A question for the masses

[itsdisneytime]

Okay, admittedly I am a little overly concerned about someone else's business right now. I am however a little aggravated and need to get advise.


In speaking with a customer of mine, they disclosed they were going to Disney in August, not staying on Disney Property because the only advantage to them for that would be to avoid the parking fee's daily. She THEN PROCEEDS to tell me that she plans on going over to the Downtown Disney Area and parking there for free and jumping the Magic Express to the Parks.

THIS SET OFF FIRE ALARMS IN MY HEAD.... and you have no idea how hard it was for me to be business like and not immediately loose my cool. I politely told her that I'm pretty sure that is not allowable and she may want to be careful trying to do that.

Now I'm wondering -- what is to stop someone from doing that? Don't they check room cards on the magic express? I've never utilized the magic express so I don't know. I would think Disney would want to start doing so if not...... It just doesn't seem fair to those of us who are willingly paying to park if we choose to use our own vehicle BUT ARE STAYING ONSITE ... and yet there are those who aren't and able to be shady about avoiding a fee.

UUUGHH!

 

[ckrisie]

Not possible, Magical Express is from the airports to a resort, and there is no buses running from DTD to MK.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Magical Express is the shuttle to/from MCO airport to the Disney resorts. The park busses are what she's talking about and the joke will pretty much be on her so don't lose your temper too quickly. Yes, technically she can park at DTD and hop on the bus. In order to get to the parks, she'll need to wait for a resort bus, get off the bus at a resort, wait for the appropriate park bus, and then get on the bus AGAIN to go to the park. She'll end up wasting a good hour to hour and a half EACH WAY in travel time to/from the park. All to save ... what... $13 a day? Hahahahahaha!

 

[ghtx]

Magic Express is from resorts to the airport, not to theme parks.

They don't have direct buses from theme parks to DTD, precisely because then people would try what your friend is suggesting.

 

[Andyjo0930]

I believe you can park your car there and then hop on the buses, and no one is going to stop you. But it's not as easy as all that. I don't believe you can catch a bus from DTD directly to a park. You may have to go to the Ticket and Transportation Center and then hop a bus to the park, or take a bus to a resort, and again, then transfer to another bus to get to the park. Personally, that is way too much work to do, to save a few bucks for parking.

 

[smitch425]

She would be looking at a very small amount of park time if she did it that way. Once she realizes there are no direct routes to the parks, she will likely change her plan. It amazes me how people try to get out of paying for things.

 

[TJBerry]

I believe you can park your car there and then hop on the buses, and no one is going to stop you. But it's not as easy as all that. I don't believe you can catch a bus from DTD directly to a park. You may have to go to the Ticket and Transportation Center and then hop a bus to the park, or take a bus to a resort, and again, then transfer to another bus to get to the park. Personally, that is way too much work to do, to save a few bucks for parking.

The buses only go to resorts from DTD, not the TTC.

 

[WDWNext]

Agreed with previous posters.

First I am going to take out the term Magical Express, thats not everyday but a one time airport to resort transportation and also going back after that stay. Lets assume they meant Disney Transportation. If thats not what they mean then its certainly Magical !!
Now, that can be done. It goes from DTD to resorts and then they can take the Disney Transportation from the resorts to the parks.... but what a waste of time that is !!
Can they do it ? Yes, no one checks (at least not yet). I can tell you right now that its not worth doing it to save $14 per day for parking.

Having said that, if they are doing this to avoid the daily parking, they most likely will not want to stay onsite anyway because it will cost them significantly more than $14 per day to stay onsite. The best option for them is to pay the $14 and be done with it.
My 0.02.

 

[mesaboy2]

Okay, admittedly I am a little overly concerned about someone else's business right now. I am however a little aggravated and need to get advise.

In speaking with a customer of mine, they disclosed they were going to Disney in August, not staying on Disney Property because the only advantage to them for that would be to avoid the parking fee's daily. She THEN PROCEEDS to tell me that she plans on going over to the Downtown Disney Area and parking there for free and jumping the Magic Express to the Parks.

THIS SET OFF FIRE ALARMS IN MY HEAD.... and you have no idea how hard it was for me to be business like and not immediately loose my cool. I politely told her that I'm pretty sure that is not allowable and she may want to be careful trying to do that.

