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

[s8film40]

They are not "technically already banned." Disney has cooperated with Uber behind the scenes on some integration and Ubers (or Lyft) complete hundreds of trips on property per day.

Disney has a contract with Mears that gives them the exclusive right to pick up guests for a fare. Disney has trespassed hundreds of drivers for this. If they allow a driver to pick up on their property it puts them in violation of their contract and I can assure you they do take that pretty seriously. I used to manage tthe front entrance area of several of the resorts and I've been a part of many meetings and discussions where strategies have been brainstormed to stop Uber. It technically is solicitation even though it's done through an app. They a while back specifically put up "no soliciting" signs at each resort entrance so that they would have some extra legal ground to stand on when they catch them.

 

[Wsny11]

Again, as I mentioned above. This simply will not happen - ever. They are trying to get a piece of the pie but not the whole pie. Nobody is going to tell a guest coming in from an off-site hotel to get out of their Uber when they hit Disney property. Likewise, Disney is not going to force guests of the Four Seasons, Waldorf or Swan/Dolphin to give up their usage of Uber, as the drivers must traverse Disney roads to get to those resorts. What they have is the advantage of marketing and trust, which will net them exactly what they want in all of this.

Like it or not, Ubers are a safe, cheap and efficient way to get from point A to point B.

I've had this conversation in the Gondola thread. Disney will not punish guests who arrive in Ubers in any way shape or form. They will ban the drivers, and this will only be an issue for trips starting and ending on property. If a guest gets in a banned Uber at a resort, and arrive at the park, it won't be an issue. Again, this is something CITIES have and are doing. A private resort can say no pick ups on property. People keep citing this PR issue of turning customers away in Ubers - that would never happen.

 

[s8film40]

Exactly. And this is bad. Are there going to be 3000 Minnie Vans? No, so they will need to keep the prices high to keep demand low enough for what they have. Once they have Uber out, will the prices stay level? No, they will go up, because pay us if you want to get from resort to resort quickly, you have no other choice.

Uber will likely always find a way. It will just get more and difficult and riskier for the Uber drivers and there will maybe be fewer of them. I expect this to be a battle for several years. Then when autonomous vehicles hit the roads it will probably change things, I don't see Disney coming out in a good position then. I think at that point they'll just make their autonomous vehicles free as a resort benefit and they will probably even mostly replace the busses.

 

[Wsny11]

It's private property. They can tell Uber drivers they are trespassing if on property. If drivers ignore this, pick up a guest and drop them off at Epcot, they will put mouse ears on the guests, welcome them with princesses, and then tresspass the driver. This is not a rider issue. Except that due to the Uber ban riders will be forced to use Minnie vans if they don't want to spend 2 hours travel time going to dinner at a different resort

 

[s8film40]

I've had this conversation in the Gondola thread. Disney will not punish guests who arrive in Ubers in any way shape or form. They will ban the drivers, and this will only be an issue for trips starting and ending on property. If a guest gets in a banned Uber at a resort, and arrives at the park, it won't be an issue. Again, this is something CITIES have and are doing. A private resort can say no pick ups on property. People keep citing this PR issue of turning customers away in Ubers - that would never happen.

Yeah the process could eventually go pretty much like this. Uber driver is identified after dropping off and Disney trespasses the driver. Then they keep a list of banned drivers at the security kiosks or better yet swipe their ID's and check it to a database so then when the banned driver drops off the second time they have them arrested. Pretty simple really, however it's really mostly only effective as a deterrent. There's always more people to replace the ones that get caught.

 

[WDWTrojan]

I've had this conversation in the Gondola thread. Disney will not punish guests who arrive in Ubers in any way shape or form. They will ban the drivers, and this will only be an issue for trips starting and ending on property. If a guest gets in a banned Uber at a resort, and arrive at the park, it won't be an issue. Again, this is something CITIES have and are doing. A private resort can say no pick ups on property. People keep citing this PR issue of turning customers away in Ubers - that would never happen.

Meanwhile, in the real world, this just won't happen. Disney and Uber have already cooperated in a number of ways behind the scenes. 2012 this is not. Cities are being forced to accept Uber. It is a popular, safe and cheap service. Disney is getting a piece of the pie by offering a premium, branded service. Again, they're not going to tell guests of the Four Seasons, Waldorf, Swan, Dolphin or Hilton they can not use Uber since drivers would have to traverse Disney roads. Similarly, Disney Resort guests who want to go to Universal or SeaWorld are not going to be forced to use Mears - that ship sailed long, long ago.

 

[Karakasa]

People who don't want to drive in Orlando and don't want to use Uber/Lyft to have that experience.

I wasn't aware that they'd go outside of Disney property. If so, then this is a wonderful utility.

