New Transportation Option to/from MCO for Deluxe Resort Guests

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Fido Chuckwagon

Well-Known Member
JMcMahonEsq said:
Tiffany towncar

Have always been prompt for pick ups either at airport or resorts, fit 10 with luggage very comfortably, and willing to do dual stops (pick up at mco, quick stop at contemporary to drop off bags, and then take us to animal kingdom)
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I second Tiffany Town Car, they are excellent.
 
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Chip Chipperson

Well-Known Member
Splash4eva said:
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 ;)
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It's subjective, but many - if not most - would say the Minnie Van is a better service than Magical Express. Private car/van waiting for you that goes directly to your resort vs. having to wait in a sometimes long line just to get on the bus and then another wait for the bus to fill and possibly having to stop at multiple resorts before you arrive at yours? Then there are usually multiple stops at other resorts on the way back unless you are the last stop, but then you have to search for empty seats. It's just a question of whether someone values that convenience enough and has the extra funds in their vacation budget (and would prefer not to drive). There could be other safety concerns like a solo female traveler getting in a car with a stranger, but i think the fact that the drivers are Disney employees being assigned a specific passenger and destination reduces that significantly compared to a random Lyft/Uber driver.
 
G

grandad to 4

Member
JMcMahonEsq said:
How is it “extra money?”

Any place you are traveling to, except maybe cruises, once you fly into the area you are visiting, you need to get yourself from the airport to your final destination. This isn’t rocket science.
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I said giving money to DISNEY. I know you have to pay to get from the airport to Disney but why not give the money to another source.
 
E

easyrowrdw

Well-Known Member
Chip Chipperson said:
It's subjective, but many - if not most - would say the Minnie Van is a better service than Magical Express. Private car/van waiting for you that goes directly to your resort vs. having to wait in a sometimes long line just to get on the bus and then another wait for the bus to fill and possibly having to stop at multiple resorts before you arrive at yours? Then there are usually multiple stops at other resorts on the way back unless you are the last stop, but then you have to search for empty seats. It's just a question of whether someone values that convenience enough and has the extra funds in their vacation budget (and would prefer not to drive). There could be other safety concerns like a solo female traveler getting in a car with a stranger, but i think the fact that the drivers are Disney employees being assigned a specific passenger and destination reduces that significantly compared to a random Lyft/Uber driver.
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If one ignores cost, for sure. But I think many - if not most - can’t divorce the cost from the services. Of course DME is gone and Mears is definitely a step down so the comparison is trickier. Still, $400? That’s tough. We’ll see how others react but I can’t see ever using this
 
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Splash4eva

Well-Known Member
Chip Chipperson said:
It's subjective, but many - if not most - would say the Minnie Van is a better service than Magical Express. Private car/van waiting for you that goes directly to your resort vs. having to wait in a sometimes long line just to get on the bus and then another wait for the bus to fill and possibly having to stop at multiple resorts before you arrive at yours? Then there are usually multiple stops at other resorts on the way back unless you are the last stop, but then you have to search for empty seats. It's just a question of whether someone values that convenience enough and has the extra funds in their vacation budget (and would prefer not to drive). There could be other safety concerns like a solo female traveler getting in a car with a stranger, but i think the fact that the drivers are Disney employees being assigned a specific passenger and destination reduces that significantly compared to a random Lyft/Uber driver.
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I was being semi sarcastic because Disney loves to remove free things and bring them back at a charge…. The “solo” female comment is kinda off what percent of guests are literally solo females and of those people do they never use uber/lyft because they are solo? Last i checked there are also taxi’s available along with other service to use & if you are really concerned (doubt it) you can rent a car which literally would be cheaper than any option there. Ive never used Magical Express for said reason you mentioned i want to land and go direct to hotel use to just can but realized rentals gave me more flexibility and in end at times were even cheaper and if not the extra cost was minimal and worth it. Paying 200 each way plus tip and im guessing tax as well to me is just absurd and nothing more than another “flex” and hey Disney is smart why not provide this service. Basically costing them nothing and will
Know in advance what they need and whej they need it
 
Purduevian

Purduevian

Well-Known Member
Mears does offer private SUV or Van Service as well. They will take your group for $160 from the airport to WDW... so a $30 upcharge to be with a castmember really doesn't seem crazy to me.

