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

[graphite1326]

At the end of the day…it’s not coming back

Just like “free fastpass”

Name one time in history where the customers get MORE for their money?

…I’ll wait

When they went from you having to pay a bus service to get to WDW to creating DME. When we first started going to WDW DME did not exist.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

When they went from you having to pay a bus service to get to WDW to creating DME. When we first started going to WDW DME did not exist.

Right…they didn’t it on the cheap to keep you trapped in lbv…now they took it away

A return to it would be a show of desperation on their part…one sweater boy can’t stand as of now

 

[Jrb1979]

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.

Simple solution. RENT A CAR AND BRING YOUR CAR SEATS WITH YOU.

 

[DisneyHead123]

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.

I guess my take is - things change. You can always bemoan how lazy and spoiled the newest generation is, people have been doing that probably since the beginning of humankind. But regardless, time marches on and expectations change. If a person tried to sell a house that was the height of cool in the 70’s (Shaag carpeting! Wood paneling!) in 2023, they shouldn’t be shocked when people want money knocked off the asking price. Saying a particular experience sufficed in the 1980s doesn’t mean it doesn’t knock down the overall value of a product in 2023.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I guess my take is - things change. You can always bemoan how lazy and spoiled the newest generation is, people have been doing that probably since the beginning of humankind. But regardless, time marches on and expectations change. If a person tried to sell a house that was the height of cool in the 70’s (Shaag carpeting! Wood paneling!) in 2023, they shouldn’t be shocked when people want money knocked off the asking price. Saying a particular experience sufficed in the 1980s doesn’t mean it doesn’t knock down the overall value of a product in 2023.

I understand you point, however, it is a bit extreme to think that we should expect the world to just give us whatever we want. We can call that lazy and spoiled or we can call it unrealistic expectations. Surely a bus ride to a theme park does not define whatever the theme park is, good or bad. It was a service created to keep you captive and make sure that whatever money you have stays with them. At the time it was a worthwhile expense for Disney, but as you say times change, and it no longer is doing what it's original intent was for it's creation. Now one has to determine if it is worth spending your own money to accomplish.

I personally never used the DME. I always had or rented a car. I loved driving into the property on World Drive and seeing the Welcome To Walt Disney World sign every day of my visit. I also love that I wasn't spending a fortune for mediocre things. To me the pearls of WDW were the 4 parks and the resorts were just a place to sleep. Themed, ok that was nice, I suppose, but, for those of you that never stayed offsite, the owners of the local hotels surrounding WDW were very aware and they themed the hotels, just not with gigantic bowling pins, etc. What little time I spent in the hotel was not worth the price of onsite costs to me. Plus I could easily go to see other things. That's just me, I realize, but I'm just expressing what my opinion is and it makes perfect sense to me why the Magic Express is no longer. But, Mears can create the same feel, one just has to pay directly for it if it is that important. One way of the other you were paying for it anyway.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I understand you point, however, it is a bit extreme to think that we should expect the world to just give us whatever we want. We can call that lazy and spoiled or we can call it unrealistic expectations. Surely a bus ride to a theme park does not define whatever the theme park is, good or bad. It was a service created to keep you captive and make sure that whatever money you have stays with them. At the time it was a worthwhile expense for Disney, but as you say times change, and it no longer is doing what it's original intent was for it's creation. Now one has to determine if it is worth spending your own money to accomplish.

My take is - “lazy” and “spoiled” are moral judgment terms. Supply and demand in a capitalist system is not a moral arrangement, it’s a business arrangement. There may be times where morality comes in, as in when the demand for a particular product causes environmental harm, or causes animals to suffer, or involves harmful labor practices. In that case I think it makes sense to say “Hey, it’s wrong to ask for X, Y or Z.” But if it’s a matter of different people wanting different things? We’re all expecting a giant theme park to provide us with entertainment and fun and happiness for a very pretty penny. I don’t think being willing to use an Uber vs. taking a bus means the ride share people are socially generous while the bus people are “selfish”. The proper term for all of them, IMO, is “consumers”.

