is there a chance that the Magical Express will come back?

[CaptainAmerica]

6 people isn't "larger?"
I'm not sure how much a private driver costs, but an Uber X from MCO to POR for 6 people was $47.91 in May of this year.

You. Can. Not. Get. A. Car. Seat. In. Uber. X. Or. Uber. XL.

I don't care what your group of childless Disney Adults was able to do, most people who go to Disney World have kids who need car seats.

The ONLY option with a car seat right now is Uber Car Seat Black, it's $84.63, and I'd need two of them. A private chauffer would be $160.

 

[DisneyHead123]

The ONLY option with a car seat right now is Uber Car Seat Black, it's $84.63, and I'd need two of them. A private chauffer would be $160.

We’ve used town car services the last couple of times and they’re pretty “meh” for the money you spend. The convenience is fantastic but the car seats both times were like the cheapest, thinnest, most generic ones I’ve ever seen. I’m used to our Chicco at home that looks like a mini armored tank in comparison.

 

[_caleb]

You. Can. Not. Get. A. Car. Seat. In. Uber. X. Or. Uber. XL.

I still don’t think this is true.

I don't care what your group of childless Disney Adults was able to do, most people who go to Disney World have kids who need car seats.

Childless? What are you talking about? No need to be snarky and dismissive. I have kids. Most of my friends who go to WDW also have kids. We know the challenges of car seats.

The ONLY option with a car seat right now is Uber Car Seat Black, it's $84.63, and I'd need two of them. A private chauffer would be $160.

Is that based on what you’re finding available right now, at 1:30PM the week of Thanksgiving?

 

[Goofyernmost]

I still don't think there's a huge percentage of repeat Disney visitors going to Universal but staying at a Disney resort, etc. Most of the people I know are true Disney people and have no interest in going to Universal. Mostly they aren't into thrill rides, have young children, or have handicapped in their party. The costs of Universal just aren't a good value to them. They have the connection to Disney. The people that I know who go to Universal are mostly staying off site at a 3rd party hotel. They don't really care about staying at a Universal Resort and the extra expense it comes with because they usually split their trips between Universal and Disney and rent a car. The true theme park lovers that I know, stay at Universal resorts when they do their parks and then stay at a Disney resort when they do WDW. I think it depends on what type of traveler you are. I do think that a lot of Disney's recent decisions are not focused on that lifelong Disney fan. I don't know if the company is taking that for granted or if they are purposely trying to move in another direction with their future fan base. Which is why their recent decisions haven't made any sense to me. A lot of people I know who grew up on Disney, myself included, no longer have the desire to go back to WDW every year. And my experience has always been different to yours. Every single time I've ridden Magical Express, there was a long wait for every bus route with a full bus each time. I have yet to experience what you're describing. I usually arrived between the hours of 10AM and 6PM.

You're probably correct in you assumption about most of that. I was a Disney junky for a very long time. I loved everything about it. I thought about it, wrote about it, planned for it, tried to find a way to make a living just selling WDW to those that had never been there, but I never ever felt that Disney was the only thing worth seeing. Those that never went to Universal still think that it is all thrill rides, and it does have a few more than WDW, however it has and had some of the most detailed and extravagant dark rides and a lot of them.

Even in the early days I always planned time to go to Universal, SeaWorld, and all the unique central Florida attractions and also went to the Kennedy Space Ctr., Cyprus Gardens and even the Sunken Gardens on the Tampa side of the state. I feel sorry for those that never went to Uni and experienced rides like Terminator, Back to the Future, King Kong, Earthquake, Jaws and countless others (no longer there).

With the exception of one time I regrettably stayed in a Disney Resort Hotel, I always stayed offsite and either had driven my own car from Vermont or N.C. or rented one. I was never without my own transportation. I've listened to people go on and on about how much easier it was to use Disney Transportation and thought it must be a major chore to drive in from offsite. I had friends that stayed onsite and we stayed offsite. We would leave with the mob as MK closed in the evening they went to the bus and I headed to TTC and the parking lot. When we arrived at our offsite hotel we called them to see about the plans for the next day and they were still standing in line at the bus stop at MK. And when the bus did arrive it was sardine time on the bus. I did that the one time I stayed onsite and we were packed in so tight that I swear there were a couple people that I probably should have married we were so physically close.

