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

[bhg469]

was being more sarcastic than anything

the bus system works for what its intended for, but not easy for resort to resort connections

and at times gets overwhelmed, though i'm sure the minnie vans will get overwhelmed too

I would go as far to say that the busses are overwhelmed more than they aren't. They seriously do not do enough to make them more efficient. More vehicles on the road is not the answer.

 

[ford91exploder]

This could easily be the straw that breaks the camels back for Mears taxis at WDW. The drivers don't make a lot of money. While yes Disney isn't trying to run a taxi business for all of Orlando this does have the potential to replace a good number of taxi drivers who pretty much work the WDW resort exclusively. If this has a big impact on fares at WDW, which I couldn't see that not happening it will put a lot of pressure on Mears to either end their contract or push for a reduced fee. I haven't kept up with what's going on that area, but as I knew the contract some time ago this service already violates it as is, so they may have renegotiated it already.

With a grand total of 18 Minnie Vans this service is going to fail and fast if they had a couple hundred lined up different story

 

[ford91exploder]

I would go as far to say that the busses are overwhelmed more than they aren't. They seriously do not do enough to make them more efficient. More vehicles on the road is not the answer.

GPS dispatch would be a good start along with a CM attendant monitoring the bus stops at both ends so buses could be sent to where passengers are waiting not the empty bus at the empty bus stop scenarios seen so often at closing while other stops without buses have huge lines

 

[shipley731]

The interesting aspect is Disney is potentially giving up a source of revenue. Mears pays Disney for the exclusivity of having taxi stands on property and Disney only being allowed to refer guests to Mears taxis. So when you pay a Mears taxi fare your money is going to Disney, Mears, the Driver and the Driver's expenses. This is why Uber cost so much less, because there are less people making money off the fares.

The Mears taxis are tracked by GPS, fares are made available on a first come first served basis to the driver who has been waiting in the area of the request the longest. It's essentially very similar to what Uber does in that regard. The big problem is they haven't adapted to the technology on the user end like Uber has. The user has to call or have someone call on their behalf and really doesn't have feedback on the progress of the request. They finally made an app to try to compete with Uber, but I think all it really does is allow you to submit request information. They also are maintaining a fleet of vehicles which have to be rented out to the drivers at very high costs, whereas Uber's use of personal vehicles makes them far more flexible and cost effective.

Is Mears really exclusive on Disney Property? My husband & I use Uber a lot on Disney property when leaving one resort to get back to where we are staying on property. They generally are a good clip less than a taxi. When at Disney Springs, we'll usually use the bus, but if we are at Splitsville, depending on the time of evening, we'll opt for a taxi. The last time we did this (probably 2 years ago), we went to the taxi stand and hoped in the taxi that pulled up in line for us. We told the driver we wanted to go to Port Orleans Riverside. The driver acknowledged this & started driving. He then told us it would be a $25 flat fee. We were still in the parking lot & the traffic in the lot was heavy. He had to stop about 20 feet later & we got out of the car. We grabbed another cab & it was about $15. Uber probably would have been about the same with surge pricing. If he was indeed a Mears driver pulling that sort of scam with not using a meter, I don't see Mears as being all that honest. Full disclosure, I've never had an issue with a Mears taxi that was clearly marked as such.

 

[s8film40]

With a grand total of 18 Minnie Vans this service is going to fail and fast if they had a couple hundred lined up different story

I kind of expect them to expand pretty quickly. That number essentially allows them to have one van at each resort. It's going to get overwhelmed pretty quick, but could be enough for them to work out some kinks and get a good plan in place before expanding. They're also going to have to come up with some solutions for wheelchairs, child seats, and varying party sizes. I expect them to eventually have a fleet with a little more variety larger vans maybe even some smaller cars.

 

[ford91exploder]

I kind of expect them to expand pretty quickly. That number essentially allows them to have one van at each resort. It's going to get overwhelmed pretty quick, but could be enough for them to work out some kinks and get a good plan in place before expanding. They're also going to have to come up with some solutions for wheelchairs, child seats, and varying party sizes. I expect them to eventually have a fleet with a little more variety larger vans maybe even some smaller cars.

On a service like this one either goes big or goes home, This is not Al's Snowbird Landing. This supposedly is a global corporation most tech companies have more shuttle vans for their Executive Briefing Centers as opposed to a resort complex with 150K guests on any day of the week.

If they want to compete with Uber they need to have similar availability and scheduling.

If you can't run with the big dogs stay on the porch

 

[s8film40]

Is Mears really exclusive on Disney Property? My husband & I use Uber a lot on Disney property when leaving one resort to get back to where we are staying on property. They generally are a good clip less than a taxi. When at Disney Springs, we'll usually use the bus, but if we are at Splitsville, depending on the time of evening, we'll opt for a taxi. The last time we did this (probably 2 years ago), we went to the taxi stand and hoped in the taxi that pulled up in line for us. We told the driver we wanted to go to Port Orleans Riverside. The driver acknowledged this & started driving. He then told us it would be a $25 flat fee. We were still in the parking lot & the traffic in the lot was heavy. He had to stop about 20 feet later & we got out of the car. We grabbed another cab & it was about $15. Uber probably would have been about the same with surge pricing. If he was indeed a Mears driver pulling that sort of scam with not using a meter, I don't see Mears as being all that honest. Full disclosure, I've never had an issue with a Mears taxi that was clearly marked as such.

