Take this with a grain of salt, but a cast member (manager) told me “perhaps Disney will be doing their own Magical Express.” I thought that was interesting.
I don’t watch TV and the billboards don’t advertise Disney Cruise but those Disney Busses are always coming and going on& off property….I'm guessing they DID calculate it. It's a numbers game. How much did they pay Mears for the service? How much did they pay employees to do the interaction? How much did they pay BAGS for the luggage portion? Did it really result in more people staying on property? How much was Mears/BAGS going to charge going forward?
I find it hard to believe the DME busses really contributed to advertising. Yea, sure, it's "free", but did it really result in anyone saying "let's go to WDW"? It's not like the billboards, radio & TV ads aren't all over the place also.
… What about all the families that park free at Disney Springs and use Disney Bus Transport to park or resort to jump on monorail, SkyLiner, all the boat transportations on property? I have often gotten into conversations in monorail with families that experience this so their children “ think” they have gone to DisneyWorld or a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon… I wonder how that is subsidized …Before Magical Express, Mears Transportation had a similar service that you paid for, and I have every expectation that they will re-establish it. Looking at it from another angle, we live close enough to drive, and I found it frustrating that our hotel rates were a bit higher because we were subsidizing Magical Express for other guests but not using it ourselves.
Link reminder so it doesn’t get lost in conversation…And saddly they raised hotel prices to make up for all of that.
Found this on reddit.
Change.org save magical express
Magical Express is different than the Cruise Line busses (I'm pretty sure). I haven't heard they're ending the Cruise Line busses.I don’t watch TV and the billboards don’t advertise Disney Cruise but those Disney Busses are always coming and going on& off property….
Everytime I see the Disney Cruise Magic Express, I guarantee I am thinking Wish I was taking a Disney Cruise…I don’t think I have ever thought of a Any Other Brand Cruise Line that I can’t even think of now name except for Royal Caribbean.
The "in house" transportation would be subsidized by everyone on property. Are there families that park at DS and use the busses to go elsewhere? I'm sure there are a few, but probably not as many as you think. Give it a year or so. If Disney sees their occupancy rates dropping, they could potentially bring DME back. If they don't see it dropping, then why spend the money?… What about all the families that park free at Disney Springs and use Disney Bus Transport to park or resort to jump on monorail, SkyLiner, all the boat transportations on property? I have often gotten into conversations in monorail with families that experience this so their children “ think” they have gone to DisneyWorld or a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon… I wonder how that is subsidized …
Im not gonna worry about this and obviously Disney doesn’t because they know eventually you will return and give your money to Disney.
MarketWatch: Do you own stock?
Do you plan to use these services on property?
Well your hotel rates are still going to be just as high...they certainly haven't and won't reduce their prices...just take away the amenity.Before Magical Express, Mears Transportation had a similar service that you paid for, and I have every expectation that they will re-establish it. Looking at it from another angle, we live close enough to drive, and I found it frustrating that our hotel rates were a bit higher because we were subsidizing Magical Express for other guests but not using it ourselves.
Yep, it is the same reason I don't Parking Lot Trams will return.Magical Express is different than the Cruise Line busses (I'm pretty sure). I haven't heard they're ending the Cruise Line busses.
The "in house" transportation would be subsidized by everyone on property. Are there families that park at DS and use the busses to go elsewhere? I'm sure there are a few, but probably not as many as you think. Give it a year or so. If Disney sees their occupancy rates dropping, they could potentially bring DME back. If they don't see it dropping, then why spend the money?
I'm surprised so many people are upset by ME ending - because I always felt the general consensus was ME is free and "you get what you pay for". I don't think it will impact occupancy rates for Disney. WDW existed for a long time without free airport transportation.
this arguments kills me. Just because the service goes away, doesn't mean the rates will change. You are still going to pay that rate. And the whole "I'm paying for something I never use" thing.... DO you complain that your tax money goes to libraries, schools etc that you don't use?Before Magical Express, Mears Transportation had a similar service that you paid for, and I have every expectation that they will re-establish it. Looking at it from another angle, we live close enough to drive, and I found it frustrating that our hotel rates were a bit higher because we were subsidizing Magical Express for other guests but not using it ourselves.
Before Magical Express, Mears Transportation had a similar service that you paid for, and I have every expectation that they will re-establish it. Looking at it from another angle, we live close enough to drive, and I found it frustrating that our hotel rates were a bit higher because we were subsidizing Magical Express for other guests but not using it ourselves.
Disney's requirements for Bus Drivers are no different than the USDOT regulations for bus drivers. In order to drive a commercial vehicle carrying passengers you have to have a DOT physical, med card and an annual drug and alcohol screening. Local and federal agencies both watch passenger carrying drivers and vehicles very closely.I am more Concerned about all the independent Coach style busses operating currently on property…apparently Disney doesn’t have enough Disney busses or bus drivers that the Disney Resorts have to utilize this along with the off property Hotels… Is Mears chartering their busses to independent hotels ? Where are all these companies coming from? how well are they trained, insured, and maintained? Disney bus drivers are required to submit to a physical as part of their contract Includes urine sample…Hope these independent companies operating on Disney property have stricter requirements.
Yes, some people will decide to not travel to Disney because of this decision. I bet you it's not as many people as you think. AND now, Disney doesn't have to pay Mears, Bags, etc to support that. Someone made the decision that the money they save is more than the loss of income by someone not visiting.It's very frustrating. In our case (3 kids under 4), it absolutely will impact the decision to make a Disney trip. The conundrum of how to handle the need for 3 car seats (without shelling out big bucks for a rental car that would remain parked) is very real. My hope is that the Mears replacement service is affordable and reliable.
While this is true, car seat laws and other regulations regarding traveling have changed, even in Florida since DME was introduced that make this more complicated than it was before DME.As others have said, DME has not been around forever. Before it came to be, families found a way to get from the airport to the resort and back. I know it's shocking, but it's true.