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

[WDWTrojan]

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.

Spoiler

Monorail Expansion and modernization not soccer momapalooza

Watch that resort fee tick right up.

 

[ford91exploder]

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.

You forget one thing Disney is the kind of company who can (and did) screw up a free lunch (the hurricane boxes) that's why I think success is not assured here

 

[s8film40]

You forget one thing Disney is the kind of company who can (and did) screw up a free lunch (the hurricane boxes) that's why I think success is not assured here

Yeah definitely, I expect they'll make some mistakes with this. Mears, Uber and other car services operate at such a low level of service though that Disney can fail at this pretty hard and still come out looking better.

I'm really curious what business model they're using to do this. Will they just pay the drivers an hourly rate or go a more traditional route, will they allow tipping, these are the things I can see them messing up quite a bit.

 

[DougK]

only if the wheelchairs or ecv's "fold up" to fit in the "truck area" though would suck to be a driver and have to load those in and out

I am sorry it sucks for them. It sucks having to be in a wheelchair too.

 

[The_Jobu]

screw up a free lunch

Wasn't part of the outrage the fact that they weren't free lunches, they were $12 lunches?

 

[deeevo]

Minnie van at Boardwalk... per Twitter

 

[wdwmagic]

View attachment 215838

I believe the are security vans. They are Chevy Equinox, Minnie Vans is using Traverse, the larger SUV.

 

[ford91exploder]

Wasn't part of the outrage the fact that they weren't free lunches, they were $12 lunches?

Yes but according to some of the insiders they were SUPPOSED TO BE FREE, the real screwup was that the lunches were supposed to be ACCOUNTED for at 12 each, which makes sense as Disney likely has business interruption insurance and while the ingredients were cheap distribution was not.

But some idiot middle manager did not bother reading the memo and instead billed everyone.

So Disney indeed screwed up a free lunch.

 

[mm121]

Minnie van at Boardwalk... per Twitter

these could definitely be successful if they have them always available outside the resorts

versus having the resort "request a taxi"

If thats the system they are going to use instead of an app based system, this may turn out to be more taxi competition than uber competition

 

[s8film40]

these could definitely be successful if they have them always available outside the resorts

versus having the resort "request a taxi"

If thats the system they are going to use instead of an app based system, this may turn out to be more taxi competition than uber competition

Taxis and Uber are actually essentially the exact same thing. The only real difference is Uber doesn't wait at a stand. It will compete with both Uber and Taxis.

 

[mm121]

Taxis and Uber are actually essentially the exact same thing. The only real difference is Uber doesn't wait at a stand. It will compete with both Uber and Taxis.

they may be the same as in yes they both provide transportation

i can see them attracting different customer bases

some people just want to walk out and have a ride waiting for them and dont think about the cost,

while uber customers are specifically looking for the low cost option unless their using a premium service

while many older people are becoming more techno advanced, some still prefer the "old fashioned" way of doing things and as such would never request an uber on their phones

 

[ford91exploder]

they may be the same as in yes they both provide transportation

i can see them attracting different customer bases

some people just want to walk out and have a ride waiting for them and dont think about the cost,

while uber customers are specifically looking for the low cost option unless their using a premium service

while many older people are becoming more techno advanced, some still prefer the "old fashioned" way of doing things and as such would never request an uber on their phones

The people I know use Uber because they know when the Uber driver is going to show up, With a cab it's well it will be there in the next hour unless the driver finds a better fare in which case you are screwed. Time IS money and Uber has recognized this by introducing surge pricing in which both rates and driver pay increase during high demand periods. Yet still prefer Uber/Lyft vs cabs I wonder why

 

[s8film40]

they may be the same as in yes they both provide transportation

i can see them attracting different customer bases

some people just want to walk out and have a ride waiting for them and dont think about the cost,

while uber customers are specifically looking for the low cost option unless their using a premium service

while many older people are becoming more techno advanced, some still prefer the "old fashioned" way of doing things and as such would never request an uber on their phones

Yeah different groups of people will gravitate to one or the other, but it's the same customer base. If either one didn't exist those people would use the other.

 

[mm121]

The people I know use Uber because they know when the Uber driver is going to show up, With a cab it's well it will be there in the next hour unless the driver finds a better fare in which case you are screwed. Time IS money and Uber has recognized this by introducing surge pricing in which both rates and driver pay increase during high demand periods. Yet still prefer Uber/Lyft vs cabs I wonder why

at least that wouldn't be a problem with the Minnie Vans since the drivers pay most likely isnt connected to the rides provided other than possibly tips

 

[deeevo]

I believe the are security vans. They are Chevy Equinox, Minnie Vans is using Traverse, the larger SUV.

I think that is a Traverse. Equinox's are smaller.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Well I think its fine for Disney to get in to market of private shuttles. I will continue to use Lyft & Uber because its a better price point for my family. All the orlando Lyft & Uber drivers I've encountered were knowledgeable and friendly.

If Disney does ban Lyft or Uber, at the $20 per way price tag, I would most likely rent a car. As we used Uber & Lyft about 4+ times during our 10 day trips.

But I'm sure plenty of people will love this new service. I'm assuming they carry car seats like Uber family?

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Taxis and Uber are actually essentially the exact same thing. The only real difference is Uber doesn't wait at a stand. It will compete with both Uber and Taxis.

They are the same, however Uber/Lyft are cheaper than taxis. Many people are still more comfortable taking a Taxi than Uber/Lyft. So I can understand why people see this as competing with Taxis only.

 

[wdwmagic]

these could definitely be successful if they have them always available outside the resorts

versus having the resort "request a taxi"

If thats the system they are going to use instead of an app based system, this may turn out to be more taxi competition than uber competition

It will be app based. But also likely to be there waiting.

 

[MattyBear]

I think $20 a ride is a little too high. They might bring the price down when they bring more cars into the market. Any information on when the app will be available?

 

[JUFL2019]

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.

Just FYI There are signs at the theme parks that say Uber/Lyft Staging area. So clearly they aren't "banned".