Is DisneyParks now using COVID to make changes they always wanted to do and use COVID to justify them?

[Disneyfanman]

I am just fascinated by this discussion. I have never used ME in all of my trips because I stay offsite mostly, and have rented a car even when we have stayed on property. The resort parking fees had me planning a trip this fall to stay on property BUT use ME. I cancelled the trip because of COVID (I thought 2022 sounded better). Now I am thinking about 2022 and staying offsite again. So the resort fees had me consider staying on-site and using ME, and now I am looking at staying offsite.

Everyone I know that has stayed onsite has spoken about ME as a big reason why they chose to do so. The convenience of not worrying about transport and luggage. They raved about it. I was going to spend more money on property to use it.

Now it's ending. I think Disney has lost their minds with this one. My friends are talking more about than the Splash Mountain thing. And I know a lot of people who visit WDW from the west coast. This will change behaviors.

 

[NickMaio]

I am just fascinated by this discussion. I have never used ME in all of my trips because I stay offsite mostly, and have rented a car even when we have stayed on property. The resort parking fees had me planning a trip this fall to stay on property BUT use ME. I cancelled the trip because of COVID (I thought 2022 sounded better). Now I am thinking about 2022 and staying offsite again. So the resort fees had me consider staying on-site and using ME, and now I am looking at staying offsite.

Everyone I know that has stayed onsite has spoken about ME as a big reason why they chose to do so. The convenience of not worrying about transport and luggage. They raved about it. I was going to spend more money on property to use it.

Now it's ending. I think Disney has lost their minds with this one. My friends are talking more about than the Splash Mountain thing. And I know a lot of people who visit WDW from the west coast. This will change behaviors.

Yes it will.
We wont stay on site at WDW anymore.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Yes it will.
We wont stay on site at WDW anymore.

Not for me, but I stay offsite anyway and the time I stayed onsite I had a car so ME was never something I would use. Besides that I was a bus driver for a while and the last thing I wanted to do was spend time on a bus.

 

[MikeyK72]

I am just fascinated by this discussion. I have never used ME in all of my trips because I stay offsite mostly, and have rented a car even when we have stayed on property. The resort parking fees had me planning a trip this fall to stay on property BUT use ME. I cancelled the trip because of COVID (I thought 2022 sounded better). Now I am thinking about 2022 and staying offsite again. So the resort fees had me consider staying on-site and using ME, and now I am looking at staying offsite.

Everyone I know that has stayed onsite has spoken about ME as a big reason why they chose to do so. The convenience of not worrying about transport and luggage. They raved about it. I was going to spend more money on property to use it.

Now it's ending. I think Disney has lost their minds with this one. My friends are talking more about than the Splash Mountain thing. And I know a lot of people who visit WDW from the west coast. This will change behaviors.

I understand what you are saying...at first DW and I thought the same about DME and how convenient it was. But that magic wears off eventually. We have been DVC members for 10 years now and travel from PA to WDW 2 or 3 times per year (at least once with golf clubs). At first we loved DME because of the convenience but with each trip the small little DME annoyances started to feel bigger and bigger to the point where we just Uber now. Annoyances? Like what you ask?

Well, it all starts at the DME checkin. Before you stand in line for the bus, you get to stand in line to checkin with DME. Inevitably there will be parties in front of you who don't have their magic band or their magic bands aren't working. This is the same fun as picking the wrong grocery line and watching people in lines to either side of you fly through while you stand there.

Now you're checked in and head toward your numbered bus line. When you don't have a line at all in your lane it can be a good sign because the bus may already be there waiting for more folks so you walk right on (the is the best scenario). Otherwise an empty lane means the bus just left so you're in for about 15 minutes wait before another bus gets there and then another 15 minutes wait after you get on the bus for more folks to arrive to fill it. At this point, you almost could have been at your resort already had you rented a car or taken a cab/Uber.

So then the bus pulls away and off you go. After roughly 30 minutes you're crossing under the WDW arch...but are you going to your resort? Sorry to disappoint but probably not. Odds are that you are headed to one or two other resorts first before you get to your resort..."the tour" we call it. And with each stop on the tour, you sit and wait while folks deboard and the driver fumbles in the luggage storage area under the bus grabbing the luggage people brought with them.

Although you may be staying at a Deluxe resort, you had the pleasure of touring a couple of value resorts first. I'm estimating here, but from the time you get off the plane it's probably like 1.5 hours before you deboard at your resort. You can certainly get lucky and have no lines at the DME checkin, the bus lane, and be the first resort on the tour...but we're usually not that lucky.

 

[Robbiem]

Of course they are. A few more examples would be getting rid of the equity performers and long standing entertainment around the resort.

