Bus Question

[Goofyernmost]

As some of you know, I am a bus driver/supervisor for a municipal bus company. Last night a couple of things happened that surprised the hell out of me and I wanted to ask if this is the "norm" for Disney Buses.

Returning from the Hoop de doo review we were told to look for the bus marked "Outpost". We were at the bus stop and a bus pulled up with absolutely nothing on the sign...not even on. Now I realize that it might have just broken but then it should have been the responsibility of the driver to tell us where he was going. He did, if asked, and then he called off every stop he was going to make, finally ending in "outpost". Many had asked if that was the outpost bus and instead of saying yes...he would just repeat the entire list. Bad show in my mind.

Second and probably most important was that as soon as we started to move, all the interior lights went off. I mean it was pitch black inside the bus. The bus was full of people, some standing with children and it was total darkness. I was completely shocked that this was happening. In my mind it was a lawsuit in the making.

Anyway, as long as I am not really aware of the policies of Disney in this respect, I wanted to ask some of you that might be in the know. Is this the way it is supposed to be?

[Randy B]

As some of you know, I am a bus driver/supervisor for a municipal bus company. Last night a couple of things happened that surprised the hell out of me and I wanted to ask if this is the "norm" for Disney Buses.

Returning from the Hoop de doo review we were told to look for the bus marked "Outpost". We were at the bus stop and a bus pulled up with absolutely nothing on the sign...not even on. Now I realize that it might have just broken but then it should have been the responsibility of the driver to tell us where he was going. He did, if asked, and then he called off every stop he was going to make, finally ending in "outpost". Many had asked if that was the outpost bus and instead of saying yes...he would just repeat the entire list. Bad show in my mind.

Second and probably most important was that as soon as we started to move, all the interior lights went off. I mean it was pitch black inside the bus. The bus was full of people, some standing with children and it was total darkness. I was completely shocked that this was happening. In my mind it was a lawsuit in the making.

Anyway, as long as I am not really aware of the policies of Disney in this respect, I wanted to ask some of you that might be in the know. Is this the way it is supposed to be?

The stop list is not normal, but I can understand that 50 people coming up to ask "does this bus go to..." could get a bit tiring, so by listing the entire route at least the people within hearing distance MIGHT be able to skip the question. BTW, all three routes (Orange, Purple and Yellow) from the Settlement go to the Outpost. If you think of the Ft Wilderness internal bus routes like a "no" symbol (the circle with a slash across it). The Settlement is at the north end of the slash, the Outpost is at the south end. The Purple route runs from the Settlement to the OUtpost via the west side of the circle. Yellow via the east side of the circle and Orange via the slash. The complications are that the Orange busses arriving at the settlement make a loop to the Wilderness Lodge before coming back to return to the outpost along the slash. The purple arriving at the Settlement turns into yellow before departing. And visa versa for yellow becoming purple. And at the Outpost the yellow/purple color switch reverses.

But ANY of the color busses at the Settlement will go to the Outpost, just not necissarily the shortest distance or the fewest number of stops.

As to turning off the lights, this is fairly normal at night. Especially along the purple route. There is a long part there where the bus is running through or next to wilderness land where deer are constantly seen. They sometimes step into the road. If the internal lights in the bus reflect off the inside of the windshield it can make seeing these J walkers hard to see. So the drivers normally turn off the internal lights when the bus is in motion so they can see the outside better.

Randy

[Big Wallaby]

Actually, company policy is that they turn off the lights, they say it's the law. I don't know how that one works, never cared to ask. But I agree, if you have standing passengers, it is a danger to turn off the lights.

Regarding the driver who just listed stops, that sounds pretty stupid. If you're asking if he goes to outpost, you probably don't care if he passes by 1500 loop or Meadow Creek. That is just idiotic. But then, as I've said, in hiring since I've been there, especially in buses, they've hit rock bottom and pulled out the jackhammer. Good thing they don't need Cast Members with nice personalities on the bus. Good thing you don't have to be a concierge on wheels anymore. Because those kinds are leaving quickly. I actually really miss the job description from before the computer system. But at this point, even if they get rid of it, I won't go back because it is just a matter of time before they do it again with another system. I suggest taking your car.

The thing that really got me thinking how rock bottom was passed was when I was merging onto World Drive the other night at 52 mph, 4937 was coming up behind me, flashed his lights at me, passed me like I was standing still. I tried to match his speed so I could call him in, but decided against it when I got up to 75 and he was still gaining on me, and subsequently slowed back down to speed limit. That driver should be shot.

There have been so many other incidents. When a bus merges onto World Drive, it shouldn't sway.

