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[englanddg]

Ehh - they have a shuttle service AVAILABLE.. meaning if you are willing to pay Disney's rates, yes, you can get a bus from the airport. It's misleading (no matter what the name) to make an equal comparison to the Magical Express service at WDW which has FREE transport and integrated baggage transfer.

<shrug> Fee or not, worked fine for me. My point was that they do have it. DCL charges for their "Magical Express" as well. The fee for ME from MCO to a Disney resort hotel is still there, it's wrapped up in the cost of your stay, and you don't have the option to remove it, even if you aren't going to utilize the service.

Mears isn't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, and Disney isn't paying Mears because they just feel like it. They've decided that, for the vast majority of WDW resort guests, being able to say it's "Free" is worth it...

As your assertive post confirms. It is generally seen as "Free", so Disney's marketing is working.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Yeah, but to WDW goers, it's useless. I felt like I could walk to Downtown Disney just as easily. That, and the capacity of the trains was lower than WDW's. DL's trains carry a mere 120 passengers whereas the WDW carry 360 passengers (when you are stuffed in like sardines and standing). Just far less efficient. I can see why the trains are shorter because there's no way WDW's monorails can handle some of those curves, but still. It's more for sightseeing, which is rather nice. The only other time I've waited 30 minutes for a monorail is at the end of the day in Epcot. I also fail to see why they couldn't design it to make stops at Grand Californian and California Adventure. I'm sure there's a reason, but I'm just not sure what it is, especially when it passes right through Grand Californian and California Adventure.

Whether people find it useless or not, it's still transportation.

 

[flynnibus]

<shrug> Fee or not, worked fine for me. My point was that they do have it. DCL charges for their "Magical Express" as well. The fee for ME from MCO to a Disney resort hotel is still there, it's wrapped up in the cost of your stay, and you don't have the option to remove it, even if you aren't going to utilize the service.

DCL calls it 'Ground Transfer' - and charges $70/head. It's also booked and purchased exclusively through Disney.

There is no 'magical express' service integrated with your hotel stay at DL. It's not even listed as a 'service' or perk of the hotel. If you are referring to the 'Disneyland Resort Express' - It's simply a shuttle service Disney has licensed to use the Disneyland name. It's not operated by Disney, nor branded Disney (beyond the Disneyland Resort Express name), nor limited to Disney hotels! It's not purchased or booked through Disney.

Mears isn't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, and Disney isn't paying Mears because they just feel like it. They've decided that, for the vast majority of WDW resort guests, being able to say it's "Free" is worth it...

As your assertive post confirms. It is generally seen as "Free", so Disney's marketing is working.

You're missing the point in how one is basically a 3rd party bus service that Disney refers you to... vs a product that Disney has branded, integrated with their system, offers more than just bus transfer.

The old 'free' vs not is trite and not really relevant to the discussion.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Whether people find it useless or not, it's still transportation.

It got us to Earl of Sandwich pretty quickly!

 

[Californian Elitist]

It got us to Earl of Sandwich pretty quickly!

Right?! I remember JJ wanted so badly to go to the Lego Store. You were so excited for Earl of Sandwhich. When we go in October I'm definitely getting a sandwich with you guys!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

It's just anecdotal, is all. The only thing I don't really understand is the transportation thing.

-tickets not on KTTW... they probably stuck with the old system longer than they should have, but at some point just decided to wait for MM+. If MM+ wasn't coming, I bet they would've updated by now

Historically, WDW gets stuff more quickly. The new site, Pal Mickey (never came to DL, but moving on) in-park Wifi. So it doesn't surprise me, but you're right; they're probably waiting for MM+

-nice/rude CM's... some people say they're nicer as a group at WDW, some people say they're nicer as a group at DLR. Some people say they're more genuinely happy to see you at DLR. Some people say it's just a job at DLR: Disneyland one day, In 'n' Out the next. Some people say the CM's at WDW are "fake" and wishing you a magical day 30,000 times. I myself find them to be the same on both coasts: most are pleasant enough to deal with, some are exceptional and there are a couple bad apples. When you get a rude CM, it sticks with you, though. For some reason, I was thinking today about a couple of rude CM's I had one time in Germany at Epcot (they were chatting behind the counter while I was at the front of a long line forming to check out). I was lamenting that I remember that one bad experience over a weeklong trip more than all of the pleasant experiences put together. Such is life.

