The Bus System

So for all of you that come from across the country (or world), the buses are your main mode of transportation. Everyone will tell you that Transtar (the bus company) is terrible, the buses are always late and don't show up, and it's the worst thing ever. Well they're all complainer babies. I have never had any trouble with the bus system, AND it saves money. There are about 10 buses that each have their own specific route. Each bus comes every half hour, and they hit all Disney resorts, water parks, theme parks, and special sites like Casting (but different buses will go to different sites, they obviously don't go to all of the above sites because that would take forever!). I take the E bus for example, and it stops at Chatham Square (my apartment), the Commons, Vista Way, the Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Club, and Hollywood Studios, in that order. So I have about a 45 minute bus ride, but it really doesn't feel that long, and this way I don't have to find parking. I have been here a month and have yet to be late to ANYTHING, have a super late bus, or have a bus not show up. People who are late either take the bus that would get them to work just on time (always take one bus early), or if it's really busy might not be able to get on a bus if there are a ton of people trying to get on. The worst is for people working at Magic Kingdom because they have the most amount of cast members, and SO many CPs that go and play in that park. So at night there is a lot of people standing since all the seats are taken. Just a piece of etiquette advice, even if you're exhausted from a fun day playing in the park, give your seat up to the exhausted cast member who made your day so great. They really appreciate it.

So the buses really aren't that bad, but I do recommend making friends with people with cars. This way you can go to Universal Studios or Sea World without taking an expensive taxi, or extremely long trolley ride. It is also really nice for grocery shopping. The H bus does go to Walmart and Publix, but it sucks carrying grocery bags from the bus stop to your apartment. If you're going to play in the parks on your day off, I would just take the buses. They're cheaper, and it doesn't matter if you're early or late. Also you don't have to worry about parking (which is free with your cast ID by the way), and having to walk a long ways or take the shuttle thing.

All in all, it is very convenient having a car, but also very expensive. If I were to do another program, I would not bring my car, and use the bus system again. Yes, the buses get you to work either 10 minutes early (risk being late), or 45 minutes early (what I do), but overall they're reliable and cheap transportation. And only CPs can use the buses we take, so you don't have to worry about the general public, or creepy adults. Make friends with people with cars, but don't take advantage of them, and offer up a couple dollars once in awhile. Don't depend on their ride or they'll get irritated really quick and feel taken advantage of. The one time I REALLY do recommend getting a ride from a friend and coughing up the gas money, is going to the airport. It cost me about $25 to take a shuttle with other strangers, but when my friend picked me up, I gave her $10 in gas and it was much more fun and comfortable. It's only a 25 minute drive to the airport, so taking a shuttle or taxi kind of feels like a waste unless your flight is super early (like mine was!!). I've only been late to work one time because of traffic, but even people who drove their cars were late that day so it's a moot point. So that's my two cents on the subject. It probably VERY different than most people, but people in the DCP seriously complain about Transtar, about housing, about security, about each other, about their job, the list goes on and on. The program is what you make it, negativity only makes your experience worse.

Well that was so much longer than I originally planned! I hope y'all have a fabulous week <3