Disney's free buses leave cabs in lurch

[localdriver]

Mears owns most of the cabs run out of the airport. The drivers of those cabs lease them by day or week for a fee + gas and tolls, and keep the fares they earn. Same with Mears Town Cars.

So it's hard to say how it will sort out. But the Cab Drivers are hit pretty hard. How this affects Mears depends on how their contract works with Disney, which is not known by me.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Nashville had a lot of idiot taxi drivers, but I had a few that I would call if I needed a cab when I lived there.

Oh my, do they! We had 1 when we were there that insisted on driving very fast thru the rain. Scared me to death. I just buried my face into my friend's shoulder during the drive.

 

[localdriver]

Oh my, do they! We had 1 when we were there that insisted on driving very fast thru the rain. Scared me to death. I just buried my face into my friend's shoulder during the drive.

I do get your point, but I'm not commenting on driver skill here. Only on the current issue that affects Taxi's, Town Car Services, Mears and "by the way" "Mears Bus Drivers".

 

[Okiemom]

Pedler, I agree with you fully. I think WDW was brilliant in doing this ME thing. Food has to be a big money maker for them, and keep people on the property, they can't go off site to eat!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

I was very amused when I saw this "news" story. As one of my favorite comic strip characters, Mr. Obviousman, would say, "DUH".

Of course free transportation is affecting business for the pay transportation options. What did everybody expect?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I for one don't think Disney did this to affect the other transportation methods or to even start charging for it down the road. I think it was done primarily as a means to keep people on site and spend more at WDW. We are a perfect example of how this works. The first plan was to rent a car, stay at the Nick hotel and go to WDW maybe 4 days and see some other stuff in Orlando. We were not planning on going the the parks the first day. Then along came MYW Dinning, ME, the revised ticket pricing and suddenly we are staying 7 nights at WL, have ADR's for everyday, going to the parks 7 days including arrival day and thinking its great. Disney is basically getting every dollar we spend in Florida except for lunch at the airport on the day we leave (And I think if they could find a way the would try to grab that money as well). Its like a giant vacum cleaner is just sucking up every dollar we spend in Florida. ME is just part of the hook to keep us on sight and the other transportation companies are just collateral damage.

I agree. They don't charge so they can't be making direct money but I have no doubt that the increase in on-site purchases has significantly increased. We always do a grocery stop and buy snacks, water, cereal, milk etc. I imagine those purchases are now being made onsite.