News Disney's Magical Express to end after 2021

[RSoxNo1]

In 2005-06 the idea was to trap guests on Disney property with things like additional days on your ticket being $2 more, Disney's Magical Express so you didn't need a car, and Extra Magic Hours.

Now, Universal has dramatically improved their product and Disney eliminates these?

 

[Notes from Neverland]

Our family usually takes these cuts in stride, trying to make the best. But, as annual passholders who fly into Orlando in order to visit, this is likely the straw that breaks our annual pass. Death by a thousand cuts.

 

[nicb88]

Is there an online petition for this yet? I know some may laugh, but if people say nothing, then it definitely won’t cause anything to change.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Wow, this is a real bummer. My wife and I love the Magical Express. Aside from 1 trip with my family as a kid back in 1986 (we stayed off-property, anyway), I've only traveled to WDW in the Magical Express era. I don't always love standing in line for the bus or getting up extra early for the departing bus back to the airport for our morning flight, but there's still something fun about the anticipation as you approach the Magical Express check-in after getting off the plane and watching the videos on the bus ride to the resort. Something tells me that waiting in line for a rental car won't be nearly as much of a fun memory - especially now that the demand for car rentals will increase.

I'm sure this is all about cutting costs (or, being generous, 99% about cutting costs and 1% about misinterpreting guest surveys during the pandemic when the desire to sit on a bus full of strangers is at an all-time low).

 

[corran horn]

Is there an online petition for this yet? I know some may laugh, but if people say nothing, then it definitely won’t cause anything to change.

Spoiler alert, they know this will be massively unpopular and don't care.

 

[Touchdown]

I don’t know why anyone would pay to be at a bus only resort now, the benifit is practically gone. I know it’s expensive but at least monorail, crescent lake and skyliner resorts give you a quicker way to 2 out of 4 parks.

 

[deWild]

Bring in the autonomous pod cars. https://londonist.com/2014/09/a-ride-on-heathrows-self-driving-pods

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Great idea, Disney! Let's make sure everyone and their money has a quick way to get off property and visit Sea World and Universal!

Not to mention, the fact that most guests have a finite amount of money to spend while on vacation (even if that amount is higher for some than for others). Add the cost of a car rental and parking (for non-DVC guests) and you've likely either shortened a family's trip or reduced how much they spend on souvenirs, snacks, etc. in the parks.

I'm sorry if this has all been said already. I'm just hearing about this news and the thread is already 9 pages long so I haven't read everything.

 

[Patcheslee]

Disney will be offering discounted skate board rentals at the airport?

Waiver required, under 12 prohibited

 

[wedenterprises]

Terrible change. Typical Disney.

This, and the removal of EMH makes staying off property SO much more attractive.

 

[TTLUTS]

I can't really think of an occasion in the last 25 years that I have been doing this site that guest pushback on a major decision has made a difference.

Only one I've seen is the reinstatement of photopass photographers (and i don't classify that as a major decision)

 

[larryz]

There has to be more to this decision. This undermines over a decade of business strategy. Forget the impact on guests. This will likely have an appreciable impact on the business.

When you're an ENTERTAINMENT company, why waste cycles running lodging, transportation, food service, etc...?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I hate to be “that guy”...but this is obviously just an excuse to dump a contract. And implement a new charge service if they want.

Uber and Lyft are not siphoning off a high enough percentage to justify this.

And it just is the standard recession stuff: cut everything and see what sticks?

Just a complete change in management philosophy...no desire to keep you there or get you there. The cost of all their “convenient”
Payment up front plans

 

[ThatMouse]

It's sad when ride share and taxi is the cheaper option. Unfortunately we are driving distance to Disney so we're stuck with the resort parking fee no matter what we do. Also sad when being too close to Disney is such a thing.

 

[Lilofan]

That elevated train service from MCO straight to WDW looks like an alternative option if that gets off the ground and gets built.

 

[Imhere]

Haven't we heard the rumor every few months for the past 3 or 4 years that Magical Express is going to end soon? Or, at least, FREE Magical Express.

I don't mind. I used it once and decided climbing out of a small airplane seat and climbing into a small bus seat was not for me.

 

[ptaylor]

So much for Josh D'Amaro doing great things for the parks. Recent decisions have been less than good.

 

[Jrb1979]

I don’t know why anyone would pay to be at any resort now, the benifit is practically gone.

FIFY. The bubble has a big hole in it now. There is no reason to stay on property now. It's much cheaper to get a place to sleep off site and rent a car. I rent though Costco and they have cheap deals.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

That elevated train service from MCO straight to WDW looks like an alternative option if that gets off the ground and gets built.

Sort of. Assuming it's built, dumping off resort guests at Disney Springs isn't the best alternative.

 

[stevebwv]

Very disappointing decision. Remember when Disney was trying to go green (e.g. no plastic straws)? Now they're just packing more cars on the road?

But whom amongst us really believed no straws was a green initiative?