Express Transportation starting Dec 7th

[GrumpyFan]

So much drama in this thread.
Honestly, I don't get what the big deal is.

• Disney is a business
• Walt's been dead and gone for many years now
• The company is run by different people with a mindset of trying to make as much money as possible
• They're obviously trying to cater to a different market now
• Move on (optional, you can complain all you want, but it won't make a difference)

If you're unhappy with these decisions, don't give them the pleasure of your business, nor your money.

 

[Kingtut]

If they could only figure out a way to charge for the air that we breathe....

 

[rael ramone]

During the holiday season, I am 100% on board with this idea! The parks are already super-crowded and this will certainly improve guest/customer satisfaction for those willing to pay for it.
I can guess how this will work by putting on my secret radar Mickey ears.
There will be a cabana-like tent on-stage with a CM in each of the four locations mentioned. The CM will scan your magic band with their iPhone/iPad reader to verify you've paid. They'll give you one of those restaurant beepers and tell you to come back to the tent when it goes off. You're free to wander until then. 5 minutes before bus arrives, you'll turn in the beeper and get put in a holding pen. Next, the CM will escort the group backstage to the waiting bus. The bus will have a full graphics wrap (Marvel, Dr. Strange, whatever) to prevent you from getting a good look or taking pictures backstage. When you arrive at the destination park, they'll scan your magic band again and that's it!

It'll work great for the holiday rush, then quickly be forgotten.

Coming next.....surge pricing for busy times for this service...

 

[MisterPenguin]

Better than Uber?

With the 30 minute wait, it might appear to be slower. But, it might be the same or faster since you skip not only the security gate, but everything leading up to the front gate: crowds, huge parking lot, slow ferries, monorail transfers, full buses, etc.... You wind up close to a back door gate and, bam, you're now deep into the park.

Also, Uber doesn't show up immediately. And you pay for both. Do you want to pay Uber or pay Disney? Yeah, I know you want Disney to give this to you for free, but... that ain't happening... unless they increase the Hopper price and make it part of the Hopper upcharge.

What's unknown if each bus (or van) is directly going back and forth between each park, or, if they're on a loop. If they're looping, you may have one to three stops to get to your destination. We'll see.


Ruin the Backstage Magic?

No, you're not getting a tour of the backstage, although, you could pay for a backstage tour if you want. You get dropped off near a employee entrance with all the charm and magic of an employee parking lot. So, leave the soul of our dearly departed, Walt, out of this.


All the people rushing to use it will upset... stuff!

Really? Just how many people get the Hopper upcharge to begin with? And even if they have it, how many actually hop? And if they are hopping, how many hop more than once per day?

I know for me that if I planned to hit three parks or had a tight schedule with two parks, I might buy this. But, if I'm only going from one park (one of the so-called 'half day' parks) to another and didn't have a tight schedule... then I certainly wouldn't use this.

This is for a very small set of multiple-hopping hoppers. And it's probably to convince them to spend part of the day out of the crowded MK by making it convenient to do so.

 

[Luxe]

So much drama in this thread.
Honestly, I don't get what the big deal is.

• Disney is a business
• Walt's been dead and gone for many years now
• The company is run by different people with a mindset of trying to make as much money as possible
• They're obviously trying to cater to a different market now
• Move on

If you're unhappy with these decisions, don't give them the pleasure of your business, nor your money.

The "Disney is a business" argument is getting old. Obviously they have to make money, they are making a boatload of it. Why bother coming into a thread which is meant to discuss the current news and rumours and tell people to move on. This is why we all come to these forums, to discuss news, issues and events related to WDW.

 

[lostpro9het]

So much drama in this thread.
Honestly, I don't get what the big deal is.

• Disney is a business
• Walt's been dead and gone for many years now
• The company is run by different people with a mindset of trying to make as much money as possible
• They're obviously trying to cater to a different market now
• Move on

If you're unhappy with these decisions, don't give them the pleasure of your business, nor your money.

Like! I also find it a bit ironic that that you wear the name GrumpyFan yet are probably the least grumpy fan on this thread!

 

[PhilharMagician]

I cannot see paying for this service unless you would be able enter the park you are hopping too without having to go through the main turnstiles. Even still this does not seem to have any major benefit. How much time are you really saving? AK may be the most logical since the location is in the back of the park.

I am interested to see some reviews when this starts.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

I've been following this forum for a long time. The constant negativity and unreasonably negative responses are really surprising. I don't see what is bad about this at all.

Do the ones that have a problem with this also hate that restaurants charge more for steak than hamburger? This service will cost Disney money, probably a lot. I've seen no evidence that their free transportation has gone downhill. I've been to the parks 5 times in the past 4 years and if anything our experiences with the buses has only improved.

This is no different than first class flights, paying for faster internet, etc. It's a premium service that costs the provider additional money. The shocked and angry responses in this thread make no sense to me at all.

 

[lostpro9het]

This is why we all come to these forums, to discuss news, issues and events related to WDW.

There are discussions going on!?!? Between this thread, the cabana thread, and the monorail appetizer/cocktail crawl I'm not sure I've seen much discussion going on, just a ton of hate.

Edit
Hate may have been a poor choice of words so feel free to pull out your thesaurus and find the appropriate word you think fits the lack of discussion that has been happening.

