Disney's Magical Express thriving at OIA; rivals cry foul

[Another Voice]

No one is saying that Disney is going anything illegal. It's just after playing nice for all these years, the 800 ppund ape is starting to stomp all over the little people. Those "little people" are upset about it and will react. And it's Disney's decision to see how far they want to push a once-friendly relationship with the surrounding communities.

Remember that the only reason WDW exists is because of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. There is nothing stopping those laws from being revoked at anytime - something that has been threatened before. For politicians it's too tempting to make "Disney pay their fair share".

 

[mwehttam]

...or lost a minute of collective sleep over the hundreds of people who lost their jobs?

Can you show proof of this? I love how people throw this statements out there with no facts to back them.

 

[Smooshdog]

I just wish Me went to Sanford.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Can you show proof of this? I love how people throw this statements out there with no facts to back them.

What kind of proof do you require?

Do you honestly believe that Anaheim has made ANY decision in the last few years with any forthought to anything other than how to pad their pockets.

I am married to a castmember (ABC in New York - I see how Anaheim cares about THEIR staff - what did they offer the entire staff of Atlanta or Chicago bureaus before they shut down the bureau's and fired them all? Did they care about their Pentagon reporter covering the missle shoot down on Good Morning America with a big pad of paper and magic marker because they fired their graphics department?) Nope - they only care that my husband's department saved $120,000 last quarter - even though staffing coverage has dropped at times from 5 to 1. He and others in that department now work through lunch, stay after work - without the compensation of overtime - because they care too much about the product offered on ABC - generally giving Anaheim the same as roughly one additional employee.....free because the staff cares about the end result we enjoy on Nightline, World News Tonight and Good Morning America.

I also now work with a former castmember who was an actor at MGM studios. Know what she said - once castmemberts have had enough of Disney - they move to US/IOA for better pay and are treated better. It mirrors the comments of the Beach Club Guest Services Manager who told us recently "you have no idea how hard it is to keep good staff in the Orlando area". It seems to be easy enough for US/IOA.

She didn't leave WDW because she was disgruntled - she actuallys loves Disney and it's pixie dust, she just made a decision based on salary, compensation and personal satisfaction with an employer.

I'm sorry if you don't agree....but Anaheim doesn't care a sniff about us other than how much $$$ they can separate from our pocket books, they care about their expansive staff even less and coming in a distant third is any impact they may have on limo and taxi business at MCO.

How much proof do you require?

 

[mwehttam]

What kind of proof do you require?

Do you honestly believe that Anaheim has made ANY decision in the last few years with any forthought to anything other than how to pad their pockets.

I am married to a castmember (ABC in New York - I see how Anaheim cares about THEIR staff - what did they offer the entire staff of Atlanta or Chicago bureaus before they shut down the bureau's and fired them all? Did they care about their Pentagon reporter covering the missle shoot down on Good Morning America with a big pad of paper and magic marker because they fired their graphics department?) Nope - they only care that my husband's department saved $120,000 last quarter - even though staffing coverage has dropped at times from 5 to 1. He and others in that department now work through lunch, stay after work - without the compensation of overtime - because they care too much about the product offered on ABC - generally giving Anaheim the same as roughly one additional employee.....free because the staff cares about the end result we enjoy on Nightline, World News Tonight and Good Morning America.

I also now work with a former castmember who was an actor at MGM studios. Know what she said - once castmemberts have had enough of Disney - they move to US/IOA for better pay and are treated better. It mirrors the comments of the Beach Club Guest Services Manager who told us recently "you have no idea how hard it is to keep good staff in the Orlando area". It seems to be easy enough for US/IOA.

She didn't leave WDW because she was disgruntled - she actuallys loves Disney and it's pixie dust, she just made a decision based on salary, compensation and personal satisfaction with an employer.

I'm sorry if you don't agree....but Anaheim doesn't care a sniff about us other than how much $$$ they can separate from our pocket books, they care about their expansive staff even less and coming in a distant third is any impact they may have on limo and taxi business at MCO.

How much proof do you require?

Wow, someone is needs to layoff the coffee in the morning.

It was claimed "hundreds of people who lost their jobs" due to ME. Where is this proof?

And we are not even talking about CM's.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Wow, someone is needs to layoff the coffee in the morning.

