Resort Bus Service Cutbacks

JimB · Post by **JimB** » Jun Sun 08, 2008 6:12 am

I read on some other boards that WDW is starting to curtail bus runs from the resorts to the parks due to increasing fuel costs. They are putting dispatchers in certain locations to prevent a huge backlog of guests waiting to board buses to the parks (and vice versa), but are scheduling non peak runs at about 30 minutes instead of the present 20 minute interval. Anyone at the parks to comment or give updates?

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Jun Sun 08, 2008 7:19 am

It makes sense. They are doing the same thing where I work. Trying to cut down on trips. Combing trips where they can. I work for the Post Office and every penny increase in gas costs us well north of a million dollars nationally.

JimB · Post by **JimB** » Jun Sun 08, 2008 7:47 am

Diesel fuel has gone up even a bit more than gasoline so that just makes the increase take more away from the bottom line. Has anyone seen one of the dozen or so vehicles Disney Transportation is supposed to have that are hydrogen fueled? I understand that the entire fleet may be slated to be changed out by the end of 2010.

meticulus9 · Post by **meticulus9** » Jun Sun 08, 2008 8:07 am

i hope dispatchers @ the budget and moderates, they have heavy bus usage and the most rooms therefore alot of numbers

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Jun Sun 08, 2008 10:02 am

They've had dispatchers for a few years in a lot of places. I know there was one at Port Orleans this past December, and I remember them as far back as 2004. That said, though, I think the purpose of them 4 years ago was more guest convenience than gas savings (though really, it could have been both even then).

Sounds like a good idea to me. I know there have been enough times waiting for a bus to (x) when one for (y) comes by, picks up no one, and is empty.

keneka · Post by **keneka** » Jun Sun 08, 2008 3:58 pm

last time i went to wdw they were testing new hybrid buses, i think as you are paying for this service in with your stay at wdw resorts then perhaps disney should invest in more enviromentaly friendly vehicle rather that cutting back on the service - otherwise I think they will lose out to resorts outside wdw as they are cheaper and offer a better bus service

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Jun Sun 08, 2008 5:26 pm

I wonder how high gas prices have to go (or, more accurately, how low the US dollar has to sink) before extended monorail service starts to look more reasonable.

Post by **Len90** » Jun Sun 08, 2008 11:22 pm

Wow to change out the entire fleet by 2010. That sounds a little outlandish considereing they just got a lot of buses in 2004-2006. And they got some others from 2002-2004. I would say the old RTS's are a thing of the past soon. It would not be cost effective to get rid of buses that are not even 10 years old.

rmorton50 · Post by **rmorton50** » Jun Sun 08, 2008 11:30 pm

If you watch Walt's original introduction of the EPCOT idea, he mentions how the peoplemover would take people from their homes to their work, to their recreation, etc. Each group of persons would have their own "pod" to take them to thier specific destination. Wouldn't it be a big leap into the future to have a peoplemover system?

meticulus9 · Post by **meticulus9** » Jun Mon 09, 2008 8:54 am

Captain Schnemo wrote:I wonder how high gas prices have to go (or, more accurately, how low the US dollar has to sink) before extended monorail service starts to look more reasonable.

while the idea is nice. dont know if it would be effective. after all most power is oil, natural gas, or coal (all expensive) and the building cost would be tremendous.

meticulus9 · Post by **meticulus9** » Jun Mon 09, 2008 8:56 am

Len90 wrote:Wow to change out the entire fleet by 2010. That sounds a little outlandish considereing they just got a lot of buses in 2004-2006. And they got some others from 2002-2004. I would say the old RTS's are a thing of the past soon. It would not be cost effective to get rid of buses that are not even 10 years old.

depends on what they will use for fuel, if its hydrogen or clean NTG/hybrid it mightmake sense. WDW uses its buses as much as NYC transit and they replace buses every 10 yrs or so.

wdwannabe · Post by **wdwannabe** » Jun Mon 09, 2008 1:01 pm

rmorton50 wrote:If you watch Walt's original introduction of the EPCOT idea, he mentions how the peoplemover would take people from their homes to their work, to their recreation, etc. Each group of persons would have their own "pod" to take them to thier specific destination. Wouldn't it be a big leap into the future to have a peoplemover system?

I like this idea! May wishes come true!

Post by **rdeacon** » Jun Mon 09, 2008 3:48 pm

It makes sense they would try to optimize the runs to save fuel. I'm surrpised they aren't running green buses that use hydrogen or even biodiesel. Will all the cooking oil WDW uses you think they would use that to make some biodiesel.

Rich

HakuOni · Post by **HakuOni** » Jun Mon 09, 2008 5:46 pm

lets all have pods so that we could just transport to our destination. we all need something for travel and since gas and oil are so expensive what other options are there that the government would try?

Post by **Len90** » Jun Mon 09, 2008 10:54 pm

meticulus9 wrote:
Len90 wrote:Wow to change out the entire fleet by 2010. That sounds a little outlandish considereing they just got a lot of buses in 2004-2006. And they got some others from 2002-2004. I would say the old RTS's are a thing of the past soon. It would not be cost effective to get rid of buses that are not even 10 years old.
depends on what they will use for fuel, if its hydrogen or clean NTG/hybrid it mightmake sense. WDW uses its buses as much as NYC transit and they replace buses every 10 yrs or so.

Very true, but they tend to refurbish the buses every so ofthen. Every time the bus is refurbed they renumber it. Disney has done the same thing with a lot of their RTS buses and has now been unloading them. I guess we will see what happens. Disney might experiment with other buses as the rest of the RTS's kick the bucket.