Airport urged to halt Disney shuttle service

[ducklite]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...sep13,0,1395034.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

 

[Gooofy-Blade]

Sounds to me like they are finally suffering for overcharging transfers/rentals throughout the years. Before ME I had to pay around $75.00 for a family of three transfer to WDW. If they had been more reasonable in their prices I would feel sorry for them now...but can't. As for having someone wave a Mickey Hand in the terminal.....so what? Maybe they can waive a giant dollar bill beside them and lure me with a good offer!

 

[Lewisc]

The paper had virtually the exact same story after the meeting early in the summer. The airport gave a couple of extra parking spaces to the limo companies. Obviously the airport isn't going to stop DME. The question is will Disney start charging, how much will they charge and what will that do to their business.

Goofy-Blade the towncar services from MCO are fairly priced. If you include waiting time, a grocery stop and transportation the total time the towncar is in use for you is well over 2 hours, probably 3 if you include the time it takes for the car to drive to your resort. Gas, insurance and airport fees and we're getting a steal at under $100 R/T. The fact that a taxi costs less than a pre-reserved town car is all you need to know.

 

[goofy4tink]

Two observations....
I haven't even seen a white-gloved person in either of my two trips since DME started!! I remember saying to my dh a year ago that it sure would be nice to have those guys with the Mickey hands waiting for me...since it was for DCL at that time. But, no one has been there waving me through yet. And from other posts I have read, there have been occasions when 'gypsy' or otherwise, towncar drivers have been soliciting fares at the bottom of the escalators.
Secondly...I have yet to get a fare for a towncar for under $100. I've used TT and Fl Tours and they have both been over $100, especially when you add in a tip of $30. Are they worth it? Yes, if you want private service. But, I have to say that even if they start charging $25 pp for DME, I'll still use it. Just being able to not have to worry about my luggage is so worth it to me.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Last time I went to Orlando was for a business meeting, and we used the hotel shuttle. Granted, it was at an airport-area hotel, but I'm sure other hotels in Orlando farther from the airport have complimentary shuttle service. If other hotels in the Orlando area are allowed to operate airport shuttle services, then Disney should be allowed to operate Magical Express.

I do agree with the Livery Association that Disney should not be allowed to solicit riders in areas where the Livery Association can not.

 

[seashoreCM]

The other livery services will take you anywhere. Magical Express takes you only to Disney hotels.

On my last trip I saw the Disney CM just outside security but he was holding the mIckey glove against his chest rather than up in the air.

Are hotels (as opposed to transportation companies) allowed to have rep's on the third floor outside security?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

 

[SeaSpray]

I can see both sides of this.

When we went to WDW this past July, we did see Disney employees wearing the white Mickey gloves. They were very quietly and slowly waving their hands. If you didn't look to the left, you would've missed them. They were not, in my opinion, soliciting people. If they are approached by guests, what are they supposed to do? Tell them "too bad, you didn't reserve in advance. We're not going to help you"?? People (guests) would complain about that.

I don't see where Disney is breaking any rules or regulations. At the same time, I feel bad for the small business owners there.

In July, ME was fully operational, but my DH and I chose to book a 10-passenger stretch limo for our family of 4.

Next month, it will just be DH and I going, and as of now we're booked on ME. Who knows, we may end up booking a towncar before then.

The solution? Well if limo/taxi companies can't solicit business on the third floor, then Disney shouldn't be able to, either. But you know, all it would take is a word from the White Glove people, directing the guests to another location where they CAN "solicit", and then those guests will get the free Disney ride anyway.

 

[Gooofy-Blade]

correct me if I am wrong but...........I guess most of the concern is with "soliciting". Well, I was required to show my "barcode" paperwork that had come in my ME packet so I feel the "mousehand" was simply directing me to where I needed to go! If I didn't have the barcode ME ticket, would I have been let aboard the ME bus? probably, but I'm sure Disney will use this as part of their defense..........i.e....."our arriving customers already have their transportation plans......"

 

[Drcell01]

...I was a small transportation company for hire or car rental agency in Orlando!

We just returned from 12 days in the Central Florida area and we loved using DME! We arrived 2 days early for our Disney Cruise. We used DME to get from the airport to Pop Century and we never touched our bags from the time we left the Albany airport until the time we checked in...what a great experience! Our bags arrived about two hours after we checked in (delivered right to the room).

We then rented a mini-van to take the 5 of us from WDW to Port Canaveral. Upon our return to port we reversed the proceedure and rented a mini-van to go from the port back to WDW. We once again stayed at Pop Century and used DME to go from the resort to OIA. It was flawless...no issues and no hastle.

In my book this is the best reason to stay at a Disney resort.

The small shuttle services and car rental agencies should be afraid...be VERY AFRAID!!! LOL

 

[skiwee1]

Two observations....
I haven't even seen a white-gloved person in either of my two trips since DME started!! I remember saying to my dh a year ago that it sure would be nice to have those guys with the Mickey hands waiting for me...since it was for DCL at that time. But, no one has been there waving me through yet. And from other posts I have read, there have been occasions when 'gypsy' or otherwise, towncar drivers have been soliciting fares at the bottom of the escalators.
Secondly...I have yet to get a fare for a towncar for under $100. I've used TT and Fl Tours and they have both been over $100, especially when you add in a tip of $30. Are they worth it? Yes, if you want private service. But, I have to say that even if they start charging $25 pp for DME, I'll still use it. Just being able to not have to worry about my luggage is so worth it to me.

