Disney World eliminates outside vendor drop off services

[kaytieeldr]

My main concern is mobility devices like wheelchairs. For guest like my fiance, he can't get around the resort without it. If its not already at the resort when we arrive, its going to be a huge issue for us.

Knowing the policy change, he could consider renting or borrowing at home, and bringing the device with him.

ME bus drivers will need extra tip! 50% will go in pocket, 50% into savings account to cover henia surgery....

Bus drivers would typically not be expected to lift ECVs. The guest Can ride it up a lift to board the bus.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Double post.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I’ve never needed a mobility device (knock on wood) — can people who require wheelchairs bring them on their flight?

Yes. Absolutely.

A "lift chair" is not something you can meet them at the corner and take it into your room yourself.

Honestly, would Bell Services store and deliver a lift chair? How would one normally get a bulky or heavy piece of medical equipment to a hotel room? Wouldn't deliver be directly from the vendor?

Buena Vista told me the policy DOES include groceries.

But Buena Vista doesn't deliver groceries, and there's still no official announcement.

If I cannot count on renting a wheelchair for my entire stay, we won’t be able to go.

I am 100% confused as to why you wouldn't be able to rent a wheelchair for your entire stay?

They meet us at the car with a wheelchair when we depart and when we arrived back at MCO, they met us at Magical Express drop off.

You have been extremely fortunate Im personally not aware of any airport's RedCaps who will meet you at your car. How do they know when and at which car to meet you? Which airport? As for DME, there are several threads on the disABILITIES forum where ostershave been completely UNable to get transported from the DME dropoff.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This directly affects the companies which have been 'Preferred Providers' for several years now and allowed to use the Disney Resort bell services to store and dispense.

Then it seems to affect only the four (or three, if rumors turn out to be fact) currently Featured vendors.

POFQ definitely has golf carts assigned to Bell Services. They can get you to your building.

If a resort as compact as POFQ has golf carts, I can't imagine larger properties not having them.

Yeah, that is a challenge - though I suspect at least some companies would be willing to start to do that if it means doing more business

Some customers might have to adjust which vendor they use. Their only option with a late arrival or early departure might just be the rumored "official" company.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Another silly double post sorry.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don’t understand all of the complaining going on.

If you need a stroller, wheelchair, etc. for use at WDW, then bring one with you.

Did you ever go into the area where they store luggage? It’s not a TARDIS. There is limited space. I can’t image them trying to store strollers, groceries, ECVs, and whatever else people want to ship to them.

Luggage! You forgot about the need to store luggage!

ECV have big batteries, that might be a explosion hazard for planes? I'm not sure if it's allowed to bring your own ECV on a plane.

Airlines are required to allow personal mobility devices. There may be restrictions on what has to be disconnected, or stored/carried separately.

Wheelchair services prefers you use their chairs because they are built to get on and off the airplane and easier to push in an airport.

Standard airport wheelchairs are not built or designed to get someone on or off a plane. Aisle chairs are. And I truly cannot see any airport, airline, or TSA policy denying a passenger the ability to use their own device.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If they have some new single preferred provider, they should have announced that at the same time they made the announcement on the new limits.

What announcement?

The fact the groceries were NOT included is what is making me think this has nothing to do with storage problems.

If groceries do get included then maybe I will rethink it.

Groceries take up much less space for much less time, potentially, than a mobility device. I am sure the four Featured vendors were doing bulk deliveries and pickups.

 

[RobDoc]

Correct me if I’m wrong, weren’t the companies that had been allowed to deliver and pick up at bell services paying for that ability? I wasn’t under the impression Disney was doing the work for them for free. Were they?

Yes - the current approved stroller and scooter vendors operate under contractual agreement with Disney's 'Operating Partners'. They pay a healthy commission to Disney for each rental made - think 6 figure numbers (at least) for each of the approved vendors. Some of vendors just began expansion plans with 7 figure debt for expanded warehouse facilities. This caught them all off guard and all are now scrambling to figure out a new business model.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Yes - the current approved stroller and scooter vendors operate under contractual agreement with Disney 'Operating Partners'. They pay a healthy commission to Disney for each rental made - think 6 figure numbers (at least) for each of the approved vendors. Some of vendors just began expansion plans with 7 figure debt for expanded warehouse facilities. This caught them all off guard and all are now scrambling to figure out a new business model.

Thanks - That makes a lot of sense and I think what is being glossed over a little in these conversations. Some posts have this weird poor Disney was just trying to help vibe lol.

Either way, I feel for these companies that have relied on this way of operating for so long who are now scrambling. I hope they don’t take too much of a hit here.

 

[pigletliz]

I have not heard any widespread quality or customer service issues.