Now I'm wondering -- what is to stop someone from doing that? Don't they check room cards on the magic express? I've never utilized the magic express so I don't know. I would think Disney would want to start doing so if not...... It just doesn't seem fair to those of us who are willingly paying to park if we choose to use our own vehicle BUT ARE STAYING ONSITE ... and yet there are those who aren't and able to be shady about avoiding a fee.

UUUGHH!

As PPs have noted, you are confusing Magical Express with the WDW resort's internal transportation system.

As for parking at DTD and taking WDW buses to the parks, Disney will allow it. But the bus schedules and routes make this option a very poor one, and I think anyone who does it costs themselves more than the $14 standard daily parking fee in time and hassle. It is a classic example of penny-wise and pound-foolish.

 

[rachellm]

What's to stop people from doing that? - The inconvienance!

As others mentioned, taking the Disney bus from DTD to a park will be quite a haul.

You mention people who stay onsite and are willing to pay for parking - that's nice that you're willing but you don't have to. If you stay onsite your parking at the parks is free.

 

[MackenzieFL]

I looked it up recently and it seems that bus system (not the ME but the regular Disney buses) are for resort guests, people with park hoppers & AP holders. But I've never experienced them asking for ID. NEver know.

But I hope she has patience because I also heard recently they don't go directly from DTD to parks. She'll save $14... sure. But she'll spend a lot of time in transit from DTD-Resort-Park, Park-Resorts-DTD.

Personally I'd rather just pay $14 than spend 2 1/2 hrs in transit each day.

 

[Kay1]

I've read here that the buses to and from DTD can be a bit of a hassle. My son and I stay onsite and I've considered taking the bus to DTD for dinner at T-Rex but it seems like too much trouble.

I can't imagine staying offsite and trying to go through so much just to save a little money. You couldn't pay me enough to do all that waiting and transferring - yuck!

 

[Samdari]

Right, she cannot get directly there like the others are saying. I would bet a common strategy is to park there and take a bus to a monorail resort (walk from Contemporary?) the Beach Club (for Epcot), or the Boardwalk (for DHS) to have easy park access without taking another bus.

Its a lot to go through to avoid parking a parking fee, but everyone knows someone willing to jump through those hoops to save a few bucks.

 

[mesaboy2]

I looked it up recently and it seems that bus system (not the ME but the regular Disney buses) are for resort guests, people with park hoppers & AP holders. But I've never experienced them asking for ID. NEver know.

But I hope she has patience because I also heard recently they don't go directly from DTD to parks. She'll save $14... sure. But she'll spend a lot of time in transit from DTD-Resort-Park, Park-Resorts-DTD.

Personally I'd rather just pay $14 than spend 2 1/2 hrs in transit each day.

Anybody can use WDW transportation.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Not to mention how hard it is to even get a parking spot at DTD.

 

[ghtx]

Not to mention how hard it is to even get a parking spot at DTD.

Sarcasm? I thought there was always plenty of parking there.

 

[TJBerry]

I looked it up recently and it seems that bus system (not the ME but the regular Disney buses) are for resort guests, people with park hoppers & AP holders. But I've never experienced them asking for ID. NEver know.

But I hope she has patience because I also heard recently they don't go directly from DTD to parks. She'll save $14... sure. But she'll spend a lot of time in transit from DTD-Resort-Park, Park-Resorts-DTD.

Personally I'd rather just pay $14 than spend 2 1/2 hrs in transit each day.

Disney transportation is for anyone that wants to use it.

 

[smitch425]

Sarcasm? I thought there was always plenty of parking there.

Nope, not at Marketplace. The lots are packed even during slower times of the year. Probably due to the number of people who use it for free theme park parking.

 

[TJBerry]

Sarcasm? I thought there was always plenty of parking there.

There is, on the West Side, closer to Planet Hollywood and Cirque. But people don't want to park there and walk over to the Marketplace.

 

[mesaboy2]

Sarcasm? I thought there was always plenty of parking there.

Parking is plentiful most times at Westside. Parking is nearly nonexistent most times at Marketplace.