Mr. Sullivan
Well-Known Member
I do yes. I live in New York.
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Disney Parks Transportation
- Thread starter Mr. Engagement
- Start date
I thought I remembered you saying so, but it surprised me that you'd see WDW's buses as having "magic" or being unlike MTA buses.
My understanding is that WDW's fleet is primarily made up of Gillig BRT models, which are used by MTA in and around the city, but more in the outskirts and suburbs. There are certainly different trim/interior levels, though, so maybe that's part of what makes the difference for you.
I'm a huge advocate for BRT in urban centers.
danlb_2000
Premium Member
I think one thing that would really improve the bus situation is a better way of loading and unloading scooters. The current method is just so time consuming.
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WDW Railroad: Ride, or Transportation?
I know this has been debated in other threads, but as parks fans, do you put the trains at MK (and the Wildlife Express at DAK) in the category of "ride," or "transportation," (or maybe bother/neither)?
To me, both are attractions, something guests can (and should!) want to ride just for the experience. I love when the trains provide glimpses of rides as it passes through them, I would love it if they added more visuals like the Grand Canyon diorama on Disneyland's Railroad.
I know this has been debated in other threads, but as parks fans, do you put the trains at MK (and the Wildlife Express at DAK) in the category of "ride," or "transportation," (or maybe bother/neither)?
To me, both are attractions, something guests can (and should!) want to ride just for the experience. I love when the trains provide glimpses of rides as it passes through them, I would love it if they added more visuals like the Grand Canyon diorama on Disneyland's Railroad.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
it’s also a slightly different process at some locations which can cause some confusion for the guests and take extra time.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
Anything fully within the park is an attraction by my definition.
The only thing that really could be “both” is the Disneyland monorail.
It could still happen ...Remember all the predictions about people dying of heat stroke on the Skyliners, there were huge debates about all the medical emergencies without A/C on every vehicle.
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
I enjoy the Skyliner. I'm glad the towers and stations are not visually overly powering and obstruct the Disney landscape.
Once we got past the element of the newness where everyone had to try them out, and long lines backed up the stations, they ran much smoother. They do absorb bus riders from the resorts and I think they serve a transportation purpose. Adding everything in to install them was minuscule costs compared to what monorail expansion would be.
I think guests decide which mode of transportation they take mostly by what's available when they are ready to leave their resorts and the time it's going to take getting to the parks. The average guest I don't think cares much either way or thinks about it other than if it gets me there so I can play.
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
Ive also seen the rage. My DW is in a motorized w/c and boards first.... but when we arrive to the parks and it's time to get off, we are last to disembark. Time consuming from the many first time scooter users who have little control of their scooters and can't maneuver them in place and the driver then securing them in place with their straps. It takes seconds for my DW to board and get in place because she can drive her w/c better than most drivers drive their cars.
And there's lots of rage from guests who are asked by the bus drivers to move from their seats that are designated for w/cs. No one thinks about the struggles a w/c bound person must tolerate in life, getting on a bus first is not much for mobile guests who have the use of their legs to accept.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
What does the average guest think or care about?
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
Get me to the park before everyone else, get me in the park before everyone else, get me on the rides before everyone else.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
So just the rides? And fireworks?
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
No, there's a long list of items but we were discussing transportation so I kept it in those terms.
Smiley/OCD
Well-Known Member
AMEN!! I own my own ECV which I bring down and can park my scooter into the bus slot in about 10 seconds (trust me, I wish I didn’t have to be so good at it) but when people (first time users) ask for advice, I always say BEFORE you get on the bus, take 15 or so minutes at the resort and LEARN how to drive it…starting, stopping, handling & steering. Every model has its own idiosyncrasies that may even differ from a previous one you may have used in the past. Plus, it’s better you learn at the resort than trying to maneuver it on a fully packed Main Street or a queue.
I’ll never forget when we were there about 10 years ago and a woman ( who obviously NEVER used an ECV) took out 2 trash cans and several stansions in the VotLM queue…she & her family thought it was soooo hysterical…I felt bad for the surrounding guests in line as well as the future bus drivers that had to take her back to her resort later that day…I was really tempted to ask them if she had a drivers license for an actual vehicle…sheeech…
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TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
So if the average guest doesn’t care - why did Disney invest in the skyliner and whey do they continue to operate boat routes that aren’t necessary?
Agree. Newer bus models have prioritized accessibility, with lower floors and easier-to-deploy ramps, but this is (yet another) weakness of buses without dedicated infrastructure, like floor-level loading platforms.
At WDW, I come across people who treat others as an imposition on (or competition for) their time, space, and experience.
For those of us who live in more urban environments with shared infrastructure, we try to see things like this from more of a collective perspective.
I think People Movers, trams, gondolas, and open-side train cars all address efficient load/unload really well.
I’m surprised that any guests/fans don’t seem to recognize or value WDW spaces outside the parks or individual resorts. There are a LOT of well-designed shared spaces across the property that and make a Disney vacation enjoyable and really different than amusement parks.
Transportation is one of these. I know they are expensive and Disney doesn’t sell tickets, but I think they should continue to build innovative, creative, or old-time options because they make for a better environment.
Also, I think it’s fun to watch people as they decide between the monorail and the ferry. My theory: most who run parks commando-style go for the monorail.
Transportation is one of these. I know they are expensive and Disney doesn’t sell tickets, but I think they should continue to build innovative, creative, or old-time options because they make for a better environment.
Also, I think it’s fun to watch people as they decide between the monorail and the ferry. My theory: most who run parks commando-style go for the monorail.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
Agreed. I thought that was the whole appeal to WDW as a resort!!! Actually visiting the resorts, using the transportation, living in “a whole new world” even if it’s just for a week or so.
Mr. Sullivan
Well-Known Member
I don’t think it has anything to do with the bus type.
Disney just maintains them better, the CMs make it a very wonderful experience when you get to interact with them, and the wraps and other Disney related things they add to the bus is what makes them feel better to me than the MTA busses.