Disney eliminates outside vendor drop off/pickup services. Must meet vendor for drop off/pickup (mobility devices only so far it seems)

[Marionnette]

The stroller companies can probably figure this out -- will be less convenient, but if they are offering 3 times every morning and afternoon to pick-up/drop-off, I'd say people can make that work. For us, we rent a double stroller but don't absolutely need it the second we step off Magical Express. And we generally don't go to the parks our first day.

I'm more worried about my Amazon Now orders. Disney does not have the kind of food my mom needs to eat. We order almost everything from grocery delivery. I wonder if they can manage the same with six drop-off times per day. I sure hope so! We have a trip booked and too late to change anything about it now.

Anything more on whether "all vendors" means Amazon, Garden Grocery?

What's annoying is how precious time is on your Disney vacation. We can calculate the money (generally) before the trip and plan for it. But this is going to cost folks time -- with no way to pay their way out of it. It will breed a different kind of frustration than the constant increases in prices.

From the latest that I have read, this only applies to mobility devices (strollers, wheelchairs, scooters, etc). Garden Grocer has already answered a poster on another thread that their grocery delivery service is unaffected.

 

[scard192]

Garden Grocer has already answered a poster on another thread that their grocery delivery service is unaffected.

thanks for posting this.

 

[Dan Murphy]

the ice rules.

What are 'the ice rules'?

Do offsite resorts store strollers and ECVs for their guests? Or is Disney just following the “industry standard”?

So far, I know no change at S/D.

 

[Beachmom0317]

Wow...every change Disney has made in the past several years (or increase) has been one I am vehemently opposed to or disappointed in. Including this one. And yet, EVERY. SINGLE. CHANGE has not applied to us. We are DVC so don't get charged parking. DVC resorts weren't open to pet dogs. We don't have kids so the stroller changes didn't apply, nor did the ice rules. And on and on. We're very lucky. But I am positive there are some out there who are not and every one of these changes marks someones breaking point.

I agree as a fellow DVC owners, but this one affects us directly for the first time since we use strollers. Even with the price hikes for tickets/food we’ve been affected. Instead of going every year we are now planning on banking our points and going every other year with a 1br instead of studio. I like the space anyways.

 

[ejgonz2]

Apparently doesn’t apply to groceries per Garden Grocers FB page

 

[cindy_k]

This policy severely affects people like my mother directly
She needs the ECV just to get around the resort. We have always ordered it to be at the resort when we got there and to be picked up after we left.
With this change, we will be left sitting in the lobby until her scooter arrives (and depending on scheduling, I can see that possibly being hours), and will be again sitting in the lobby after it is picked it until its time to leave. She can't walk that far, walking to and from the room is out of the question.

Sounds like a very unhappy start and end to a very expensive vacation.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Apparently doesn’t apply to groceries per Garden Grocers FB page View attachment 439412

That may be for now. Interesting to see how it goes over the coming months as to whether other deliveries are impacted.

This policy severely affects people like my mother directly
She needs the ECV just to get around the resort. We have always ordered it to be at the resort when we got there and to be picked up after we left.
With this change, we will be left sitting in the lobby until her scooter arrives (and depending on scheduling, I can see that possibly being hours), and will be again sitting in the lobby after it is picked it until its time to leave. She can't walk that far, walking to and from the room is out of the question.

Sounds like a very unhappy start and end to a very expensive vacation.

I think Disney better build out bigger lobbies for all the people that will be waiting to pick up and drop off strollers, ECV's, mobility chairs and the like.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

UGH! I would understand if they charged a fee to hold these items but to not provide the service at all anymore is a huge PITA.

Time is money at Disney, and it’s a huge timesaver to not have to personally receive our stroller and just pick it up. This is going to be really fun to try and schedule not knowing exactly when we arrive at our resort and also minimizing having to sit around and wait for it. Hope our flight isn’t significantly delayed...

Is it confirmed that if we book before October 1 we’re okay? We use kingdom and I would go do it right now if that’s the case. Arriving in March.

 

[Katiegrose]

The stroller companies can probably figure this out -- will be less convenient, but if they are offering 3 times every morning and afternoon to pick-up/drop-off, I'd say people can make that work. For us, we rent a double stroller but don't absolutely need it the second we step off Magical Express. And we generally don't go to the parks our first day.

I'm more worried about my Amazon Now orders. Disney does not have the kind of food my mom needs to eat. We order almost everything from grocery delivery. I wonder if they can manage the same with six drop-off times per day. I sure hope so! We have a trip booked and too late to change anything about it now.

Anything more on whether "all vendors" means Amazon, Garden Grocery?

What's annoying is how precious time is on your Disney vacation. We can calculate the money (generally) before the trip and plan for it. But this is going to cost folks time -- with no way to pay their way out of it. It will breed a different kind of frustration than the constant increases in prices.

I have found that ordering my amazon groceries I put the order in as soon as I get on the Magical Express and usually the timing adds up. Bell services can hold it if my room isn’t ready. I like to be there even if it isn’t required because I like looking over the stuff to ensure everything is delivered.

 

[scard192]

That may be for now. Interesting to see how it goes over the coming months as to whether other deliveries are impacted.

if the policy for grocery deliveries changes between now and our trip, I will send the family to a park and I will wait for the delivery.

