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

[Goofyernmost]

I’m feel like “booster seats” these days don’t fit in a backpack. They’re huge! Like this is a seat for a 4-10 year old. (Off topic but… also very very difficult to recycle and cannot be donated, which is frustrating. I wish they had better car seat recycling options.)

They may call that a booster seat, but it isn't. It is a full fledge car seat for older children. It is more expensive is difficult to handle and just a total rip off and frustration for older kids. When people say "Think about the children" they have to start remembering that mental growth is as important and connected to physical growth. Kids also have a much longer memory than people think. I know that I remember sitting on the front step and getting my picture taken in my new cowboy outfit when I was 4 years old just a mere 71 years ago. I remember it vividly. Kids don't quickly forget feeling embarrassed and inappropriately defined by age and size requirements.

 

[DisneyHead123]

They may call that a booster seat, but it isn't. It is a full fledge car seat for older children. It is more expensive is difficult to handle and just a total rip off and frustration for older kids. When people say "Think about the children" they have to start remembering that mental growth is as important and connected to physical growth. Kids also have a much longer memory than people think. I know that I remember sitting on the front step and getting my picture taken in my new cowboy outfit when I was 4 years old just a mere 71 years ago. I remember it vividly. Kids don't quickly forget feeling embarrassed and inappropriately defined by age and size requirements.

The booster seat you offered can be installed backless, depending on size and weight of the kids

Some parents bring a bubblebum booster. Inflatable. Gives the kid enough extra height enabling safe use of cars seat belt.

On the one hand, I do worry about the effects of “safetyism”. On the other, I feel like car safety is not the particular place I want to address that issue. While they seem mundane because they’re so commonplace, cars are one of the most dangerous things in our society today. If it potentially saves a life? I am in favor of the tank like seats. I don’t think they’re embarrassing for kids because all their peers are in them too.

I do agree with this line of thinking in many other areas though. It’s hard as parent when you want to protect your kids, but teaching them resiliency and problem solving is also important, to an extent that is appropriate for the context they’re growing up in. (Kids growing up on the frontier 150 years ago obviously had a different experience than suburban kids in 2023, and that is true any way you slice it. But resiliency and independence can still be taught to a degree that’s appropriate to the current time and place.)

Anyways. Getting back on topic… if you’re a person who chooses to use the “big” seats… they’re a lot to travel with. Not impossible, but a big ol hassle for sure.

 

[Goofyernmost]

On the one hand, I do worry about the effects of “safetyism”. On the other, I feel like car safety is not the particular place I want to address that issue. While they seem mundane because they’re so commonplace, cars are one of the most dangerous things in our society today. If it potentially saves a life? I am in favor of the tank like seats. I don’t think they’re embarrassing for kids because all their peers are in them too.

I do agree with this line of thinking in many other areas though. It’s hard as parent when you want to protect your kids, but teaching them resiliency and problem solving is also important, to an extent that is appropriate for the context they’re growing up in. (Kids growing up on the frontier 150 years ago obviously had a different experience than suburban kids in 2023, and that is true any way you slice it. But resiliency and independence can still be taught to a degree that’s appropriate to the current time and place.)

Anyways. Getting back on topic… if you’re a person who chooses to use the “big” seats… they’re a lot to travel with. Not impossible, but a big ol hassle for sure.

Well, whatever you like, it is certainly your right and I didn't mean to imply different. One thing I can tell you is your children are far safer in a car with seat belts fastened then in a bus that doesn't even have seatbelts and if they do are dirty, and in varying degrees of dependability. Perhaps the Disney bound buses have/had seatbelts, I don't know, but I do know from being in the busing business that since they are also motor vehicles, they are not a whole lot safer, if at all.

 

[JoeCamel]

Well, whatever you like, it is certainly your right and I didn't mean to imply different. One thing I can tell you is your children are far safer in a car with seat belts fastened then in a bus that doesn't even have seatbelts and if they do are dirty, and in varying degrees of dependability. Perhaps the Disney bound buses have/had seatbelts, I don't know, but I do know from being in the busing business that since they are also motor vehicles, they are not a whole lot safer, if at all.