 

[Wsny11]

Yeah the process could eventually go pretty much like this. Uber driver is identified after dropping off and Disney trespasses the driver. Then they keep a list of banned drivers at the security kiosks or better yet swipe their ID's and check it to a database so then when the banned driver drops off the second time they have them arrested. Pretty simple really, however it's really mostly only effective as a deterrent. There's always more people to replace the ones that get caught.

True, but it will still make inferior what exists today by driving down the number of Ubers. Again, I have no problem with the Minnie vans for people who are willing to pay more for a Disney branded service. I just know that isn't the only goal here, and it really is disheartening. I don't want to spend 2-3 times what I spend now for a service that will almost certainly fall short of what already exists.

 

[Wsny11]

Meanwhile, in the real world, this just won't happen. Disney and Uber have already cooperated in a number of ways behind the scenes. 2012 this is not. Cities are being forced to accept Uber. It is a popular, safe and cheap service. Disney is getting a piece of the pie by offering a premium, branded service. Again, they're not going to tell guests of the Four Seasons, Waldorf, Swan, Dolphin or Hilton they can not use Uber since drivers would have to traverse Disney roads. Similarly, Disney Resort guests who want to go to Universal or SeaWorld are not going to be forced to use Mears - that ship sailed long, long ago.

I hope you are right, seriously.

 

[WDWTrojan]

It's private property. They can tell Uber drivers they are trespassing if on property. If drivers ignore this, pick up a guest and drop them off at Epcot, they will put mouse ears on the guests, welcome them with princesses, and then tresspass the driver. This is not a rider issue. Except that due to the Uber ban riders will be forced to use Minnie vans if they don't want to spend 2 hours travel time going to dinner at a different resort

Except they won't. Guests will want to use ride sharing services to go off-property and if Disney didn't want Uber there or their contract with Mears forbid it, they wouldn't have already been working with them extensively behind the scenes. The exact type of guest they are trying to lure to the resort are the hip, Uber using type of guest who don't mind paying a few extra dollars for convenience. This service is aimed at the luddites who doesn't trust ride sharing services, aren't aware of them or those want to keep themselves in the Disney-bubble the whole trip.

 

[s8film40]

True, but it will still make inferior what exists today by driving down the number of Ubers. Again, I have no problem with the Minnie vans for people who are willing to pay more for a Disney branded service. I just know that isn't the only goal here, and it really is disheartening. I don't want to spend 2-3 times what I spend now for a service that will almost certainly fall short of what already exists.

Yeah, Uber has from the very beginning tried to essentially provide a service that Disney already supplied and profited from while cutting Disney out of the equation. It's only reasonable that they're going to try to find a way to correct that back to the way it was. Uber is a temporary phenomenon, they're a disruptor in the marketplace, but everyone is slowly adapting. Uber knows this themselves, they're really just building a platform for autonomous vehicle sharing, but others like Tesla and many other companies are as well. They'll eventually just be one of many options. There's going to be a lot of changes in this area for years to come.

 

[flynnibus]

Disney has a contract with Mears that gives them the exclusive right to pick up guests for a fare. Disney has trespassed hundreds of drivers for this. If they allow a driver to pick up on their property it puts them in violation of their contract and I can assure you they do take that pretty seriously.

Yet... they have policies and standards for rid eshare locations at the TTC, parks, etc. yet, they readily allow ride shares through resort gates when they identify themselves as ride shares.

Doesn't sound like trespassing and enforcing some ban..

 

[s8film40]

Except they won't. Guests will want to use ride sharing services to go off-property and if Disney didn't want Uber there or their contract with Mears forbid it, they wouldn't have already been working with them extensively behind the scenes. The exact type of guest they are trying to lure to the resort are the hip, Uber using type of guest who don't mind paying a few extra dollars for convenience. This service is aimed at the luddites who doesn't trust ride sharing services, aren't aware of them or those want to keep themselves in the Disney-bubble the whole trip.

You have anything to back up this claim that Disney is working behind the scenes with Uber? Frankly it doesn't make any sense that Disney would risk violating a contract agreeement with no reasonable gain in it for them. It really sounds like some kind of Uber driver rumor.

 

[s8film40]

Yet... they have policies and standards for rid eshare locations at the TTC, parks, etc. yet, they readily allow ride shares through resort gates when they identify themselves as ride shares.

Doesn't sound like trespassing and enforcing some ban..

Drop offs are different than pick ups. I don't really know what to tell you I've personally watched them trespass them.

 

[flynnibus]

Drop offs are different than pick ups. I don't really know what to tell you I've personally watched them trespass them.

What I described was for pickups... and drop offs. They are done at the same spot... and traffic control at the TTC directs them explicitly

 

[s8film40]

What I described was for pickups... and drop offs. They are done at the same spot... and traffic control at the TTC directs them explicitly

Well I don't know maybe they've gotten more lax about it. Either way my point is with Disney taking a bigger interest in the game, I think they will start pushing back more.

