Deluxe hotels and Minnie Van - now to airport

[Farro]

I didn't see a thread...So you can now use the Minnie Van to/from airport if staying at a Deluxe hotel - for $150 EACH WAY!!!

Yowzas!!! Take an Uber kids! Or take the Magical Express!

Either this solidifies keeping ME free because allows those who don't like it another alternative - or this is a step in getting rid of ME.

Only time will tell I guess!

 

[Surgie2]

Yowzas!!! Take an Uber kids! Or take the Magical Express!

The thing is...for people with young kids who need car seats, an Uber is not a practical option when you need to leave for the airport at a certain time. Yes, you can request an Uber with a car seat, but we need 4 car seats, one of them rear-facing. It is highly unlikely that we could get 2 Uber mini-vans, each with quality car seats, showing up at our resort at a designated time for the airport trip.

I agree that the Minnie Van is pricey for the airport trip, though we will definitely be using two of them for the trip from Poly to AK when we need to arrive at a certain early time. For our return airport trip, the DME will work for some of us but for the other family with 2 kids, we hired a private driver that is cheaper than the Minnie Van. I am a little unsure of the quality and installation of the car seats...had to just take his word and the parents will have to be diligent about checking the installation themselves when the driver arrives. Had the Minnie Van drivers been available for the early morning run, we might have gone that direction for peace of mind but they don't start until 9:00. The Minnie Van drivers undergo 40 hours of training on the two Graco 4Ever multimode car seats which come with every Minnie Van. So many people are quick to tout Uber and Lyft as "better" options but when you live in a world of necessary car seats it's a different story.

 

[Farro]

The thing is...for people with young kids who need car seats, an Uber is not a practical option when you need to leave for the airport at a certain time. Yes, you can request an Uber with a car seat, but we need 4 car seats, one of them rear-facing. It is highly unlikely that we could get 2 Uber mini-vans, each with quality car seats, showing up at our resort at a designated time for the airport trip.

I agree that the Minnie Van is pricey for the airport trip, though we will definitely be using two of them for the trip from Poly to AK when we need to arrive at a certain early time. For our return airport trip, the DME will work for some of us but for the other family with 2 kids, we hired a private driver that is cheaper than the Minnie Van. I am a little unsure of the quality and installation of the car seats...had to just take his word and the parents will have to be diligent about checking the installation themselves when the driver arrives. Had the Minnie Van drivers been available for the early morning run, we might have gone that direction for peace of mind but they don't start until 9:00. The Minnie Van drivers undergo 40 hours of training on the two Graco 4Ever multimode car seats which come with every Minnie Van. So many people are quick to tout Uber and Lyft as "better" options but when you live in a world of necessary car seats it's a different story.

Uber/Lyft have different types of cars available for different needs -bigger parties, wheelchairs, etc. At least in Chicago.

But I also understand some people just trust the Disney brand more, and that is fine too. I'm just a bit stunned at the price point when Disney must know you can get around cheaper - including their own free service!
But hey, if people pay it, more power to them!

 

[AngiTN]

I didn't see a thread...So you can now use the Minnie Van to/from airport if staying at a Deluxe hotel - for $150 EACH WAY!!!

Yowzas!!! Take an Uber kids! Or take the Magical Express!

Either this solidifies keeping ME free because allows those who don't like it another alternative - or this is a step in getting rid of ME.

Only time will tell I guess!

There have been posts. Started several months ago and is something available for reservations by CL guests and to the airport.

And it's not anything to do with getting rid of ME

 

[Farro]

There have been posts. Started several months ago and is something available for reservations by CL guests and to the airport.

And it's not anything to do with getting rid of ME

Except it was in an article I read the other day - it's now offered to all levels of deluxe resort guests. Unless this article is incorrect?

https://wdwnt.com/2018/03/minnie-va...ts-airport-service-expands-yacht-beach-2-2-3/

And to your other point - never say never!

 

[sbd78]

The thing is...for people with young kids who need car seats, an Uber is not a practical option when you need to leave for the airport at a certain time. Yes, you can request an Uber with a car seat, but we need 4 car seats, one of them rear-facing. It is highly unlikely that we could get 2 Uber mini-vans, each with quality car seats, showing up at our resort at a designated time for the airport trip.

