News Disney Springs Bus Service to Resorts Now Requires Reservation Verification

[TrainsOfDisney]

You’d have thought we were advocating for space ships, magic elevators, and space-time portals.

To be fair… Walt had to buy the monorail himself - even back then the “Disney company” didn’t want to pay for things like riverboats, monorails, and Steam trains

He would have absolutely had maglevs for the Florida project!

 

[Mr. Engagement]

To be fair… Walt had to buy the monorail himself - even back then the “Disney company” didn’t want to pay for things like riverboats, monorails, and Steam trains

He would have absolutely had maglevs for the Florida project!

I'm so interested in the topic of parks transportation (and why buses are the worst), I'm starting a new thread to discuss it.

I'd love to have everyone join in there:

Thread 'Disney Parks Transportation'

Apr 3, 2026

Most of the time, Parks fans draw a pretty clear line between rides and transportation.

But some of us? We’re fans of the transportation itself: trains, monorails, boats, PeopleMovers, Skyliners, trams, moving walkways, etc.

To me, these are quintessential Disney. It’s not just how you get from point A to point B, it’s part of the experience.

Which is why I’ve been surprised to see so many posts lately praising WDW’s bus system.

From an operational standpoint, buses are incredibly practical:

• Flexible: no fixed infrastructure
• Scalable: just add...

• Mr. Engagement
• Replies: 164
• Forum: WDW Parks General Discussion

• 

 

[nickys]

It honestly never occurred to me that there were Parks fans who prefer buses to all the other transportation possibilities.

Or fans who prefer Disney employ the cheapest, easiest, most utilitarian solutions for park operations.

I wonder if they’d prefer no landscaping outside the parks and resorts? Is that a waste of money, too?

If you mean me, of course I’d rather have boats or skyliners. I love having those options.

But buses are efficient, they cost far less. And I’d rather Disney build new rides and maintain the parks better. Not dig a new canal system so they can add more boat routes. A new Skyliner route? Great if they decide to do it but those resorts will see price increases, like Pop and AoA.

Would I like to see a Wedway people mover from AKL to AK? You bet! But it wasn’t greenlit and I doubt it will be.

As for self driving cars, that’s probably the most likely to happen, but no chance I’ll ever get in one of those.

 

[larryz]

There has been a change in thinking on that front.

Could it be that the Security gurus are finally getting their viewpoint heard?

 

[larryz]

Oh wait…the Saudis!! That’s gotta be it?

Nope. The Saudis will go to Abu Dhabi.

 

[larryz]

And maybe they will

Could we see a “transport fee” purchase on the app coming?

It meets the criteria
1. It’s an upcharge
2. It’s a micro transaction
3. It’s 100% profit

Don't forget -- in the 70's and early 80's, Walt's transportation company got a cut of every ticket sold, which became the "fare" for riding the buses, boats and Monorail. And that's why the TTC was designed with the ticket booths on the parking lot side of the Monorail -- had to get the tourists' money before they could ride it.

Grasp your pearls, ladies, because back then (GASP!) Guests had to present current resort IDs to use on-property transportation between the resorts and the parks/Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village/Walt Disney World Village/Disney Village Marketplace/Downtown Disney/Disney Springs.

 

[larryz]

Like is contemporary “paying” for monorail, boats and bus transportation?

Are you not familiar with the concept of "Battling Business Units"? It's how corporations spread non-revenue costs across the company so it looks like it's not a loss center -- charging each business division that touches a service their "fair share" to keep that service running.

 

[larryz]

but if parking at the resorts is the problem just close the walkway and monorail at the contemporary to non contemporary guests.

From your lips to Josh's ears...

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Pity the global megacorporation that has exponentially raised prices over the last two decades and might lose out on parking fees.

It’s very funny to see a thread full of people trying to refute the fact that Disney has made it much, much harder to resort hop over the last decade by outlining “simple” multipart plans those with an intimate knowledge of the WDW transportation network could use to bypass the current restrictions, thus reinforcing the statement that Disney has made resort hopping much, much harder.

This situation also highlights how terrible Disney Springs transportation is and how much it declined. The area once had multiple bus stops and an internal water taxi network. After a massive expansion, it now has one woefully inadequate bus station and no internal water taxis.

Frankly, if I was paying to stay at a Disney resort and went to the trouble of visiting their shopping center only to be greeted with, “papers please,” when attempting to get back to my room I’d be incandescent with rage.

And if you’re looking at a crowded Grand Floridian lobby and making yourself angry by imaging which guests are just there for the cupcakes, you need to reexamine your attitude. And by the way, unless you’re staying concierge, you’re a guest in the main Floridian building too. You’ve got your own lobby, and it ain’t crowded.

Grrrr If I paid money and had to... SCAN MY MAGIC BAND or something similar, I would turn into the Hulk. I PAID MONEY, I should not have to show I paid money, Disney should have to figure it out. I should just be let in the Lightning Lane line or the parks because I paid money! Money means you can avoid all rules and responsibility.

 

[larryz]

I have been known to take the boat to French quartet for beignets and then do some work there.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

So is Disney scrounging for pennies or turning away revenue?

Whatever makes the posters here more upset I think, it depends on the day if Disney is completely stupid and doesn't know what they're doing or actually a grand-level chess master who will absorb your money before you step onto property like a magic blackhole

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

And I’d rather Disney build new rides and maintain the parks better. Not dig a new canal system so they can add more boat routes.

So from 1971-1992 Disney spent money poorly? Do you think they spend money more wisely now?

A new Skyliner route? Great if they decide to do it but those resorts will see price increases, like Pop and AoA.

Did Caribbean beach prices go up? It seems priced in line with the other moderates.

Pop was always a little more than all stars cause it’s a better location so I’m not even sure pop prices went up?

Don’t we all think the skyliner is a success and a good investment?

 

[dmc493]

Did Caribbean beach prices go up? It seems priced in line with the other moderates.

Caribbean Beach has consistently higher rates than POFQ or POR from my observations over the years

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Caribbean Beach has consistently higher rates than POFQ or POR from my observations over the years

I just did some test searches and Coronado was always the cheapest moderate with the others changing positions depending on dates.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

And of course…. Coronado is the only moderate moderate with only bus transportation. Coincidence? Who’s to say!

 

[dmc493]

And of course…. Coronado is the only moderate moderate with only bus transportation. Coincidence? Who’s to say!

Coronado's also a unique one since the rates we're probably talking about are traditional Coronado. Gran Destino Tower rates are typically $100-150 higher

 

[Casper Gutman]

Grrrr If I paid money and had to... SCAN MY MAGIC BAND or something similar, I would turn into the Hulk. I PAID MONEY, I should not have to show I paid money, Disney should have to figure it out. I should just be let in the Lightning Lane line or the parks because I paid money! Money means you can avoid all rules and responsibility.

The brand will never love you back.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I’m going to guess that the CM thought Caribe Royal was Caribbean Beach

Doubt that.

CR specifically says busing is available to DS and the parks from CR.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

CR specifically says busing is available to DS and the parks from CR.

That wouldn’t be Disney transportation though.

Presumably you couldn’t take a Disney springs bus to boardwalk even if you had a reservation to Swan / Dolphin

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Nope. The Saudis will go to Abu Dhabi.

You mean the drone proof bunker in the parking lot?