After 48 trips over 40 years I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of sit down restaurants that I went to during that entire time. As years went on it just got to be more and more difficult and expensive to eat a main meal there but it was easy to go to a restaurant with equally good food for a lot less money offsite with no reservation required. We'd take a break, leave the park, have a relaxing meal and then head back for the evening.

As much as I loved Disney, I never fully joined the cult. There was so much more to see and Disney was only on part of enjoyment. Just as a ending thought, there are only two themed locations that I would ever spend my money on is Disney or Universal. Both are high quality places with high quality attractions, however, WDW has placed so many obstacles in the way of my style of spontaneous travel as well as the cost that I have no further plans to go ever again.

i disagree.. as the attendance in the park may prove you wrong.. you just don't feel the magic.. and the busses helped you feel the magic..

Funny thing. I must be a freak of nature or something because I never set foot on the Magical bus in the 40 years I have been going regularly and always felt the magic. The problem for me now is I might feel the magic even now without the bus, the real problem is when I got home I would also be feeling very stressed and very broke.

 

[The Colonel]

 

[Goofyernmost]

Here's what I don't understand. For 34 years people with children managed to get to WDW from MCO, on their own why is it so difficult now. If you come in on a plane, don't you have to have car seats for the kids just like the ones that a car needs. I know they once did, or at least were allowed to be brought on for seating of the kids.

I realize that ME was a service that spoiled a lot of people, but other than in Orlando what other place provides buses with ample room for luggage then Disney. They didn't do it to make your life easier, they did it to get you to stay in a Disney resort and you paid big time for it. Nothing is free, you were charged someplace along the line.

Right now (not referring to the Thanksgiving holiday) the options are outrageously high priced for car rentals but for years the competition was crazy. Then Disney dropped the bomb with the ME and the rental business became one that required higher prices because the numbers of cars rented over all decline massively. Decent hotels offsite were wonderfully inexpensive because of the competition. Again Disney found a way to practically force you to stay onsite, without external transportation and the bottom fell out of the local hotel and rental business. In this case the prices had to go up because neither one could pay their bills unless they did. All of them, previous to that, had to beat the others price and all did OK because of volume which is a much forgotten part of economics most of the time.

As everything settles it will end up that the easiest and most inexpensive way to get to Disney if you want to mostly stay there for the entire time will be the Mears System which probably will be pretty much the same setup as ME was except you have to pay for it. However, now the cost to get to WDW from the airport is more than free, but there are option and staying offsite might start to look a lot more doable and offer way more flexibility which will help the areas non-Disney businesses. There is a trade-off in everything and Disney over the years of building resort after resort have really cut into the local economy pretty deeply when it comes to needed independent support options workable for everyone.

 

[LeighM]

You're probably correct in you assumption about most of that. I was a Disney junky for a very long time. I loved everything about it. I thought about it, wrote about it, planned for it, tried to find a way to make a living just selling WDW to those that had never been there, but I never ever felt that Disney was the only thing worth seeing. Those that never went to Universal still think that it is all thrill rides, and it does have a few more than WDW, however it has and had some of the most detailed and extravagant dark rides and a lot of them.

Even in the early days I always planned time to go to Universal, SeaWorld, and all the unique central Florida attractions and also went to the Kennedy Space Ctr., Cyprus Gardens and even the Sunken Gardens on the Tampa side of the state. I feel sorry for those that never went to Uni and experienced rides like Terminator, Back to the Future, King Kong, Earthquake, Jaws and countless others (no longer there).

With the exception of one time I regrettably stayed in a Disney Resort Hotel, I always stayed offsite and either had driven my own car from Vermont or N.C. or rented one. I was never without my own transportation. I've listened to people go on and on about how much easier it was to use Disney Transportation and thought it must be a major chore to drive in from offsite. I had friends that stayed onsite and we stayed offsite. We would leave with the mob as MK closed in the evening they went to the bus and I headed to TTC and the parking lot. When we arrived at our offsite hotel we called them to see about the plans for the next day and they were still standing in line at the bus stop at MK. And when the bus did arrive it was sardine time on the bus. I did that the one time I stayed onsite and we were packed in so tight that I swear there were a couple people that I probably should have married we were so physically close.

After 48 trips over 40 years I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of sit down restaurants that I went to during that entire time. As years went on it just got to be more and more difficult and expensive to eat a main meal there but it was easy to go to a restaurant with equally good food for a lot less money offsite with no reservation required. We'd take a break, leave the park, have a relaxing meal and then head back for the evening.

