Possible Additions/Changes to WDW Transportation

[AnnaKat]

Maybe he was suggesting a better place to be dropped off is at the EPCOT front gate?

We told him we wanted to use the IG entry. We had planned on it.

What bothered me was that we were already there, & it's our trip & our $$$

( we never said anything like that to the CM, just that we wanted to enter through the IG)

AND we're staying onsite, and spending 100s$ on dining on our trip
AND YET we can't get dropped off @ the BC!

AND offsite guests might PARK THERE( for free) to avoid paying the $20 Epcot parking fee, etc.

IF a CM " argued " with you @ Tickets for 10 minutes, saying,
" I am not SURE this is the BEST Park for you! "
AND wouldn't let you buy a one day ticket,
it would NOT be acceptable.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Last number I saw said that the cost had increased to $1.2 billion per mile.

That's because they got exchange rates from the RBS on their 1997 "Go EU"! T-bills issued by the chancellor of the exchequer

 

[lockedoutlogic]

We told him we wanted to use the IG entry. We had planned on it.

What bothered me was that we were already there, & it's our trip & our $$$

( we never said anything like that to the CM, just that we wanted to enter through the IG)

AND we're staying onsite, and spending 100s$ on dining on our trip
AND YET we can't get dropped off @ the BC!

AND offsite guests might PARK THERE( for free) to avoid paying the $20 Epcot parking fee, etc.

IF a CM " argued " with you @ Tickets for 10 minutes, saying,
" I am not SURE this is the BEST Park for you! "
AND wouldn't let you buy a one day ticket,
it would NOT be acceptable.

Technically nobody can park there for free...and I'm sure that even the bus drivers have been discouraged from using the Epcot or magic kingdom resorts as a through way...even just to drop off.

I don't blame him for being overly cautious. They do have secret shopper types around WDW...they may get audited occasionally

 

[Maineiak]

That's because they got exchange rates from the RBS on their 1997 "Go EU"! T-bills issued by the chancellor of the exchequer

I just got my number from Lehman Brothers the other day.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I just got my number from Lehman Brothers the other day.

Lol...I once got on dick fuld's private elevator from the helipad by mistake...

...I was looking for the snack bar

 

[Michael623]

Every time I see arguments/complaints about Disney transportation I like to point out that MCO has about the cheapest rental cars in the US. They also go where you want to go when you want to go there. I haven't used transportation at Disney (except for monorail/boat to MK) in years and I still manage to enjoy my vacation.

 

[zaccaglin]

Why don't they just expand the monorail?

Last number I saw said that the cost had increased to $1.2 billion per mile.

It's not a billion per mile but it is in the millions. Plus the added cost of more trains to support those extra miles of beams. As much as I would love to see a Monorail Expansion don't count on it for a long time, if ever. We can't even get them to replace the old and tired trains were piloting now.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Every time I see arguments/complaints about Disney transportation I like to point out that MCO has about the cheapest rental cars in the US. They also go where you want to go when you want to go there. I haven't used transportation at Disney (except for monorail/boat to MK) in years and I still manage to enjoy my vacation.

That should not be an option for those of us that are guilty of downing a few libations.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It's not a billion per mile but it is in the millions. Plus the added cost of more trains to support those extra miles of beams. As much as I would love to see a Monorail Expansion don't count on it for a long time, if ever. We can't even get them to replace the old and tired trains were piloting now.

"Sorry, Goose...but it's time to buzz the tower"

 

[writerguyfl]

I made sure that I stated in the comments several times that I would not want this to replace the complimentary transportation. I said it was a nice "add on" but not something I'd like to use frequently. I don't think they are trying to change the bus system completely. I think this about capitalizing on missed revenue from taxis and potentially Magical Express. I could see a scenario where they charge for that though I think it would be a mistake.

Prior to the introduction of Disney's Magical Express, guests where given the option of adding airport transfers to their package reservations. If I remember correctly, you could choose a private towncar or shared-ride van transfers. Both options were provided by Mears Transportation.

No clue if Disney Reservations Center Cast Members can still sell towncar transfers today.

Every time I see arguments/complaints about Disney transportation I like to point out that MCO has about the cheapest rental cars in the US. They also go where you want to go when you want to go there. I haven't used transportation at Disney (except for monorail/boat to MK) in years and I still manage to enjoy my vacation.

For some people who have to drive to/from/for work, the fact that they don't need to spend any part of their vacation behind the wheel of a car is a huge positive.

 

[Accident]

I'm still surprised they don't have a direct to park option now on the Magical express. With the bags going to your room, text'd room assignments, auto check in etc it only makes sense.

this survey sounds like a combo of where is transportation failing our guests and your point of you don't really need to go to the resort anymore..

