Are Minnie Vans available for all resorts yet?

[Wdwfan2016]

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.

That's not true, any Guests can use it. The only catch is it has to be activated from one of the participating resorts. Once activated you can obtain it from anywhere on property. You don't have to have them give you a code either. If you are at one of the participating resorts a pop up will come on your screen in the My Disney Experience App allowing you to access the feature.

 

[AngiTN]

That's not true, any Guests can use it. The only catch is it has to be activated from one of the participating resorts. Once activated you can obtain it from anywhere on property. You don't have to have them give you a code either. If you are at one of the participating resorts a pop up will come on your screen in the My Disney Experience App allowing you to access the feature.

I'm fully aware of that. If you'd have read the thread you'd see I've even posted a pic of the notice from MDE when you are a guest of a participating resort.
But if you don't get that offer, you can't use it without someone adding it to your account. We tested it with DH, where he did not get the offer as he doesn't have MDE account. It's not automatic. So my statement is true. You have to request to have it added if you don't get the offer. They don't have to add it to your account if you are not a guest at a participating resort. If you are a guest, you won't have any issues at all getting it added.

 

[Wdwfan2016]

I'm fully aware of that. If you'd have read the thread you'd see I've even posted a pic of the notice from MDE when you are a guest of a participating resort.
But if you don't get that offer, you can't use it without someone adding it to your account. We tested it with DH, where he did not get the offer as he doesn't have MDE account. It's not automatic. So my statement is true. You have to request to have it added if you don't get the offer. They don't have to add it to your account if you are not a guest at a participating resort. If you are a guest, you won't have any issues at all getting it added.

Well from my experience the pop up appears in the My Disney Experience App the moment you walk into one of the participating resorts. So it was automatic for us and everyone we were traveling with.

 

[wenpop]

They would not give it to me at wilderness lodge last week, he said it was only for guest at wilderness lodge. Had to use lyft.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

We used it twice this week. We were staying at BLT, but were at Beach Club for a Beaches and Cream ADR on Tuesday. Leaving BC, we wanted to use the Minnie Vans. We did not get the pop up on our MDE. We went to the front desk at BC and they activated it for us even though we weren't staying there.

That first trip, we had a car there within 3 minutes of requesting it. That was the day after the hurricane and crowds everywhere were very low. Today, we had a breakfast ressie at Boardwalk. I tried to get a Minnie Van with a pickup at BLT. It let me request it, but there weren't any cars available. After trying for several minutes, I gave up and just got a regular Lyft. Leaving Boardwalk, we tried again. Since we weren't pressed for time, I kept trying until a car was available. It took about 10 minutes before I was matched with a car. The car was just a few minutes away so once we were matched it was quick. I am glad all the cars are so conspicuously numbered as someone else who had requested a Minnie Van tried to grab ours when it pulled up. It was easy to point to the large number on the side and show him it was our car.

 

[Cliffside]

We used it three times while we were there right before Irma. We were staying at the Boardwalk villas. We only used it to go to and return from MK. We really liked the service. We even had the same driver twice. The drivers were excellent. I guess that's why you pay a premium for Disney cast members. Our Uber drivers during the week were not the best. We also were given the option to tip after our Minnie rides. I didn't realize it was included and a non-tipped position. We added a tip because we received excellent service.

 

[rpumpire]

I have never used Uber or Lyft (or, obviously, Minnie Vans). In November I will be staying at Beach Club. Will I be able to have a Minnie Van round trip to Hoop Dee Doo at Ft. Wilderness' Pioneer Hall?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I have never used Uber or Lyft (or, obviously, Minnie Vans). In November I will be staying at Beach Club. Will I be able to have a Minnie Van round trip to Hoop Dee Doo at Ft. Wilderness' Pioneer Hall?

Yes. You will need to download the Lyft app onto your phone. Go to the front desk at Beach Club and have them activate the Minnie Van service on your phone. From then on, you can use the app to request a Minnie Van anywhere on property. Although, be forewarned that there are times no Minnie Vans are available. You either have to be patient and submit the request multiple times until a car becomes available, or give up and use a regular Lyft car, which I did once out of the 3 times we tried to use the Minnie Vans.

