Jon81uk
Well-Known Member
In that sense they are "safer" than a bus as you are only in the confined space with your own family, whereas a bus has strangers. The buses aren't being disinfected between rides to my knowledge either.
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Minnie Vans Gone For Good?
- Thread starter tissandtully
- Start date
In that sense they are "safer" than a bus as you are only in the confined space with your own family, whereas a bus has strangers. The buses aren't being disinfected between rides to my knowledge either.
GrumpyFan
Well-Known Member
Seems very tenuous. I see nothing about her being CEO and on the Disney board that would make them close down Minnie Vans.
If anything, I would think her being on the board would mean they have a better chance of staying.
GrumpyFan
Well-Known Member
Except for the fact that the driver will now be in close contact to many people throughout the day, meaning they could catch and unknowingly spread the virus to everyone who rides in their car. This would make for a big liability potential.
I guess they could put a partition in the cars, kind of like some cabs do. Maybe they're just delaying restarting them while they do something like this.
GrumpyFan
Well-Known Member
Interestingly, I've seen a couple of pictures of the buses, and I'm surprised to see the drivers are NOT more enclosed or partitioned. I guess the thought there is that the buses are more open and it's not needed as much? Still, it will be interesting to see if the MVs return and if so, what modifications will be made.
Creathir
Well-Known Member
Sorry to bump an old thread, but I did not want to start a new one.
Take this with a huge grain of salt, as the source most certainly cannot be verified, but other sites are reporting that the Minnie Van drivers are being called back for retraining.
Supposedly this is in order to facilitate a replacement service for Magical Express.
Perhaps an insider may be able to shed more verifiable insight.
Take this with a huge grain of salt, as the source most certainly cannot be verified, but other sites are reporting that the Minnie Van drivers are being called back for retraining.
Supposedly this is in order to facilitate a replacement service for Magical Express.
Perhaps an insider may be able to shed more verifiable insight.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Perhaps this one seems fairly easy to deduce...if true.
But forget Disney “Leaks”...the place you need to look with this one is Mears. What are THEY doing?
It also seems “premature”...why are drivers needed for “retraining” at this point?
Creathir
Well-Known Member
I doubt the bit about being needed for Magical Express replacement.
If anything I would say it is to get back into the ride share game.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I would agree...
“I used to get this included...now I pay though the nose for it...” (regarding magical express)...
...is a bridge too far. Even for Disney.
My only thought would be if they needed a different class of DL for whatever Disney has planned. Ex: Maybe they are adding mini-buses?
This whole situation is just....odd.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
CastAStone
5th gate? Just build a new resort Bob.
Much more likely IMHO is someone said why are we leaving this money on the table when we can just put up plexiglass like we have done in the rest of the park?
Magic Feather
Well-Known Member
The only DME replacement run by Disney that I’ve heard considered is a 1 family per car, premium service with a higher price point. Almost exactly like the old airport Minnie Van Transfer.
That said, this is waaaay too early to be bringing back people for an offering that wouldn’t need to start until 2022.
That said, this is waaaay too early to be bringing back people for an offering that wouldn’t need to start until 2022.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
That didn’t work the first time...
Unless they think covid is gonna sell a $200 round trip airport shuttle now?
Or maybe they just want to drive the rental market/parking fees.
Master of puppets...as usual.
Agree...no sense in “restarting” the shuttle service now. Travel restrictions will also remain in place for the whole year.
cm1988
Active Member
Relevant post on another WDW fan site
Minnie Vans were Lyft (and probably will be, again, post-pandemic). Mears still has "yellow cabs" and vans available from bell services. Usually 2 or more cabs are waiting for passengers; often a van as well.
Whatever you choose... Disney bus, Mears van/cab, Lyft, Uber... please mask-up for your own health, and out of courtesy for the driver.
Minnie Vans were Lyft (and probably will be, again, post-pandemic). Mears still has "yellow cabs" and vans available from bell services. Usually 2 or more cabs are waiting for passengers; often a van as well.
Whatever you choose... Disney bus, Mears van/cab, Lyft, Uber... please mask-up for your own health, and out of courtesy for the driver.
I can see it now
"We have decided to discontinue all resort buses and monorails for your safety and convenience. In order to provide a safe resort wide transportation system we will be restarting the popular Minnie Vans* Vacationers have more options to choose from than ever for transportation, including Minnie Van* services that save time and offer more flexibility to go where they want, when they want"
*Minnie Vans start at $20 per mile, $1 per second waiting fee applies, use of child car seats will attract a $50 per seat upcharge and will include one complimentary cup cake per seat, luggage is subject to a $20 per piece handling fee, a fee of $100 for any off site drop offs excluding the airport which will be subject to a fee of $50, all trips from Disney Springs to any Walt Disney World Theme Park will incur a parking fee supplement of $25 as we know you parked your car for free to avoid the fees at the park. All prices are subject to change at the last minute including when you are in journey to your destination.
"We have decided to discontinue all resort buses and monorails for your safety and convenience. In order to provide a safe resort wide transportation system we will be restarting the popular Minnie Vans* Vacationers have more options to choose from than ever for transportation, including Minnie Van* services that save time and offer more flexibility to go where they want, when they want"
*Minnie Vans start at $20 per mile, $1 per second waiting fee applies, use of child car seats will attract a $50 per seat upcharge and will include one complimentary cup cake per seat, luggage is subject to a $20 per piece handling fee, a fee of $100 for any off site drop offs excluding the airport which will be subject to a fee of $50, all trips from Disney Springs to any Walt Disney World Theme Park will incur a parking fee supplement of $25 as we know you parked your car for free to avoid the fees at the park. All prices are subject to change at the last minute including when you are in journey to your destination.
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homerdance
Well-Known Member
But there is no reason they wouldn’t restart the Minnie Van service before the MDE retirement. Disney knows there is a demand for it and if it can make money there is no reason to not have it, even if only for airport rides.
Parker in NYC
Well-Known Member
I guffawed.
DznyGrlSD
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
ITM is more click-baity than the site the rhymes with WDW Ruse Souffle. Take it with an entire silo of salt.
_caleb
Well-Known Member
I have no inside information about DME or Mears, but buses in general are turning out to be significant sources of exposure to the virus in our local school and public transportation systems. I wonder if Disney is trying to distance itself from longer bus rides (I know they have the on-site buses)?
https://theconversation.com/school-bus-safety-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-8-recommendations-145226
Also Disney is saving money.
https://theconversation.com/school-bus-safety-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-8-recommendations-145226
Also Disney is saving money.