Yes they are exclusive. If you ask a cast member for a taxi they are required to call a Mears taxi, in fact many people have been fired for referring guests to other taxi companies. Mears takes this very seriously and will actually hide and watch to ensure Disney isn't referring guests to other taxi companies. They often have issues with outside taxis, especially in areas like Disney Springs that aren't controlled like a resort. They have and will trespass drivers from other companies who are hanging out trying to pick up fares. As far as the integrity of Mears drivers it can definitely be hit or miss. It's important to remember they're not employees they're just someone who signed up to be able to rent cars from Mears, and they're mostly unsupervised in how they conduct their business.

 

[s8film40]

On a service like this one either goes big or goes home, This is not Al's Snowbird Landing. This supposedly is a global corporation most tech companies have more shuttle vans for their Executive Briefing Centers as opposed to a resort complex with 150K guests on any day of the week.

If they want to compete with Uber they need to have similar availability and scheduling.

If you can't run with the big dogs stay on the porch

I agree, I think they're going to learn this pretty fast the hard way and they'll likely fall back on the taxis at first. There's a lot they have to learn, probably more than they realize and Disney has really separated themselves from this side of their business recently and doesn't really have a good handle on how the taxi business works.

 

[Gatorboy]

Disney to introduce its own Uber like direct transportation service - Minnie Van

Love the name!

 

[flynnibus]

The whole reason people use Uber on property is that they already have the app and payment information uploaded when they arrive. Not only are MVs probably more expensive, there's extra steps involved in booking them, and a lack of familiarity with the system because it's new.

I don't see how they are going to sell this when nobody (not guests, not Mears) is asking for it. People alrady have enough options for getting around the resort (free bus, cabs, uber, the new express bus, rental car, limo services etc).

You're skipping that Disney already has a payment and app system in place with these users. And probably an even higher attach rate than uber with the target audience (people already at wdw).

Plus, Disney can make this as simple as walking up to your hotel desk, or the standing queues already at the parks. Hop in and scan a mb or swipe a credit card... and poof!

Don't forget a large population is still scared of ride sharing services... while they trust an in house service

 

[wdwmagic]

With a grand total of 18 Minnie Vans this service is going to fail and fast if they had a couple hundred lined up different story

The launch is at two hotels. 18 vehicles is a pretty good number to service that.

Of course, there could be another 300 elsewhere.

 

[wdwmagic]

You're skipping that Disney already has a payment and app system in place with these users. And probably an even higher attach rate than uber with the target audience (people already at wdw).

Plus, Disney can make this as simple as walking up to your hotel desk, or the standing queues already at the parks. Hop in and scan a mb or swipe a credit card... and poof!

Don't forget a large population is still scared of ride sharing services... while they trust an in house service

This is exactly where Disney hold a huge advantage. Never underestimate the value of trust.

 

[Uncle Lupe]

This is exactly where Disney hold a huge advantage. Never underestimate the value of trust.

I agree. I never have used or needed ride sharing. But reading some examples here that some even offer free drinks???? Goes against everything I learned growing up as a kid. Never get in a strangers car or someone offering candy etc..
But look heres a hip app thats gets you places cheaply. It's ok use it, it's cool everyone else is. So yes trust would be a huge advantage. I trust Disney with my safety. Random Uber guy no so much when I have tourist written all over me.

 

[Astro Blaster]

Seems pretty straightforward - Uber is making money in WDW. Disney found a way to take at least some of that money for themselves, so they'll test it out on a smaller scale at first and see how it goes.

I will still use the free transportation as my primary option but this would be great for things like going to/from your resort to a dinner reservation at a resort across property.

 

[WDWTrojan]

I agree. I never have used or needed ride sharing. But reading some examples here that some even offer free drinks???? Goes against everything I learned growing up as a kid. Never get in a strangers car or someone offering candy etc..
But look heres a hip app thats gets you places cheaply. It's ok use it, it's cool everyone else is. So yes trust would be a huge advantage. I trust Disney with my safety. Random Uber guy no so much when I have tourist written all over me.

Uber does background checks on their drivers the same way taxi companies do. Sure you can find news articles about Uber drivers behaving badly, but you can find just as many about taxi drivers. The difference being stories about Uber drivers get better clicks, so in turn more coverage.

They don't offer you "free drinks." They will occasionally offer you bottled water or wrapped hard candy (i.e. mints, etc). It is a courtesy and a way to provide better service, considering they are working both for a high rating (drop below a certain level and you're kicked out of the service) and gratuity.

It is important to remember that Uber started simply as a way that licensed livery cars (i.e. towncar drivers) could earn some extra income on the side by driving for Uber in their downtime. Previously their business was exclusively hourly charters or airport transfers. With time (and competition from Lyft) they expanded beyond livery drivers to allow anyone with a semi-decent car to drive for them, with the price going down accordingly.

