Express Transportation starting Dec 7th

[rael ramone]

Now it is being reported that it will be a bus that will make pickups every 30 minutes...so if you just miss a bus, you will need to wait

The busses in the past once shot for a 20 minute wait... busses that were for all guests...

 

[jt04]

Yes, but you're still waiting on the transportation. You assume you'll be able to walk right up to one of these buses/vans/whatever.

I think they might have posted boarding schedules where you line up for your escort. For example, they will load at the top and bottom of the hour.

 

[Bandini]

Yes, Bandini, you have hit the nail on the head. I, too, was wondering about the number of disabled guests who will surely take advantage of this offer. I'm not talking about the ECV people, but the "mobility challenged" people who have difficulty just walking to the security check in point in each park. I can see this option as being a great opportunity for someone who has difficulty walking the long, long distances to the park entrances. I include my husband in this, as he has a difficult time walking this far due to a back injury with nerve damage. He is going to use a cane and an ECV while in the park, but not all the time. I see this option as an answer for many people who can't walk that far or those that don't want to walk that far, and are okay with missing the "show" at the entrance. Also families with little ones who can't walk very far could see this as a cheap advantage. The possibilities are endless for usage.
Personally, we would not do this. We enjoy the entrances of each park as part of the Disney experience. However, with the cost of $l5.00 per person it would be $30.00 for the first day and 24 for the other 9 days while at the park; pretty cheap alternative for us, and for many others I would guess. I wonder if this is going to backfire on Disney with increased usage and increased wait time for the buses. I can see this system getting overwhelmed, but will wait to see what happens.

It seems like WDW is so busy churning out up sell opportunities that they don't take the time needed to evaluate the feasibility of a project prior to implementation. Case in point the Tiana Dessert party where you can't see the parade.
I wonder if this is really going to be an express ride. It seems that it may be faster to just hop the old fashioned way and go through security.

 

[Luxe]

Everyone claiming overreacting, or that we don't have to pay for it if we don't like it etc etc are so ignorant it's honestly staggering. I wonder what it's like to live covered in pixie dust 24/7, do you have to reapply after a shower?

Disney has decided that improving the existing experience is no longer an option. They don't care that the quality of service in the parks is getting worse. Instead of upgrading, expanding and fixing the current issues with the park, they decide to squeeze as much money out of guests as they possibly can instead. It's insulting. These are NOT solutions to the problems, they are monetized band aids that should not be tolerated by anyone, even if you wipe your own butt with $100 bills every day. People pay a lot of money just to get into the parks and stay at the resorts, but that's not enough for them. They start to remove experiences and upcharge them instead, essentially devaluing your park ticket while increasing the price.

I am deeply saddened by the amount of people that accept this behaviour in a company that was once the pinnacle of entertainment.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

It seems like WDW is so busy churning out up sell opportunities that they don't take the time needed to evaluate the feasibility of a project prior to implementation. Case in point the Tiana Dessert party where you can't see the parade.
I wonder if this is really going to be an express ride. It seems that it may be faster to just hop the old fashioned way and go through security.

I think this was an ill-thought out attempt to counter Uber's piece of the money pie. WDC saw how much people were willing to use Uber and Lyft, and even taxi's instead of waiting for the buses.

 

[jt04]

Everyone claiming overreacting, or that we don't have to pay for it if we don't like it etc etc are so ignorant it's honestly staggering. I wonder what it's like to live covered in pixie dust 24/7, do you have to reapply after a shower?

Disney has decided that improving the existing experience is no longer an option. They don't care that the quality of service in the parks is getting worse. Instead of upgrading, expanding and fixing the current issues with the park, they decide to squeeze as much money out of guests as they possibly can instead. It's insulting. These are NOT solutions to the problems, they are monetized band aids that should not be tolerated by anyone, even if you wipe your own butt with $100 bills every day. People pay a lot of money just to get into the parks and stay at the resorts, but that's not enough for them. They start to remove experiences and upcharge them instead, essentially devaluing your park ticket while increasing the price.

I am deeply saddened by the amount of people that accept this behaviour in a company that was once the pinnacle of entertainment.

They are keeping the busses, monorail, trains, ferries, boats, taxis, Ubers, Lyfts, shuttles and trams. This is just another option.

 

[zakattack99]

First you know that this is a strait up money grab/poorly planned decision by disney because they threw the announcement out with the Friday trash.

Second, the real test of "value" will be if it truly is faster. If a friend and I are at MK and want to go to epcot he takes the new transport option and I take the monorail. Yes I have to go through security twice (for now) but would i arrive faster then him if he has to wait for 30mins for a bus because the first one was full or just left? I would argue that if even if we changed the parks and took buses instead the time might not be much different.

I personally don't see the value or the point.

 

[rael ramone]

It seriously amazes me that more people don't do this. Not only cheaper, but a huge time saver.

I've said this several times.

The best Fastpass a guest can have is access to a rental car (or their own).