Competition among vendors would help ensure higher levels of quality and customer service. Also stops one company from being able to overcharge. I don’t think there are really positives here from the guests perspective. This is a change for Disney’s benefit not ours, IMO.

There will still be competition. The other vendors will have to up THEIR game. That would be part of their customer service. Not up to Disney to do it for them. If companies have successfully been able to meet clients at the hotels since Disney started that "preferred" title, then so can the other ones. It might actually work out in the customer's favor in fees or perks. As far as being to Disney's benefit, that makes sense. Was never really their responsibility to be a holding farm for someone else's product. I know other people think it isn't about the space, but that has to factor in their decision, at least partly. If it doesn't work out, they can always revise it. We all know that nothing touted by Disney is ever set in stone.

 

[Moliphino]

The number of ECVs parked by Pop's luggage services this morning was absolutely ridiculous, so I can see why they wouldn't want to deal with it.

 

[OSUZorba]

I'm sorry if this comes off snarky but I'm honestly not being snarky...I just want to know the answer. I understand that if you're going to Disney World, you've been able to have your wheelchair/ECV delivered to your resort, which is a huge help if you need one. And I understand that many people don't travel with their own because it's easier to use airport services + delivery. BUT...what happens when you travel to other locations? Like, I went to San Francisco this summer. If I needed an ECV to get around (which I saw plenty of people using), do most hotels allow them to be dropped off/picked up there? Or would I have to make other arrangements? What about something comparable, like Universal? I guess what I'm saying is, if most hotels provide guests with this help, then Disney needs to find a way to do it too. But if it's just Disney and people have to figure it out when they travel, then maybe it's a pain, but understandable.

My DD was 10 mo, we rented a bunch of baby gear in Maui. The resort let the company into the condo to drop off and pick up the items.

Every where I've ever researched it has either let the companies drop off in the room or with bell hops.

I used to work for an airline, there is no way I'm checking a $500+ stroller.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

He uses a wheelchair whenever we travel somewhere that requires excess walking, like WDW.
We use airport services at the airport. They meet us at the car with a wheelchair when we depart and when we arrived back at MCO, they met us at Magical Express drop off. They also grab our luggage for us both ways and assist us through security.

Also, just "bring one with you" is easier said than done for us. I am not able to lift his wheelchair on my own so that would complicate things for us.

Both of my parents used wheelchairs so I know how heavy some of them could be.

They have come out with wheelchairs that are lighter in weight.

You can understand the reasoning behind a change while still being upset at the changes impact on you.

Is it really that hard to see why no longer being able to pick up the item at your convenience whenever you arrive is throwing a wrench into people’s plans? If someone is renting a device, chances are they don’t need that item outside Disney or can’t/don’t want to travel with it.

Airlines provide wheelchair service from the curb to the to your seat and from your seat to the curb . TSA actually prefers that you use this service over bringing your own device.

Why would the TSA care or have any say in whether or not you have to bring your own wheelchair?

Both of my parents were in wheelchairs. We always bought both chairs with us when we flew anywhere with them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The number of ECVs parked by Pop's luggage services this morning was absolutely ridiculous, so I can see why they wouldn't want to deal with it.

My DD was 10 mo, we rented a bunch of baby gear in Maui. The resort let the company into the condo to drop off and pick up the items.

Every where I've ever researched it has either let the companies drop off in the room or with bell hops.

I used to work for an airline, there is no way I'm checking a $500+ stroller.

I feel completely safe presuming the condo or hotels which do this do not have anywhere near the volume WDW does - see above observation -, but also that their staffing and facilities are designed to handle what they hold. Too, it's different because Disney will not put anything in a room until after the guest has checked in.

 

[rteetz]

https://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2019/09/scooterbug-becomes-walt-disney-worlds.html?m=1

 

[Brianstl]

So it had nothing to do with space or with freeing up bell staff. Just a money grab.

 

[rteetz]

So it had nothing to do with space or with freeing up bell staff. Just a money grab.

Gives Disney more control for sure. They’ll know exactly how much space they’ll need.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

https://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2019/09/scooterbug-becomes-walt-disney-worlds.html?m=1

Yuck, I much prefer the stroller selection Kingdom provides. Even if grandfathering doesn’t work, I’d much rather meet up with them instead!

Thanks for sharing, rteetz.

 

[Brianstl]

Gives Disney more control for sure. They’ll know exactly how much space they’ll need.

Wouldn’t they have known how much space they needed with the preferred vendor set up?

 

[rteetz]

Wouldn’t they have known how much space they needed with the preferred vendor set up?

I suppose but I think this gives them more control. More knowing how many are coming in on given days and such. They don’t have to worry about several different deliveries each day from different companies.