When I was there last (four years ago, thank goodness I am going back!) I found a mix of rude and kind CMs. There was this one awesome CM working at TofT, older gentleman who you could sit and listen to about the parks for hours. He could just go on and on and on and he was fascinating. We talked to him for a good 30 mins. And then I got annoyed at Soarin' CMs because they handle how you take your shoes off differently. But then again, they did actually keep count of the people in each row rather than making us all stand on the stupid glider. I've had awesome experiences with WDW CMs. Did you hear about the one who knew the Sandy Hook student and when she came back to WDW the CM found out and gave her and her family special meet and greets, Illuminations viewing (the boat tour I believe) and just a lot more? Made me want to cry. And then I've had really bad experiences with CMs, like before they redid TT and we were coming out of the room and the manager stopped us and kept letting the other room through several times but wouldn't let us through. It was ridiculous. She had no clue what she was doing; my 11-year-old brother could have managed it better. My mom and I both sent emails to Disney about her. That, and the guests were all trying to tell her the problem, and she wouldn't listen and was completely rude to us, since we were in front. So like you said, it depends.

-changing credit cards... anytime you ask a person/place to do something out of the ordinary, be prepared to be disappointed. They are used to doing things one way, and if you are the anomaly, the chances of something going wrong go up exponentially.
-crowd control... have normally heard that it's better at DLR, but maybe it feels more crowded since the park is smaller.

Tis true, tis true. DL often feels more crowded to me. I think it depends on the CM running it, which again varies.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Right?! I remember JJ wanted so badly to go to the Lego Store. You were so excited for Earl of Sandwhich. When we go in October I'm definitely getting a sandwich with you guys!

Holiday sandwich! I think they start selling it in like April to get ready for the "holidays".

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Whether people find it useless or not, it's still transportation.

True, true. I think I'll only use it if it's a short wait. Or maybe once for sightseeing. We used it once to get to the Disneyland hotel more quickly, but usually we can walk faster than we'd spend waiting for it

 

[englanddg]

DCL calls it 'Ground Transfer' - and charges $70/head. It's also booked and purchased exclusively through Disney.

There is no 'magical express' service integrated with your hotel stay at DL. It's not even listed as a 'service' or perk of the hotel. If you are referring to the 'Disneyland Resort Express' - It's simply a shuttle service Disney has licensed to use the Disneyland name. It's not operated by Disney, nor branded Disney (beyond the Disneyland Resort Express name), nor limited to Disney hotels!

You're missing the point in how one is basically a 3rd party bus service that Disney refers you to... vs a product that Disney has branded, integrated with their system, offers more than just bus transfer.

The old 'free' vs not is trite and not really relevant to the discussion.

It's not purchased or booked through Disney.

It was offered through the website and when I called Disney Travel to book my stay at the Disneyland Resort Hotel.

You're missing the point in how one is basically a 3rd party bus service

I'm not missing the point. MY point was that "Magical Transit", regardless of the exact name, IS available from LAX and John Wayne through Disney. And it is.

It's not operated by Disney, nor branded Disney (beyond the Disneyland Resort Express name)

I guess this isn't "branded"...but it is what I rode on in Feb...

 

[flynnibus]

It was offered through the website and when I called Disney Travel to book my stay at the Disneyland Resort Hotel.

You can also book your airfare through Disney Travel - does that make it Disney Airlines?

I'm not missing the point. MY point was that "Magical Transit", regardless of the exact name, IS available from LAX and John Wayne through Disney. And it is.

Feel free to link to it...

I guess this isn't "branded"...but it is what I rode on in Feb...

Advertising...

See that symbol on the door? That's Grey Line.. you rode the 'Disneyland Resort Express' - not 'Magical Express'. You claimed your own luggage at the airport and checked your own luggage on return. You could also take that shuttle from the airport to any hotel in the Anaheim Resort area
http://graylineanaheim.com/docs/DRE Brochure.pdf

It's not 'Magical Express' in any form like the WDW version except they are both buses.. and there is often Disney pictures involved

 

[Californian Elitist]

Holiday sandwich! I think they start selling it in like April to get ready for the "holidays".

