Pros and Cons of the WDW Transportation System

I know there are a few folks out there who "couch potatoed" their way into wheelchairs, and I don't have much sympathy for them. But since I don't know who's who, I assume if you're in a chair, there's a good reason and you'd much rather be on foot. However, I do agree that people in wheelchairs should have to wait in line like everyone else.

I am so with you on this! I don't have ms but other 'invisible' problems and just HATE it when people get annoyed with me and think its cause I'm just too fat/lazy to walk.

I think it also depends on the driver. While we were in WDW in May, one driver first loaded people in line that would be sure to get seats, and asked them to fill the back ones first, and then keep to the front, leaving the back wheelchair loading area clear. Then he loaded the motorized scooter rider and family, and finally finished loading the bus.

I thought this was really sensible - people who had stood in line the longest got to sit down, the scooter was loaded easily, and the last people on would have been last on anyway, and could arrange themselves around the scooter. I don't know if this was against Disney protocol, since I've never seen it done that way before, but I was impressed with how efficient and quick it was.

I try not to judge people using wheelchairs and scooters. Disabilities can be invisible, and someone may be able to walk short distances, but not be up to longer jaunts. I'm not there yet, but with osteo/knee/heart problems, that could be me someday, and I'd hope that people wouldn't assume the worst because I LOOK healthy.

Well said, Kristen! My mother had both cancer and fibro, and she was cautious going anywhere far from home because she never know how she would feel that day and didn't want to be embarrassed. Can't stand it when people make assumptions.

And finngirl, I've never seen a bus driver anywhere use that method of loading passengers, but it is very practical. Wish it was implemented more often.

Well many of you have seen the pictures I have posted, in the past 3+ years of my late wife Jan in her power chair getting on a Disney bus. I sure wish she she haden't needed the chair and I could have her still with me.
I DO take offence. You might notice, next time on one of the busses, there is a sign that states you must give up these seats for handicap. If they didn't allow handicap to get on first you might be asked to give up your seat and stand up. Handicaps are also the last to be let off the bus so useualy wind up the last in any of the other lines like getting unto rides or the parks.
Take it for what it's worth. I'm too old to worry about such things.
Sorry guys but thats a sore subject to me.
Joe

My family, and I had a 1 1/2 hour bus ride thru Disney in July of 2010. Not sure if the driver was new, or just new to the route, but it was a long ride from Downtown, to AKL. I've decided since then ( being I normally drive down from Jersey), that it's just as easy to drive myself to where ever I want to go, rather than take the bus. I usually enjoy the boat, and the monorail.

That's awful, I can't remember being on a bus for more than a half hour with traffic.

the disney transportation really brings out the worst in people... after a long day people are tired and sometimes a little cranky. On the bus ride home I remember getting screamed at by a woman because she rolled her stroller into me... I do like that your group can split up easier, like we always do. Some people can head to Hollywood studios while others go to Epcot, or whichever.

Yeah, he got lost. He went to typhoon lagoon ( it had been closed for 2 hours by then), then went by SSR, back to Downtown, and after another missed turned or two finally got back to AKL Jambo house. That was out first time that we stayed on site at WDW. We had a good enough time on our vacation for me to join the DVC though, despite our scenic tour.

Wow. I think they need to add gps units in the buses, just in case. It must be really hard to learn all the routes. I'm always glad I'm not trying to navigate around the parks - we'd probably get lost at least once. I bought DH a keychain gps, (he doesn't have a smart phone), because he can (and did!) get lost just going to get a coffee at the food court.

Follow the signs, don't go by GPS in Disney, you will never, ever get to where you are going!
If you follow the signs you will have no problem what so ever!

Just an FYI... the thing that bothers me the most out of the wheelchair is just what I said. I remember twice on our last trip and it was the same waiting for a bus... coming from Epcot after the fireworks, we waited close to an hour for our turn on the bus. The third bus we were able to get on. The two previous had wheelchairs. They just rolled up and got right on. Normal circumstances I am usually fine with this. But the first family had 10 people with them. So the wheelchair got on, and and then the 10 people got on (I counted). So a total of around 14 seats gone like that, and they waited one minute when at this time we were at 25 minutes. So its moments like that to me that make the situation unfair. I understand that people need them, but 10 extra people got to get on right then and there. When its just a couple and a wheelchair... thats fine. No worries... but its when you got that one wheelchair... with a HUGE group that makes it unfair.

Since we have never been on a bus I have no real idea how the lines are formed. But, it seems to me the easiest solution to that problem would be to have everyone (even those in chairs) to wait in the same line. When their turn comes up they get on. That way it would not matter if the group with the person in the chair was 2 or 22.
Just happened to think that if they like to load the chairs first then all they would have to do is still wait in same line as everyone else and when they get to the front or even near the front they then get off to the side to be first on the next bus.

One wheel chair takes up 3 seats. Two takes up 6. If a wheel chair is loaded the people in those seats must surrender them. Imagine the chaos involved in that senerio. If you consider all of the creative minds that put Disney together don't you think they have already worked out the best solution? In the 56 trips that Jan and I have made to Disney we have been chair loaded on a bus roughly 500 times. I can't remember ever seeing more than 3 additional people get on with a chair, although I don't deny that it could happen though rarely.
Joe

Yeah... this happened twice. The other group... same night had 6. Not as much, but thats still 9 seats taken up. If it was just Jess and I... I wouldn't sweat it too much... but when 2 kids are involved.... and its late................

Oh... also.... ill gladly stand to let a wheelchair take a place, but my children also deserve a seat as well. As long as they can sit, I'm fine with a wheelchair coming in.

Some years ago a young friend, in about his early 40s, said to me. "Joe! I think I have reached the age where I am gaining wisdom." I said " Great! Now in about 15 or 20 years you will learn how to use it."
Joe

Love that! Just love it!