 

[Maineiak]

"Sorry, Goose...but it's time to buzz the tower"

"That's a negative Ghost Rider....the pattern is full"

 

[mikepizzo]

It's not a billion per mile but it is in the millions. Plus the added cost of more trains to support those extra miles of beams. As much as I would love to see a Monorail Expansion don't count on it for a long time, if ever. We can't even get them to replace the old and tired trains were piloting now.

I figured I'd try and find some data on monorails.

2013 article showing some numbers

The Las Vegas Monorail, which opened in 2004, cost $654 million for just 4.4 miles—almost $150 million per mile. It uses the same Bombardier technology as the Walt Disney World Monorail.

São Paulo, Brazil is getting a 27-km (16-mile) Bombardier INNOVIA Monorail 300 system for $800 million. That’s $50 million per mile. The automated system includes 17 stations and 54 seven-car trains (a total of 378 cars). The beams are slightly larger than the beams at Walt Disney World. The trains allow riders to walk between cars, unlike Disney’s.

Remember this article is 3 years old, so the numbers are probably different.

$150 million in 2004 dollars is about $192 million in today's dollars.

For some reason I can't find the actual cost of the São Paulo monorail system. I found an estimated $1.6 billion but I'm not sure what type of dollar it is, and I don't see a date for the article.

 

[yitbos96bb]

A centralized HUb and light rail would solve their problems...but they don't "do" projects that accomplish great things any more...

That sums it nicely

 

[yitbos96bb]

Why don't they just expand the monorail?

They are. It's gonna go all over the resort and include ride throughs of the Villians themed park, the sports themed park and the beastly kingdom expansion!

 

[anthony2k7]

Have Disney done ANY surveys in recent years that have not been with the intention of either reducing costs or increasing revenue?

I suspect they want to do both here - add a "premium" transportation option maybe as a park tickets add-on? and once they've done that they can look at reducing costs elsewhere on transport - one less bus in service per resort etc?

The point about bags to resorts + people to parks is interesting, and another potential cost saving. Buses (or trucks) with bags may only need to go from airport to resorts once every 3 or 4 hours, whilst the buses for the people would potentially fill quicker and run fuller if they were only going to 4 parks instead of every single resort. Going from train straight to park after quickly dropping your bags off in the station with Disney Express has always been one of the great selling points of DLP.

 

[anthony2k7]

I should add though that the free transport is absolutely the number 1 selling point to staying on site for me. If they add cost to that or make the service less appealing in any way then we and many others will just stay off-site, probably at one of Universals now increasingly attractive selection of hotels.

 

[DrunkJam]

I should add though that the free transport is absolutely the number 1 selling point to staying on site for me. If they add cost to that or make the service less appealing in any way then we and many others will just stay off-site, probably at one of Universals now increasingly attractive selection of hotels.

Yeah, if we had to pay for transport around WDW we would have to find that cost by saving on the holiday, which, since we are now paying for transport anyway, we would do by staying off site, which would ALSO mean we would spend fewer days at WDW because there would be no disincentive to do other things in Orlando....

Currently, the transport makes the vacation more relaxing, and easier, which means the premium cost of the onsite resort options is worth it for us.

 

[Missyrose]

I read on the Dis that Uber was only recently allowed on WDW premises. We budgeted for taxis for our last trip--Nov./Dec. 2015.

Whomever told you that on the Dis is completely and utterly wrong. Uber has been allowed on Disney property since it launched in Orlando two years ago. You'll see a report every now and then about a security guard on a power trip saying the Uber driver isn't allowed to pick someone up at a particular resort. But in about 30 rides in Uber the last couple of years, I've never once had issues with drivers coming or going from Disney parks and resorts.

A lot of the security guards at the Disney resorts now know the Uber drivers and greet them by name. We've stopped renting a car at Disney because Uber is just so much easier, and cheaper!

 

[DebbieB]

I would hope that if Disney has their own taxi/uber service, that they would not subject guests to what we endured
when trying to get dropped off @ the Beach Club Resort by a Mears taxi.
They always ask why(which they should).
I replied that we had a reservation @ the Biergarten @ Epcot.
" Would you like to check my magic band?!", I had offered.
The security CM kept questioning & questioning us, not seeming to want to let us in.
He kept saying over & over, " I'm not sure this is the BEST place for you!!!! "
After like 10 minutes, he finally let us in.

We had planned on taking the taxi months before.
We were NOT parking @ BC, just being dropped off.
Yet, it felt like Disney--via that rude security CM--was discouraging resort to resort transportation via taxi!!

About 5 years or so ago, I was staying at Boardwalk and friends were staying at Beach Club. I had a rental car and went over to pick them up to go to SSR to see a DVC room model. The guard hassled me saying I could not park there. I said I don't want to park, just pickup my friends. We went back and forth and she finally let me in. Why would I want to park there if I was staying at Boardwalk, I had the permit on my dash.