I don't know... The holiday sandwich looks good but Christa's looked really good, too. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Californian Elitist]

True, true. I think I'll only use it if it's a short wait. Or maybe once for sightseeing. We used it once to get to the Disneyland hotel more quickly, but usually we can walk faster than we'd spend waiting for it

I can count on one hand how many times I've ridden the Monorail at DL. I rode it with @Cosmic Commando back in November but before that I hadn't ridden it in years.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I can count on one hand how many times I've ridden the Monorail at DL. I rode it with @Cosmic Commando back in November but before that I hadn't ridden it in years.

It was always so crowded! But I do think the retro trains are neat. That, and I never knew monorails had horns until heading to DL! I rarely hear them used in WDW. Don't blame you for rarely riding it, though. The WDW one I've been on too many times to count, but again, it's more useful for transportation since unlike in DL, you can't walk from hotel to hotel unless you're in the Epcot resort area and from the hotels on the loop, you can't get to Epcot without it. And you wait 3 minutes for it usually (park closing is a different story) not 30 minutes.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Holiday sandwich! I think they start selling it in like April to get ready for the "holidays".

They sell it year round now because it is so popular.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

They sell it year round now because it is so popular.

My letter-writing campaign worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Californian Elitist]

It was always so crowded! But I do think the retro trains are neat. That, and I never knew monorails had horns until heading to DL! I rarely hear them used in WDW. Don't blame you for rarely riding it, though. The WDW one I've been on too many times to count, but again, it's more useful for transportation since unlike in DL, you can't walk from hotel to hotel unless you're in the Epcot resort area and from the hotels on the loop, you can't get to Epcot without it. And you wait 3 minutes for it usually (park closing is a different story) not 30 minutes.

Honestly, I don't even think to use the Monorail. When I worked in Fantasyland, the extra loud horn used to drive me crazy. I'd be in the middle of spieling or talking to a guest and all of a sudden, HOOOOOONNNNNKKKKKKK!!!!!!! So annoying. Definitely different from WDW. If Cosmic wants to ride it in October, I'll ride it again.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Honestly, I don't even think to use the Monorail. When I worked in Fantasyland, the extra loud horn used to drive me crazy. I'd be in the middle of spieling or talking to a guest and all of a sudden, HOOOOOONNNNNKKKKKKK!!!!!!! So annoying. Definitely different from WDW. If Cosmic wants to ride it in October, I'll ride it again.

It scared me the first few times! I was wondering what the heck it was. It was quite a morning eating at the Tomorrowland Terrace. I was sitting there minding my own business, and I turned around, completely unaware that the Jedi training Academy was playing, and I look up and there's Darth Vader. This was before I had seen the movies, but I don't care how many times I watch them. Seeing him in WDW or DL still freaks me out. I was two feet away from where he was walking and jumped out of his way, lol. Then about five minutes later, walking I think, oops, monorail horn. Don't worry, the rest of the day was better. I swear when coming up to the station they honked just to make everyone jump. Those things are loud. Once a WDW driver did it just to scare a crowd. This was after I'd been to DL and already knew about the horns, so I was startled, but everyone else screamed.

 

[Californian Elitist]

It scared me the first few times! I was wondering what the heck it was. It was quite a morning eating at the Tomorrowland Terrace. I was sitting there minding my own business, and I turned around, completely unaware that the Jedi training Academy was playing, and I look up and there's Darth Vader. This was before I had seen the movies, but I don't care how many times I watch them. Seeing him in WDW or DL still freaks me out. I was two feet away from where he was walking and jumped out of his way, lol. Then about five minutes later, walking I think, oops, monorail horn. Don't worry, the rest of the day was better. I swear when coming up to the station they honked just to make everyone jump. Those things are loud. Once a WDW driver did it just to scare a crowd. This was after I'd been to DL and already knew about the horns, so I was startled, but everyone else screamed.

I feel bad for those who live real close by. I'm sure they hear that thing go off all the time.

 

[lego606]

Luckily Disneyworld isn't a place

 

[Magenta Panther]

Yeah, I was going to bring that up but I decided not to lol.

Glad I wasn't the only one.