 

[Monorail Mike]

During the holiday season, I am 100% on board with this idea! The parks are already super-crowded and this will certainly improve guest/customer satisfaction for those willing to pay for it.
I can guess how this will work by putting on my secret radar Mickey ears.
There will be a cabana-like tent on-stage with a CM in each of the four locations mentioned. The CM will scan your magic band with their iPhone/iPad reader to verify you've paid. They'll give you one of those restaurant beepers and tell you to come back to the tent when it goes off. You're free to wander until then. 5 minutes before bus arrives, you'll turn in the beeper and get put in a holding pen. Next, the CM will escort the group backstage to the waiting bus. The bus will have a full graphics wrap (Marvel, Dr. Strange, whatever) to prevent you from getting a good look or taking pictures backstage. When you arrive at the destination park, they'll scan your magic band again and that's it!

It'll work great for the holiday rush, then quickly be forgotten.

 

[Texas84]

As part of the Disney 1%, I love this idea!

 

[DisneyJoe]

As part of the Disney 1%, I love this idea!

It's not priced for the 1%

 

[Bandini]

They are keeping the busses, monorail, trains, ferries, boats, taxis, Ubers, Lyfts, shuttles and trams. This is just another option.

You don't know that. Is Disney hiring more CM's to drive the express buses, scan tickets and bands, and escort guests out of the backstage areas? I doubt it, so it will be a loss for everyone.

 

[raven]

So many guests think that backstage at Disney must be some magical place. It's actually just a very plain, boring, loud and often smelly area. But once you've seen it, you will never be able to UN see it.

 

[Luxe]

They are keeping the busses, monorail, trains, ferries, boats, taxis, Ubers, Lyfts, shuttles and trams. This is just another option.

I don't care. Instead of fixing the transportation system they charge you extra to avoid it.

 

[DisneyJoe]

During the holiday season, I am 100% on board with this idea! The parks are already super-crowded and this will certainly improve guest/customer satisfaction for those willing to pay for it.
I can guess how this will work by putting on my secret radar Mickey ears.
There will be a cabana-like tent on-stage with a CM in each of the four locations mentioned. The CM will scan your magic band with their iPhone/iPad reader to verify you've paid. They'll give you one of those restaurant beepers and tell you to come back to the tent when it goes off. You're free to wander until then. 5 minutes before bus arrives, you'll turn in the beeper and get put in a holding pen. Next, the CM will escort the group backstage to the waiting bus. The bus will have a full graphics wrap (Marvel, Dr. Strange, whatever) to prevent you from getting a good look or taking pictures backstage. When you arrive at the destination park, they'll scan your magic band again and that's it!

It'll work great for the holiday rush, then quickly be forgotten.

How big will your cabana like tent be? How many guests do you expect to want to use this per hour per route?

It only takes 11 families of 4 to fill a bus - unless they make them stand

 

[jt04]

I don't care. Instead of fixing the transportation system they charge you extra to avoid it.

This could be the start of a Hogwarts Express type option in the distant future. Realities won't let that happen now. But perhaps someday. In the meantime this is a nice choice if guests want it.

 

[Mark hoban]

Beginning Dec 7th, Park hopper tickets can add-on Express Transportation to take them via bus park to park using backstage locations. It will be $15 for the day or if multi-day ticket $24, per person. Runs 10am to park close.

Beginning Dec 7th, Park hopper tickets can add-on Express Transportation to take them via bus park to park using backstage locations. It will be $15 for the day or if multi-day ticket $24, per person. Runs 10am to park close.

Ok,, So I understand charging an additional fee for an additional service,,, thats not whats happening here,,, They have a more efficient way of doing this , I expect that as part of doing business. Plus surrendering the BACK Stage Magic for the privilege of riding a bus.... You know Fast Pass PLUS PLUS will be a Charge for the service. Added cost for Dinner or Lunch at Peak time, Tucking a fee bucks into Roos pouch to get Winnie and Tig to my table quicker in the Crystal Palace,.. whats next ,,, the FAST monorail and standard one,, a fee for having a good seat at a Parade.

 

[FNG]

Is there hard statistical data that the existing transportation services are getting worse? The only issues I have had are at Disney Springs and the waterparks. I have never rented a car and use the existing bus service when I visit almost exclusively. I don't see the issue with offering this service if people are willing to pay for it. If you don't want to, don't do it. When I was there recently and saw for the first time the bus only lanes on Buena Vista drive, I found those and the new bus station to improve that service dramatically. So there is an example of them improving service. We all know that Disney surveys the crap out of people. I think I filled out no less than three related to my recent trip. I don't think they would have implemented this service unless they got some indication from their surveys that there was a market for it.

 

[MisterPenguin]

There's no infrastructure like you see at a normal bus stop. I've been chartered into both MK and Epcot, both times to the locations listed above. You disembark in a service or cast parking area and walk into the park via a normal CM gate.

I'm assuming for this all they'd need would be a CM or 2 with the handheld MB scanners, and maybe an umbrella for them to stand under.

As long as the umbrella stand is appropriately themed, it should be fine!

 

[HauntedPirate]

Park to Park only for now. If Disney sees money for Park to Resort and finds enough vehicles you bet they will consider it..

This is already being offered at the Grand Floridian.