I agree that the Minnie Van is pricey for the airport trip, though we will definitely be using two of them for the trip from Poly to AK when we need to arrive at a certain early time. For our return airport trip, the DME will work for some of us but for the other family with 2 kids, we hired a private driver that is cheaper than the Minnie Van. I am a little unsure of the quality and installation of the car seats...had to just take his word and the parents will have to be diligent about checking the installation themselves when the driver arrives. Had the Minnie Van drivers been available for the early morning run, we might have gone that direction for peace of mind but they don't start until 9:00. The Minnie Van drivers undergo 40 hours of training on the two Graco 4Ever multimode car seats which come with every Minnie Van. So many people are quick to tout Uber and Lyft as "better" options but when you live in a world of necessary car seats it's a different story.

Definitely a more cumbersome option, especially with multiple carseats, but you can bring your own seats. The airlines let you gate check them for free. We've done that when we've rented a car vs. renting car seats from the rental car company.

 

[AngiTN]

I didn't see a thread...So you can now use the Minnie Van to/from airport if staying at a Deluxe hotel - for $150 EACH WAY!!!

Yowzas!!! Take an Uber kids! Or take the Magical Express!

Either this solidifies keeping ME free because allows those who don't like it another alternative - or this is a step in getting rid of ME.

Only time will tell I guess!

Except it was in an article I read the other day - it's now offered to all levels of deluxe resort guests. Unless this article is incorrect?

https://wdwnt.com/2018/03/minnie-va...ts-airport-service-expands-yacht-beach-2-2-3/

And to your other point - never say never!

It's not to/from, it's TO only.
Otherwise, yes, it seems to have expanded past CL guests to all Deluxe guests.
Still can't use it for pick up at MCO.

And sorry, I'm going to disagree with you and stick with this is not going to replace ME.

 

[Farro]

It's not to/from, it's TO only.
Otherwise, yes, it seems to have expanded past CL guests to all Deluxe guests.
Still can't use it for pick up.

And sorry, I'll stick with this is not going to replace ME

Great! Thanks for correcting me.

And that makes even less sense then! I'm not sure if you mean to as in to the airport or to the hotel but regardless...you still have to figure out a way back then if car-seats/large parties are the issue.

 

[keaster]

Pretty pricey. Even the Disney cruise transfer to/from MCO to Port Canaveral is only 70 dollars return per person.

 

[Best Aunt]

Great! Thanks for correcting me.

And that makes even less sense then! I'm not sure if you mean to as in to the airport or to the hotel but regardless...you still have to figure out a way back then if car-seats/large parties are the issue.

Minnie Vans can now take you from a deluxe hotel to the airport.

Minnie Vans will not pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel.

If you need 2 car seats, Minnie Vans will have them. Some Ubers have 1 car seat (it's a separate type of car booking category, I believe). Lyfts do not have car seats.

 

[AngiTN]

Minnie Vans can now take you from a deluxe hotel to the airport.

Minnie Vans will not pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel.

If you need 2 car seats, Minnie Vans will have them. Some Ubers have 1 car seat (it's a separate type of car booking category, I believe). Lyfts do not have car seats.

I was surprised but the Minnie Van to the airport seems to have 3 car seats, not 2. At least according to the announcements. Which seems strange since any other time they only have 2 so that could be incorrect but that is what's reported. I guess since you have to reserve these in advance, and they are the only service you can reserve in advance, they can move seats around when needed, taking them from cars not in service at that time?