[Shorty82]

The thing that really got me thinking how rock bottom was passed was when I was merging onto World Drive the other night at 52 mph, 4937 was coming up behind me, flashed his lights at me, passed me like I was standing still. I tried to match his speed so I could call him in, but decided against it when I got up to 75 and he was still gaining on me, and subsequently slowed back down to speed limit. That driver should be shot.

There have been so many other incidents. When a bus merges onto World Drive, it shouldn't sway.

Why do you have to match the bus's speed to call it in if you know its number? Especially at that high of speed you don't need to know exactly how fast he was going if he was gaining and you're going 75 mph. Of course calling it in assumes that the person you reach and management cares and will do something about it.

What the hell are WDW buses doing with the ability to go that fast anyway? I'm surprised they aren't limited to 65 or something.

[Goofyernmost]

Actually, company policy is that they turn off the lights, they say it's the law. I don't know how that one works, never cared to ask. But I agree, if you have standing passengers, it is a danger to turn off the lights.

Regarding the driver who just listed stops, that sounds pretty stupid. If you're asking if he goes to outpost, you probably don't care if he passes by 1500 loop or Meadow Creek. That is just idiotic. But then, as I've said, in hiring since I've been there, especially in buses, they've hit rock bottom and pulled out the jackhammer. Good thing they don't need Cast Members with nice personalities on the bus. Good thing you don't have to be a concierge on wheels anymore. Because those kinds are leaving quickly. I actually really miss the job description from before the computer system. But at this point, even if they get rid of it, I won't go back because it is just a matter of time before they do it again with another system. I suggest taking your car.

The thing that really got me thinking how rock bottom was passed was when I was merging onto World Drive the other night at 52 mph, 4937 was coming up behind me, flashed his lights at me, passed me like I was standing still. I tried to match his speed so I could call him in, but decided against it when I got up to 75 and he was still gaining on me, and subsequently slowed back down to speed limit. That driver should be shot.

There have been so many other incidents. When a bus merges onto World Drive, it shouldn't sway.

OK, I am bewildered about the light thing. The bus we were on was one of the newer ones that had the ability to have only the drivers side interior lights on to cut down the glare on the windshield. BTW, we use green and blue sleeves on our lights to lessen the glare. Anyway, more important than deer are people. People stealing from packages, kids or adults for that matter, are open to being, how to say this, violated, people falling. It just blows my mind that this is a policy. I'm sure that Disney management has a very good reason (note of sarcasm).

75 miles per hour?...what are you guys filming, Speed? We are "governed" down to about 55 tops.

[Tiny Tim]

Actually, company policy is that they turn off the lights, they say it's the law.

I dont know if its the law but when i ran in transit service we kept the lights on exceopt on breaks at the end of the line. I think its a lawsuit waiting to happen if someone gets hurt or something else happens.

[Whazzup]

What really bugs me is when the bus is in darkness during transit and the bus driver turns on all the lights without warning as he/she approaches a resort. My eyes are light sensitive and it is really painful to be suddenly blinded by bright lights, and I'm not the only one bothered by this. After several minutes of sitting in a darkened bus, when the lights flash on there's a collective groan or "Oww" or other exclamation.
What's wrong with a simple, "Folks, I'll be turning the interior lights on now" as a warning?

[Randy B]

What really bugs me is when the bus is in darkness during transit and the bus driver turns on all the lights without warning as he/she approaches a resort. My eyes are light sensitive and it is really painful to be suddenly blinded by bright lights, and I'm not the only one bothered by this. After several minutes of sitting in a darkened bus, when the lights flash on there's a collective groan or "Oww" or other exclamation.
What's wrong with a simple, "Folks, I'll be turning the interior lights on now" as a warning?

But that would require a driver to actually talk to the passengers while driving and that's what MiMs is apparently supposed to eliminate.

Randy

[Whazzup]

But that would require a driver to actually talk to the passengers while driving and that's what MiMs is apparently supposed to eliminate.

Randy

Well, they need to program the MiMs to make an announcement when approaching a park or resort at night that the lights will come on momentarily, dadburn it!

[Big Wallaby]

What really bugs me is when the bus is in darkness during transit and the bus driver turns on all the lights without warning as he/she approaches a resort. My eyes are light sensitive and it is really painful to be suddenly blinded by bright lights, and I'm not the only one bothered by this. After several minutes of sitting in a darkened bus, when the lights flash on there's a collective groan or "Oww" or other exclamation.
What's wrong with a simple, "Folks, I'll be turning the interior lights on now" as a warning?

I used to do it. But then, I didn't let the MiMs do its thing too often. Guest service is too important to me.