New Express Transportation: $19/day or $29/week-SERVICE ENDING AUGUST 23RD 2017

[mercydisney]

Well....I was on the bus from HS to MK on Monday and it started raining so we had to be dropped off where the regular buses drop and go through security...grrr. Yesterday, my last day worked well....it didn't rain! Did 4 parks in one day. So pretty much...if it rains it doesn't run! So I highly suggest looking at what the weather will be like for the week before purchasing the service.

Did they give you a reason why they would not drop you of at the designated bus stop?

 

[lugnut33]

Did they give you a reason why they would not drop you of at the designated bus stop?

Maybe they can't keep a castmember outside for safety reasons?

 

[AngiTN]

Maybe they can't keep a castmember outside for safety reasons?

This is why they stop the service for rain. There is not adequate coverage in the drop off points or the check in points. And because the drop off points are back stage you have to be escorted so they have to keep a CM there, or not use it. While they could build something to shelter them for the stops it wouldn't help for the walking to/from so I guess we won't see them ever offer to continue to run the service in the rain. A significant draw back for sure.

 

[laurabelle]

Yes, having used Express Transportation I can see why they need to suspend service in a storm. Considering the typical August weather, I can't see how it would work for us on our next vacation. Kind of a bummer, because we liked it.

 

[wareagle57]

This is why they stop the service for rain. There is not adequate coverage in the drop off points or the check in points. And because the drop off points are back stage you have to be escorted so they have to keep a CM there, or not use it. While they could build something to shelter them for the stops it wouldn't help for the walking to/from so I guess we won't see them ever offer to continue to run the service in the rain. A significant draw back for sure.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but aren't there lightening rods around to prevent people/rides from getting struck by lightening. I'm normally pretty cautious of being outside during thunderstorms but at Disney I never worry about it because they let guests freely roam.

 

[SaharanTea]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but aren't there lightening rods around to prevent people/rides from getting struck by lightening. I'm normally pretty cautious of being outside during thunderstorms but at Disney I never worry about it because they let guests freely roam.

There probably are, but they are not protection for people outside of buildings.

The only safe place in a lightning storm is inside, preferably away from windows and doors.

 

[jo-jo]

But does that mean during a storm there are no CM outside at all in all the parks? I never took notice, but if this is the reason for stopping.... Again lightening storm is one thing, but some posts on the the boards made it sound like plain rain.

 

[AngiTN]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but aren't there lightening rods around to prevent people/rides from getting struck by lightening. I'm normally pretty cautious of being outside during thunderstorms but at Disney I never worry about it because they let guests freely roam.

I have no idea. I know they do not operate outdoor rides during storms. And if the storms are severe enough, while they do not forbid you from moving around, it is highly discouraged. So I wouldn't say "let guests roam freely" is quite accurate. And what a guest does and what an employee does while on the job are also 2 different things.

But does that mean during a storm there are no CM outside at all in all the parks? I never took notice, but if this is the reason for stopping.... Again lightening storm is one thing, but some posts on the the boards made it sound like plain rain.

As anyone who has been in the parks know there are CM outside during storms. I haven't every paid any attention because I myself do not stay outside in storms but they may have safe/approved positions they relocate to. As for just rain, this may be where things will change based on what they do to provide shelter for the CM if they improve the check in points. Again, need to remember, this is a service that has only been in operation since January. They are still working out kinks and while not quite "testing" anymore, it's still not with a permanent structure. Just a patio type umbrella.

 

[SaharanTea]

But does that mean during a storm there are no CM outside at all in all the parks? I never took notice, but if this is the reason for stopping.... Again lightening storm is one thing, but some posts on the the boards made it sound like plain rain.

That part I don't know. I'm not sure what Disney's policies are. In Florida, lightning very often comes with the rain.

Your chances of being struck are pretty low in any case, but being inside is the best policy when there's lightning.

 

[SgtTibbs]

Maybe they can't keep a castmember outside for safety reasons?

I doubt that's it. There are cast members outside manning the bag checks and gates, and gift stalls that provide no more safety than the Express bus cast members have.

I wonder if there is a different safety standard in terms of non-slip surfaces, drainage, markings, etc.. for guest areas VS backstage and if that plays a part.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

I'm wanting to use this for the first time during our next trip in September...but if it doesn't run when it is just raining I'm thinking this might be a waste of money as it rains a lot!

 

[Disney_traveler]

I've never been in August and am going the first week. Is there more rain during that time than March, June, July or Mid-December?

 

[sharonabe]

I've never been in August and am going the first week. Is there more rain during that time than March, June, July or Mid-December?

Definitely more rain than March or December, but should be about the same as June and July. I would expect a storm pretty much every day in August.

 

[Ydnameht]

In February when I used this service I went from HS to MK in the middle of a downpour and the bus was operating normally.

In May I went from MK to Epcot while the outdoor rides in MK were closed for lightning/thunder and the bus was operating normally then too.

So are the weather closures more recent or are they just inconsistent?

 

[jo-jo]

In February when I used this service I went from HS to MK in the middle of a downpour and the bus was operating normally.

In May I went from MK to Epcot while the outdoor rides in MK were closed for lightning/thunder and the bus was operating normally then too.

So are the weather closures more recent or are they just inconsistent?

Just guessing here, but earlier since the drought was occurring, they didn't see it as a problem. Now with more frequent rain and or storms, someone may have thought we may have a safety issue there.

 

[Disney_traveler]

Just guessing here, but earlier since the drought was occurring, they didn't see it as a problem. Now with more frequent rain and or storms, someone may have thought we may have a safety issue there.

OR if people just complained they didn't want to get wet no matter if it were a sprinkle or a downpour.

 

[asamford23]

I rode the express bus in the rain several times last week. They shut it down if there is lightning. Just like the outdoor rides. If lightning strikes within 6 miles of the park, all the outdoor rides shut down for 20 minutes, as does the express bus service. If it's just raining it will be running. If the service goes down while you are in route, you will be dropped off outside the gate of your destination where all the other buses drop off. This happened to us once, which was frustrating, but not the end of the world.

 

[ah10is]

Did they give you a reason why they would not drop you of at the designated bus stop?

I was told they couldn't drop us off in the rain because it was a high voltage area. It was just raining though. No thunder & lightning that day. Just regular rain from about 11 am - 10pm.

 

[AngiTN]

I was told they couldn't drop us off in the rain because it was a high voltage area. It was just raining though. No thunder & lightning that day. Just regular rain from about 11 am - 10pm.

MK? Odd. I can't fathom what near that drop off would fit as high voltage. I guess because it's near Buzz Lightyear and underneath the route for People Mover? Maybe there are controls for the rides? I sure didn't ever see anything indicated as High Voltage around but I can't say I was looking for it either. It's amazing what you don't see when you aren't looking for it

 

[ah10is]

MK? Odd. I can't fathom what near that drop off would fit as high voltage. I guess because it's near Buzz Lightyear and underneath the route for People Mover? Maybe there are controls for the rides? I sure didn't ever see anything indicated as High Voltage around but I can't say I was looking for it either. It's amazing what you don't see when you aren't looking for it

Yah...made no sense to us on the bus either! But that is the reason we were given. I do feel they should add something in their literature about not being able to run in the rain! I know it says some general nonsense at the bottom about not running....but feel they should mention that they don't run in the rain.