Hmmmmm

I mean it's so easy to check.....

 

[Goofyernmost]

Hmmmmm

View attachment 757066

I mean it's so easy to check.....

Please don't compare city bus service that hardly ever get over 35 mph to high speed interstate traffic. Also if a bus gets there safely in the city or highway it's on average about 30 people unharmed, if it is a car then it is, on average 3. However, in reverse a bus accident will injure so many more at the same time. So those statistics are not really dealing with per crash situations, just per trip. I never said that was the case for city transits in urban areas. From MCO to WDW it may be surrounded by urban growth, but it is actually a highway trip.

It is easy to check, it is easier to have lived it.

 

[TiggerDad]

Please don't compare city bus service that hardly ever get over 35 mph to high speed interstate traffic. Also if a bus gets there safely in the city or highway it's on average about 30 people unharmed, if it is a car then it is, on average 3. However, in reverse a bus accident will injure so many more at the same time. So those statistics are not really dealing with per crash situations, just per trip. I never said that was the case for city transits in urban areas. From MCO to WDW it may be surrounded by urban growth, but it is actually a highway trip.

It is easy to check, it is easier to have lived it.

For someone who claims to have worked in the bus industry, you really are uninformed.

Deaths by Transportation Mode - Injury Facts

Overall, passenger transportation incidents account for about one out of seven preventable injury-related deaths.

injuryfacts.nsc.org

note this refers to highway travel, not just the transit buses you mentioned earlier.

 

[TiggerDad]

If you are wondering why buses are safer, this report from the Vermont DMV is about school buses, but it can give some ideas:

Why do school buses not require seat belts? | Department of Motor Vehicles

dmv.vermont.gov

“Large school buses are heavier and distribute crash forces differently than passenger cars and light trucks do. Because of these differences, bus passengers experience much less crash force than those in passenger cars, light trucks, and vans.

NHTSA decided the best way to provide crash protection to passengers of large school buses is through a concept called “compartmentalization.” This requires that the interior of large buses protect children without them needing to buckle up. Through compartmentalization, children are protected from crashes by strong, closely-spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs.”

Some design features are similar, but the main reason is physics: the bigger vehicle causes more damage to a smaller one.

 

[Goofyernmost]

For someone who claims to have worked in the bus industry, you really are uninformed.

Deaths by Transportation Mode - Injury Facts

Overall, passenger transportation incidents account for about one out of seven preventable injury-related deaths.

injuryfacts.nsc.org

note this refers to highway travel, not just the transit buses you mentioned earlier.

I take my statements from personal experience, not something I read. But, if it makes you happy, I guess your right. Feel better now? If you average both highway and urban transit together the numbers are going to look a lot better overall. However, when you just look at the seriousness of urban transit low speed accidents and highway accidents separately you tell me which one is more horrific, the fender bender in cities or the majority of highway accidents. With that I am happily out of this conversation. People only believe what they want to believe anyway.

 

[JoeCamel]

Please don't compare city bus service that hardly ever get over 35 mph to high speed interstate traffic. Also if a bus gets there safely in the city or highway it's on average about 30 people unharmed, if it is a car then it is, on average 3. However, in reverse a bus accident will injure so many more at the same time. So those statistics are not really dealing with per crash situations, just per trip. I never said that was the case for city transits in urban areas. From MCO to WDW it may be surrounded by urban growth, but it is actually a highway trip.

It is easy to check, it is easier to have lived it.

I take my statements from personal experience, not something I read. But, if it makes you happy, I guess your right. Feel better now? If you average both highway and urban transit together the numbers are going to look a lot better overall. However, when you just look at the seriousness of urban transit low speed accidents and highway accidents separately you tell me which one is more horrific, the fender bender in cities or the majority of highway accidents. With that I am happily out of this conversation. People only believe what they want to believe anyway.

