Although the monorail, Disney Skyliner, and some boat transportation is available for guests staying at select resorts, odds are you’ll have to hop on a Disney bus at some point during your trip.
Disney World Bus
When Disney World reopened, we got to experience the new bus loading and seating process — no more filling in every available spot or standing up and holding on to those hanging black handles! But, when we rode on one Disney bus today, we noticed some things have changed.
Previously, the Disney busses we had ridden on generally had 6 zones. Typically, the bus driver directs each party to enter the bus through a specific entrance and sit in a particular zone depending on the size of their party. The overall goal is to have as few people as possible entering through the same set of doors and maintain some social distancing between guests while seated to the extent possible.
Disney buses with zone seating and partitions
But, with just 6 sections, some buses could be sent with very few guests. For example, if there were 6 unrelated parties with only one guest each, each guest would be directed to sit in a different zone and the bus would drive off with just those 6 passengers.
New seating system on Disney World’s buses
Today, however, we hopped on a bus and found it had 10 zones! This new seating arrangement appears to allow for a greater amount of smaller parties to all sit in one bus.
New Disney Bus 10 Zone Seating Style
Here’s a break-down of the seating zones in the bus we rode:
- Zone 10: 4 seats available. Zone 10 is made up of those 5 seats along on the back row of the bus, but the center seat was unavailable.
- Zone 9: 4 seats available. Zone 9 is made up of 5 seats on each side of the bus located across from each other, but 3 of the seats on each side were not available.
- Zones 8, 7, 5, 2, and 1: 2 seats available in each
- Zones 6, 4, and 3: 3 seats available in each
New Disney Bus 10 Zone Seating Style
Section 6 can also be modified to allow for a handicap guest if needed.
New Disney Bus 10 Zone Seating Style
So, in total this bus can hold 27 guests. This new seating arrangement could increase capacity for smaller parties.
New Disney Bus 10 Zone Seating Style
We rode another bus earlier in the day that only had the 6-zone arrangement, however, so it appears that this new 10-zone style is not available in all of the buses. It’s possible Disney will continue to change the bus zones to accommodate more guests in a more efficient manner as they evaluate their transportation needs. We’ll continue to keep tabs on the bus seating arrangements and let you know if we spot any more changes!
Click here to check out the ultimate guide to Disney World transportation after the reopening!
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You are still in enclosed area. Might as well have a full busload. This “new configuration'” is not fooling anyone… or at least I hope it’s not.
And no standing on each other in the aisle!
It’s nice to see Disney continuing to adjust and improve the experience as they learn more.
If masks work why all the separation on buses and rides?
Do you know if buses are still carrying 2 scooters?
Marcia, the goal is to reduce the viral load exposure. Masks reduce the spread of exhaled droplets by about 50%, and droplets generally don’t travel more than about 6 feet. However, in an enclosed space like a bus, with even a few people, the exposure over 10-15 minutes can become dangerous. So the masks help reduce that exposure. It’s not perfect, but since the US hasn’t been able to get its act together since March and get production of N95 masks up to a level that the general population can have them as well, this is about as good as we can do. It’s either that or stop bus service altogether.
Thank you for the photos. May I ask a few questions?
I recognize your descriptons of the newly marked zone #10 & #9 used to be zones #6 & #5. And they kept the same number o available seats. And I saw your photo of the new zone #8 that used to be zone #8.
Does zone #8 have a pair of seats on one side and now directly across is that a Zone #7 pair (rear up the stairs?
The old zone #4 had a pair of seats facing each other.
I also saw the zone # 6 fold-up seats used to be zone #3.
What is the other fold-up seats zone that used to be zone #3?
And where is the third 3-seat zone?
I’m trying to visualize if the zone #1 is in the same place on the driver’s side containg two seats. Is that correct?
And I guess that long stretch of seats between the side door and front of the bus must contain the rest of the seat combinations or 2, 3 & 3-seats with partitions. Did you take photots on zones 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5?
Those are the zones I can’t visualize.
I realize the four other bus types have differnt seat configuations.
I apologize for the long comments. RaySharpton.
Also, do they load the guests in the rear of the bus first, and then load the wheelchair/mobility scooter(s)?
My husband and I both have to use scooters, and when we stayed on property recently, we were always accommodated on the same bus, just as usual. So no worries!
Thanks, Maggie!
Ray, from one of our onsite reporters:
Drivers side-
Section 1 -2 seats and a barrier partition
Section 4-3 seats (handicap) partition
Section 6- 3 seats (handicap) partition
Steps
Section 7- 2 seats and a partition
Section 9- 5 seats with only 3 available and a partition
Back row- section 10 -5 seats with only 4 available, middle seat is not available.
Passenger side/door side of the bus-
Door
Section 2- 2 seats and a partition
Section 3 – 3 seats and a partition
Section 5 – 2 seats
Door
Steps
Section 8- 2 seats and a partition
Section 9- 5 seats with only 3 available and a partition
For loading, they put guests on a numbered marker, and half go to the back door/half to the front. Larger numbers enter first, so essentially it’s back to front.
Thank you, Sarah. This information helps my friends to reassure their grandparents to go with them on possibly a last family trip. They are afraid about driving a rental mobility scooter and all of the changes and not wanting to be a hindrance to anyone.