During the 13.5 years I lived in Orlando I VISITED WDW every weekend. I would always park at Downtown Disney, then walk to Saratoga Springs to take a bus to whatever park i wanted to visit that week. I consider quite an expert on the ststem. I always would recommend it because of the convenience and cost(FREE!). Anyone can use the buses. Unless policy has changed since 2009, when I moved back to NY, anyone can use it- not just resort guests. You just have to get accustomed to sometimes wait half an hour. But, so many of us are in a hurry.
They don’t keep running all the routes at that late hour. They only use the load zones closest to the Coca-Cola Store and the cast on the ground direct guests onto buses, often combining several resorts onto one bus. This happens every night and no one is stranded as the buses continue running until Disney Springs clears of guests.
From a former Disney bus driver who drove at Disney Springs.
WDW does not leave their guests stranded. It may feel that way in the extreme late hours right before Disney Springs closes. Especially for those enjoying “adult beverages”. For convenience of everyone, the load zones furthest from the shopping areas (or parks if you are at a park; as it happens there as well) are closed and blocked from guests and then Audience Control Cast Members will ask guests walking to load zones where they are trying to get and directed into the new temporary load zone and they simply wait for a bus to be directed to them. As mentioned above sometimes that could mean larger resorts have been combined for example ALL STAR RESORT. There are three separate resorts there: Sports, Music and Movies. Roughly 30 – 45 minutes AFTER closing those three resorts will merge into one load zone as there usually isn’t enough guests for one resort to fill a bus and the driver must go there anyhow so all three resorts will be stopped at. It usually is not the same drive that just left as a guest is walking up that will be returning to get them. So should they see the bus leave then decide to go use the restroom or get another adult beverage and walk back they may have been told one number when they first walked up now it has changed the second time they come but they didn’t check with the person offering directions and go stand at the loadzone. When the driver opens the door it isn’t where the driver might have been told the guests were going either as those original guests left. So unfortunately at times it can be equally as confusing to the drivers because the guests are not following instructions. Load zone signs are sometimes not changed for these short periods because it would usually mean taking away manpower from driving a bus to have the signs changed it is easier and faster to have a driver give direction in lerson standing outside in a location but not all guests will stop to talk to the Audience Control Cast who is trying to help them. I have been a driver going into my 10th year and it truly is a great system when both guests and drivers follow directions. I personally have pulled into a load zone at Disney Springs and my dispatcher has told me one resort, the load zone sign is for another resort and while I load in the guests say its only 6 of them, who are talking amongst them instead of listening to my, “Hello, welcome where are going tonight?” greeting, they ignore me and keep walking to the furthest seat at the back where they can’t hear me. I pull away with the idea I’m going where my dispatcher told me. So I pull up to the resort I think is correct. Hopefully they pay attention before getting off and don’t recognize where they are so THEN they decide to talk to me and we figure things out. Or maybe such as ALL Stars they get off the first of three stops without hearing the inside announcement where they are and now as I’m pulling away they realize it’s not their stop so they have to wait for a bus to come in with other guests and ask if that driver will take them to their correct resort or they walk it. At the end of the night it can be confusing but not when, like so many other things, attention and courtesy are being used.
Comments for Disney’s Bus Transportation System Leaves Guests Stranded and Confused
Matt Brewster
During the 13.5 years I lived in Orlando I VISITED WDW every weekend. I would always park at Downtown Disney, then walk to Saratoga Springs to take a bus to whatever park i wanted to visit that week. I consider quite an expert on the ststem. I always would recommend it because of the convenience and cost(FREE!). Anyone can use the buses. Unless policy has changed since 2009, when I moved back to NY, anyone can use it- not just resort guests. You just have to get accustomed to sometimes wait half an hour. But, so many of us are in a hurry.
DisneyBusMom
Yes it is still the same ANYONE can use the transportation system not just resort guests.
Former Bus Driver
They don’t keep running all the routes at that late hour. They only use the load zones closest to the Coca-Cola Store and the cast on the ground direct guests onto buses, often combining several resorts onto one bus. This happens every night and no one is stranded as the buses continue running until Disney Springs clears of guests.
From a former Disney bus driver who drove at Disney Springs.
DisneyBusMom
WDW does not leave their guests stranded. It may feel that way in the extreme late hours right before Disney Springs closes. Especially for those enjoying “adult beverages”. For convenience of everyone, the load zones furthest from the shopping areas (or parks if you are at a park; as it happens there as well) are closed and blocked from guests and then Audience Control Cast Members will ask guests walking to load zones where they are trying to get and directed into the new temporary load zone and they simply wait for a bus to be directed to them. As mentioned above sometimes that could mean larger resorts have been combined for example ALL STAR RESORT. There are three separate resorts there: Sports, Music and Movies. Roughly 30 – 45 minutes AFTER closing those three resorts will merge into one load zone as there usually isn’t enough guests for one resort to fill a bus and the driver must go there anyhow so all three resorts will be stopped at. It usually is not the same drive that just left as a guest is walking up that will be returning to get them. So should they see the bus leave then decide to go use the restroom or get another adult beverage and walk back they may have been told one number when they first walked up now it has changed the second time they come but they didn’t check with the person offering directions and go stand at the loadzone. When the driver opens the door it isn’t where the driver might have been told the guests were going either as those original guests left. So unfortunately at times it can be equally as confusing to the drivers because the guests are not following instructions. Load zone signs are sometimes not changed for these short periods because it would usually mean taking away manpower from driving a bus to have the signs changed it is easier and faster to have a driver give direction in lerson standing outside in a location but not all guests will stop to talk to the Audience Control Cast who is trying to help them. I have been a driver going into my 10th year and it truly is a great system when both guests and drivers follow directions. I personally have pulled into a load zone at Disney Springs and my dispatcher has told me one resort, the load zone sign is for another resort and while I load in the guests say its only 6 of them, who are talking amongst them instead of listening to my, “Hello, welcome where are going tonight?” greeting, they ignore me and keep walking to the furthest seat at the back where they can’t hear me. I pull away with the idea I’m going where my dispatcher told me. So I pull up to the resort I think is correct. Hopefully they pay attention before getting off and don’t recognize where they are so THEN they decide to talk to me and we figure things out. Or maybe such as ALL Stars they get off the first of three stops without hearing the inside announcement where they are and now as I’m pulling away they realize it’s not their stop so they have to wait for a bus to come in with other guests and ask if that driver will take them to their correct resort or they walk it. At the end of the night it can be confusing but not when, like so many other things, attention and courtesy are being used.
Ruthielle
Disney never leaves guest stranded,until everything is close and clear bus will be running.
Comments are closed.