Tiffany Towncar is $95 R/T. I just booked it for my October trip. They also have a $5 off coupon which brings it down to $90. I don't care what I pay as long as I don't have to use the DME! LOL! I worry more about my luggage with DME then if I am in charge of it. I want to know if the luggage got to the airport to begin with. I'd hate to find out 4 hours later that my luggage never came off the plane. I prefer to grab a luggage guy to get it for me and take it to the towncar.

 

[joanchris]

I understood the DME was to be free during the current Celebration....from allears: "In December 2004, Disney announced a new service called Disney's Magical Express which offers free airport shuttle service, luggage delivery and airline check-in for Disney hotel guests. The service began May 2005 and will remain complimentary during the 50th Anniversary Celebration."

So, I imagine they will begin charging after that.....I guess it depends on what they charge, and if people will be willing to make extra stops and wait for their luggage when it's not free anymore...........
Joan

 

[huey578]

The other livery services will take you anywhere. Magical Express takes you only to Disney hotels.

On my last trip I saw the Disney CM just outside security but he was holding the mIckey glove against his chest rather than up in the air.

Are hotels (as opposed to transportation companies) allowed to have rep's on the third floor outside security?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

I agree,Seashore. I'm curious were there complaints against Disney cruise lines ,they had greeters at airport long before DME service. I believe any hotel and/or businesses in the Orlando area has the right to pick up their guests/clients at airport free of charge.

 

[Poohbear123]

I usually arrive by train or bus. When getting to Kissimmee I had my "own transportation guy" and he was great. However, due to fuel costs and hurricanes, he was semi-retired, so I opted to fly knowing I could use DME and save about $35.00 each way! Mind you, I haven't flown since 1980, but flying one hour isn't going to hurt me, its just waiting at the airport for 2 hours that might, however, if DME starts to charge, I guess I will be back to square one. As far as waving "the white gove" I just figured that MCO is such a BIG airport, that they needed to do this in order for the travelers WITH DME reservations to FIND them!

 

[Lewisc]

At least two passengers on my DME bus paid Mears to be tranported on a ME bus.

One person returned a rental car and needed transportation back to CSR. He was told he already got his free transfer and he was sent to Mears to buy a ticket.

The other person lives in Clermont and wanted to take a bus to AKL. Her son was going to pick her up there. She said her son wasn't going to get out work in time to pick her up at MCO and AKL was the closest resort to Clermont. I'm not sure if she went to the Mears desk or if a Mickey handed employee told her where to go but I can see cab drivers not being happy with the situation.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, let's see...
DME is free until (I read somewhere) 10/6/06 or 10/18/06 or 10/31/06 - something like that. Then Disney will start charging, although naturally no price has been announced yet. Chances are, though, it will be less than Mears.
Based on the information in the article, Disney isn't soliciting business - people (under false pretenses, apparently) approach the representatives. Come to think of it, I didn't see any big white Mickey hands either.
And yeah, come to think of it, my brother was approached by - and accepted the offer of - a gypsy cab driver in August. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I still haven't figured out why he didn't tell me BEFORE he left so I could have hooked him up with DME, instead of calling me from Epcot...

 

[CarolA]

Sorry, but I don't feel bad for anyone who feels the right to charge a "mandatory tip" and ALL the towncars basically do. To me the "honest" thing to do is charge the right amount upfront and not call it a "tip".... The only reason for the "tip" is to try and avoid taxes...

Also, Orlando has NEVER adequately regulated cab drivers. So... this is what they get. (I have read other articles in the Orlando newspaper about conventions basically telling the Convention Center they would not return due to the cab issue.)

 

[goofy4tink]

Tiffany Towncar is $95 R/T. I just booked it for my October trip. They also have a $5 off coupon which brings it down to $90. I don't care what I pay as long as I don't have to use the DME! LOL! I worry more about my luggage with DME then if I am in charge of it. I want to know if the luggage got to the airport to begin with. I'd hate to find out 4 hours later that my luggage never came off the plane. I prefer to grab a luggage guy to get it for me and take it to the towncar.

Isn't it wonderful that we all have options that we can pick and choose from? When I said that I paid over $100 for a towncar, I was including the tip in that also. I have used TT in the past and will use them again in the future, I am sure. If there are only one or two of us, I hate paying that much, that's my big issue. And since I always fly direct from Boston to MCO, I don't worry too much about my luggage. But having said all this...I really hope the car services make it through this free period for DME. I really believe that Disney will charge for this service after the big 'celebration' is over. But, time will tell.

 

[safetymom]

I see the Disney employees standing by security all the time. Most of the time they are just standing there. Don't ever really see them trying to get customers.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I believe this is just a case of sour grapes.

 

[littlestar]

I've often wondered why the towncar drivers don't offer a grocery store run for Disney guests after they arrive to their resort using ME. Just think, they could ride out this free disney shuttle period by providing something else that's needed. I would be more than willing to pay Tiffany or any of the others a set amount to take me to the grocery store from my Disney resort. It's all supply and demand. I know there is "We go Shop" to go get groceries, but I would actually prefer to do my own shopping. Come on Tiffany, FL tours, are you guys listening?