News Disney's Magical Express to end after 2021

[UNCgolf]

Most hotels in the world charge rates based on market conditions / demand.

You're not still being charged for DME. You are being charged for a room at the rate the market will support. That's how it works all over the world.

You're taking something relatively complicated and trying to distill it down to a simple concept, but you're fundamentally misunderstanding how hotel pricing works.

The room rates were originally set with DME as part of the underlying basis for that price point. Since people are still booking the rooms (maybe? I think there's been some indication that hotel bookings are down), Disney has no reason to reduce the price, but that means guests essentially are still paying for a service that no longer exists. They just don't care -- which isn't that surprising, considering most hotel guests were always paying for it without using it.

 

[el_super]

You're taking something complicated and trying to distill it down to something simple so that you sound correct, but you're fundamentally misunderstanding how hotel pricing works.

No... pretty sure I am right here. Are you really trying to say that hotels across the country only set their pricing based on their costs and nothing else?

 

[MR.Dis]

You're taking something relatively complicated and trying to distill it down to a simple concept, but you're fundamentally misunderstanding how hotel pricing works.

The room rates were originally set with DME as part of the underlying basis for that price point. Since people are still booking the rooms (maybe? I think there's been some indication that hotel bookings are down), Disney has no reason to reduce the price, but that means guests essentially are still paying for a service that no longer exists. They just don't care -- which isn't that surprising, considering most hotel guests were always paying for it without using it.

And let us take this one step further. Disney's room rates have nothing to do with market. Anyone who has stayed at a non Disney hotel can attest to how much less the rates are. Disney is a Bubble and they make their own rules on room rates.

 

[Skibum1970]

And let us take this one step further. Disney's room rates have nothing to do with market. Anyone who has stayed at a non Disney hotel can attest to how much less the rates are. Disney is a Bubble and they make their own rules on room rates.

Agree, although I would argue that Disney is a market until itself. Disney will charge what they think people will pay because they are Disney. Disney rates do not correspond to the actual market rates for the Orlando area, as you stated, and one could argue that Universal is the same (though UNI Express Pass is a huge benefit to staying at the upper level of hotels). So, it does come down to a market rate that is driven by consumer appetite. If the appetite changes, Disney starts discounting rooms and may have to adjust their prices.

The lack of Magical Express hurt, though. We did use it and actually looked forward to boarding the bus as that felt like the start of our vacation. To eliminate such a benefit and not reduce pricing is aggravating. We do still stay onsite as we love staying at Port Orleans but now rent a car, which is an added expense that we choose. Having the rental means that we can go offsite for food more easily and we have faster transportation to any park except for the Magic Kingdom. Still, we would rather have the Magical Express and would rather not have to pay for the rental car or Uber.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

The lack of Magical Express hurt, though. We did use it and actually looked forward to boarding the bus as that felt like the start of our vacation.

I think Disney underestimates how much things like MDE contributed to the Disney “magic”. I’d argue the vacation started even earlier thanks to the mail associated with the perks.

Getting your magic bands in the mail was always an exciting day, getting your MDE luggage tags in the mail was always an exciting day, it all built anticipation and excitement for the vacation. I’ll never forget my first trip when I checked my luggage at the airport in Vegas and it “magically” turned up in my room at POFQ. I’m glad I got to experience that “magic” before it was taken away.

I still love Disney but it’s a lessor experience now and that’s pretty sad.

 

[bjlc57]

i just see this as a sign that Disney will bring back the magical express.. i just think that any thing THEY CAN DO TO MAKE THIS MORE MAGICAL they have to do it.. even if you are "paying for it" and you don't know it.. its better then having to book this your self..

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

i just see this as a sign that Disney will bring back the magical express.. i just think that any thing THEY CAN DO TO MAKE THIS MORE MAGICAL they have to do it.. even if you are "paying for it" and you don't know it.. its better then having to book this your self..

As I had mentioned you'd pay for it as a separate option with the luggage pickup and call it Disney DIRECT.

 

[Tha Realest]

So why didn't demand for the hotels shrink from 21 through 22 when DME was discontinued?

If DME was critical to the experience, so much so to justify the higher prices in hotel rates, over what the market would normally see, why didn't that demand shrink in the, literally years, after DME was announced to cease operations?

Was it just not that important to people?

Demand has nothing to do with the other posters’ arguments that we were “paying” for DME all along. So in 2019 when a room was price X, that included DME. Now, room prices are X + (35% of X)…and no DME.

As I’ve said over and over again, what was once free now costs money, and what used to cost money now costs more.

 

[LSLS]

No... pretty sure I am right here. Are you really trying to say that hotels across the country only set their pricing based on their costs and nothing else?

No, he's saying that their costs are factored in. They might raise it higher or lower based on demand at times, but the price they set it at absolutely considers their expenses.

 

[jpeden]

As I had mentioned you'd pay for it as a separate option with the luggage pickup and call it Disney DIRECT.

