Subsonic Radio

I'm hoping a current or former cast member can answer this for me if not someone in the know.....

I was visiting WDW earlier this month and noticed several buses driving around (only in the morning it seemed) that had the intials "DH" in their destination display followed by the initials of a Disney property.

For instance one had "DHDTD" I assume for Downtown Disney. Another "DHOKW" for Old Key West. Yet another"DHMK" for the Magic Kingdom.

Does anyone know what these buses are for and what the "DH" part stands for. My curiosity is killing me on this one...

Thanks.

You know, I think I found out so we can forget this......

Apparently the DH stands for deadhead. It's an empty bus heading to where ever the the initials in the destination display indicate. WHich explains me seeing them only in the morning.

That is correct the DH is just one of those rare Disney bus signs you can see throughout the day. The DH buses will be seen only in the mornings or nights when the park is closed. They are carrying no passengers but are telling where they are going.

I believe they also use the DH bus after park closings when they are dropping off guests at hotels but are not picking any guests up anymore.

This is all part of the amazing GPS system Disney uses called Magic in Motion. Each software version is linked to a different Disney character. The latest software system to hit the buses is "Stitch". A bus that reads Stitch is I believe one that is heading to a theme park to start running routes. The Magic In Motion is what is responsible for the GPS tracking system. Disney knows in real time where each and every bus is. The system is also what controls the background music. Supposedly the music is varied by the resort(s) that the bus is currently servicing. The music is selected to match the theming of the resort. It will vary between each resort on the bus. You should be able to hear the changes. Finally, the audio spiels are controlled by the GPS. As the bus hits certain points, the GPS signals the spiels to begin playing.

I remember "deadhead" meaning a train or truck moved between cities with no passengers or freight, in order to make it available for service. Airline industry also used the same term when it transported a pilot to another airport in order for him to pilot a plane from that airport (pilot who's the passenger would be a deadhead on the flight).

Unfortunately most people nowadays associate the term as being a fan of the Grateful Dead rock band.

Len90 wrote:This is all part of the amazing GPS system Disney uses called Magic in Motion. Each software version is linked to a different Disney character. The latest software system to hit the buses is "Stitch". A bus that reads Stitch is I believe one that is heading to a theme park to start running routes. The Magic In Motion is what is responsible for the GPS tracking system. Disney knows in real time where each and every bus is. The system is also what controls the background music. Supposedly the music is varied by the resort(s) that the bus is currently servicing. The music is selected to match the theming of the resort. It will vary between each resort on the bus. You should be able to hear the changes. Finally, the audio spiels are controlled by the GPS. As the bus hits certain points, the GPS signals the spiels to begin playing.

That is pretty amazing - do you know how long ago they implemented this system? We haven't been to Florida for at least 6-8 years and for the life of me I can't remember any music on the buses, and the only spiels I remember came from the bus drivers...

ive seen one with "BELLE" on it several times.

we just got back a few weeks ago and the buses are cued to have particular music depending on where you are. i thought it had been this way for a while though...maybe i am mistaken.

ckc0915 wrote:ive seen one with "BELLE" on it several times.

we just got back a few weeks ago and the buses are cued to have particular music depending on where you are. i thought it had been this way for a while though...maybe i am mistaken.

I recall hearing it since at least summer 2008. I know it was something that was in the works for a while. The "Magic in Motion" is pretty much the slogan that the CM's use for the Disney Transport system.

I do recall not hearing any music when we were there in 2006. Back then you would sometimes get drivers who would tell joke routines or play Disney Trivia with the guests on board.

Len90 wrote:I do recall not hearing any music when we were there in 2006. Back then you would sometimes get drivers who would tell joke routines or play Disney Trivia with the guests on board.

So it is probably new since we last visited. Ok, that makes me feel better! When you guys were talking about the music on the buses I couldn't remember for the life of me any music being played, only the bus drivers giving closing times, and sometimes other trivia. Some bus drivers were really chatty and entertaining and obviously put time and effort into their spiels while others gave just the basics.

Len90 wrote:

ckc0915 wrote:ive seen one with "BELLE" on it several times.

we just got back a few weeks ago and the buses are cued to have particular music depending on where you are. i thought it had been this way for a while though...maybe i am mistaken.

I recall hearing it since at least summer 2008. I know it was something that was in the works for a while. The "Magic in Motion" is pretty much the slogan that the CM's use for the Disney Transport system.

I do recall not hearing any music when we were there in 2006. Back then you would sometimes get drivers who would tell joke routines or play Disney Trivia with the guests on board.

Whenever my family and I went, we'd always get a busdriver who asked trivia questions. I schooled each question every time. woohoo!!

Len90 wrote:I do recall not hearing any music when we were there in 2006. Back then you would sometimes get drivers who would tell joke routines or play Disney Trivia with the guests on board.

One of my favorite Disney memories is from when I was a kid and we were riding on the bus. The bus driver was doing character voices to keep us entertained. So then he said, "I bet you all don't believe I can really do that. You're probably thinking, 'Yeah right, he's got a recording and he's just pretending it's him.' But I'll prove it!" He then picked me and asked for my name, then proceeded to tell me "Hello, Rebecca!" from various Disney characters.