 

[SaucyBoy]

No need to be snarky and dismissive

You're the one being snarky and dismissive. Captain America gave you tons of evidence and you kept calling him a liar.

Simple solution. RENT A CAR AND BRING YOUR CAR SEATS WITH YOU.

Not the "simplest" solution if someone is flying from across the continent or from overseas. I swear some of y'all truly have dirt for brains.

 

[Jrb1979]

You're the one being snarky and dismissive. Captain America gave you tons of evidence and you kept calling him a liar.

Not the "simplest" solution if someone is flying from across the continent or from overseas. I swear some of y'all truly have dirt for brains.

I fly from Canada and I don't see how it's that difficult. Yeah it sucks to bring the car seat on the plane but it doesn't make it difficult solution.

 

[SaucyBoy]

I fly from Canada and I don't see how it's that difficult

So you've never actually flown with multiple car seats in tow then? Got it.

 

[Jrb1979]

So you've never actually flown with multiple car seats in tow then? Got it.

Not with my kid but with my sisters kids a few years ago. We managed to do it. If it's that big of an issue for you don't take them til they are out of car seats. Visit Carowinds instead

 

[SaucyBoy]

Not with my kid but with my sisters kids a few years ago. We managed to do it. If it's that big of an issue for you don't take them til they are out of car seats. Visit Carowinds instead

I don't have kids. But if I did, they'd certainly have a much better time at Carowinds, especially at Christmas, than Disney with their mediocrity; at least Carowinds can muster up a nighttime parade.

 

[_caleb]

I don't have kids. But if I did, they'd certainly have a much better time at Carowinds, especially at Christmas, than Disney with their mediocrity; at least Carowinds can muster up a nighttime parade.

Does Carowinds have a free bus service from the airport to the park?

 

[Jrb1979]

Does Carowinds have a free bus service from the airport to the park?

Disney doesn't either. Your point?

 

[Goofyernmost]

My take is - “lazy” and “spoiled” are moral judgment terms. Supply and demand in a capitalist system is not a moral arrangement, it’s a business arrangement. There may be times where morality comes in, as in when the demand for a particular product causes environmental harm, or causes animals to suffer, or involves harmful labor practices. In that case I think it makes sense to say “Hey, it’s wrong to ask for X, Y or Z.” But if it’s a matter of different people wanting different things? We’re all expecting a giant theme park to provide us with entertainment and fun and happiness for a very pretty penny. I don’t think being willing to use an Uber vs. taking a bus means the ride share people are socially generous while the bus people are “selfish”. The proper term for all of them, IMO, is “consumers”.

Spin it however you like, we will only get what they want to give us, no matter the whining involved. The bus was just an economic promotional thing. Just like everything else it changes and if it no longer benefits that benefactor it is stopped. It matters not what is a moral judgement or a solid capitalistic statement. I'm just telling you what I think of the prospects of it returning and that is all.

I do occasionally judge peoples motivations, just like any capitalistic system would and it was decided that they didn't need it anymore and cut their costs by millions and so far it seems to not have harmed their profits at all. It may, someday, who knows! However, for right now it is gone and my opinion is that it will stay gone unless something drastic happens. I also feel that any problems that Disney might have financially concerning any possible reduction in revenue will not be because they ended the Magic Bus.

 

[jloucks]

Simple solution. RENT A CAR AND BRING YOUR CAR SEATS WITH YOU.

If picking up a rental car was "simple" I would agree.

How did I discover Mears black you ask?

Arrived in Orlando headed for UNI. Arrived kinda late, so the car rental line was long and short-staffed. When I say long, I mean ridiculous. When I say short-staffed, I mean one dude who seemed like that sloth in that movie working the DMV.

About 30 minutes into the line, we moved 3-ish people. Only a dozen more to go. Simple maths showed a 2am departure from the airport. The kids were cranky & tired, as were we. I went out to scope the taxi situation. Guy in a tie leaning on a giant black suburban asked if I needed a lift. The price was surprisingly affordable ($50+ tip, a few year ago). Got the wife and kids and off we went. Great experience, never renting again.

All that said, the "bring your car seats" is good advice. The car seat in the suburban was more of a booster than a real car seat.