We have always discussed this Commander. We shall call it Disney Bus +

 

[Rhinocerous]

Maybe but Uber and Lyft aren’t nearly as cheap as they once where. They became famous because they were extraordinarily cheaper than taxis. Although there still a better deal it’s not the absurd difference it once was.

That’s for sure. A few weeks ago an Uber from MCO was double what we paid on our last trip four years ago.

 

[matt9112]

That’s for sure. A few weeks ago an Uber from MCO was double what we paid on our last trip four years ago.

Yeah the flexibility over a taxi is still a valid point but cost hardly is. It’s better sure but yeah. Always ground my gears that with An AP and the old resort parking rules I had to pay…. Like I legitimately couldn’t take a plane into orlando if I wanted…. Fly from orlando to orlando I guess?

 

[Incomudro]

I think Disney underestimates how much things like MDE contributed to the Disney “magic”. I’d argue the vacation started even earlier thanks to the mail associated with the perks.

Getting your magic bands in the mail was always an exciting day, getting your MDE luggage tags in the mail was always an exciting day, it all built anticipation and excitement for the vacation. I’ll never forget my first trip when I checked my luggage at the airport in Vegas and it “magically” turned up in my room at POFQ. I’m glad I got to experience that “magic” before it was taken away.

I still love Disney but it’s a lessor experience now and that’s pretty sad.

100%
It was all part of the excitement of the trip - particularly with kids involved.
One of those many things that made Disney - "Disney" that have been eroded away.

 

[JD80]

I think Disney underestimates how much things like MDE contributed to the Disney “magic”. I’d argue the vacation started even earlier thanks to the mail associated with the perks.

Getting your magic bands in the mail was always an exciting day, getting your MDE luggage tags in the mail was always an exciting day, it all built anticipation and excitement for the vacation. I’ll never forget my first trip when I checked my luggage at the airport in Vegas and it “magically” turned up in my room at POFQ. I’m glad I got to experience that “magic” before it was taken away.

I still love Disney but it’s a lessor experience now and that’s pretty sad.

I talk about this all the time. For repeat guests there was a cadence to a WDW vacation that got you excited and prepped for everything.

180 Days - Booked ADRs which got you thinking about your trip
60 Days - Booked FP which got you excited - trip is 2 months away!
30 Days - Magic Bands arrived in a cool package. Trips is almost here! Got my luggage tags etc.

It was almost like a ritual and there was a certain cadence behind it. Now it's just pay, book some dining and then seeya when you get here. When everything was in place you were reminded that you have a trip coming up and it felt different than any other vacation.

 

[Incomudro]

I talk about this all the time. For repeat guests there was a cadence to a WDW vacation that got you excited and prepped for everything.

180 Days - Booked ADRs which got you thinking about your trip
60 Days - Booked FP which got you excited - trip is 2 months away!
30 Days - Magic Bands arrived in a cool package. Trips is almost here! Got my luggage tags etc.

It was almost like a ritual and there was a certain cadence behind it. Now it's just pay, book some dining and then seeya when you get here. When everything was in place you were reminded that you have a trip coming up and it felt different than any other vacation.

Add to that, the current negative and stress of getting on your phone before 7AM and working like a maniac on Genie+ to try to secure Lightning Lanes.

 

[MR.Dis]

I loved the DME as much as anyone. The ease of getting off a plane, strolling to the bus to my resort, and having my luggage appear. Even bigger, having the ability to check our luggage at the resort upon leaving and not have to get it checked at MCO which we all know is a nightmare. The truth is DME is not coming back. Mears had all the numbers and knew the number of people who used it. They already had the expertise. So they could monetize this to maximum their profit. There is no way Mears will agree to be Disney's carrier again unless they will increase their profits (and we all know Disney is not in the habit of over paying their vendors). There is really no bad guy here, Disney did not want to overpay and Mears wants to maximize profits.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

There is really no bad guy here, Disney did not want to overpay and Mears wants to maximize profits.

I’m sure all of Disney’s partners want to maximize profits and Disney continues to work with them.

 

[dreday3]

While I liked the DME because it was free and it was the "start" of vacation - honestly Uber was so much better this last trip for the two of us. We were off the plane, grabbed our bags and at hotel in less than an hour from landing! No stops, it was nice. Even if DME came back, I don't think we'd use it again.

I know it's different for families, those traveling with a lot of luggage or people with physical limitations though. DME was a big benefit loss for them. And I do miss airline check-in at the resorts immensely.

 

[Mousebucks6]

While I liked the DME because it was free and it was the "start" of vacation - honestly Uber was so much better this last trip for the two of us. We were off the plane, grabbed our bags and at hotel in less than an hour from landing! No stops, it was nice. Even if DME came back, I don't think we'd use it again.

I know it's different for families, those traveling with a lot of luggage or people with physical limitations though. DME was a big benefit loss for them. And I do miss airline check-in at the resorts immensely.

Uber for 2 is a great thing. When it's 8, it becomes much more complicated (and costly). That's where DME was great for our party. Simple to plan and just roll with the start to the trip.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Ubers also don't fit a standard family of 4 with young kids and luggage/stroller. Even an Uber XL doesn't.