I do hope they hire more drivers to expand the service.

 

[AngiTN]

I have never used Uber or Lyft (or, obviously, Minnie Vans). In November I will be staying at Beach Club. Will I be able to have a Minnie Van round trip to Hoop Dee Doo at Ft. Wilderness' Pioneer Hall?

Yes. You will need to download the Lyft app onto your phone. Go to the front desk at Beach Club and have them activate the Minnie Van service on your phone. From then on, you can use the app to request a Minnie Van anywhere on property. Although, be forewarned that there are times no Minnie Vans are available. You either have to be patient and submit the request multiple times until a car becomes available, or give up and use a regular Lyft car, which I did once out of the 3 times we tried to use the Minnie Vans.

I do hope they hire more drivers to expand the service.

To add on, All of these issues are issues you MAY have.
You MAY have to go to the front desk. It is often automatic using the link that will pop up in the MDE account. It should just pop up when on check in day, or near check in day, to alert you that you can use Minnie Vans as a guest of Beach Club. If you don't have the app/account it will prompt you to download and create one. If it doesn't prompt you, then you can visit Bell Services. If it does prompt you, no interaction with the CM is needed.
You MAY have times there are no Minnie Vans available. In our case, we never had to wait for a Minnie Van. There was always one available when we went to request one. We used it twice, both times there were multiple cars available.

 

[monique5]

Minnie Van Locations
(Now Available @ All Deluxe Resorts 10/2/17)
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Bay Lake Tower
Beach Club
Boardwalk Inn
Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge Contemporary Resort
Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge
Grand Floridian
Polynesian Village Resort
Wilderness Lodge
Yacht Club

 

[melana]

Minnie Van Locations
(Now Available @ All Deluxe Resorts 10/2/17)
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Bay Lake Tower
Beach Club
Boardwalk Inn
Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge Contemporary Resort
Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge
Grand Floridian
Polynesian Village Resort
Wilderness Lodge
Yacht Club

This is great news!! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[airlynn26]

Do they have car seats in the vans or is it something you have to request?

 

[rteetz]

Do they have car seats in the vans or is it something you have to request?

They have two cars seats in each vehicle in the trunk. Not something that is needed to be requested.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

Any recent reports on using Minnie Vans? Sounds like some people have a good experience and some others have trouble finding a van when they need it.

 

[DaisyNY]

Sounds like a great option...we've had bellhops call for taxis and often had long waits and the experience of the driver not being familiar with Saratoga Springs resort location. We needed to give him directions!

 

[k8Davies]

I've just downloaded the Lyft app in preparation 3 month early but hey it's good to be ready.

As can't use it now Lyft isn't available in the UK so looks like my first Lyft trip might be in a Minnie Van - exciting (well that's if a participating resort gives me the code - maybe my oh so interesting lyft app story will inspire them to).

 

[Strikan]

At AK you are in way worse shape using one, found out the hard way. They moved the drop off point to the end of the very last bus stop so you have the longest possible walk in and out of the park. I'd rather take Uber/Lyft and be right at the front by the tram.

That is crazy. It defeats one of the main benefits of using the service.

 

[anomamatt]

I assume (hope) they have added significant capacity to their fleet sine late August. I've posted a few times it was hard to "find" a Minnie Van at all to request (all were being used) just about every time we wanted one. Maybe the fleet is much larger now... Hopefully!

 

[JinxedSydney]

Has anyone had any experience in using the full-size vans with ECV capacity? Just wondering if it can fit one or two scooters.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Has anyone had any experience in using the full-size vans with ECV capacity? Just wondering if it can fit one or two scooters.

Yes, we used it in twice August for a friend using an ECV. I’m quite certain it only fits one ECV and then 4 passengers (can fit a 5th passenger if person stays seated in their ECV but securing the ECV with a person with seatbelt is a bit of a production so be sure to allow plenty of time). Hope that helps - it’s a great service!