Uber to Magic Kingdom

[AE77]

If I’m taking an Uber to the Magic Kingdom, is it better to go to the TTC, or get dropped off at the Contemporary and walk over? Thanks!

 

[Driver]

I requested my Uber driver drop me off at the Contemporary. He had no problems entering the resort and dropped me off at the valet site in front.

I don't doubt it for a minute and 30 or more people could chime in with the same report. Understand we are living it everyday so we will see all the ugly just because of the huge numbers in volume we are talking about here. Tens of thousands of guest are here everyday! You all visit here for vacation for a week two weeks whatever, odds are as individuals you won't see a lot of the mayhem CM's see on a regular basis. That's my point.

 

[Driver]

[QUOTE="I am Timmy, post: 8035274, member: 115440 Besides, me taking an Uber is taking one less rental car off the streets.[/QUOTE]
??? That's a one for one so doesn't that make it a wash. It's still A car on property. Or am I not understanding what your saying?

 

[I am Timmy]

[QUOTE="I am Timmy, post: 8035274, member: 115440 Besides, me taking an Uber is taking one less rental car off the streets.

??? That's a one for one so doesn't that make it a wash. It's still A car on property. Or am I not understanding what your saying?[/QUOTE] I'm so sorry you have to put up with thousands of inconsiderate Uber drivers daily. That must be very difficult for you. It seems to make you very unhappy. However, since they may be there to stay, you might consider moving to a city that is not the number one tourist destination in the world. Or am I not understanding what you're saying?

 

[LAKid53]

I don't doubt it for a minute and 30 or more people could chime in with the same report. Understand we are living it everyday so we will see all the ugly just because of the huge numbers in volume we are talking about here. Tens of thousands of guest are here everyday! You all visit here for vacation for a week two weeks whatever, odds are as individuals you won't see a lot of the mayhem CM's see on a regular basis. That's my point.

Good grief, really? I've taken Uber in MAJOR US cities. Most drivers do not exhibit the behavior you describe. You act as though every single person visiting Walt Disney World takes an Uber around property. I don't. And the majority of guests don't, based upon the crowds on the buses. I took an Uber because I was staying somewhere else in Orlando for a few days, didn't have the car and decided to visit WDW whike my daughter was in training. I didn't see scores of Uber drivers pulling into the Contemporary or Animal Kingdom. And those Uber drivers you complain about may be taking passengers somewhere other than Disney. Orlando is more than just Disney, Sea World and Uni.

Sheesh.

 

[Driver]

Good grief, really? I've taken Uber in MAJOR US cities. Most drivers do not exhibit the behavior you describe. You act as though every single person visiting Walt Disney World takes an Uber around property. I don't. And the majority of guests don't, based upon the crowds on the buses. I took an Uber because I was staying somewhere else in Orlando for a few days, didn't have the car and decided to visit WDW whike my daughter was in training. I didn't see scores of Uber drivers pulling into the Contemporary or Animal Kingdom. And those Uber drivers you complain about may be taking passengers somewhere other than Disney. Orlando is more than just Disney, Sea World and Uni.

Sheesh.

It's the volume of them that are there. And this is why I've responded before to people who post they won't wait for a bus. This puts a lot of cars on property adding to congestion and slowing things down in general. Hypothetically 30,00 people in the park .5% decide they want Uber that's 150 cars...... going to the contemporary, TTC and along side of the road etc. etc. And this is another reason why I don't like posting here when you tell the truth all the doubting Thomases come out.... whatever I don't care if you believe me or not I'm just telling you what I see everyday.

 

[Driver]

??? That's a one for one so doesn't that make it a wash. It's still A car on property. Or am I not understanding what your saying?

I'm so sorry you have to put up with thousands of inconsiderate Uber drivers daily. That must be very difficult for you. It seems to make you very unhappy. However, since they may be there to stay, you might consider moving to a city that is not the number one tourist destination in the world. Or am I not understanding what you're saying?[/QUOTE]
So this just went from having an adult conversation. To a bad one.... I'm done!!!

 

[LAKid53]

It's the volume of them that are there. And this is why I've responded before to people who post they won't wait for a bus. This puts a lot of cars on property adding to congestion and slowing things down in general. Hypothetically 30,00 people in the park .5% decide they want Uber that's 150 cars...... going to the contemporary, TTC and along side of the road etc. etc. And this is another reason why I don't like posting here when you tell the truth all the doubting Thomases come out.... whatever I don't care if you believe me or not I'm just telling you what I see everyday.

I repeat what I've said. I've used Uber to get to/from a hotel in another part of Orlando to WDW. At no time did the Uber driver drop me off/pick me up by the side of the road. They dropped me at the appropriate point in the park or in the valet circle in front of the Contemporary. I would have given that driver a very low rating....and tip...if he/she dumped me as you allege they do.

