people would tease us about it, it is the only place we ever went. At this pont, WDW will not get another dimes from me. They are pushing everything to the limit. Also everytime we go, multiple things break. They need to get their stuff together. I can expect to see more and more of this type of thing happening, with the money you spend at WDW, you should expect more.

Sorry about the rant, it is a sad day as we have given up the mouse, he just is too greedy and the service and value not worth it.

We returned from WDW on the 18th of this month (Dec.). This week was not supposed to be so busy (after the 18th they were)! The monorails were bursting with people! Instead of looking for a place to sit, we were looking for a place to stand and still came up short, very often. I've never seen them so packed! Same with buses. We felt really lucky if we could get a seat at any time. I have never seen it THAT crowded. The wait for a ride to our resort, close to MK closing for the night was incredible. The lines for the monorail were spilling down the ramp and all along the sidewalks. The lines for the ferry were into the sidewalks too. With throngs of people joining in the lines. We were lucky and chose the ferry. We got in line as soon as we could. We had to wait for about 5 boats to come along before we could board. It would've been a much longer wait with the monorails.

We also experienced a number of things not running, or announcements of things closed due to "technical difficulties"; Indiana Jones was only running one scene for some reason when we came through. We never did pass by it again. A couple of rides were closed at Blizzard beach because of "technical difficulties". Food carts not open. No photo pass people at Blizzard Beach (and I was looking too! ).

We love WDW. But I have to say, we have noticed the same things. We were thinking about a different sort of vacation next year. And that is totally not like us.

We will be back sometime. But we are definitely taking a break.

 

[rie'smom]

Disney does advertise complimentary transportation. I guess you get what you pay for has become their attitude. Their service has hit the skids. This is not a comment on the bus drivers. They do an excellent job. It's Disney that is letting things slide. We've seen such a decline in the last few years that as DVC members we will be using our pts for other destinations or giving them to family members for Disney stays.

 

[sharonW]

Disney does advertise complimentary transportation. I guess you get what you pay for has become their attitude. Their service has hit the skids. This is not a comment on the bus drivers. They do an excellent job. It's Disney that is letting things slide. We've seen such a decline in the last few years that as DVC members we will be using our pts for other destinations or giving them to family members for Disney stays.

SURE WISH I WERE A FAMILY MEMBER!!!!

 

[rie'smom]

SURE WISH I WERE A FAMILY MEMBER!!!!

Don't know you but I'd take a stranger over some of them!

 

[sharonW]

Don't know you but I'd take a stranger over some of them!

OH, I LOVE YOU!!!! IF YOU EVER WANT TO DONATE
YOUR POINTS TO A STRANGER, I"M SO THERE FOR
THE TAKIN!!!!! I LOVE WDW!!!

 

[disfan07]

I really dont understand all of this about Disney transportation being so bad.

We were there 12/15-12/21 and we stayed at POP. Bus transportation was great. We never waited more than 20 mins for a bus and that was when we has just missed a bus in the middle of the afternoon.

Other than that, the transportation was wonderful. Nice and polite bus drivers, efficient loading (including wheelchairs adn ECVs), etc.

I dont know what is going on when many of you are going but we havent had the bus issues that have been mentioned here. But we also found our entire trip to be as magical as previous ones so we also dont see all the negativity and loss of magic that people here talk about either.

 

[disfan07]

We returned from WDW on the 18th of this month (Dec.). This week was not supposed to be so busy (after the 18th they were)! The monorails were bursting with people! Instead of looking for a place to sit, we were looking for a place to stand and still came up short, very often. I've never seen them so packed! Same with buses. We felt really lucky if we could get a seat at any time. I have never seen it THAT crowded. The wait for a ride to our resort, close to MK closing for the night was incredible. The lines for the monorail were spilling down the ramp and all along the sidewalks. The lines for the ferry were into the sidewalks too. With throngs of people joining in the lines. We were lucky and chose the ferry. We got in line as soon as we could. We had to wait for about 5 boats to come along before we could board. It would've been a much longer wait with the monorails.

We also experienced a number of things not running, or announcements of things closed due to "technical difficulties"; Indiana Jones was only running one scene for some reason when we came through. We never did pass by it again. A couple of rides were closed at Blizzard beach because of "technical difficulties". Food carts not open. No photo pass people at Blizzard Beach (and I was looking too! ).

We love WDW. But I have to say, we have noticed the same things. We were thinking about a different sort of vacation next year. And that is totally not like us.

We will be back sometime. But we are definitely taking a break.

We were there at the same time and we didnt experience any of what you did. I feel like people who are there at the same time can have complete opposite experiences. We didnt experience anything being down or technical difficulties, we had great service eveyrwhere and teh busses were great

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disney does advertise complimentary transportation. I guess you get what you pay for has become their attitude. Their service has hit the skids.

Complimentary - not personalized, instantaneous, or on-demand. As much as I detest the phrase, it is what it is. It's mass transit at no additional cost. I don't know if I'd equate that with hitting the skids.

 

[Disney Doll]

I hope all the people who keep saying they won't be going back soon really don't go back soon because then it will be less crowded for the rest of us!

 

[OceanAnnie]

We were there at the same time and we didnt experience any of what you did. I feel like people who are there at the same time can have complete opposite experiences. We didnt experience anything being down or technical difficulties, we had great service eveyrwhere and teh busses were great

Yes, I agree people can have different experiences during the same time frame. You were at POP was it? We were at a different resort. Different area. We were on different bus circuits. Ours were very crowded. Our monorail rides back to the resort was crowded too. Did you go to the MK at night near closing? I don't remember the exact nights or if it had to do with MVMCP or extra magic hours. I do remember the crowds and trying to catch the monorail or ferry back to our resort. Madhouse.