Whether or not you disagree with their labor practices, they provide a seamless, modern-day service that Disney will have a hard time competing with on a cost basis alone. Disney, for their part, has the edge with brand identity, on-site marketing and inherent trust.

 

[mm121]

Imagine how ****ed the taxi guys must be...

they might be, but not really much they can do about it other than find another line of work

the industry is changing and nothing is going to stop that

I would go as far to say that the busses are overwhelmed more than they aren't. They seriously do not do enough to make them more efficient. More vehicles on the road is not the answer.

do they just not own enough busses? or do they just not want to pay enough drivers? thats the question

With a grand total of 18 Minnie Vans this service is going to fail and fast if they had a couple hundred lined up different story

seeing as that they are using a stock chevrolet vehicle rather than something custom, they can probably buy more real quick as needed, or more likely they might be leasing these until they test the program

i'm sure chevy is giving them a pretty good deal on these as its advertisement for the brand

GPS dispatch would be a good start along with a CM attendant monitoring the bus stops at both ends so buses could be sent to where passengers are waiting not the empty bus at the empty bus stop scenarios seen so often at closing while other stops without buses have huge lines

dont need a physical attendant everywhere, but put up some cameras or sensors or something and have a central station monitor the stops, or maybe there'd be a high tech way of seeing how many magic bands are at a bus stop

I kind of expect them to expand pretty quickly. That number essentially allows them to have one van at each resort. It's going to get overwhelmed pretty quick, but could be enough for them to work out some kinks and get a good plan in place before expanding. They're also going to have to come up with some solutions for wheelchairs, child seats, and varying party sizes. I expect them to eventually have a fleet with a little more variety larger vans maybe even some smaller cars.

i wouldnt think they'd go any smaller then they minnie van name doesnt work.

some bigger ones with the ability for strollers and scooters to be loaded easier would be a good idea though, i'm sure thats one market that would pay a premium for this service not having to deal with the busses for crowds of kids would be a plus for a family

The launch is at two hotels. 18 vehicles is a pretty good number to service that.

Of course, there could be another 300 elsewhere.

how will this work to start? once the 18 start at the 2 hotels and go to the parks, at the parks will they be available to pick up people going anywhere on property, or just back to those 2 resorts?

Seems pretty straightforward - Uber is making money in WDW. Disney found a way to take at least some of that money for themselves, so they'll test it out on a smaller scale at first and see how it goes.

I will still use the free transportation as my primary option but this would be great for things like going to/from your resort to a dinner reservation at a resort across property.

definitely a smart idea to start small and expand, will be intersting to see how they work this

if it will be a request service on the app, or more a walk to a certain spot service

if they havent worked out all the kinks yet could explain the flat rate versus doing a more calculated rate based on time and distance as that would take alot more programing to make backend systems for that

 

[flynnibus]

they might be, but not really much they can do about it other than find another line of work

Taxi services are a heavy regulated industry with lots of local politics. This is not open market dynamics. This is an industry with lobbying.. mixing with a corporation that has very large and critical contracts with other major regional players (Mears). When two 'partners' start under cutting each other.. there is a lot more to the consequences then simply some drivers shifting their career focus

 

[s8film40]

One of the interesting things that Uber did is remove the stigma of taxi drivers. Several years ago I decided to become a Mears taxi driver. I was mostly just interested in how it worked and I was fascinated by the concept of working for myself and not as an employee. I thought it would be a fun side job and I was far more knowledgeable of WDW than the usual taxi driver. The one interesting thing I found is that when I told people I was going to do this they were completely shocked. The perception is that taxi drivers aren't ordinary people, it for some strange reason is looked at as a very low class job. People would respond with things like "why would you do that?" as if it were worse than being a garbage man or a used car salesman or whatever jobs people tend to look down on. Uber essentially offers the exact same thing, they just sell it in a way where people aren't embarrassed to do the job. This is the one piece that Mears and other taxi companies just don't seem to get. Disney will be able to do an even better job of this than Uber on WDW property. This is why I think this will be very successful.

 

[s8film40]

Taxi services are a heavy regulated industry with lots of local politics. This is not open market dynamics. This is an industry with lobbying.. mixing with a corporation that has very large and critical contracts with other major regional players (Mears). When two 'partners' start under cutting each other.. there is a lot more to the consequences then simply some drivers shifting their career focus

Fun fact, there is absolutely no taxi regulation in Orange County outside of the city limits of Orlando (in other words WDW).

 

[flynnibus]

Fun fact, there is absolutely no taxi regulation in Orange County outside of the city limits of Orlando (in other words WDW).

True in a pure sense. Yes, Orlando (incorporated) has it's own Taxi ordinances while Orange County does not. But that doesn't mean the industry isn't free of regulation in Florida... or that they aren't a voice in local politics. Nor is the WDW eco-system sphere limited to just the unincorporated part of town

Would love the local news to get digging on the deals struck between Mears and Disney in this space. (imagine if Disney could even be contracting these drivers from Mears' pool, etc)