Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I spend a lot of time driving at home, so if I have the chance not to do it at WDW, I'll take it. I haven't really encountered any cranky people on the bus that late - most of the time everyone is quiet because they're exhausted. The sweating and smelling usually isn't an issue, either, since we usually go in February or March.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss NIkki, Nikki, Nikki... I left the 101 wide open for you. Tsk. Tsk. LOL.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I can criticize WDW for many things, but the fact everything isn't on top of each other wouldn't ever be one. The fact that WDW has been overbuilt resulting in a Disney version of the urban sprawl and traffic congestion that Walt wanted to escape in O-Town ... now, that would be a criticism. The fact that since 1990 Disney's answer to growth has been adding more buses and lanes to roads and traffic lights is the problem really. That's what can take hours to go from location to location on property using buses. What's sad and maddening is that Eisner and Wells had planned on expanding the monorail system to include the Studios and EPCOT resorts,the footers are actually buried along the route as then it was a question of when not if, but that all got lost after Wells died, Euro Disney struggled and Eisner got the network he always coveted. If WDW didn't have 15 years of non-stop growth without paying attention to infrastructure (much like the rest of Central Florida) I doubt anyone would really be complaining that the resort is spread out!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed Spirit. If there was a monorail departing every few minutes, then it would be very enjoyable. But honestly, between the buses, crowds and security gates it took us 1.5 hours to get from our room in AKL to the Living Seas for an LP meet with no meandering. That is not fun. Given I can go 90 miles in that time. Very very frustrating!
Originally Posted By barboy ///The fact that WDW has been overbuilt resulting in a Disney version of the urban sprawl and traffic congestion since 1990 Disney's answer to growth has been adding more buses and lanes to roads and traffic lights is the problem really./// That is why the WDW should have been designed as a 'carless' and 'busless' property. It could have been such an easy and painless proposition. Disney could have made one extremely huge-- obnoxiously huge, parking lot away from all the attractions. The lot could have been divided into day vistors vs. overnight. The day parking would be further subdivided depending on whether one was headed to Blizzard or MK. And the WDW hotel parking would be further subdivided as well depending on whether one was staying at Coronado or Poly. Then jump on a tram, boat or monrail---anything other than those dreadful buses. There is nothing magical about those ugly noise machines nor the time riding in them especially when packed like sardines after fireworks and illuminations. Their ordinary, stamped out rectangular boxed shape and those advertisments inside do nothing to enhance the Disney experience either. There is nothing magical about waiting 15-25 minutes for one to show. Or even better...... waiting your 15 minutes only to not make it on that bus, thus the wait starts again. **Now, if the World had transports( buses) like the ones at Tokyo Disney Resort then we're fine.**
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<But honestly, between the buses, crowds and security gates it took us 1.5 hours to get from our room in AKL to the Living Seas for an LP meet with no meandering.>> No meandering, but I bet you did it the wrong way. I bet you did what Disney advised and changed busses at Downtown Disney. NEVER change busses at Downtown Disney if the theme parks are open. You should have take a bus from the AKL to the AK; then taken a bus from the AK directly to Epcot. That should have taken you a maximum of an hour. If that IS the way you took, you must go at a much busier time of the year than I go.
Originally Posted By barboy ///AKL to the AK; then taken a bus from the AK directly to Epcot/// exactly--- many people don't know about that stunt, and it sure would cut off a good 20+ minutes.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<You should have take a bus from the AKL to the AK; then taken a bus from the AK directly to Epcot. That should have taken you a maximum of an hour.>> That is an eternity. You can get to DLR from John Wayne airport in less time.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think California people have a different concept of time. For the most part when you go to Disneyland you are NOT on vacation. You have things to do, places to go, people to see. You can't imagine having to spend that much time in transit when your time is so limited. When I'm at WDW I'm not in a hurry. I'm on vacation for gosh sake!! I don't really need to be anywhere at any particular time. I love being able to go anywhere I want without having to drive. Without having to remember where I parked my car. Without having to climb into a car that is at least 120 degrees from sitting in the sun all day. Without having to wait in the long lines of traffic at closing. With the bus I don't have to deal with any of that. I don't have a hard time finding the bus. It is gloriously air-conditioned when I get on. It zips around the standing traffic and gets me where I want to go. I've also had some pretty entertaining times on the bus. It can be a lot of fun to look around at the other people and see just how differently they've reacted to their day in the park. Some are just plain exhausted and sleeping. Some are crabby and bitch at their kids for any little thing. Some have retained their WDW sense of joy and continue to play with their kids on the way home. I love watching people. You have to love watching people to visit a Disney park. How else could you ever tolerate all the attraction lines? You do generally have to wait a bit for a bus, but there have been VERY FEW times when I've waited longer than 10 minutes for a bus. As far an hour between the AK and Living Seas at Epcot being an eternity, I was estimating what would usually be a worst case scenario. I was counting 15 minutes waiting for the bus at AKL, a 5 minute trip to AKL, 15 minutes waiting for the Epcot bus, a 10 minute trip to Epcot, then 15 minutes getting from the Epcot bus stop to the Living Seas. It would rarely actually take that long.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Disney could have made one extremely huge-- obnoxiously huge, parking lot away from all the attractions. The lot could have been divided into day vistors vs. overnight. The day parking would be further subdivided depending on whether one was headed to Blizzard or MK. And the WDW hotel parking would be further subdivided as well depending on whether one was staying at Coronado or Poly. Then jump on a tram, boat or monrail---anything other than those dreadful buses.