It was claimed "hundreds of people who lost their jobs" due to ME. Where is this proof?

And we are not even talking about CM's.

Sorry - don't drink coffee in the AM - a little too harsh on the tummy.


A quick one I found - doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize this one.


Quote From: News Mark - Public Relations/Orlando early in the DME experiment

Officials with the Greater Orlando Livery Association, which represents 180 limousine companies with 600 vehicles, say their members are reporting that business is down 30 percent to 40 percent from last summer.

"It's not our intention to put anybody out of business, but we are trying to look at new ways to enhance the customer experience," said Bill Jennings, executive director of Orlando International Airport. Airport officials will meet with representatives of the livery association today to discuss their concerns.


I'm a little confused. Isn't the heart and soul of these threads an opportunity to share information and opinions about all things Disney - good, bad and ugly.

I don't understand why so many threads now also include personal comments about the posting guest.

Aren't we allowed to express our opinion - even if it differs from others - as long as it's not offensive or profane?

 

[MassJester]

Quote From: News Mark - Public Relations/Orlando early in the DME experiment

Officials with the Greater Orlando Livery Association, which represents 180 limousine companies with 600 vehicles, say their members are reporting that business is down 30 percent to 40 percent from last summer.

"It's not our intention to put anybody out of business, but we are trying to look at new ways to enhance the customer experience," said Bill Jennings, executive director of Orlando International Airport. Airport officials will meet with representatives of the livery association today to discuss their concerns.

That's interesting, but Magical Express has been around for years -- how could last summer's drop be attributed to that?

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

That was just the INITIAL impact of the program.

Those numbers have not corrected to pre DME employment since the inception of DME.

It corresponds only because it's a continuation of a trend.

 

[MassJester]

That was just the INITIAL impact of the program.

Those numbers have not corrected to pre DME employment since the inception of DME.

It corresponds only because it's a continuation of a trend.

Sorry, I don't understand.

 

[jimmymac]

Wow, someone is needs to layoff the coffee in the morning.

It was claimed "hundreds of people who lost their jobs" due to ME. Where is this proof?

I don't have to offer quantative proof. I was using a non-scientific method called common sense. According to the article, Disney transported 2.1 million people last year from the airport. That's roughly 6000 people each and every day. Now assuming that most of these people didn't walk from the airport to WDW (a fair assumption I think), they took another form of motor transportation - car service, taxis, Mears, rental car. What do you think the people who provided transportion to those 2.1 million people prior to DME are doing now? Take a deep breath and think about it

 

[MassJester]

I don't have to offer quantative proof. I was using a non-scientific method called common sense. According to the article, Disney transported 2.1 million people last year from the airport. That's roughly 6000 people each and every day. Now assuming that most of these people didn't walk from the airport to WDW (a fair assumption I think), they took another form of motor transportation - car service, taxis, Mears, rental car. What do you think the people who provided transportion to those 2.1 million people prior to DME are doing now? Take a deep breath and think about it

Yes, but attendance has been on the rise, so it doesn't translate.

A more meaningful statistic would be that Limo drivers made X trips to WDW properties in 2006 and Y trips in 2007 and the difference is the impact. As these companies keep trip information, the fact that they don't present the case that way makes their claim suspect.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Yes, but attendance has been on the rise, so it doesn't translate.

A more meaningful statistic would be that Limo drivers made X trips to WDW properties in 2006 and Y trips in 2007 and the difference is the impact. As these companies keep trip information, the fact that they don't present the case that way makes their claim suspect.

You ARE kidding - aren't you?

 

[MassJester]

You ARE kidding - aren't you?

Not at all. Orlando is a dynamic market. Limo drivers serve conventions, other attractions, and a wide variety of businesses. Any of them, or all of them could be the source of a decline in Limo traffic.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Not at all. Orlando is a dynamic market. Limo drivers serve conventions, other attractions, and a wide variety of businesses. Any of them, or all of them could be the source of a decline in Limo traffic.

I agree completely - Orlando is a dynamic market - including the Convention business which has had a very strong 24 months.

This is a reprint from the Orlando paper - written after the re-negotiation of the DME contract with the airport.

