My Dream for Disney: Live Bus Updates

Have you ever come across a cool technological advancement or a luxury that you wish Disney would incorporate? Disney is always pushing the technology button, moving to more automated systems to (in theory) make our lives easier and make our vacations stress-free. In Walt Disney World, they've debuted FastPass+ and My Disney Experience for this reason.

I was thinking about this the other day during my morning commute to New York City. In fact, my morning commute is usually the time I find myself daydreaming about Disney the most. (Probably because that's the one place I'd always rather be!)

A screen shot from Bus NYC. The red
symbols are buses on the route.

Over the past few years, the New York City MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) have debuted a number of smart phone apps that have made my life substantially better. One such app is called "Bus NYC." On this app, I am able to save my morning bus stop and my favorite routes. I then can view the timetable of when the buses are supposed to arrive. While this is helpful, anyone in New York City knows that traffic can throw a massive wrench in those plans.

Instead of relying on timetables, I can view the GPS location of the buses on that particular route. Therefore, I don't leave my house in the morning before I can see my bus on approach. In fact, I've timed it out perfectly. On a rainy day, or a cold snowy morning, I don't leave my house a minute before I have to.

How can this be applied to Disney? Imagine the possibilities!

Imagine you're staying at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and you have dinner reservations at the Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Your little one just woke up from a much-needed nap and is dragging a bit. You are rushing to get ready and you check your app. You see the next Hollywood Studios bus about fifteen minutes away, so you can take your time to get ready before running to the bus stop.

Or imagine this: You're at the bus stop waiting for the Magic Kingdom bus at Port Orleans French Quarter when your little one tells you that you the he has to use the bathroom. "It's an emergency!" he proclaims. You check your app and see that you have a least five minutes before the bus will arrive so you carry him into the lobby bathroom to take care of business.

So Disney Imagineers, if somehow, someday, you read this, please come up with a system like this for Walt Disney World! Guests would be eternally grateful!