 

[xipetotec]

Be careful Disney...be verra verra careful. Between the price increases, parking fees, outrageou tickets prices and every dang thing else, and now this...you are this close, this. close. to the tipping point for many of your long time loyal clients. You aren't the only game in town. We always use outside vendors for everything. Just one more straw to add to the camel's back. Sooo Close......

You're not kidding... I've always been the wide-eyed fan, praising "value despite the cost" ... Even been made fun of for it on these very boards once upon a time. These past couple of years, especially with Bob Chapek at the helm, we've seen more and more stripped away, costs go up and up, and more and more "paid experiences". I don't have a problem with the LATTER, if it wasn't taking away from things that were already there. ( Sure, offer EXTRA to people who want to pay for it! No problem... By not by TAKING AWAY!? ). It's getting ridiculous.

My son was doing the cultural exchange program last year in Canada, and in his ONE YEAR there... he saw food price increases at Le Cellier *TWICE*.

I hate that it's making me this cynical....

 

[mamamelody2]

Wow, how annoying. We rent a wheelchair for DS and the bell services pick up and drop off is so convenient!

I really would not be surprised if the way things shake out with the new "6 drop offs a day" thing is not at all as good as they hope and they end up changing back after a while. I can just see it not going nearly as well as Disney thinks it will.

 

[starry_solo]

I don't think Disney would change things back to the way it was (or currently is). They are very slow to admit that they made a mistake to begin with (see SW: GE).

The lack of space at any of these facilities, as well as the lack of staff, seems to be the driving force behind the changes.

The only way I could see Disney doing allowing it again is if Disney rents a space to the vendor (long term, like a multi-year lease minimum) for pick-up, drop-off and have the vendor staff the facility.

 

[JoJoGirl]

This policy severely affects people like my mother directly
She needs the ECV just to get around the resort. We have always ordered it to be at the resort when we got there and to be picked up after we left.
With this change, we will be left sitting in the lobby until her scooter arrives (and depending on scheduling, I can see that possibly being hours), and will be again sitting in the lobby after it is picked it until its time to leave. She can't walk that far, walking to and from the room is out of the question.

This is us too. It was a tremendous convenience for my Mom to have her scooter waiting at the resort when we arrived on the Magical Express. Even more convenient to be able to drop it off at Bell Services on our way out. For our December trip, we will be on a 7:30 am ME back to the airport. That means that Mom will either have to plan a lot of extra time early in the morning to meet the scooter company, or meet them late in the evening before, leaving her without her wheels in the morning. We will probably bring an old wheelchair from home to fill in. More and more hassle!

For us this news is bad timing. Just last night my Mom spent almost $550 on a four-day hopper pass for our December trip (yikes!). And even with an AP rate we’re paying over $400 per night for a room at the BWI. The trip is will already be very expensive and tiring, and adding one more hassle just sounds very bad right now.

I could have understood them adding a fee because this does take time away from bell service staff. (But one more fee, ugh!). However, to simply discontinue this valuable service without offering an in-house alternative is baffling to me. It feels like Disney is trying to reduce the number of people who want to visit.

 

[cruisin5]

I expect this to be followed up one of three options:

1. "Disney Certified Vendors" who are authorized to utilize bell services. The vendor will pay Disney for the privilege. (edit to add ... they already charge vendors - they'll just charge MORE or limit the number of vendors)
2. Similar to the $6 package fee, there will be a $10 daily storage fee along with the $6 package fee. (Per item, of course)
3. Disney starts a side gig of renting those items for use during the length of your stay.

I really don't see anything wrong with option 2. It does take up space and creates more work and logistics for bell service. I've found the wait for bell services increases with each trip.

I'm blaming those Cinderella pumpkin strollers

 

[Marionnette]

FWIW, I think that the “featured providers” were already paying a fee to Disney. That’s why they were pricier than the other 3rd party vendors. I think Disney has other reasons for eliminating drop off/pick up that have nothing to do with how busy bell services CMs are. I think they see money left on the table. If they were to offer their own service that delivers strollers and mobility devices to your resort, guaranteed to be waiting for you on arrival, and then allow you to turn it over to their own CMs before departure, imagine how many guests would opt for it! Sort of like the Minnie Van version of Lyft.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Disney Certified Vendors" who are authorized to utilize bell services. The vendor will pay Disney for the privilege.

That is in place already, quite a number of years now.

 

[vikingdad]

An article on WDW News Today said it includes groceries too.

 

[Spridell]

I don't think Disney would change things back to the way it was (or currently is). They are very slow to admit that they made a mistake to begin with (see SW: GE).

The lack of space at any of these facilities, as well as the lack of staff, seems to be the driving force behind the changes.

The only way I could see Disney doing allowing it again is if Disney rents a space to the vendor (long term, like a multi-year lease minimum) for pick-up, drop-off and have the vendor staff the facility.

Don't be so sure of that. Just recently there was so much outrage with DVC points being raised Disney reversed course and went back to the old point values. Took about 30 days of outrage and they reversed course.

If enough complaints Disney WILL change the policy in some form or another.

 

[cruisin5]

Maybe vendors could meet guests at the airport?