And in case others reading along are curious, it seems Uber is phasing out car seat service. At least, no longer signing up any new drivers for it, only existing drivers and not replacing those who leave with more. So it could conceivably be harder to get Uber's with Car Seats at times. This is where Minnie Vans would shine. Though if I had a kid that had to have one I think I'd have to just suck it up and fly with ours. I wouldn't want to deal with the hassle otherwise. Too hard to have the great unknown once you get there. We struggled with Minnie Van requests last trip and could not use it any time we tried. That would really blow if I needed a car seat and had no other choice.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Car seats is one of the biggest reasons we always used Disney transportation. I can't imagine paying $150 one way to the airport.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Yes it pricey but I don't think they would roll it out if they didn't feel there was a need/want for it. We used the MV for our resort/park break midday recently and we really liked it. Compared to an uber it's a good bit more @ $25 vs maybe $8-$15 depending on time of day and uber size, but it's a good bit more convenient since you get dropped off at MK right at the bus depot. Not sure where you get dropped off for other parks but I would presume it would be the other bus depots as well. I think there are a group of guests out there that would rather not mess with renting a car/MDE, so they uber to the resort and maybe do a MV back to the airport. As far as the car seats go, the MV has nice car seats and the drivers know exactly how to put them in. There were 2 convertibles in the back of the Chevy Traverse. I agree, I likely wouldn't drop my money on this but from what the CM told me that drove our MV, they are expanding the on property service and it's been growing a lot since they first started it so they clearly see a need for it. And it doesn't cost them much to send a driver 30 min away at $150 one way.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes it pricey but I don't think they would roll it out if they didn't feel there was a need/want for it. We used the MV for our resort/park break midday recently and we really liked it. Compared to an uber it's a good bit more @ $25 vs maybe $8-$15 depending on time of day and uber size, but it's a good bit more convenient since you get dropped off at MK right at the bus depot. Not sure where you get dropped off for other parks but I would presume it would be the other bus depots as well. I think there are a group of guests out there that would rather not mess with renting a car/MDE, so they uber to the resort and maybe do a MV back to the airport. As far as the car seats go, the MV has nice car seats and the drivers know exactly how to put them in. There were 2 convertibles in the back of the Chevy Traverse. I agree, I likely wouldn't drop my money on this but from what the CM told me that drove our MV, they are expanding the on property service and it's been growing a lot since they first started it so they clearly see a need for it. And it doesn't cost them much to send a driver 30 min away at $150 one way.

It's not the bus depot for all the other parks. Not yet at least. That's their goal but they haven't gotten locations in the other parks.

And yes they have expanded and that's the problem. There are not enough MV right now to meet their expansion. We were there earlier in March and over our 4 days couldn't get a MV once. There were never any available. If we'd HAD to have a car seat, we'd been screwed. In our case, it was just because I like MV and we could use Lyft or Uber instead. Others may not have that option if they need the car seats.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

It's not the bus depot for all the other parks. Not yet at least. That's their goal but they haven't gotten locations in the other parks.

And yes they have expanded and that's the problem. There are not enough MV right now to meet their expansion. We were there earlier in March and over our 4 days couldn't get a MV once. There were never any available. If we'd HAD to have a car seat, we'd been screwed. In our case, it was just because I like MV and we could use Lyft or Uber instead. Others may not have that option if they need the car seats.

WOW, we were there March 10 and had no problem getting a MV. I got a pop up in the MDE app that took me to Lyft to sign up and then request the MV. We did not need car seats but the driver showed me how it all worked since I asked for future visits. I loved our driver, she had all sorts of relevant WDW info and was so, so sweet. We've had mixed experiences with Uber around the parks, sometimes you get nice people and other times you get the college kid that looks like he's still high. It's a gamble so IMO the $25 is worth knowing you'll have a good experience. Also, she played themed music from AKL to MK, did you get that too? And our driver did the speed limit the entire time (which I don't even do) but knowing they're monitored by Disney makes me feel safer.

 

[AngiTN]

WOW, we were there March 10 and had no problem getting a MV. I got a pop up in the MDE app that took me to Lyft to sign up and then request the MV. We did not need car seats but the driver showed me how it all worked since I asked for future visits. I loved our driver, she had all sorts of relevant WDW info and was so, so sweet. We've had mixed experiences with Uber around the parks, sometimes you get nice people and other times you get the college kid that looks like he's still high. It's a gamble so IMO the $25 is worth knowing you'll have a good experience. Also, she played themed music from AKL to MK, did you get that too? And our driver did the speed limit the entire time (which I don't even do) but knowing they're monitored by Disney makes me feel safer.

Our trip was 3/9 to 13 and we tried several times each day every day and not once were able to be matched with a vehicle. We've been using MV since August and it was the first trip it's ever been a problem. Also the first with the most resorts serviced. So not a coincidence. I do not suggest anyone plan to use it now without a back up plan. Not until it's available without issue. And yes, on all other past trips they do play Disney music. I believe they are likely required to play a Disney Satellite radio station.

I've used Uber and Lyft a lot on property, we never drive. Honestly never had a driver that was "mixed experience" knock on wood. I reported 1 for taking a "long way" to get higher fare but nothing wrong with him or his driving.