News Disney's Magical Express to end after 2021

[Monorail_Red_77]

We were but are the resort prices going down? No they aren't. You're still paying the fee but not getting the perk.

Yep, just like the former free parking at resorts. Was hidden in resort costs, then they bring in extra pay for parking but no room reduction.

 

[TJJohn12]

And that uncertainty is what makes this all the more confusing. Nothing about the timing of the DME announcement make sense, considering the actual impact is potentially more than 1 year out.

There was no reason to drop this right now.

Are they getting ready to open 2022 bookings? Because that usually happens in summer, right?

Or are they trying to let the anger over this subside BEFORE they open bookings in a few months?

 

[ParentsOf4]

That chart proves a point...but not the same one.

It is direct correlation to recessions. Disney knows that you are never going to “perk” people into going or not. That ended because the Iger regime have driven the prices so high there is no sense in trying to lure in business.

To be clear, Disney's data from their quarterly and annual reports strongly suggests that the introduction of DME in 2005 was a cost-effective investment that helped WDW recover from the post-9/11 doldrums.

DME worked in 2005. However, corporate Disney is now questioning DME's effectiveness in 2021.

Reiterating something I posted earlier, if this turns into a bad financial decision for Disney, we'll see DME quickly return.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

And that uncertainty is what makes this all the more confusing. Nothing about the timing of the DME announcement make sense, considering the actual impact is potentially more than 1 year out.

There was no reason to drop this right now.

I'm sure they have a contract, thus they couldn't just terminate the agreement. That's why it will continue to the end of 2021. I'd wager they'd have ended it sooner if they could do so without penalty.

This may be COVID related. For a lot of people, it's going to be more than a year or two to recover to the point they have discretionary money to spend on a WDW vacation. It's not unrealistic to think 2022 will be a slow year for tourism, and ME just won't be as useful as it is now.

 

[donsullivan]

And that uncertainty is what makes this all the more confusing. Nothing about the timing of the DME announcement make sense, considering the actual impact is potentially more than 1 year out.

There was no reason to drop this right now.

Word is that they are getting ready to open 2022 bookings very soon and needed to have this out there before those started.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I'm aware one of the reasons behind ME was to help keep people in the bubble.

I wonder if they've simply decided this isn't as realistic a proposition any more. With ride sharing being convenient and affordable, combined with Harry Potter making Universal a must-do for families, the number of people willing to only do Disney has surely decreased.

The only thing still keeping people on property is perhaps the ticket pricing structure.

Right?? “There’s more competition, so let’s discontinue a service that keeps people on property but announce resort guests can get into the parks 30 minutes early. That will keep the sheep... errr... guests coming in!”

Whichever “genius” green-lit this decision (I understand it’s a contract thing) should be fired.

 

[ParentsOf4]

And that uncertainty is what makes this all the more confusing. Nothing about the timing of the DME announcement make sense, considering the actual impact is potentially more than 1 year out.

There was no reason to drop this right now.

Trial balloon.

If there's an outcry now, if 2022 bookings are soft, Disney can quickly bring back DME without severe financial impact.

Frankly, it puts Disney in a stronger negotiating position with Mears. "Well... We're thinking of maybe bringing back DME but you're asking too much money..."

 

[Jrb1979]

I keep hearing that people book almost a year in advance. They must also not think that bookings are going to return to pre-Covid levels for awhile.

 

[monothingie]

Are they getting ready to open 2022 bookings? Because that usually happens in summer, right?

Or are they trying to let the anger over this subside BEFORE they open bookings in a few months?

Interestingly it seems that post pandemic travel planning is extremely hot right now. I guess there is much pent up demand. But as to the reality of when that pent up demand can be transformed into actual travel is anyone's guess. If so, this change most affects the repeat guests that know about MDE and frequent WDW, and who are probably yearning to get back to WDW. As to whether it changes anyones eventual plans, who know...But it certainly doesn't help build the WDW brand....right now anway.

 

[note2001]

I still miss seeing this video..It was better than all the others and now we can call this a relic to the past...

If we're going to be renting cars from the airport from 2022 onward, I'm playing this as we get going.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

To be clear, Disney's data from their quarterly and annual reports strongly suggests that the introduction of DME in 2005 was a cost-effective investment that helped WDW recover from the post-9/11 doldrums.

DME worked in 2005. However, corporate Disney is now questioning DME's effectiveness in 2021.

Reiterating something I posted earlier, if this turns into a bad financial decision for Disney, we'll see DME quickly return.

Those quarterly reports are opinions of the numbers...not the same thing as the numbers.

And in that case...it may have helped. But 2005 was the main inflation of the housing bubble. 2005-2007. Everyone was rich!!!

It’s not that hard.

But that’s just the point. This is recession time...all cuts, no builds, higher prices for less.

It is what it is.

 

[monothingie]

I'm sure they have a contract, thus they couldn't just terminate the agreement. That's why it will continue to the end of 2021. I'd wager they'd have ended it sooner if they could do so without penalty.

This may be COVID related. For a lot of people, it's going to be more than a year or two to recover to the point they have discretionary money to spend on a WDW vacation. It's not unrealistic to think 2022 will be a slow year for tourism, and ME just won't be as useful as it is now.

Contractual agreements versus public announcements are two totally different things. Disney could have waited till the day before suspension of services and announced it, even if they knew contractually the service would end months or years prior.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Interestingly it seems that post pandemic travel planning is extremely hot right now. I guess there is much pent up demand. But as to the reality of when that pent up demand can be transformed into actual travel is anyone's guess. If so, this change most affect the repeat guests that know about MDE and frequent WDW, and who are probably yearning to get back to WDW. As to whether is changes anyones eventual plans, who know...But it certainly doesn't help build the WDW brand....right now anway.

I agree with this.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I keep hearing that people book almost a year in advance.

Years ago, this was the case.

Nowadays, Guests book WDW far less in advance than they once did.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This is the 1-2 punch. They announce that they are discontinuing the magical express so guests say "Fine, I will stay offsite" and on the same day they say "oh, and if you stay off site, you will get to the parks 30 minutes after WDW guests have entered". Wow- it is just so....insulting.

That 30 minutes is useless...completely

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Everything is less and less magical. Arriving to the airport and walking to ME felt like we were entering the Disney bubble and we did not have to think about anything else until the end of the trip. What a pity.

But more and more money.

That is the real “m” word

 

[HauntedPirate]

Trial balloon.

If there's an outcry now, if 2022 bookings are soft, Disney can quickly bring back DME without severe financial impact.

Frankly, it puts Disney in a stronger negotiating position with Mears. "Well... We're thinking of maybe bringing back DME but you're asking too much money..."

Anyone want to be a mole for Mears on this site?

“So, Disney, we hear your bookings are down after you announced the end of DME...”

 

[note2001]

I'm expecting to see my 2022 DVC dues estimate go down from 2021.
Stop laughing.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Contractual agreements versus public announcements are two totally different things. Disney could have waited till the day before suspension of services and announced it, even if they knew contractually the service would end months or years prior.

They did have to plan the end and announce it in advance because it's part of people's vacation packages.

 

[Fox&Hound]

But it also mentions the "good neighbors" getting the perk. So why not stay in Flamingo Crossings or in one of the DS area hotels and STILL save money ridesharing to parks every day (plus some/all have a shuttle of sorts, even if less convenient)?

Great point!!!!!