Disney to start charging for non resort guests in- park transportation?

[dreamer17555]

They won't tell them no per se. They'll tell them, "$5 for adults and $3 for kids over 3 years old." It'll charge your magicband. No cash exchanged.

Offsite guest don’t have magic bands that can charge money to. The only way to charge money on your magic band is just be staying at a Disney resort because it goes through your resort account. You’re talking about investment in a lot of back end infrastructure... for no real perk for Disney. It would cannibalize spending. If you charge money to get to a restaurant on site people, will just skip eating at the restaurant.

Killing the magical express contract )while upsetting) makes financial sense for Disney- this does not. I think everyone needs to stop over reading into things.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

No. Disney want you at the resorts shopping and spending money even as an offsite guest. It would be shooting themselves in the foot to do this. There’s no real benefit to it.

We said the same thing about stranding people with no escape from the Disney bubble but here we are.

Exactly. You would think, of course Disney would never charge people to ride the bus, but I thought the same thing with resort parking. They obviously think people will pay to get on property, pay to get there from the airport, pay to park, pay crazy prices for tickets for parks that are open from 9-5 or 9-6 where everything is half open, pay for magic bands. This is definitely an easy revenue opportunity that they are missing. I never thought they would get rid of the hoop de doo review or the grand Floridian orchestra. I could see them charging $2-5 for riding transportation for the day for people not staying at Disney hotels. Plus, they could act like it is a bonus for staying on site. When we were at wdw on New Year’s Eve, they had people blocking non-guests from walking from Epcot to beach club/ boardwalk etc. They scanned your magic band or room key, so it is pretty easy to do, and Disney will do it. Non-guests would have to wear a bracelet of some kind to show that they have paid for transportation for the day.

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

Offsite guest don’t have magic bands that can charge money to. The only way to charge money on your magic band is just be staying at a Disney resort because it goes through your resort account. You’re talking about investment in a lot of back end infrastructure... for no real perk for Disney. It would cannibalize spending. If you charge money to get to a restaurant on site people, will just skip eating at the restaurant.

Killing the magical express contract )while upsetting) makes financial sense for Disney- this does not. I think everyone needs to stop over reading into things.

The point I'm trying to make is Disney can nickel and dime all they want. If there is a way, they will do it. This just seems like a sure fire way just add a little fee here and a little fee there.

 

[dreamer17555]

The point I'm trying to make is Disney can nickel and dime all they want. If there is a way, they will do it. This just seems like a sure fire way just add a little fee here and a little fee there.

I agree with you in the sense that Disney is going to try and get every penny they can out of people. That being said there is no way this happens. Making things more difficult for offsite guests is not going to get Disney back in the black or have people clamoring to stay at their resorts priced as they are. Disney is going to have to eventually figure out the way you get people back at the resorts is to bring back the perks the Disney guests are used to experiencing and perhaps even load on more. Right now many Disney loyalist are giving Disney a wide berth due to Covid but this will not last. Considering how Disney has grown (the resorts and the number of rooms currently sitting empty), they are going to need to shift game plans if they think that they’re going to be able to re-open those resorts.

Covid is not going to work as an excuse forever

 

[dreamer17555]

Exactly. You would think, of course Disney would never charge people to ride the bus, but I thought the same thing with resort parking.

But currently they don’t charge guests using a car to visit a resort for an ADR a parking fee. Why not? Because they want them there for a limited time eating and spending money.

You are only charged a resort parking fee if you are an overnight guest of that resort. Go figure.

 

[bakerworld]

Back when they had KTTW cards check-in said we needed to show them to the bus driver when entering. I think this was back in the '90's or early '00. Our impression was that if you didn't have a card, then you couldn't get on the bus.

 

[Sandisw]

Back when they had KTTW cards check-in said we needed to show them to the bus driver when entering. I think this was back in the '90's or early '00. Our impression was that if you didn't have a card, then you couldn't get on the bus.