 

[jt04]

So much drama in this thread.
Honestly, I don't get what the big deal is.

• Disney is a business
• Walt's been dead and gone for many years now
• The company is run by different people with a mindset of trying to make as much money as possible
• They're obviously trying to cater to a different market now
• Move on

If you're unhappy with these decisions, don't give them the pleasure of your business, nor your money.

Walt is gone but his ideals of American exceptionalism are not. Iger has respected that legacy. Any future CEO that tramples on that legacy does so at TWDCs peril. Economically speaking of course.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Like! I also find it a bit ironic that that you wear the name GrumpyFan yet are probably the least grumpy fan on this thread!

I have my moments.

 

[GrumpyFan]

The "Disney is a business" argument is getting old. Obviously they have to make money, they are making a boatload of it. Why bother coming into a thread which is meant to discuss the current news and rumours and tell people to move on. This is why we all come to these forums, to discuss news, issues and events related to WDW.

You're right. However, my telling people to move on, wasn't about the discussion portion, it was more about the negative discussion aspect.

Personally, I think it's a great new option for people. Instead of relying on Uber or maybe a taxi service, they can now utilize Disney Transportation.

For Disney, this is a no-brainer. I mean, they were leaving money on the table and allowing others to come and get it. They're just offering what guests have said they want. If I recall, there was actually a survey several months back asking about such a service.

 

[Kingtut]

How big will your cabana like tent be? How many guests do you expect to want to use this per hour per route?

It only takes 11 families of 4 to fill a bus - unless they make them stand

I see that the local Supercenter has a 3 room tent on sale for $99. Can anyone say Cabana Suites?

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

The parks were designed to be entered from their entrances, so as to create specific narrative experiences (e.g., scene one of stepping onto Main Street, etc). This can negatively affect the experience of the parks. Imagine a first-time visitor entering The Magic Kingdom from backstage instead of through the portals and onto Main Street!

 

[Luxe]

You're right. However, my telling people to move on, wasn't about the discussion portion, it was more about the negative discussion aspect.

Personally, I think it's a great new option for people. Instead of relying on Uber or maybe a taxi service, they can now utilize Disney Transportation.

For Disney, this is a no-brainer. I mean, they were leaving money on the table and allowing others to come and get it. They're just offering what guests have said they want.

Oh ok, from now on we'll be sure to only talk bout how great everything is that Disney does. That sounds like fun!

Guests said they want better bus service, not a monetized FP+ bus system.

 

[ThemeParkJunkee]

Just stumbled on this thread and thought it was a joke at first. I feel like the WDW website will soon just be a menu with add ons and check boxes. Reserve resort, add ticket choice then up pops the page with fifty or so add-on (read upcharges) with brief descriptions and prices to add. This gives the guest the impression, "you have just purchased the basic package which does not include: a good spot to watch fireworks shows, decent transportation between parks (hopper purchase required), a place to rest and regroup, access to certain characters etc. etc....

My head is spinning.

 

[Bandini]

Better than Uber?

With the 30 minute wait, it might appear to be slower. But, it might be the same or faster since you skip not only the security gate, but everything leading up to the front gate: crowds, huge parking lot, slow ferries, monorail transfers, full buses, etc.... You wind up close to a back door gate and, bam, you're now deep into the park.

Also, Uber doesn't show up immediately. And you pay for both. Do you want to pay Uber or pay Disney? Yeah, I know you want Disney to give this to you for free, but... that ain't happening... unless they increase the Hopper price and make it part of the Hopper upcharge.

What's unknown if each bus (or van) is directly going back and forth between each park, or, if they're on a loop. If they're looping, you may have one to three stops to get to your destination. We'll see.


Ruin the Backstage Magic?

No, you're not getting a tour of the backstage, although, you could pay for a backstage tour if you want. You get dropped off near a employee entrance with all the charm and magic of an employee parking lot. So, leave the soul of our dearly departed, Walt, out of this.


All the people rushing to use it will upset... stuff!

Really? Just how many people get the Hopper upcharge to begin with? And even if they have it, how many actually hop? And if they are hopping, how many hop more than once per day?

I know for me that if I planned to hit three parks or had a tight schedule with two parks, I might buy this. But, if I'm only going from one park (one of the so-called 'half day' parks) to another and didn't have a tight schedule... then I certainly wouldn't use this.

This is for a very small set of multiple-hopping hoppers. And it's probably to convince them to spend part of the day out of the crowded MK by making it convenient to do so.

If this ever becomes an issue, I'll pay Uber

 

[GrumpyFan]

Guests said they want better bus service, not a monetized FP+ bus system.

No, there was a survey that specifically asked if guests would be interested in an Uber-style service offered by Disney.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wal...ortation-service-around-walt-disney-world.htm

 

[Luxe]

No, there was a survey that specifically asked if guests would be interested in an Uber-style service offered by Disney.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories...nterest-in-uber-style-transportation-service/

When you only have options of "Yes I would pay for Disney Uber" and "Yes I would DEFINITELY pay A LOT for Disney Uber", it can be pretty easy to skew the outcome.

 

[BrerJon]

I can't believe how cheap this is... are we sure it isn't a typo, and it's $150? That would fit better with Disney's recent pricing strategy.