>> Then EVERYBODY would be forced to use WDW transportation of some kind. It's barely functional as it is. IMO that would be a very bad idea.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo My experience was a direct bus. TOo many people to fit on, so after waiting 40 mins, we then went directly to Epcot. The queue through security was mamoth, and then through the gates. Maybe I am spoilt by halfway decent public transport in London. Heck, we did WL to AKL via DTD - 2.5 hours (all the parks were closed). Never again. SO when we went Grand Fla to AKL we used a cab. SOrry guys, I work in public service design and in our experience, the transit at WDW was not world class, it was woefully inadequate and has tempered my want to go to WDW again. As much as I love Epcot and DAK, I can live with the DLR and San DIego Zoo. Add in my preference for SD's Sea World over Fla's, and the weather, its a deal breaker. WDW will either need to improve, or we will rent a car if I realy miss the place. Also I think WDW is great for adults, but Dl and DlP better suit families
Originally Posted By danyoung Perceptions are so interesting. Barboy: >There is nothing magical about those ugly noise machines nor the time riding in them especially when packed like sardines after fireworks and illuminations....There is nothing magical about waiting 15-25 minutes for one to show.< Trippy: > I don't have a hard time finding the bus. It is gloriously air-conditioned when I get on. It zips around the standing traffic and gets me where I want to go.< Different perspecitves on exactly the same activity! I actually lean more towards barboy's perception, which is why, not to beat a dead horse, I always rent a car. I get the great air conditioning, I get the peace and quiet that is really valuable after a tiring park day, and really, how hard is it to remember a row number and/or section name where you parked?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ It must have been a busy time of the year. I've never experienced that, but we almost always go to WDW in January. I didn't dream it was a direct bus. I figured if it took that long you must have tried some way involving a connection. You might want to try a January trip some time. No crowds, short waits, glorious non-humid weather with highs generally in the mid 70's to low 80's.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Oops. #113 was for #111. <<I get the peace and quiet that is really valuable after a tiring park day, and really, how hard is it to remember a row number and/or section name where you parked?>> If you think about it, not at all. If you are excited about being there and see a tram coming and run to catch the tram without thinking about anything else; well then you are hosed. Those parking lots are darned big!!
Originally Posted By barboy ---the idea is that there would be **ample** quanities of boats, monorails, trains, omnimovers, trams......whatever it takes to move hordes. As for congestion that is what the buses and cars are doing right now since they are moving the bulk of guests from one area of the World to another. Under my plan the the guest would feel more like he was truly in another world instead of seeing roadways with buses and passenger cars one would see themed out transports taking him around the resort. And while I'm on the topic of roadways maybe I am just unlucky but to me there is nothing great looking about the scenery between the different sub resorts inside the World. I see cones, roadwork and roadwork equipment, barren space, trees, shrubs and water holes and even flashing security/police lights on some unlucky vacationer. The sights are no Yosemite or Grand Canyon..... just a bunch of flat, tree lined undeveloped space---- nothing magical at all.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<trees, shrubs and water holes and even flashing security/police lights on some unlucky vacationer. The sights are no Yosemite or Grand Canyon..... just a bunch of flat, tree lined undeveloped space---- nothing magical at all.>> When you live in Minnesota, water that is not frozen and trees, shrubs and grass that are green during January are DARNED magical. ;-)
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^ Amen to that sentiment from December to March at a minimum. as for the buses, I lean towards trippys explanations that I am on vacation. It is the one time each year I shut down the cell phone, multiple PC's, cell phone, phone mail - text messages, emails etc. unless it is Disney related. Now we always have a minvan on hand to use because we drive from Chicago - and we use it a lot to go to the parks - but where we use the buses ( especially now with the kids older) - is to split up when needed. The kids like to go back to swim say from 1- 3 or so. Me not so much- so they take the car or the bus and head back- and i head to attractions they are not interested in - maybe a yeard of bear at R&C, try and get into street performers act, maybe one of the country movies, or sit endlessly and listen to British Invasion... when we were there for Flower Power - I stayed to watch the Turtles for 3 shows - they took the van and went to MK for more rides. After the shows and fireworks I kicked back on the bus back to OKW. I just don't let the crowds or waits bother me- I am stressed enough all year. The only thing I have to be on time there for is to feed my face at one of my ressies -- other than that time just not a factor like it is in my everyday life. And trust me, if I wait 3 minutes for a shuttle bus from downtown Chicago to the commuter train, I am ranting and raving,I only change at WDW.
Originally Posted By barboy Yes danyoung, it is interesting seeing such wide accounts/opinions/takes/experiences on the exact same thing. I'm still reeling from Leemac's declaration that DCA is a finer park than Disney Sea(or something close the that anyway) or the notion that Soarin' has one of Disney's very best themed out queues. Oh well to each his own.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Amen to that sentiment from December to March at a minimum.<<< We were there in early December to supposably the "quiet" period. Not our experience.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I think trippy meant that if you came to Minneapolis or Chicago during that period of time it could be a foot to 18 minches of snow - everything ices over for 120 days, temps around 0 to -20 etc. so seeing any water actually still flowing at that time would be peaceful.