 

[DisneyHead123]

All that said, the "bring your car seats" is good advice. The car seat in the suburban was more of a booster than a real car seat.

My son's carseat has a reinforced steel frame and it is heavy... I can't imagine how people with 3 kids travel with carseats. I assume you'd have to buy some kind of device just to transport them to the airport, and then pay a baggage fee for each one.

Agree with you that the rental suburbans seem to be the way to go. We've used them twice and had good luck with them. A snafu with not being able to pay with a credit card once, but in return the owner sent a stretch limo for our return ride to the airport. My son is vehicle obsessed and he still talks about it!

 

[lewisc]

people with 3 kids travel with carseats. I assume you'd have to buy some kind of device just to transport them to the airport, and then pay a baggage fee for each one

The suggestion is to use the car seat in the plane. Airlines don't charge for items like car seats

 

[Goofyernmost]

My son's carseat has a reinforced steel frame and it is heavy... I can't imagine how people with 3 kids travel with carseats. I assume you'd have to buy some kind of device just to transport them to the airport, and then pay a baggage fee for each one.

Agree with you that the rental suburbans seem to be the way to go. We've used them twice and had good luck with them. A snafu with not being able to pay with a credit card once, but in return the owner sent a stretch limo for our return ride to the airport. My son is vehicle obsessed and he still talks about it!

Well, there is another way. We only had two children, two years apart. Even then we didn't travel any further than our car would carry us and didn't need a utility trailer to carry all the things that younger children needed. Don't get me wrong, if anyone wants to travel with a lot of backup equipment due to the younger years, by all mean do it. My wife and I agreed that until they were old enough to not require diapers or special feeding needs or strollers we would not go to WDW or any other intense type distant family locations. We just waited and when our youngest turned 6 we planned for and went on the best road trip/WDW vacation that we ever had. It was tremendous, they could go on all family rides and be aware of what was happening, could join in with us for discussions and even helped make decisions.

I know a lot of people think that it is a good experience with a small child, but I didn't think it was worth it to drag along all the things necessary, not always be able to ride attractions together, and have to stop often for extended rest breaks. Once a kid reaches a certain age and they start to get a little grouchy the carrot needed to stop it is to simply say, "if you keep acting that way there will be no pool time when we get back to the hotel". That always worked to extend their good behavior for the duration.

I even sponsored a family trip to WDW from Vermont where I paid for airfare, rented a six bedroom villa, rented two cars besides my car that I drove down to Florida, bought them all 7 day non-expiring tickets for the grandkids and their parents, of course, (there were three grandkids at the time) and the only provision I had was everyone had to be over 6 years old. I wanted them to remember that Grandpa brought them there. We still occasionally have discussions about that trip with them and the grandkids are now all in their 20's and amazingly all remember it in detail. Wonderful memories for all of us.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I will admit that many of the positions regarding the DME here just confuse me. Yes it was a nice feature, especially for families with multiple younger kids with car seats. But seriously people travel all over the county (the world for that matter) and have done so throughout history. Somehow families manage to go on vacation hundreds of other places, and all without a DME variant.

Hell DME was only introduced in 2005, so for well over 30 years families managed to get to/from WDW without it, and have been doing it for years now after its closing down.

So sure it was a neat feature, but let’s not hype it up as being indispensable to families with kids, or that people can’t/wont go to WDW because it doesn’t have an option that most other tourist destinations also don’t have

 

[jloucks]

My son's carseat has a reinforced steel frame and it is heavy... I can't imagine how people with 3 kids travel with carseats. I assume you'd have to buy some kind of device just to transport them to the airport, and then pay a baggage fee for each one.

Agree with you that the rental suburbans seem to be the way to go. We've used them twice and had good luck with them. A snafu with not being able to pay with a credit card once, but in return the owner sent a stretch limo for our return ride to the airport. My son is vehicle obsessed and he still talks about it!

Actually, you called it exactly. You check them like a suitcase and depending on your airline, sometimes there is a fee. With three, you would probably have to have one be an ultralight a kid could lug.

The limo switcharoo was awesome. Cool experience for your kiddo. ...and you