A consultant for the airport estimated that MCO lost between $204,000 and $1.1 milion in rental car and other ground transportation income. Under the new contract, fiscal impact on the airport is estimated to be between a loss of $600,000 and a gain of $300,000 based on an estimated passenger load of 2 million next year. With those numbers, it remains to be explained why they signed the deal. While it's a great deal for Disney, it doesn't seem to be quite so good for MCO. It should be noted, though, that Disney came up with numbers showing that the service increased revenue at the airport by $1.6 million during the pilot period, and also streamlined airport operations to the points where a second planned terminal building may be delayed as the capacity of the current terminal is increased.

Meanwhile, limousine companies are finding their business drying up, sometimes losing as much as 90 percent of their monthly bookings over their levels from before the service started. Many have gone out of business. The Greater Orlando Livery Association, which represents about 100 ground transportation companies, is looking to meet with the airport to find a way to help their members compete and stay alive.

 

[jimmymac]

A more meaningful statistic would be that Limo drivers made X trips to WDW properties in 2006 and Y trips in 2007 and the difference is the impact. As these companies keep trip information, the fact that they don't present the case that way makes their claim suspect.[/QUOTE]

The one other business quoted in the article said business has been off by 30% since the inception of DME. If WDW attendance has increased and DME wasn't negatively impacting these other vendors, wouldn't their business be up, not down?

 

[MassJester]

I agree completely - Orlando is a dynamic market - including the Convention business which has had a very strong 24 months.

This is a reprint from the Orlando paper - written after the re-negotiation of the DME contract with the airport.

A consultant for the airport estimated that MCO lost between $204,000 and $1.1 milion in rental car and other ground transportation income. Under the new contract, fiscal impact on the airport is estimated to be between a loss of $600,000 and a gain of $300,000 based on an estimated passenger load of 2 million next year. With those numbers, it remains to be explained why they signed the deal. While it's a great deal for Disney, it doesn't seem to be quite so good for MCO. It should be noted, though, that Disney came up with numbers showing that the service increased revenue at the airport by $1.6 million during the pilot period, and also streamlined airport operations to the points where a second planned terminal building may be delayed as the capacity of the current terminal is increased.

Meanwhile, limousine companies are finding their business drying up, sometimes losing as much as 90 percent of their monthly bookings over their levels from before the service started. Many have gone out of business. The Greater Orlando Livery Association, which represents about 100 ground transportation companies, is looking to meet with the airport to find a way to help their members compete and stay alive.

Thanks, that is information I did not have.

 

[mwehttam]

I don't have to offer quantative proof. I was using a non-scientific method called common sense. According to the article, Disney transported 2.1 million people last year from the airport. That's roughly 6000 people each and every day. Now assuming that most of these people didn't walk from the airport to WDW (a fair assumption I think), they took another form of motor transportation - car service, taxis, Mears, rental car. What do you think the people who provided transportion to those 2.1 million people prior to DME are doing now? Take a deep breath and think about it

You are joking? You throw a statement out that hundreds of people lost thier jobs due to DME and them say you don't have to prove it. Incredible. You have no credibility.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

You are joking? You throw a statement out that hundreds of people lost thier jobs due to DME and them say you don't have to prove it. Incredible. You have no credibility.

Perhaps Jimmymac reads the Orlando paper as well. Please see my quote above.

Actually, I have the website as a favorite and I read what's up in Orlando during the months I'm home from WDW ---- just to keep up with the comings and goings.

I saw the photos of the Apartment in the Castle here, I keep updated with US/IOA goings on here and I often find it curious to watch the delicate dance Disney now performs with the folks in Orlando.

My ABC news husband and I have always said more people should read the newspaper - even my silly local paper where their "spell check" doesn't always work!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Perhaps all those unemployed limo drivers are now driving DME buses?

Oh no wait.. that's where all the supposedly unemployed MEARS drivers work now.. STILL for Mears.



Knox

 

[Another Voice]

I'm a little confused. Isn't the heart and soul of these threads an opportunity to share information and opinions about all things Disney - good, bad and ugly.

Stick it out.

A lot of people don't want to have their faith in all the "magic" questioned, despite the real world that Disney operates in. But it's the real world that drives Disney's actions, that creates everything people pay all that money too see. Some prefer to believe it's all just magically magical magic, but there are a lot of people here too that want to really understand.