Are Minnie Vans available for all resorts yet?

[Farro]

I think the point of them not at Poly yet is because Poly is on the magic kingdom monorail loop. You have direct monorail access to epcot and magic kingdom by monorail and to mk by boat. They were offering the van service to deluxes with less transportation options first. I believe they may even offer to some Moderates before the MK deluxe resorts. WL only has boat to MK and sometimes that isnt an option so..... We stayed at BCV and used it so much a few weeks ago, all CMs were fabulous but it is pricey.

And the Boardwalk hotels can walk or boat to two parks, even stevens.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If it's like Chicago they Uber/Lyft don't know where you are going until they start the ride. I'll tip well.

Last December we left DHS at closing and we're super tired. The boat line was super long and we didn't want to walk. We booked uber. Yes, from DHS to BWI. Fare was about $3. I tipped very well!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

And the Boardwalk hotels can walk or boat to two parks, even stevens.

Yeah, I would agree with this. The ability to walk to two parks and 5 resorts trumps monorail access any day of the week, IMHO!

 

[Peepster]

Do they go to Disney a Springs and gas anyone used the service to go there from a resort?

 

[DisneyCAL]

Do they go to Disney a Springs and gas anyone used the service to go there from a resort?

They can go to and from anywhere on property. We took it to and from MK several times back to BC and to and from Typhoon Lagoon. You just have to be at the participating resorts and get linked with the app for the minnie van service to show up on your lyft app.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Good to know, it would only be 2 adults and the scooter and that is it. My concern though is how they would get the scooter into the SUV, it folds up and comes apart but neither of them can really lift it that high..... maybe they should stick with the bus.

They have 2 scooter-accessible Minnie vans! We used it twice for a friend of ours a few weeks ago. Just ask at bell services at a participating resort and they can give you a direct number to call for one of these HCA vans with lift gate.

 

[kimieko]

As for getting the code added to phones of guests who are not staying at the currently participating resorts, this is a YMMV instance. They MAY activate for you. They won't just do it for everyone. It's possible they'll tell you that they can not do it.

We used it in August, staying at BWI, and it was nice. As someone who doesn't need carseats I would only use it to MK at this point. Or HDDR if I was going to that. Places Uber/Lyft can't go. ......


They do have some Minnie Vans that are different vehicles for handicapped access. ECV may be put on one of those instead of the Traverse.

If it's used for HDDR, do you still need to use the internal shuttle, or does it bring you right to the building?

 

[AngiTN]

If it's used for HDDR, do you still need to use the internal shuttle, or does it bring you right to the building?

It takes you right to Pioneer Hall, no internal shuttle needed. Only car service that can do this

 

[kimieko]

It takes you right to Pioneer Hall, no internal shuttle needed. Only car service that can do this

Great to know! We are doing HDDR for the first time in November and I was worried about figuring enough time for travel!

 

[ADS2508]

What time do they start running in the morning? We have a tour scheduled at 8:00 am at MK (need to be there at 7:45) (January). We will be traveling from Animal Kingdom Lodge. Wondering how much time should be allow to make sure that we are at MK Main Street by 7:45 from Animal Kingdom Lodge? And do they drop off where the buses drop? If not, it might be best to go to Contemporary and just walk over?? Any thoughts or suggestions?

They advertise 6:30, but I was told by a driver that they start their shift at 6:30 and have to get their car ready first. This can take 20 to 30 minutes, and in reality a 7 am start time is more likely. I will say we tried twice in the early morning (7-8 am) and both times were unable to get a car right away. We need 2 car seats and lift and uber are not an option. The morning we went to Early Morning Magic we ended up on the bus and a little later than I had wanted. The morning we went to the Poly for breakfast it took multiple tries and then about 15 minutes to install car seats. I'm not sure in the long run if it saved time, but we didn't have to transfer.

 

[Trackerbee]

What is the price per trip? Does it matter where you are picked up and dropped off?

 

[AndreaA]

I like the idea of Minnie Vans but honestly we always used taxis when we stayed at WL (except for MK) and they were fast, courteous and often amusing, and cheap.

I'm not gonna wait twenty minutes to ride in a polka dot car when I can get a taxi waiting by the time I reach the lobby.

 

[k8Davies]

Okay can someone please help a poor simple person like me.

So have I got this right on my next trip I'm Staying at the Dolphin, but if I want to use the Minnie van service I can go to the yacht club and ask for an activation code.

