May 13, 2011: World Showcase Buses

[Werner Weiss]

The World Showcase Promenade makes a 1.3-mile loop around World Showcase Lagoon. That’s a long walk. But there’s an alternative. A fleet of old-fashioned double-decker buses can get you off your tired feet—but not at today’s Epcot, only at Yestercot.

Link to World Showcase Buses.

Please discuss it here.

[Tannerman]

I really miss the buses!

Incidentally, the first photo in Werner's article features my sister and I standing in front of a blue Omnibus. I'm sure she loves the fact that it appears that she's picking her nose! I still don't quite know what she's doing there.

[Beej1975]

A friend of my dad's was involved in selling those Chevrolet Chassis to Disney to build the buses on. They are built on a GM P-Chassis. If I remember right, the model they used was specifically engineered for UPS. He had to get permission from UPS to be able to get that chassis for Disney's design.

[jpg391]

Interesting article. I wonder why they stopped using the double-decker buses at Epcot"s World Showcase.

[jaxbistro]

Thanks for the info. I love this old stuff. However, the interview with Mr. Gurr...well, he didn't really seem too interested.

[disneyfn]

Along the same lines, anyone know what became of the 2 buses that were used at the Disneyland Resort along the hotel routes?They were only in service a couple of years and were then put into storage by the parking garage and have never been seen again.

[Werner Weiss]

Thanks for the info. I love this old stuff. However, the interview with Mr. Gurr...well, he didn't really seem too interested.

I thought Bob Gurr's answers were succinct and honest.

Gurr designed the buses at Disneyland, and his design was also used for the 1982 Epcot Center buses. However, as I suspected, he didn't have any other involvement with the Epcot Center buses because he left Disney Imagineering before Epcot Center opened.

[ttintagel]

It's too bad nothing ever came of the Peoplemover-type system that was part of the original plan. That would have been cool.

[Timekeeper]

Nice article. I really do hope there is a transportation system that is works (and is not boats,) for present Epcot.


Timekeeper