News Disney considering a service like Uber at WDW - Confirmed as Minnie Van

[durangojim]

I just finished filling out a survey asking what I thought of Disney transportation. It asked if I used something like Uber while staying at the Grand (we did) and then asked a number of questions about if we would use a similar Disney branded service that went all over property and possibly to the airport. My thoughts are that I'd use it depending on price. We primarily used Uber to get to Epcot, the beach club, and Typhoon Lagoon. Used Disney transport for everything else, but if it was cheap enough and could pick you up in 5 mins or less anywhere like Uber does, I'd consider it. I'll see if I can post screen shots.

 

[danv3]

Can only imagine how much Disney would charge for that service.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Can't see this working unless A) it's cheaper then uber (highly unlikely) B) if they ban Uber vehicles from coming on to WDW property, I'm sure they could figure out some way to do that? All resorts have a gate and so do the parks.

 

[Tay]

I think this would be a good idea if TDO doesn't make their service twice Uber price, like we all think they will. If they do make it crazy expensive then they should give a refillable mug or popcorn bucket to be used in the parks.

 

[FerretAfros]

...or, you know, they could just improve the existing transportation network that the guest already pays for with the exorbitant hotel prices. Crazy thought, I know.

Other than very specific and uncommon routes (parks to Disney Springs, hotel to hotel), I'm not sure that this is really much of an improvement. Especially during peak periods, the loading zones and the roads themselves don't have nearly the capacity to put 30,000 rooms-worth of guests into individual cars. Disney sends out surveys for a lot of half-baked ideas, but this one seems especially unrealistic

 

[DelrayDave]

Depending on demand, wouldn't this add to more traffic congestion?

 

[Andrew C]

interesting idea...we will see how far it actually gets...

 

[bunnyman]

If it's cheaper than taxis, then I'm all for it. Members of family did the early morning surfing lessons last summer, and based on the time had to take a taxi from the WL to Typhon Lagoon. It was a rip off to say the least, but they had no other options at that time of the morning.

 

[radiohost]

Disney would only do this as a contract with Uber (like Mears with Magical Express) to avoid any liability.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Insanity.

The WDW transport system is so woefully inadequate, and unimaginative and dull too, that management has discovered guests will pay through the nose to please evade it.

And rather than solving the issue (WDW's suburbanisation and sprawl because Eisner brushed aside the Idea of WDW as an experimental urban project as sentimentalism of old fruitcakes), they are salivating at the mouth at the thought of cashing in too.

WDW was build so well that you can get away nearly endlessly with schemes like this too. But with clever management it has got nothing to do. Just with mediocre types - no doubt patting themselves on the back too - squeezing out a few more pennies out of the legacy of real management.

 

[durangojim]

I can say that during our 7 night trip at the Grand Floridian we used Uber a total of six times, going to and from the Floridian to places when the wait for the bus was too long, or going to Epcot since we didn't want to have to switch monorails. Each time it took less than 5 mins to get a car which meant if I ordered it when we left our room, it would be waiting for us when we got to the lobby. The trips cost right around $7 a piece. If Disney could provide a similar service or a flat rate that was affordable based on how many days you'd be staying at one of their resorts I would be all for it, but I have a hard time believing they could do that at a reasonable price.

 

[Andrew C]

I can say that during our 7 night trip at the Grand Floridian we used Uber a total of six times, going to and from the Floridian to places when the wait for the bus was too long, or going to Epcot since we didn't want to have to switch monorails. Each time it took less than 5 mins to get a car which meant if I ordered it when we left our room, it would be waiting for us when we got to the lobby. The trips cost right around $7 a piece. If Disney could provide a similar service or a flat rate that was affordable based on how many days you'd be staying at one of their resorts I would be all for it, but I have a hard time believing they could do that at a reasonable price.

you make reasonable points....

 

[admiral-ari-x]

I worry that this might already add to the congestion that goes on daily in the parks... like Empress Lilly said, this is just a money grab. I wish they would just fix their current problems instead of adding more.

 

[durangojim]

you make reasonable points....

The other thing that was pretty nice was taking it to the Beach Club so we could enter Epcot through the International Gateway. That was very good when we had dining reservations over in France. We enjoy walking but at the end of a long day when it's 99 degrees with a heat index of 110, cutting off a few steps seemed like a good idea.

 

[TriSeb]

I have been renting a vehicle and only use the monorail to return midday from EPCOT (avoid the hot card) and for hopping between resorts but given the pricing, I would consider this option to completely avoid driving but have all the benefits of my own vehicle (including enabling me to have a few drinks and not being the designated driver on park, dining dates).

The survey also asked which payment option suited the service best (my opinions marked)

 

[wdwfan22]

I can see this becoming a reality because Uber was being used like crazy at the Polynesian during my recent August visit.

 

[righttrack]

They are looking to get a share of the Uber transportation dollars obviously. Yes, I totally agree with those that said they are looking for a contract and branding with Uber or Lyft. It's revenue and anything that happens on property, they want a piece of. I think the volume would increase a bit, say if you could call for your ride from the WDW App for example. I just don't think it would go up that much. It has its place. We used Uber to get from WL to AKL and saved almost 3 hours it would have taken to go the usual route of resort->park->resort->park->resort.

 

[Donfan]

If Disney would trade in all their buses and make this the only mode of transportation in the World, this could have a lot of benefits. It almost fits the requirement for the horizontal elevator service they looked at several years ago.

 

[JohnD]

Can only imagine how much Disney would charge for that service.

It would have to be competitive with Uber. If not, why use it?

 

[DisneyDaver]

Depending on demand, wouldn't this add to more traffic congestion?

Depends on how WDW prices the service. If the price is so cheap that many elect to use it, then yes, it would add more congestion. If the service is priced high enough to manage demand, then it likely won't add more traffic congestion as it will only capture customers who would otherwise drive a rental car or grab a taxi/uber.