The Disney of today like a lot of companies is about doing things for minimum cost. At the moment there is only a ‘hard core’ of people willing to visit the resort and they will go no matter what so why provide services when you don’t need to. When things recover and people start traveling again they might bring back things if entices people to revisit but somethings like the dinner shows will probably never return

 

[HarperRose]

I understand what you are saying...at first DW and I thought the same about DME and how convenient it was. But that magic wears off eventually. We have been DVC members for 10 years now and travel from PA to WDW 2 or 3 times per year (at least once with golf clubs). At first we loved DME because of the convenience but with each trip the small little DME annoyances started to feel bigger and bigger to the point where we just Uber now. Annoyances? Like what you ask?

Well, it all starts at the DME checkin. Before you stand in line for the bus, you get to stand in line to checkin with DME. Inevitably there will be parties in front of you who don't have their magic band or their magic bands aren't working. This is the same fun as picking the wrong grocery line and watching people in lines to either side of you fly through while you stand there.

Now you're checked in and head toward your numbered bus line. When you don't have a line at all in your lane it can be a good sign because the bus may already be there waiting for more folks so you walk right on (the is the best scenario). Otherwise an empty lane means the bus just left so you're in for about 15 minutes wait before another bus gets there and then another 15 minutes wait after you get on the bus for more folks to arrive to fill it. At this point, you almost could have been at your resort already had you rented a car or taken a cab/Uber.

So then the bus pulls away and off you go. After roughly 30 minutes you're crossing under the WDW arch...but are you going to your resort? Sorry to disappoint but probably not. Odds are that you are headed to one or two other resorts first before you get to your resort..."the tour" we call it. And with each stop on the tour, you sit and wait while folks deboard and the driver fumbles in the luggage storage area under the bus grabbing the luggage people brought with them.

Although you may be staying at a Deluxe resort, you had the pleasure of touring a couple of value resorts first. I'm estimating here, but from the time you get off the plane it's probably like 1.5 hours before you deboard at your resort. You can certainly get lucky and have no lines at the DME checkin, the bus lane, and be the first resort on the tour...but we're usually not that lucky.

You're on your way to WDW and you're complaining about *checks notes* waiting and standing in line?

 

[MikeyK72]

You're on your way to WDW and you're complaining about *checks notes* waiting and standing in line?

I wouldn't say it's complaining...just trying to explain why after 20 or so DME experiences we felt that the Uber fare was justifiable because DME became ever so slightly more annoying each time.

I understand your point above though and how my comments would seem silly if indeed our primary purpose for visiting WDW was to go to the parks. However, DW and I hardly spend time in the parks on our trips...the parks are not are primary reason for visiting. Plenty of days we won't go to the parks at all, for instance if we're golfing that day. Days we do plan to go to the parks we're still only there for a couple of hours and then off to the pool or lounge or whatever.

 

[networkpro]

Of course they are. A few more examples would be getting rid of the equity performers and long standing entertainment around the resort.

The Disney of today like a lot of companies is about doing things for minimum cost. At the moment there is only a ‘hard core’ of people willing to visit the resort and they will go no matter what so why provide services when you don’t need to. When things recover and people start traveling again they might bring back things if entices people to revisit but somethings like the dinner shows will probably never return

I disagree with your "hardcore" comment as not all situations are equal. We've been twice since reopening and have enjoyed it with the reduced offerings because likewise the crowds have been reduced as well. The lack of the crushing masses is wonderful. No dining plans, no fast pass, no worries. When Flower and Garden (or a taste of) rolls around we'll be ready to go again.

 

[Trackmaster]

DW and I have been using Uber to go back to MCO for a few trips now...typically in the $30 range for the small sedan

That's with the Magical Express in place. If the entire guest population of Disney all of the sudden starts hailing rides, its going to push that into the $60-70 range (each way) and MCO is going to start jacking up the airport surcharges.

There's a reason that major cities have bus and train systems. When large amounts of people are all going from the one location to another consistently it makes no sense to put them all in individualized vehicles. The stress of putting that many more cars on the road makes no sense when they could all be but in a smaller number of vehicles.

 

[Trackmaster]

I'm not sure if you're aware or not, but the baggage delivery service upon arriving has been discontinued.

Right, and the argument could have been "Maybe they could have gotten rid of the baggage service" (if it was already not discontinued). The baggage service is fine, but its pretty trivial compared to not forcing guests to Uber or get a rental car.

 

[drizgirl]

That's with the Magical Express in place. If the entire guest population of Disney all of the sudden starts hailing rides, its going to push that into the $60-70 range (each way) and MCO is going to start jacking up the airport surcharges.

There's a reason that major cities have bus and train systems. When large amounts of people are all going from the one location to another consistently it makes no sense to put them all in individualized vehicles. The stress of putting that many more cars on the road makes no sense when they could all be but in a smaller number of vehicles.

If Disney really cared about the environment, they'd take the monetary hit and keep DME in place. Can't get a bag in their store, but now they want to be responsible for all those extra individual vehicles on the road?

 

[Skibum1970]

I'm a bit late to this forum but the title reminds of the famous quote (dating back to Winston Churchill and even prior), "Never let a good crisis go to waste."