You probably didn't try to see Indiana Jones the same day and time we did. We didn't care to see just "one scene". The CMs were announcing that was all they were showing, due to "technical difficulties". We all kind of looked at each other and just kept going. We went to Blizzard Beach on Friday Dec. 17th. That day several rides were down due to "technical difficulties" (one came back into operation and shut down again), a lot of the food carts were closed, and no Photo pass person in sight.

That's the way it was.

We have had great experiences too. But this particular trip just wasn't one of the greats for us for a number of reasons.

 

[sjs314]

I mentioned this on another thread and somebody disagreed over the amount of buses added over the years, but here goes... again:

We started going to WDW in 1986 when there were only four onsite resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian, Disney Inn (now Shades of Green) and Fort Wilderness. Since then, Disney has added at least two dozen resorts and have plans for at least another in the near future. For transportation, nothing has been added to the monorail and boat transportation systems and relatively few buses have been added. Obviously, the bus transportation system is now the primary mode, but it is woefully inadequate for even what would be moderate crowds today. Everything Disney does is geared for bringing more people into the resorts and parks all year and there really isn't much of a slow season these days. I have to believe there is more than enough justification for more buses and drivers. Disney may be enjoying the profits for now, but I fear they are driving people away in a hurry with all the cutbacks and lack of concern for the guests.

I think we can chalk it all up to corporate greed. As the previous poster mentioned, my first visit was in 1989 at Easter as was my next two visits which was very busy times then as they actually use to televise the Easter Parade live from the MK. There were only 2 theme parks in '89 until MGM(DHS)opened in May of that year but it was very packed even though the onsite guest levels were less than now with so many new hotel accomidations.

I can only remember one time the transportion system was a nightmare while I was there Memorial Day weekend at MK, in the early 90's for the most part even during the 90's when so many new resorts were being built, transportaion issues seemed not to be a problem.

Maybe Disney needs to change their limits on how many guests equal a "full park", add more buses, lets face it there is no simple solution, use disney transportion and patiently wait, drive your own vehicle which only helps clog the roadways, slowing down the buses on their routes or maybe visit the parks during slower times of the year.

Disney has grown too large, too fast and everyone is now paying the price, in loss of the fun filled family vacation they expect to have.

 

[disfan07]

Yes, I agree people can have different experiences during the same time frame. You were at POP was it? We were at a different resort. Different area. We were on different bus circuits. Ours were very crowded. Our monorail rides back to the resort was crowded too. Did you go to the MK at night near closing? I don't remember the exact nights or if it had to do with MVMCP or extra magic hours. I do remember the crowds and trying to catch the monorail or ferry back to our resort. Madhouse.

Yes we were at POP but we also rode the monorails, plus bus service at AKL, Beach Club and Boardwalk.

We caught the busses at (and after closing) at all 4 parks. None were a madhouse. We did rope drop and park closing each night. We also did a couple of EMH as well.

It just seems like we completely missed the crowds people are talking about because it never seemed crowded at the parks when we were there.

We did :

DHS: dec 16th and 19th
EP: dec 17th and 19th
AK: dec 17th
MK: dec 18th and 20th

It was one of our best trips ever. Probably coming in only second to our last christmas trip in 2007.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Yes we were at POP but we also rode the monorails, plus bus service at AKL, Beach Club and Boardwalk.

We caught the busses at (and after closing) at all 4 parks. None were a madhouse. We did rope drop and park closing each night. We also did a couple of EMH as well.

It just seems like we completely missed the crowds people are talking about because it never seemed crowded at the parks when we were there.

We did :

DHS: dec 16th and 19th
EP: dec 17th and 19th
AK: dec 17th
MK: dec 18th and 20th

It was one of our best trips ever. Probably coming in only second to our last christmas trip in 2007.

Count yourself lucky.

 

[SandrA9810]

I've spent time and time again on the buses and monorail and boats.

Either wait for the crowds to die, watch the fireworks from the ramp to the monorails, walk to the Contemporary and hop on the monorail there. Take the launch boat to the Poly or heck, just watch the fireworks from the Poly, much better view of the 360 firework shows. Or wait for the Ferry. Or, hop on a boat to the Grand and get on the monorail there. Then you can smile at every one cramming on as you have a nice comfortable seat.

In busy times, ferry boat always wins in my book. They usually have 3-4 of the boats running, and while it takes a bit longer to push off, the mass number of people it can hold wins out.

Driving isn't always better, I think it took two hours to get out of the Studios parking lot in 2008 NYE. They had all traffic directed to one lane, coned off all the way down to Victory Way. From there, you could turn around and go where you needed to go. But people always think that they can have an exception made for them, let them go where they want to go. So they stop, ask directions from every person standing there, instead of just going with the flow.

I'm a keep moving kind of person, I have no patience sometimes for long long lines, so I'll zig zag around, even if I don't really get any further ahead. So I'd rather take 3 modes of transportation for 2 hrs than trying to wait for one mode for 2 hrs.

Adding more drivers to the fleet is also hard. Disney does their own training and they do CDL testing onsite. It's not like a temporary holiday position they can just pop in when the need arises.

See a seasoned Disney lover, is probably not going to spend his or her time there, at the worst time of the year. They just know better. But for the occasional few that like to brave the crowds, they know the ins and outs and all the fun stuff.
Most the guests visiting this time of year, have no clue about alternatives to getting around, how to avoid certain crowds, when to do what. And there seem to be more people doing more and more stupid stuff. Really where has the common sense gone to?

 

[corinascot]

I wish Disney would create more infrastructure for walking and biking. We would love to bring our bikes and bike to some of the parks I wouldn't ride a bike on any of the roads now!

We haven't had many problems with the bus system, for the most part.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Nevermind.