As much as I loved Disney, I never fully joined the cult. There was so much more to see and Disney was only on part of enjoyment. Just as a ending thought, there are only two themed locations that I would ever spend my money on is Disney or Universal. Both are high quality places with high quality attractions, however, WDW has placed so many obstacles in the way of my style of spontaneous travel as well as the cost that I have no further plans to go ever again.

Funny thing. I must be a freak of nature or something because I never set foot on the Magical bus in the 40 years I have been going regularly and always felt the magic. The problem for me now is I might feel the magic even now without the bus, the real problem is when I got home I would also be feeling very stressed and very broke.

I adore Disney for the nostalgia and family memories. Disney knows that and tries to see how far they can push those boundaries. They know, and I accept, that the younger generation is the future of the company. The company is starting to make moves now to hook that generation that is starting to have kids. But the older generations are almost being pushed out because they are stopping all of those small touches that kept bringing them back. Yeah they are adding more rides but I used to love the street actors in HS and MK more. It's those small Disney touches that kept me going back to them. My local parks have changed so much that I know, beyond doubt, that I'm no longer close to their core demographic LOL. One of the reasons my husband and I love Disney is because once we get on property he never has to drive. When we used to drive to FL, the car wouldn't be moved once it was parked until it was time to go back home. That was a big part of what made it feel like a real vacation because he used to drive so much for work.

We plan to visit Universal once they finish Epic Universe and it's been open long enough for the crowds to dissipate some. And that's the other reason Disney's decision about ending Magical Express makes no sense. Why end the service that kept people on Disney property when your main competitor is building a new theme park right down the street? Universal has really stepped up their game and has lured many Disney fans to their park. That will only increase when that new one opens. Disney ended one of the best "free" perks (which was never free but supposedly built into your higher resort rate) and people are paying more at Disney overall - paid shuttle from the airport and no "free" luggage service, increased room rates, higher ticket costs, paid FastPass AND individual lightning lanes, higher cost of meals etc. It almost appears as if they are trying to push people to Universal and I'm very curious to see how Epic Universe is going to impact Disney's business. I saw that Josh D'amaro stated they are going to be investing a lot of money into the Disney parks but I can't help but wonder if it's a little too late for many. Their most recent addition, Tron, took forever to complete and it still wasn't as body and handicapped friendly as it should've been for a company that has always patted itself on its back for the inclusivity.

I have always loved Disney and was raised as a Disney baby. I studied the company in college for various business courses because I was so fascinated by their business decisions and how they got people to part with their money in very sneaky ways. But I have been extremely confused by a lot of their recent decisions even before covid wrecked all their plans.

 

[MaryJaneP]

Luggage handled by whom?

 

[Laketravis]

It doesn't seem that long ago when I would get our "Welcome Kit" in the mail with personalized baggage tags, Magic Bands, instructions on how to use ME, etc.

Tonight, I got the current version of the "Welcome Kit" for an on-site stay in less than two weeks. What a joke it has become. I almost confused it for a junk mail AAA membership offer.

Naw. ME's not coming back.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Here's what I don't understand. For 34 years people with children managed to get to WDW from MCO, on their own why is it so difficult now.

I think you could make this argument about anything though. People used to make Disney reservations without the internet. They used to get by on the crappy hot dogs served in the parks. They used to drive to Florida in cars without air conditioning. Of course no one is saying it’s physically impossible to get to WDW without ME, they’re saying it’s not the experience they want.

If you come in on a plane, don't you have to have car seats for the kids just like the ones that a car needs. I know they once did, or at least were allowed to be brought on for seating of the kids.

No, you don’t have to bring car seats. Car seats and safety seats are required until at least age 8 (longer if your child isn’t a certain height,) and I don’t think anything past infant seats are allowed on the actual airplane seat (you could check them of course.)

 

[LeighM]

Luggage handled by whom?

Disney or whoever they contracted with. It used to be that, when you checked your luggage at the departure airport, you wouldn't see the luggage again until it showed up in your resort room. And at the end of your trip, you would check your bags in with Disney at your resort and you would pick it up at your home airport. It was a fantastic service! Especially for those traveling with large families and trying to juggle multiple bags.

