Let's Go Ride the Transtar

The endless debates for DCP participants at Walt Disney World is probably boiled down to bring a car or not to bring a car. To be honest a car is nice, and makes getting around so much easier then the Transtar bus. However, it is not necessary to bring one at all especially too get to and from work. As a note I will say if you are a DCP applicant who plans on applying for a PI or MI right during your program you will have to bring one in order to meet the qualifications even if you live in their housing (which MIs cannot).

Let's cover the basics for those who have no intentions of reading the bus schedule posted below good news there is an app for that! Transloc Rider it is available for both iOS and Android there is also a website http://transtar.transloc.com/ that is pretty much the same as the app. I will say the app and website are pretty accurate, but I would always leave about 3-5 minutes early just in case.

Important Information

• Every bus stops at Vista Way no exceptions
• Chatham Square and The Commons have bus stops, but not every bus stops at either one
• Patterson Court does not have a bus stop, but is within walking distance to Chatham Square
• All complexes that have bus stops have them located near the clubhouse
• The Commons and Vista Way's bus stop is inside the complex, but Chatham Square's is not

General Information for Transtar 

Dispatch Offie | (407) 560-1175 
Use this phone number for pick-up requests, lost and found, and general questions

Transportation Hotline | (407) 827-1247 
This is for concerns and suggestions only and at the end of the message you must leave your name, apartment, and phone number. For complaints you can also use the app as well, and is sometimes easier then calling. 

Email | wdw.college.program.transportation@disney.com

Lost & Found | Located at Vista Way bus stop 

*Any stop with The Commons marked means it must be requested it is not a regular stop

**H bus does not operate on Christmas Day

***As a note you will notice the M bus is a bit different hence why I added the days they run, and which month they run on those days. 

Tips and Tricks

• Ensure you get to work on-time take a bus that leaves an hour early
• Buses that have a schedule pick-up at Chatham Square first then go to Vista Way take longer, so I suggest you plan ahead if you ride the A, B, C, E, and G bus
• Also if you are trying to get to Vista Way from the Chatham Square, The Commons, or Patterson Court those are the buses you want to take
• If you live in Patterson Court allow yourself 10-15 minutes (depending on where your apartment is located) to get to Chatham Square
• Have your Housing ID ready no one wants to be stuck waiting for the person to dig it out of their backpack
• Be early! Some of these Transtar drivers are known to leave late CPs behind, or shut the door in their face
• If your bus skips your stop (has totally happened), or is being delayed let your manager know most of the time it will not just be you who's late to work due to a Transtar issue 
• FYI do not lie as a former MI typically they do call and confirm
• The buses run every 20-30 minutes and most have two buses, so if you miss one just catch the next one
• For those wondering yes the paper times guide app for the buses is accurate even more so then the app
• Also do not be that person let people get off the bus before you get on it
• Two notes for this: One let people who got off work actually sit they have been working sometimes 12+ hour days while you played in the parks. Also second sometimes people like myself could not wear their costume outside of work / simply did not want to wear it home, so do not assume if they are not wearing one they were playing in the parks all day
• These buses fill up quickly and sometimes especially E & C buses you are not going to catch the first one, so be patient another one will come soon enough
• Make friends with people who brought cars! Yes I said it trust me it is useful. Especially as someone who brought a car I did not mind giving people rides to work (if we were going to the same location), and if you also brought one consider carpooling 
• Also no I know someone asked once you cannot ride a guest bus in your costume to get to work on-time. However, if you are not in costume you can take a guest bus to get to work on-time (thank you Greg you saved my day!)
• Know your route!

I will also state for anyone wondering what are the benefits of having a car during your program are (yes I brought one). First off you don't have to leave an hour early for work I left about 30 minutes early (sometimes 20 if I had a super early morning shift), and still managed to get to work early. Also it is very nice to have as a back-up a prime example was a messed up the bus schedule, and was going to be late to work if I did not bring a car (all my roommates were already at work). In general shopping was also easier I did not have to worry about finding someone with a car, waiting for the bus, or have to walk out in the rain when I needed something. I could also take advantage of some things CPs without cars in general won't get to do such as go to Devil's Den, Mall of Millenia, St. Petersburg, Panama Beach, Daytona Beach, and etc. basically I got to travel around a lot on my days off. As a note yes some CPs will become your best friends because of it, and will ask for rides to work or back to the complexes. The only downside is much the same as the buses there is a lot of traffic around the area from time to time, and unlike the bus riders you cannot blame traffic for being late. 

*There is also as of 2016 a decal fee for bringing a vehicle with you on your program

**As a note for you CPs driving in the afternoon that live in Chatham, Patterson, and The Commons avoid Vineland Ave as it is very backed up turning right towards Disney Springs instead take International Drive

Now to be clear there is no need to bring one as transportation is provided, but it is very nice to have it as a back-up. I will also state if you plan on applying for a PI/MI, or staying on after your program you are going to want one especially for you future PI/MI applicants as it is required to be qualified. For those who are worried about bringing one (like my former roommate) it is not the end of the world I brought one, and actually preferred to take the bus when possible to save money on gas. 

Also in case you California interns thought I forgot about you I did not, and I will be the bearer of bad news. If you are an intern in California for the DCP or PI transportation is not provided, but for you DCP applicants you are given the option to use public transportation to Disneyland.