Deaths by Transportation Mode - Injury Facts

Overall, passenger transportation incidents account for about one out of seven preventable injury-related deaths.

injuryfacts.nsc.org

Take 10 seconds and learn to google if you have any interest in not spouting silly anecdotal evidence.

I know in your opinion the monorails never stink but......

eta: remember

 

[Phonedave]

Law pased in 1966 required seat belts in all cars sold starting in 1968.

Car seats weren't a big thing. Many people, probably most, weren't using seat belts when WDW opened.

I had no idea it was that early. I just remember that when I was a kid in the 70's none of the cars we had, had seatbelts. Likely because we had used cars for quite some time. The ones that did have them were lap belt only, especially in the back seats.

 

[MAGICFLOP]

Bringing back Magic express could be a huge money maker for WDW, they can just charge $25 per person per direction. Magic express could be a better scam than the $30 parking fee... or until the come up with the $5 Magic toilet ticket with courtesy enchanted toilet paper..

 

[TiggerDad]

Bringing back Magic express could be a huge money maker for WDW, they can just charge $25 per person per direction. Magic express could be a better scam than the $30 parking fee... or until the come up with the $5 Magic toilet ticket with courtesy enchanted toilet paper..

Tell me you have no idea how much it costs to operate a Motorcoach route without telling me.

 

[MAGICFLOP]

Tell me you have no idea how much it costs to operate a Motorcoach route without telling me.

Incoherent response... 9th grade English must have been tough..

 

[tanc]

it's gone forever, Disney learned they can get rid of it and people will still come.

 

[doctornick]

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

The luggage. That’s the thing IMHO that Magic Express special. Sure the transportation was good in that it was streamlined but I don’t think it’s that big of a deal to get to your hotel with other means.

But the luggage - dropping your bags off at your departure airport and not having to see them again until they magically appeared in your room. That was great. No waiting at the baggage carousel, no having to lift them, not having to get them into your room while you wait - all that was awesome. Hell you could just go straight to the parks if you wanted and they’d be in your room when you came back that night.

Speaking of all the talk about kids, how much easier is it to move your rugrats around when you don’t also have to be wheeling a 50 lb suitcase or two?

Just bring back the luggage service and I’ll pay for a freaking shuttle.

 

[lewisc]

they can just charge $25 per person per direction

ell me you have no idea how much it costs to operate a Motorcoach route without telling me

The poster you quoted suggests a price almost double Mears current pricing. I don’t know how much it costs to skin a bus but i have no doubt it can be done with the costs suggested by poster

 

[RoadiJeff]

We never used DME, we just rented cars at MCO. However, I'm curious as to how all this luggage was properly identified on the airport carousel for some worker to be able to get it all and transport it to the Disney hotel room.

I imagine many people have various Disney tags on their luggage at MCO. Was there a big neon orange Mickey Mouse tag or something that stood out in the sea of hundreds of others? I never read any complaints about lost luggage from using DME, so I guess it worked pretty well.

 

[Tuvalu]

We never used DME, we just rented cars at MCO. However, I'm curious as to how all this luggage was properly identified on the airport carousel for some worker to be able to get it all and transport it to the Disney hotel room.

I imagine many people have various Disney tags on their luggage at MCO. Was there a big neon orange Mickey Mouse tag or something that stood out in the sea of hundreds of others? I never read any complaints about lost luggage from using DME, so I guess it worked pretty well.

When you booked DME you filled out a form with your name, flight and resort. Bright yellow luggage tags were mailed to you to attach to your checked luggage. Tagged bags were sorted on the tarmac and never made the luggage carousel. They were sorted by resort area (MK, EP, AK, DS) and used barcodes for ID.

 

[lewisc]

The bags were pulled on the tarmac and trucked to sorting facility on airport property.

 

[NelleBelle]

Best service they had at WDW next to package delivery! Wish you could still check-in for your airline at your resort, too.