New Transportation Option to/from MCO for Deluxe Resort Guests

[Tha Realest]

Regarding DME - subjective I guess. Five years feels like an eye blink at my age. It felt like an eternity at 20.

Regarding whether or not a $500 cupcake would be an “issue”, it depends on what you mean by issue. I’m not a Reddit warrior type calling for capitalism to be overturned forever if some people can buy a $500 cupcake. If someone wants to buy a $500 cupcake I am in favor of letting the (regulated) market work that out. But I think it’s another extreme to say that no one can so much as say on a message board “Why the heck is Disney charging $500 for a cupcake? That seems unreasonable.” To flip the framing - why would me having my own opinion be a problem? I’m all for not being toxic online but if it goes too far it’s like saying no one can express any kind of negative opinion about Disney ever.

I think a lot of the reaction is because this is a premium offering that replaced something that very recently was “free.”

At least with the cupcake example, hey, they can do what they want. $500 is out of my comfortable price range but I don’t begrudge others for doing that. But carrying forward the metaphor, Disney does not offer a transportation equivalent of a $5 cupcake any longer.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I think a lot of the reaction is because this is a premium offering that replaced something that very recently was “free.”

At least with the cupcake example, hey, they can do what they want. $500 is out of my comfortable price range but I don’t begrudge others for doing that. But carrying forward the metaphor, Disney does not offer a transportation equivalent of a $5 cupcake any longer.

Yeah that’s true, I guess a better analogy would be if all pastries were $500.

That said, I don’t know if the “shrug people can do what they want” reasoning holds forever. At some point I think you look at Disney’s decision making and go “Um… wut?” Like if Disney decided to build a fifth gate dedicated to dental health - yeah, I don’t have to visit it, but I think it would be reasonable to go “Um… what are you doing Disney?”

Again, said as someone who likes many of their recent decisions. This one just seems back to the cash-grabby ways a bit and I hope it’s a one off.

 

[TestTrack]

The irony of Disney fans…a private driver to chauffeur your five person family to your hotel for $200? CRAZY

A $300 breakfast buffet where your kids eat fruit loops and a waffle and cry when a character hugs your kid? SO WORTH IT!



Different strokes…different folks

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Well then why is everyone complaining or worrying about where others spend their money?

Are they? I think most are just expressing their opinions, and correcting inaccuracies like, “But this is a private ride that is scheduled in advance and goes directly to your hotel” as a supposed contrast to Uber, which does the exact same for $45-65 each way.

That could be helpful to people who aren’t aware, some of whom may be just lurking. That might save people $150 each way.

I don’t think anyone is shaming others just by saying what they personally wouldn’t do. We all do Disney differently.

 

[TestTrack]

Are they? I think most are just expressing their opinions, and correcting inaccuracies like, “But this is a private ride that is scheduled in advance and goes directly to your hotel” as a supposed contrast to Uber, which does the exact same for $45-65 each way.

That could be helpful to people who aren’t aware, some of whom may be just lurking. That might save people $150 each way.

I don’t think anyone is shaming others just by saying what they personally wouldn’t do. We all do Disney differently.

Yes they are. There have been statements like people that use this service are “idiots” or trying to “appear posh”

If you need two car seats, uber/lyft is not even an option.

Then you get into private drivers which, yes, are cheaper. However, for anyone that has ever taken a Minnie van, they should note the experience is still not identical. There is a ~$60 cost delta there…so it’s not negligible but it certainly isn’t as big as some may make it out to be for everyone’s family.

But you are absolutely right…people should respect that certain people value certain expenditures over what others might pay.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Yes they are. There have been statements like people that use this service are “idiots”

That is not cool. It may even be removed.

If you need two car seats, uber/lyft is not even an option.

That will never affect my life in any way.

I have taken a Minnie Van a few times when they first came out and were more reasonably priced. For me, the current price gap, even going from park to park or resort, isn’t worth it. But we are two adults.

We’ve met wonderful Uber/Lyft drivers - and a few duds. There’s a mom who drives an SUV who happened to pick us up 2 or 3 times in the last few trips - I think mostly from the Poly to our hotel fairly late. Her husband is a CM, and she has dogs. She may have even commented here(?) when I mentioned it once before.

I would much rather give her my money than give more to Disney. (They get plenty already!)

 

[Splash4eva]

Question: Many have defended Disney doing away with DME by saying, “it was never free, you were paying for it with your hotel fees.” I get it - it’s an under the hood cost not itemized on your resort bill.

But how was that cost passed on to DVC? As someone earlier mentioned, the costs that were hidden to the customer haven’t materialized in lower costs or rates since they did away with if in 2021. Some of that’s inherently opaque.

Does that mean DVC was free-riders on this? I get it if you stayed at cash+DVC resorts like GF or Poly and the like. But those staying at DVC-only resorts (that have a very limited number of cash bookings of DVC inventory) like OKW and SS also got this benefit. Do any DVC members have visibility on the breakdown of annual dues/fees/maintenance to see how or if DVC was ever charged for this service? And has there been a commensurate lowering of dues since it was phased out?

Simply charge the paying guests or better yet lets face it. It was baked into the cost yet plenty never used it… i for one always rented a car so the “free” service that im sure i was paying for went towards someone else imo

 

[easyrowrdw]

Yes they are. There have been statements like people that use this service are “idiots” or trying to “appear posh”

If you need two car seats, uber/lyft is not even an option.

