What's Up With The Bus??

[Scott H]

Maybe I missed it, work getting in the way of life.

What is up with the bus system? New system working, dead, a waste? Just curious.

Thanks.

Scott H
If we couldn't laugh we would all just go insane.
The only difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude.

 

[IslandHap]

Bump

 

[juliesue]

When we were down there the last week of March, they had just implemented a new system according to one driver. He didn't say what the system was.

This was the only complaint we had about the trip. In the past, we have really liked the bus service and thought it was reasonably reliable. This trip, we had three experiences where we waited for close to an hour while numerous buses arrived for the Coronado Springs and Swan/Dolphin.

After the second time, we started taking the Swan/Dolphin bus and walked, but I don't think this should be necessary. I know a lot of other members were pretty ticked off, and I am very surprised I haven't seen any comments about this since we returned.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I assume you were staying at BWV because you took the Swan/Dolphin bus. What park were you at ? Also, I thought OKW had the bus problem, not BWV. We will be at BWV in 3 weeks, the new system- if it hasn't been scrapped- should be up and running smoothly by then (Yeah,right). The only time we us the bus is to MK because they drop you right at the entrance, quicker then parking lot >> tram ride >> monorail/boat.

 

[KathrynBWV]

Come to think of it, my biggest complaint since joining DVC is the bus system. Before joining, we stayed at Port Orleans. Even when we had to share a bus with Dixie, the wait was never more than 10-15 minutes. I cannot believe how many stops there are on the BWV bus! We had our first visit there in Jan and most times we got off the bus at another resort (swan, dolphin, ybc) and walked back. My complaint isn't so much about the wait time, as it is the time it actually takes to get where you're going. It seems that BVW is the first stop on the way to the park, and the last stop on the way back. THis is just my perception, so it may not be true every time, but it sure seems like it!

What is this new system anyway?

 

[spiceycat]

on the new system the buses would be on call - and would only come when you needed one - no schedule - but it didn't work because of the moderate and value resort had too many people waiting - I don't know if they went back to the old system or have fixed the problems with the new system. (this is surpose to be computerized in the future - you put in your room key then you tell the machine where you want to go and bus is surpose to show up within 20 minutes to take you there). by the way - Welcome!!

 

[tarzanman]

Well the new system doesn't seem to be all that great now does it? We all should write letters expressing our opinions. They tend to listen after a while.

some trips as a child
DxL 4/00
DVC member 4/00
BWV 9/00, 12/01
VB 9/00, 5/01
DCL 1/01, 12/01-1/02 New Years Cruise
OKW 1/01

http://gennaroworld.topcities.com

 

[juliesue]

Someone specifically asked where we were staying and where we were going when we had the problems with the bus.

We stayed at BWV and had problems returning from MK, AK, and DD.

I agree with the other poster who stated that BWV seems to always be the last stop.

Also, why do buses that don't state they stop at Swan/Dolphin always go there? They have separate bus service and get to use Y&B and BW buses too!

Again, please don't get the wrong idea. I still think the bus service is better than driving for a lot of reasons - but a lot of us didn't feel it was fair to wait when our lines were 5 times as long as Coronado and Swan/Dolphin every time this happened.

 

[Alysa]

When I was there in September my husband and I tried to go to the Polynesidan for their luau. We left almost three hours early because they said be early and we wanted to wander around the Polynesian and see what it was like. Well we arrived 1 hour late at 9 (we had left the hotel at 5:15) we had missed the show so they turned us away at the gate and we had to go and find somewhere in the hotels for us to eat at 9:30 at night. This was our anniversary so we were not happy campers. BTW - GF pulled through and gave us a great private table with a firework view and the BEST dessert I have ever had in my life. I am not exagerating there - I love them! The next morning we were going to a character breakfast at WL and when the buses still hadn't shown up after 40 minutes we decided to drive. The valets were great too and said Good day Mr. Kim or welcome home every time they saw my husband. Love those guys too!

 

[CLC]

Also a question-given the problems with busses, why do buses heading for Coronaldo Springs stop at BWV? We had 3 of them go by [I have never seen anybody get on one during any visit]while waiting for a MK bus. Does anybody have any ideas?

 

[HorizonsFan]

I think they are trying to get the conventioneers at CS to spend time and money at the Boardwalk. I don't know if it's working...

Dave

 

[RussDog]

This entire bus idea is for the birds! It is an inexpensive "band-aid" fix for a sever problem.

This problem with the busses will get worse and worse with the people getting fed up with the current trasportation system and start driving their own cars... thus creating more congestion on the roads and slow down the already pathetic bus system!

Disney will be adding several more resorts in the not so distant future. Add this population to the already overwhelmed system and you have the recipe for disaster.

Take a look at the location of the resorts in the epcot area. They are located VERY close to one another... in fact I would say closer than the location of the resorts around the seven seas lagoon. If they create a monorail system that would circle the resorts in this area (boardwalk, swan dolphin, yacht & Beach, Old Key west, Caribean Beach, Dixie Landings, ect.) and include MGM and the front of Epcot so guests can jump on the Magic Kingdom Monorail we would have a far superior transportation system. This system will be able to carry more people to and from the resorts faster... not to mention allowing them to ride the famous Disney Monorail system without having to make a special trip around the SSLagoon.

I'm not saying that this will eliminate the need for buses completely... but it will clean up the road system and allow the few buses that are left to move more swiftly along.

Bite the bullet, Disney... It's the only solution that will work! Yes it's expensive... but isn't everything at Disney expensive ;-)

--Russ

 

[PamOKW]

The CSR bus has always made a stop at BW on it's DD run. It's the only resort with direct BW bus access. I believe it is because of the convention center at CSR and maybe they sometimes use the convention facilities at BWI and have overflow staying at CSR.

Alysa that is the worst bus story I've heard! Allowing 1 1/2 hours is the norm but not making it in 4 hours is just nuts. What route were you taking?

 

[PKK/MJK]

I remember years ago when the bus system was fantastic. We'd lock up our car on arrival and never get in again until departure. With all the expansion, though, the transportation system is just getting overloaded. A couple of years ago it took me two hours to get from DD to OKW--this was before the footpath. Now we just drive almost everywhere. It usually saves a LOT of time. I agree with RussDog, a new monorail would be a HUGE improvement. From what I hear, Disney was considering this until recently but they've now discarded the idea. Sure wish they would reconsider!!

Phil and Mary Jo

WDW--82,83,85,87,89,93,95,96, 97,98,99,00,01
DVC/OKW

 

[Alysa]

We took the bus from BW after waiting over an hour, then it drove around to different resorts for almost another hour, then it dropped us off at Downtown Disney where we waited with about 20 other families for the bus we were supposed to take to the PR. No bus ever came and we were stranded! We saw empty bus after empty bus leave for other restorts and finally after well over an hour it came.

 

[RobDoc]

This is a great thread to continue on the Transportation Board here at DIS and has been moved over there.


Thanks!

Doc DVC Board Co-Moderator
doc@wdwinfo.com