Some people Uber because they have no other choice. Like me. Some people Uber because it's the most effective way to get from their resort to another for dining. Or, if they have a vehicle, they drive. The Minnie vans aren't cheap and they are not as pervasive as Uber. And initially, they were available for a select few resorts. All are putting additional vehicles on the road. Why aren't you criticizing resort guests who drive to the parks?

And I shall remind you that you are the one who turned a simple question about taking an Uber to the MK into a slam against the service. You should have expected people who have used Uber and not had issues to push back.

 

[dreamfinder]

I think Minnie Van is great for large parties or families with multiple small children in car seats.. but for me, not so much.
Uber is much cheaper. Minnie Vans are basically the same price as taxis, or higher.

They are expensive. But it's a Disney O/O service being driven by Disney CMs, who in theory have undergone a driving history/background check. And for families, the fact that they carry two car/booster seats in each vehicle is a huge selling point. The CM who picked us up the other week told us they had to go through 40 hours of car seat training, way more than most parents get. I know there is some way to get a regular Uber/Lyft with a car seat, but I put more trust in these than some random one. If they maintain the levels of quality/service, I'd say it's a definite throwback to what Disney vacations used to be know for.

 

[21stamps]

They are expensive. But it's a Disney O/O service being driven by Disney CMs, who in theory have undergone a driving history/background check. And for families, the fact that they carry two car/booster seats in each vehicle is a huge selling point. The CM who picked us up the other week told us they had to go through 40 hours of car seat training, way more than most parents get. I know there is some way to get a regular Uber/Lyft with a car seat, but I put more trust in these than some random one. If they maintain the levels of quality/service, I'd say it's a definite throwback to what Disney vacations used to be know for.

I see the advantage for people with very young children. I don’t see an advantage for smaller parties without car seats. I’ve never had an issue with Uber in any city. Cars have always been clean, drivers always nice.

I think that Uber does driving and background checks... I’d love to know what was included in the 40 hours of car seat training, many firefighters have a lot of training, so maybe it’s a similar course.

 

[Rob562]

I repeat what I've said. I've used Uber to get to/from a hotel in another part of Orlando to WDW. At no time did the Uber driver drop me off/pick me up by the side of the road. They dropped me at the appropriate point in the park or in the valet circle in front of the Contemporary. I would have given that driver a very low rating....and tip...if he/she dumped me as you allege they do.

You have to admit though that you (and I, and just about everyone here on WDWMagic) are far from the "typical tourist" in WDW. We know where we need to get dropped off, we know where to go to get picked up. We know that Uber can't pick up/drop off in front of Magic Kingdom so we arrange to go elsewhere.

So as an example, I went into the Uber app and tried a few things, pretending I was a tourist trying to get to Magic Kingdom. (I've attached a few screenshots below)

When I went to enter my destination and searched for "Magic Kingdom", the VERY first option that popped up was "Bus Stop - Magic Kingdom Park". Now what tourist *wouldn't* choose that? They don't know the Uber can't go there.
Even if I scroll down and find "Magic Kingdom Park", it drops the pin at the actual park entrance and tries to say the proper route is around the back of the park, drive in the gate behind Splash Mountain and follow the backstage road to be dropped off in front of the park. Again, how is a tourist supposed to know?

Couple that with Uber drivers who are a slave to their GPS. They follow the turn-by-turn exactly, often not thinking ahead about where they're actually trying to go. I've had that problem both in WDW and here in Boston. (Had an Uber trying to pick me up at Riverside try entering through the unstaffed bus only gate because the GPS told them to turn in there rather than go to the next driveway where the guard shack is)

So I can totally see clueless drivers driving up World Drive, get to the light at the Contemporary/MK bus depot and say "I can't turn in there" and the tourists just saying "Well then, umm, let us out here" and they jump out not knowing how stupid that is. What's the driver going to do? Say no, keep them "hostage" in the car and risk a bad rating from the passenger?

The fact that the VERY first option a guest is given when searching for "Magic Kingdom" in the Uber app is *not* an accessible or safe location to be dropped off shows that there's a big problem that Disney and Uber must address. They need to clamp down on all of these other destinations (Magic Kingdom ferry boat landing?) that I assume it's pulling from Google Maps, and only give users the options for where the guests NEED to be dropped off.

-Rob

 

[I am Timmy]

I'm so sorry you have to put up with thousands of inconsiderate Uber drivers daily. That must be very difficult for you. It seems to make you very unhappy. However, since they may be there to stay, you might consider moving to a city that is not the number one tourist destination in the world. Or am I not understanding what you're saying?

So this just went from having an adult conversation. To a bad one.... I'm done!!![/QUOTE]
Yay!