Then you get into private drivers which, yes, are cheaper. However, for anyone that has ever taken a Minnie van, they should note the experience is still not identical. There is a ~$60 cost delta there…so it’s not negligible but it certainly isn’t as big as some may make it out to be for everyone’s family.

But you are absolutely right…people should respect that certain people value certain expenditures over what others might pay.

Mears is also an option. Everyone is different but I’ve seen many families with young kids on DME and now Mears. We felt fine with the setup when our kids were little. DME was a big part of why we chose on-property accommodations.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

So i guess the surveys “regarding” DME were really a gauge to see if enough rich people would want that experience but for a price instead

It still doesn’t include the best perk of DME, which was luggage transfer from airline check in to hotel, and from hotel to home airport.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I would actually say that providing this proves the desire for Disney airport transportation is alive and well.

Maybe we end up with Magical Express for Value and Moderates and this is the answer for deluxe?

I don’t think D’Amaro is stupid enough to bring back DME and exclude Deluxe Resorts…

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I will add that the dvc points per night also didn’t decrease

The portion of your dues that went to fund DME did though (although your dues still went up because everything else went up).

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

That’s true. And they didn’t

A portion of DME was absolutely paid out of DVC dues.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

as a supposed contrast to Uber, which does the exact same for $45-65 each way.

It does not do the exact same. It works like a private car service. You schedule it in advance. They are there waiting for you when you land. They pick up your luggage with you and bring it out to the car. I’m not saying it’s worth the premium, but it’s not an uber, it’s a private car service.

For me, a private car service like Tiffany Town Car IS worth the price difference ( a little more than double) of an uber. Would I pay for this service at 3 to 4 times the cost of an uber? No. But the comparison is with Tiffany Town Car and Mears private transfers, not with an uber.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Question: Many have defended Disney doing away with DME by saying, “it was never free, you were paying for it with your hotel fees.” I get it - it’s an under the hood cost not itemized on your resort bill.

But how was that cost passed on to DVC? As someone earlier mentioned, the costs that were hidden to the customer haven’t materialized in lower costs or rates since they did away with if in 2021. Some of that’s inherently opaque.

Does that mean DVC was free-riders on this? I get it if you stayed at cash+DVC resorts like GF or Poly and the like. But those staying at DVC-only resorts (that have a very limited number of cash bookings of DVC inventory) like OKW and SS also got this benefit. Do any DVC members have visibility on the breakdown of annual dues/fees/maintenance to see how or if DVC was ever charged for this service? And has there been a commensurate lowering of dues since it was phased out?

Absorbed by dues

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Are they? I think most are just expressing their opinions, and correcting inaccuracies like, “But this is a private ride that is scheduled in advance and goes directly to your hotel” as a supposed contrast to Uber, which does the exact same for $45-65 each way.

That could be helpful to people who aren’t aware, some of whom may be just lurking. That might save people $150 each way.

I don’t think anyone is shaming others just by saying what they personally wouldn’t do. We all do Disney differently.

Oh I’m closer to shaming…it’s pure vanity. Since they were run through the Lyft system…it was always vanity at 3x the price for negligible difference

If it waddles, quacks, and swims…it’s an idiot

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It does not do the exact same. It works like a private car service. You schedule it in advance. They are there waiting for you when you land. They pick up your luggage with you and bring it out to the car. I’m not saying it’s worth the premium, but it’s not an uber, it’s a private car service.

For me, a private car service like Tiffany Town Car IS worth the price difference ( a little more than double) of an uber. Would I pay for this service at 3 to 4 times the cost of an uber? No. But the comparison is with Tiffany Town Car and Mears private transfers, not with an uber.

Every Uber or Lyft is “private”…they don’t roll up in an old school bus.

I don’t see your point here?

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Absorbed by dues

Correct. The dues funded it pro rata per hotel based on number of Dvc rooms versus total rooms.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I would actually say that providing this proves the desire for Disney airport transportation is alive and well.

Maybe we end up with Magical Express for Value and Moderates and this is the answer for deluxe?

They should have done it at least two years ago…it was nominal cost for the benefits

But as with everything…the cult of Bob does nothing wrong. Hubris over reason. Even if they blame Slaphead.

I don’t even believe that. The fact he did it at all tells me that they had already talked about it prior. The guy was only a foot soldier…that was his ceiling

 

[Purduevian]

So a 25-40% premium to be picked up in a polka dot van…

Doesn't surprise me with Disney...

Employee vs Contractor is FUD really.. it's no biggie. You'll likely be more documented and protected in an uber than a Disney Van.. besides Disney wanting to stay out of the press.

I think most people would disagree with you on this point. A group of all woman or a solo, or a family with young children will "feel" safer with a private car service even if it isn't technically the case.

 

[phillip9698]

That's a lot of what ifs, and DME has been gone for a long time, not like they took that away and immediately replaced it with this

And this is only for deluxe guests

And they have brought back the bag check at value resorts



This just feels like a premium option for people that want it. Same as concierge rooms, VIPs your, etc

Everything is a "what if" until it happens.

Paid fast passes are no longer a "what if" its a reality.