 

[Trackmaster]

If Disney really cared about the environment, they'd take the monetary hit and keep DME in place. Can't get a bag in their store, but now they want to be responsible for all those extra individual vehicles on the road?

Not so much about the environment. Its more about the extra traffic that it causes. I understand your argument that Disney may not have a reason to care about externalities. If I were the government locally I'd force Disney to make accommodations for tourists in order to manage traffic flow as a price of getting the benefits of doing business in Orlando.

From Disney's perspective, from a free market standpoint, they've lost their minds. Putting rental car keys in the hands of those guests is like giving them a loaded gun. Good-bye weeklong "Vacay Mode" at Disney, and hello stopping off at Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland, BGT, Fun Spot, etc. as they squeeze a day or two in at Disney to get the rides in between off-site meal reservations.

 

[drizgirl]

Not so much about the environment. Its more about the extra traffic that it causes. I understand your argument that Disney may not have a reason to care about externalities. If I were the government locally I'd force Disney to make accommodations for tourists in order to manage traffic flow as a price of getting the benefits of doing business in Orlando.

From Disney's perspective, from a free market standpoint, they've lost their minds. Putting rental car keys in the hands of those guests is like giving them a loaded gun. Good-bye weeklong "Vacay Mode" at Disney, and hello stopping off at Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland, BGT, Fun Spot, etc. as they squeeze a day or two in at Disney to get the rides in between off-site meal reservations.

They really need someone telling them to do the right thing? We don't have any local laws on plastic bags yet they don't use them in their store. Nobody is forcing them.

Are they a progressive socially responsible company or aren't they?

 

[Trackmaster]

They really need someone telling them to do the right thing? We don't have any local laws on plastic bags yet they don't use them in their store. Nobody is forcing them.

Are they a progressive socially responsible company or aren't they?

I just don't want millions of extra vacay-moders clogging up I-4 with Ubers and rental cars. Use all the plastic straws that you want.

 

[drizgirl]

I just don't want millions of extra vacay-moders clogging up I-4 with Ubers and rental cars. Use all the plastic straws that you want.

That's fine. Others might also be interested in other issues.

 

[UNCgolf]

That's with the Magical Express in place. If the entire guest population of Disney all of the sudden starts hailing rides, its going to push that into the $60-70 range (each way) and MCO is going to start jacking up the airport surcharges.

There's a reason that major cities have bus and train systems. When large amounts of people are all going from the one location to another consistently it makes no sense to put them all in individualized vehicles. The stress of putting that many more cars on the road makes no sense when they could all be but in a smaller number of vehicles.

Exactly. I feel like a lot of people are looking at the current prices to/from the airport and thinking it will stay that way. As you said, the airport will almost certainly start charging a fee (or a higher fee) to rideshare companies, which they will pass on to the riders. And they will likely also increase their own rates in general -- there are places where Uber and Lyft has a special surcharge for airport trips, and I imagine Orlando will join that list as the number of riders increases.

I also wonder how the Orlando airport will handle the traffic. The Atlanta airport doesn't allow Uber and Lyft to go through the regular traffic circles for pick up and drop off to help with congestion. You have to get your bags at baggage claim and then walk to another area (it's like a 5-10 minute walk at one of the terminals) as opposed to being able to just head straight out of the doors.

 

[MikeyK72]

Exactly. I feel like a lot of people are looking at the current prices to/from the airport and thinking it will stay that way. As you said, the airport will almost certainly start charging a fee (or a higher fee) to rideshare companies, which they will pass on to the riders. And they will likely also increase their own rates in general -- there are places where Uber and Lyft has a special surcharge for airport trips, and I imagine Orlando will join that list as the number of riders increases.

I also wonder how the Orlando airport will handle the traffic. The Atlanta airport doesn't allow Uber and Lyft to go through the regular traffic circles for pick up and drop off to help with congestion. You have to get your bags at baggage claim and then walk to another area (it's like a 5-10 minute walk at one of the terminals) as opposed to being able to just head straight out of the doors.

If the ride-share prices go up, what can we do about it really?

To me, this is just another of many add-on charges to a WDW trip that weren't there in the recent past.

• Like the golf courses now charging you to hold your bags overnight
• Like paying to park at your resort
• Like ending a normal park day (which we pay full price for) at 6 or 7pm so we can pay another full park admission to stay the evening for a Halloween or Christmas party. (Note: Remember the days when a park ticket meant you could go to the park that whole day? What a concept! It was nice huh?)

As an alternative to DME and the yet to be available train, we can rent a car and choose to pay for it plus parking at the resort or hail a $70 Uber each way which I'd bet is still less expensive.

 

[networkpro]

Are they a progressive socially responsible company or aren't they?

Only when optics are an issue. They are a business first.

 

[drizgirl]

Only when optics are an issue. They are a business first.

Translation: When it's convenient.