 

[JoeCamel]

Disney or whoever they contracted with. It used to be that, when you checked your luggage at the departure airport, you wouldn't see the luggage again until it showed up in your resort room. And at the end of your trip, you would check your bags in with Disney at your resort and you would pick it up at your home airport. It was a fantastic service! Especially for those traveling with large families and trying to juggle multiple bags.

I think it was Bags Inc

 

[Ayla]

I think it was Bags Inc

Correct.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I think you could make this argument about anything though. People used to make Disney reservations without the internet. They used to get by on the crappy hot dogs served in the parks. They used to drive to Florida in cars without air conditioning. Of course no one is saying it’s physically impossible to get to WDW without ME, they’re saying it’s not the experience they want.

That is partially what I am implying, but not the point. Just because society is currently made up of relatively weak and/or lazy people doesn't mean that the only reason that WDW existed was because of the the semi-free bus ride. Previous to the ME's existence that same mood was created by billboards along Route 4 and the highway from the Airport.

My point was that even though it was a nice thing, it isn't what built WDW parks. It is what built WDW's massive array of a sometimes scenery blocking monstrosity of Resorts. It isn't a case of need is it is a case of want. The thing is that for the most part it is still there to a large degree just not free anymore. The argument of handling our own luggage is another thing that frames what we have become. That again is avoidable because there are people that make their living handling luggage, you just have to pay for it if you are unwilling to do it yourself and that always existed well before DME was even thought about.

For Disney the missing free bus is just a temporary bump in the road and, again, not the reason that people ever went to WDW. It's just that old habits are hard to break. Disneyland does pretty well and you wouldn't believe how far away the airports are and there is no ME there. First time driving the freeways around LA and Anaheim are an exciting challenge in themselves.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Did you even read what I wrote?

I said "Uber Car Seat doesn't even exist in most markets."

Yes, it exists in Orlando. It also SUCKS, and it tops out at ONE car seat per vehicle, meaning it is not a viable option for families who need MULTIPLE car seats.

Yeah and we are talking about Orlando. You are implying by your posts that Orlando Uber has no car seats. You say it SUCKS, but Ive had experiences that it works. WE are supposed to just take your word for it that car seats and Uber service fails at Disney and thats why DME is necessary. There are other opinions other than yours that are valid so we are at an impasse.

 

[nickys]

Wasn't it technically some kind of hidden fee with your package before?

Anyone could book it as long as they had an onsite reservation.

We used it with a DVC reservation. No where they could hide the cost there.

 

[nickys]

Not shuttle buses. Big ole busses with bathrooms, TVs, and comfy seats. And not a fleet. Like, what, guessing, 4 of them? They ran hourly right? 1-2 hour round trip? I suppose, anything more than 1 is a fleet.

We used DME on 3 trips. Would have been early evening, around 6-7pm. Each time there were at least 4 buses being loaded, with I think 6-8 different routes and lines. And they left when they were filled. We arrived once as the bus drew in. By the time we checked in, got our luggage loaded and found seats on the bus we were off.

So they must have had far more than 4. We would pass other ones heading back to MCO as we drove to WDW.

 

[nickys]

Uber does provide rides for families with children requiring car seats. Guess youre not savvy enough to look up their site and order a ride with car seats for children.
Heres a travel site that details the process for you.

• ABOUT
• AIR TRAVEL
• TRAVEL GEAR
• CALIFORNIA
• DISNEY
• SKIING
• NATIONAL PARKS
• HAWAII

Uber Car Seat Orlando: Guide for Parents at Disney World​

By: Author Leslie Harvey
Posted on Published: May 18, 2023

Did you read the article? You can only order an Uber with one car seat. So if you have more than one child under 5 you’re SOL.

 

[NelleBelle]

Absolutely NOWHERE on the planet is Uber used consistently and reliably with families with multiple children of car seat age. Uber Car Seat doesn't even exist in most markets.

There is no way that we could’ve utilized Uber when we took our kids and my mom (who needs a scooter) in a rideshare, no matter how large the car was. We would’ve dragged our car seats from home (they sat in them on the plane for safety) and no way was a scooter and all our luggage fitting! Even without the kids needing car seats now, we still have the issue of fitting a scooter and luggage. Now we rent the biggest SUV and we barely fit with 5. A 6th person doesn’t work with our travel party/style.

 

[graphite1326]

I quess the biggest plus for me was one, not having to pick up my luggage and two, checking in to the airline and checking your luggage at the resort for your return trip. I would be happy if they would just bring those aspects of it back.