If you think a multi-billion dollar company is just going to willingly let some random person drive their personal vehicle onto their property and provide an identical service and steal away business than you might be in for some surprises.

If I pack a cooler with churros and corn dogs and walk in and start selling them on Main Street they're going to shut me down pretty quick. Ride sharing is a little trickier, but you can bet Disney is going to protect their business interests. I think it's likely they're letting things slide for now until they get their system up and fully running.

 

[WDWTrojan]

You have anything to back up this claim that Disney is working behind the scenes with Uber? Frankly it doesn't make any sense that Disney would risk violating a contract agreeement with no reasonable gain in it for them. It really sounds like some kind of Uber driver rumor.

The contract only applies to taxi service. It's got nothing to do with ride sharing and Disney has embraced Uber, even offering ride sharing locations for pick-ups and drop offs at the parks. You obviously have some kind of axe to grind about it.

Here's an article that specifically quotes the ways in which Disney has gone out of its way to embrace the technology:

"Disney said it has made some other changes aimed at Uber drivers over the past year, including working with the company to designate specific pickup and drop-off areas.

Last fall, a Disney spokeswoman said, the resort lifted parking fees that drivers paid to pass through the theme park gates...

Disney and Uber didn't provide numbers of customers using the service at the resort — though Correoso said Orlando usage 'has grown significantly.'"

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-disney-uber-fifo-20160621-story.html

 

[s8film40]

The contract only applies to taxi service. It's got nothing to do with ride sharing and Disney has embraced Uber, even offering ride sharing locations for pick-ups and drop offs at the parks. You obviously have some kind of axe to grind about it.

Here's an article that specifically quotes the ways in which Disney has gone out of its way to embrace the technology:

"Disney said it has made some other changes aimed at Uber drivers over the past year, including working with the company to designate specific pickup and drop-off areas.

Last fall, a Disney spokeswoman said, the resort lifted parking fees that drivers paid to pass through the theme park gates...

Disney and Uber didn't provide numbers of customers using the service at the resort — though Correoso said Orlando usage 'has grown significantly.'"

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-disney-uber-fifo-20160621-story.html

Huh, well admittedly I've been out of the business a couple of years. I have no axe to grind, I've found the whole thing interesting to watch over the past few years and I've definitely seen firsthand Disney take a very hard stance against Uber. In any case I expect that will change. They're not going to build this new business just to share it with someone else freely.

 

[WDWTrojan]

Huh, well admittedly I've been out of the business a couple of years. I have no axe to grind, I've found the whole thing interesting to watch over the past few years and I've definitely seen firsthand Disney take a very hard stance against Uber. In any case I expect that will change. They're not going to build this new business just to share it with someone else freely.

90% of WDW visitors don't even contemplate using Uber on property, either because they don't know its available, they're unfamiliar with the service, they're opposed to the companies themselves or it just didn't occur to them. This is the primary market Disney is going after. By aggressively marketing and having Minnievans out front of each resort, they're tapping into new users. Additionally, they are probably looking to some kind of integration into MDE, so that you can pre-purchase/schedule rides based around dining reservations, etc. the added convenience is where they hope to woo potential Uber users. None of this goes to access - if these vehicles can drop-off/pick-up in closer locations than Uber (i.e. backstage or at MK Main Gate) you have an even greater benefit.

 

[Uncle Lupe]

90% of WDW visitors don't even contemplate using Uber on property, either because they don't know its available, they're unfamiliar with the service, they're opposed to the companies themselves or it just didn't occur to them. This is the primary market Disney is going after. By aggressively marketing and having Minnievans out front of each resort, they're tapping into new users. Additionally, they are probably looking to some kind of integration into MDE, so that you can pre-purchase/schedule rides based around dining reservations, etc. the added convenience is where they hope to woo potential Uber users. None of this goes to access - if these vehicles can drop-off/pick-up in closer locations than Uber (i.e. backstage or at MK Main Gate) you have an even greater benefit.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

If you need to use this service to make an ADR that you made 180 days ago then spend the money. Resort to resort transport can be a pain but I don't plan that way. I might try it if it was $20 round trip. Like a resort guest perk, maybe. Scan your band please.

This just magnifies the failure of WDW to invest in transportation over the years and now they are playing catch up. Here is a gondola, Minnie van, private backstage bus all trying to fill needed capacity and make a dollar at the same time. We have the space, the parks, the resorts, the shopping, the dining but good luck getting there in anything under an hour without paying extra. The gondola system is "free" but I would think the linked resorts will have a slightly higher base rate.

With the magic bands I would think the existing bus system could be so much more efficient. Send buses where the demand is and not let an empty bus leave a station when 40 feet away is a crowd of people waiting for a ride. That is what is frustrating about the current system.

Spoiler

Monorail Expansion and modernization not soccer momapalooza