Then I can use it on the MDE app or do I need to download the Lyft app?

Then if I need one, let just say to get me to MK for my 8.05am CP booking I can book it and walk to the Yacht club to pick it up.

Realize I can get a taxi from the lobby of my hotel but might give it a go as it all new and shiny and yes I get distracted easily by stuff like that SQUIRREL...

Last thing how far in advance can you book?

 

[DisneyCAL]

Okay can someone please help a poor simple person like me.

So have I got this right on my next trip I'm Staying at the Dolphin, but if I want to use the Minnie van service I can go to the yacht club and ask for an activation code.

Then I can use it on the MDE app or do I need to download the Lyft app?

Then if I need one, let just say to get me to MK for my 8.05am CP booking I can book it and walk to the Yacht club to pick it up.

Realize I can get a taxi from the lobby of my hotel but might give it a go as it all new and shiny and yes I get distracted easily by stuff like that SQUIRREL...

Last thing how far in advance can you book?

You need the Lyft app. When at the desk, don't have it open. You'll give the CM a phone number which will activate and connect. Then you can open the app and should see on the bottom left, the minnie vans as an option.
A minnie van must be available in order for you to get one. Sometimes it took us several tries to get one to come our way. So technically a cab, uber, or regular lyft driver would've been faster. They are also super busy in the mornings at opening times and at late night at closings so it may be difficult to get one.

 

[Best Aunt]

You need the Lyft app. When at the desk, don't have it open. You'll give the CM a phone number which will activate and connect. Then you can open the app and should see on the bottom left, the minnie vans as an option.

This was my experience. I already had the Lyft app on my phone. I had a resie at Boardwalk Villas. When I got there, Minnie Vans did not show as an option on the Lyft app. I went to Bell Services. I touched the Home button on my phone to get out of the Lyft app. The cast member entered my cell phone number into a computer system. I opened the Lyft app, and Minnie Vans appeared as an option.

Could I have had Bell Services do this even if I were not staying at the hotel? Maybe. But perhaps at some point the Bell Services cast member might ask for your Magic Band to see if you are staying at that hotel. (I assume they could determine this by scanning your Magic Band.) Given that people at participating hotels are discovering that no Minnie Vans are available some of the time, I would not be surprised if they start doing this if it is promoted as a perk of staying at that hotel.

I'm not going to get into a discussion of the fairness of having it a perk of staying at just a few hotels.

 

[AngiTN]

What is the price per trip? Does it matter where you are picked up and dropped off?

$20, total (tip built in to rate, or employee not in a tipped position, whichever way you want to view it), flat rate for every ride, no matter where you are picked up or dropped off.

 

[FCDub]

Last thing how far in advance can you book?

There is no advance booking. Open the app when you want to use it and request a car then.

 

[k8Davies]

There is no advance booking. Open the app when you want to use it and request a car then.

Ah okay well I will definitely still use it; but might book a taxi in advance for my CP booking - as I don't want to get into a fluster.

I know when I can use it as I want to try Zebra domes, so I can Minnie Van over to AKL at some point during my stay.

 

[AngiTN]

Ah okay well I will definitely still use it; but might book a taxi in advance for my CP booking - as I don't want to get into a fluster.

I know when I can use it as I want to try Zebra domes, so I can Minnie Van over to AKL at some point during my stay.

The only issue you will have is you are going to have to ask for them to add the service to your phone, unless Dolphin is added as a participating Resort between now and the time of your trip.
No one is informed of when new resorts are due to be added, that I'm aware of. Eventually more will be included, just a matter of time.
Until then, you can ask at a participating resort but they may or they may not do it. It doesn't matter if you are visiting a participating resort, you have to be an overnight guest for it to be added automatically. All others are by request only.

 

[k8Davies]

The only issue you will have is you are going to have to ask for them to add the service to your phone, unless Dolphin is added as a participating Resort between now and the time of your trip.
No one is informed of when new resorts are due to be added, that I'm aware of. Eventually more will be included, just a matter of time.
Until then, you can ask at a participating resort but they may or they may not do it. It doesn't matter if you are visiting a participating resort, you have to be an overnight guest for it to be added automatically. All others are by request only.

Ohh thanks for the info, if the resort isn't added I'll try my luck and the Yacht club and if no luck I can always try the boardwalk.

If not, I don't really need to use it so not a problem; but if I can I definitely try a quick trip somewhere.