It was like that when we began going in 1994. Again, the loss of ME isn’t the same and I’d be shocked to see that park transportation was fee based. We have no idea if there was an issue with Mears wanting more and Disney deciding to end it. Or, they want to be able to keep cash rates at hotels the same for 2022 and this allows them to do it with out it costing them.

Who knows for sure.

 

[SL6827]

If they could get a quarter to just open a bathroom door they would.

 

[larissawbb]

If they could get a quarter to just open a bathroom door they would.

Don’t give them anymore ideas!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

If they could get a quarter to just open a bathroom door they would.

I remember when airports did that.

 

[SL6827]

I remember when airports did that.

Are you serious?

 

[DVCSunDevil]

I haven't seen the official notice. But I think it depends on the definition of "resort" and the definition of "guests."

Disney refers to the whole shebang as the "resort."
Example from the official website: "Important Information about the Walt Disney World Resort

• Certain parks, hotels, restaurants and other offerings may be modified or unavailable..."

And Disney refers to anyone visiting as a "guest."
Example from the same page of the official DisneyWorld website: "To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for Guests ages 3 and up."

I am quoting from the website for use of the terms only.

This is exactly how I look at it. WDW as a whole is referred to as Walt Disney World Resort. That includes DS.

 

[keishashadow]

Covid is not going to work as an excuse forever

No, but it gives them an excuse to implement a program/changes. Once it happens, easy enough to become the norm going forward as long as it benefits their bottom line.

 

[bakerworld]

It was like that when we began going in 1994. Again, the loss of ME isn’t the same and I’d be shocked to see that park transportation was fee based. We have no idea if there was an issue with Mears wanting more and Disney deciding to end it. Or, they want to be able to keep cash rates at hotels the same for 2022 and this allows them to do it with out it costing them.

Who knows for sure.

Mears posted a statement - it can be seen on the Disney Food Blog (I think).

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Mears posted a statement - it can be seen on the Disney Food Blog (I think).

I just read it. Just as I thought, the termination coincides with the expiration of their contract. It tells me there was a lot going on behind the scenes. Mears probably wanted more $, yet their business is in turmoil with all of their layoffs. At the end of the day, I think Disney did what they had to do. I may be naive, but I think Disney will have some alternatives as 2022 draws nearer.

 

[Sandisw]

I just read it. Just as I thought, the termination coincides with the expiration of their contract. It tells me there was a lot going on behind the scenes. Mears probably wanted more $, yet their business is in turmoil with all of their layoffs. At the end of the day, I think Disney did what they had to do. I may be naive, but I think Disney will have some alternatives as 2022 draws nearer.

Thanks! I was wondering how the end date and the contract with Mears connected. I agree. Disney may have decided that they didn’t want to continue with them. Who knows if another company will swoop in and make a deal!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Are you serious?

Yep. I think it might have been 10 cents though. It was quite awhile ago.

 

[SL6827]

Yep. I think it might have been 10 cents though. It was quite awhile ago.

Oh my gosh.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Mears & Disney have had a very long relationship. We should hope this unprecedented time will improve before the end of the year.
I don’t understand the strict security regulations a guest must follow , especially in resort rooms , and then allowing all kinds of strangers on property with deliveries and ride sharing... At least with Disney cast transport and Mears, you know they are insured, vehicles maintained for safety, and ID status checked to be on property. This is huge to me... I even prefer the safety of the airport transport knowing the luggage underneath would probably suffer the most damage if accident occurred on Interstate. It really does have many benefits that are truly important for your family. Hope Disney and Mears comes to an agreement
Plus they don’t get lost ... ever watch your Uber drive around and around on property and then give up? I have OnStar and it can not “recognize all the side roads and on& off ramps frequently while on property.
And renting a car while on vacation is not a vacation for the driver.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't know for sure, but I believe the park transport is a shared expense between parks and resorts. So it rolls into both resort pricing and park ticket pricing.