 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |
| Copyright 2008, DisneyworldSecrets.net. All rights reserved. Permission must be obtained prior to using any digital images from this site. |
 |
| TRANSPORT |
| Disney |
| Bus Fun Facts |
| The RTS Bus |
| This brown and orange paint scheme was used from 1981 until around 1999. The "stop signs" have since been removed as well. |
 | RTS stands for Rapid Transit Series and the first model was introduced in 1977 by | |
| General Motors. GM then sold the rights to the Transportation Manufacturing Corporation (TMC) of Roswell, New Mexico. |
| The first Disney RTS went into service in 1981 when the third generation RTS-04 was | |
| introduced. The most notable change in the '81 model: air conditioning and emergency access windows. |
| In 1994, TMC was acquired by NovaBus, a Volvo subsidiary, but manufacturing remained | |
| in New Mexico under the TMC name. Disney continued to order RTS buses until 2003. |
| In 2003, NovaBus sold the RTS plant in New Mexico. Disney ceased orders and began | |
| ordering the Canadian made, Nova Low Floor Bus (the ones with the round headlights). |
| The most popular model seen at Walt Disney World is the RTS-06, produced from 1996 | |
| to 2002. |
| You can identify the older, RTS-04 buses by their orange interiors. Disney used purple | |
| interiors when they began purchasing the RTS-06 models in 1996. |
| The original paint scheme for the RTS was a single brown and orange stripe over white | |
| paint. In the late 1990's, the paint scheme changed to an over-sized Disney name along with purple and yellow lettering over white paint. By 2000, all buses donned this new look |
| The RTS is known as the workhorse of the fleet, an old favorite among Disney drivers. | |
| Many have over 2 million miles. |
| Disney Transport mechanics took the stock Detroit Diesel engines found in the RTS and | |
| made custom improvements for use in Walt Disney World. |
| The 40 ft. long RTS holds 47 passengers. Having the high floor over the wheel wells | |
| allows for additional seating. This high floor however, makes loading electric wheel chairs a complicated process. |
| The RTS is the slowest and least fuel efficient in the fleet. | |
| An RTS-06,with the phase 2 paint scheme, enters the Epcot depot |
| General Disney Bus Facts |
| More than 1,000 drivers operate over 230 buses at Walt Disney World |
| Disney is one of the largest privately owed bus fleets, to operate in one area, in the | |
| world. FYI, the largest bus fleet in the world is owned by the MTA in New York City with over 4,500 buses and 2.4 million passengers daily. |
| The average Disney bus does 52,000 miles a year. That's about 12 million miles each | |
| year for the entire fleet. |
| Each year a Disney bus travels enough miles to circle the earth at the equator 2 times. |
| There are over 300 lane miles on Walt Disney World property. |
| Disney specifications require manufacturers to build the buses no more than 8.5 ft. | |
| wide, 40 ft. long, and no more than 9 ft. high. |
| Depots are designed to accommodate the turning radius of the buses. This eliminates | |
| the need for backing up before pulling away. |
| Bus maintenance involves servicing over 7,000 parts for Disney mechanics. |
| Disney buses primarily run direct without the need for transfers. This is easier for | |
| guests but it increases wait times. The average wait for a Disney bus is 20 minutes. |
| Some buses are purchased used. Disney's wide-opened roads lack of hills allow old | |
| buses to run well beyond their life expectancy. Some buses are leased and others are purchased. |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Disney tests a video system for passengers on an RTS bus. The concept never came to be. |
| Disney began ordering Novas in 2003 from the plant in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada |
| When the first Nova's were put in service, there were many breakdowns reported. The | |
| electronic transmissions were designed for "stop and go" driving conditions found in congested cities. Driving in Walt Disney World is quite the opposite. The transmissions would send false signals that it was overheating which would put the Nova into "limp home mode". Limp home is a process where the bus runs on reduced power to allow the bus to be driven to a safe stopping point without damaging the transmission. |
| Disney mechanics developed their own fix for the overheating transmission signals so the | |
| Novas could be used in Walt Disney World. |
| Disney leased the Novas in 2003 but began ordering Gillig Buses in 2004. |
| Nova is owned by Volvo. Disney has a long standing history with Volvo trucks, many of the | |
| service trucks are made by White-GM, a partnership company between Volvo and General Motors which no longer exists. Volvo purchased GM's share and is now knows only as Volvo. |
| "Nova" in Spanish translates to "No Go" which was considered appropriate when they first | |
| arrived on property. |
| Drivers enjoy the Nova for it's quick acceleration and engine retarder. When the driver | |
| releases the accelerator, the engine's timing is changed which immediately begins slowing the bus down. This helps reduce brake wear and makes slowing down smoother. |
| The Nova hold about 41 people. | |
| The Nova LF Bus |
| Disney buses usually begin running 1 hour prior to park opening. |
| The Nova Low Floor Bus went into service in 2003 at WDW. |
| The Gillig LF Bus |
| After problems with the Nova in 2003, Disney began ordering buses from the California- | |
| based, Gillig Bus Corporation. |
| The Gillig emits 90% fewer exhaust emissions than traditional buses while still running on | |
| a diesel engine. |
| Gilligs are accelerate quickly and smoothly but do not have an engine retarder (as do the | |
| Novas). |
| The Gillig holds about 41 people. |
| The low floor design makes loading electric wheelchairs easier and faster. They can also | |
| carry up to two at a time. |
| The Gillig LF has been the preferred bus by Disney since 2004 |
| Bus Repairs |
| Disney buses run about 5,000 miles between repairs. |
| A road service truck will be immediately dispatched to a bus that is broken down or | |
| showing signs of mechanical trouble. This truck is like a "toolbox on wheels" and allows mechanics to perform minor to major repairs on location, rather than calling for a tow truck. |
| If a Disney bus breaks down, any passing buses will stop to pick up the passengers and | |
| bring them to their intended destination. |
| Right: The Disney Transport repair truck is like a "toolbox on wheels." Mechanics can fix a bus on location if needed. Left: A rare sight of a disabled RTS bus waiting for the repair vehicle. Within minutes, passing buses stopped to pick up its passengers to bring them to their destination. |
| Secrets Tips History |
| Drivers carry Transportation Cards that have bus and character fun facts. Just ask your driver and collect all 3! |
| RTS rounds the corner at Disney's WIlderness Lodge |
| The orange interior of the older RTS buses |
| The now defunct TMC logo on one of the older RTS buses Disney operates. |
| Magical Express |
| Cruise Line Bus |
| Magical Express and Disney Cruise Line buses are operated by Mears Transportation | |
| based in Orlando, FL. |
| Most buses are manufactured by Belgium's Van Hool Corporation |
| Bus chassis are built by Swedish companies, Scania (formally Saab-Scania), and Volvo |
| During busy times, Cruise Line Buses or Mears buses (Bright yellow w/ black lettering) will | |
| serve the Magical Express routes. |
| Drivers work for Mears Transportation, and are not considered Disney Cast Members. |
| Disney felt strong opposition from transportation companies at Orlando International Airport | |
| when they introduced Magical Express. Those who opposed the idea claimed Disney held a monopoly on transportation to their resort, unfairly taking business away from other companies. |
| Disney has an agreement with the Orlando International Airport to operate Magical Express | |
| Buses until 2016. |