Sidenote: I used them to take me to Port Canaveral for my last Disney cruise and it was fantastic. There were only 5 of us us and they brought us a large 12 passenger van, had multiple car seats available, for $227
 
Disstevefan1

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
TestTrack said:
I have seen this discussed elsewhere but not here as of yet.

I have confirmed via discussions with Disney that, as of 8/13 (some have reported 8/11) that Disney is offering transportation via Minnie Van for all Deluxe Resort Guests. The Minnie Van service can be booked up to 60 days out from the date of your arrival and both arrival and departure transportation can be booked at that time.

Cost is $199 each way.

We have been looking forward to this service being opened up for more than just club-level guests so we are very excited and will book immediately 60 days out. We are big Minnie Van fans and the service helps us relax during our long stays with our two somewhat-little boys.
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They have gone from free Magical Express to this.

Unprecedented demand indeed.
 
flynnibus

flynnibus

Premium Member
ChrisFL said:
It's wild to me that Disney doesn't try to bring back Magical Express with Universal adding more options (aka things to do)
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well I think you see Disney opt'ing to build a heirarchy for paid offers instead of free ME.

Just think.. when you establish you can pay $300 for a personalized experience... you also are creating justification for a price point of lesser features. Hey, don't like $300, how about $100 and you get to use a tour bus instead of an individual SUV?

Forget that it used to be free.. now people will be setup to say "well, $100 is a lot cheaper than $300!"

And so the product redesign continues...
 
Disstevefan1

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
TrainsOfDisney said:
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?
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Magical Express was a pure cost for Disney.

If they can get folks to shell out $400 bucks, Magical Express will be gone forever.

It needs to get A LOT worse for WDW for them to reinvent the bubble with Magical Express.

You never know, with the rise of EPIC, the bubble may make its return ;)
 
J

jpeden

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
People keep saying this is an awful deal. I think you have to take traditional ride-share out of this as it's not the same (it's a private pre-booked transfer that takes you directly to your hotel). The cost is not that much different and the difference is you get a Disney CM which frankly, some folks will be more comfortable with than just a random driver. It is probably worth the extra $40-$50 to a lot of folks.

Yes Mears Connect and Uber offer much cheaper options, but if you're booking private car service this isn't a stretch. This is one of those things that I don't mind Disney offering as it doesn't hurt the guests who don't pay for it (unlike Lighting Lane). No one is hurt or disadvantaged by not paying for this service. I can tell you with a 5 year old and 3 year old and knowing that we needed carseats that if I flew into MCO (we drive because it's much closer) I would do this over the bus and an uber because I would know:

  • What time and who was picking me up
  • Car seats were available and installed correctly
  • Would take me directly to my resort versus the bus roulette
  • Entertainment options available for the kids to help them be occupied during the 30 minute ride to the hotel
I feel safe putting my kids in a Minnie Van knowing those cast members are trained in car seat installation and that the seats Disney provides are quality, not been in a wreck, etc. I don't have any of that knowledge with an uber that "might" have car seats (and if they do I don't know if they've been installed correctly, if they're damaged or have been in an accident, if they're a quality brand, etc.).
 
TheMaxRebo

TheMaxRebo

Well-Known Member
TrainsOfDisney said:
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?
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Maybe - but for a cost I am sure. If so, hopefully a per room vs per person as when you start having 4+ people it adds up

Though then they could do promotions or bundles where it has a cost but if you book rack rate it is included for free or something
 
Purduevian

Purduevian

Well-Known Member
Disstevefan1 said:
Magical Express was a pure cost for Disney.

If they can get folks to shell out $400 bucks, Magical Express will be gone forever.

It needs to get A LOT worse for WDW for them to reinvent the bubble with Magical Express.

You never know, with the rise of EPIC, the bubble may make its return ;)
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I always thought uber and lyft basically killed DME. The whole point of DME was to make it harder for people to leave the bubble to spend money.

Yeah Taxi's existed, but I feel like uber/lyft were something that so many people knew how to use and was so easy that the bubble popped.
 

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