Disneys's Magical Express

[dburg30]

And with the price of gas, I can't see how Disney could afford to run busses back and forth with only a handful of people on them. I'm actually kind of supprised they haven't added some kind of charge for using ME, even if it would be only $5 a person.

They did, they raised the prices of tickets

 

[PEANUT1]

we had a bad experience in May and now my hubby refuses to use disney transportation.

 

[anbouk]

we had a bad experience in May and now my hubby refuses to use disney transportation.

What happened?

 

[Sleuth]

we had a bad experience in May and now my hubby refuses to use disney transportation.

I wouldn't even waste your time telling what went wrong. You'll get slammed on it not being Disney's fault (ie: it's YOUR fault) and they will imply that you're an idiot because you didn't contact Disney. But it wasn't Disney's fault supposedly - so why would they want you to contact Disney?

Best to just not even say anything.

 

[testtubes]

HELP!! After reading dburg30's and justplaingoofy's answers, can someone give me an approximate price for a cab from airport to WDW (Fort Wilderness)?
Our party is arriving about 11:00 P.M. on a Friday night.

 

[Edd]

Disney has a contract with the Orlando International Airport that specifically states that busses are waiting until after all flights have landed and the guests have time to report to the Disney Welcome Center. Disney also has a list of the guests that are arriving and do have a procedure to check them off, not sure how good it is. There are over 30 flights that arrive into Orlando International between 2300 H and 0200 H. At that time there are usually 5 - 10 busses just waiting in the airport.

With that in mind there are busses waiting for all passengers scheduled to arrive Orlando and get to their resorts. It is possible that some passengers arriving after 0100 H will get to wait longer depending on the guests Disney expects to take the DME. They surely aren't going to send out a bus with 5 passengers on it and expecting 10 more on the last flight in, 20 minutes away, and they won't have 5 busses waiting to take care of those passengers. So if you plan to arrive late don't expect the expediency that normally occurs during the earlier hours.

Disney doen't pay for the gas or diesal fuel for the DME or Cruise Line busses. Mears does and they are hurting with the price of fuel.

 

[justplaingoofy]

HELP!! After reading dburg30's and justplaingoofy's answers, can someone give me an approximate price for a cab from airport to WDW (Fort Wilderness)?
Our party is arriving about 11:00 P.M. on a Friday night.

You can go to www.mousesavers.com and go to transporation... they list the name of the taxi company with their phone number. You can call the taxi company and ask for an approx. fare.

 

[Edd]

There are only six taxi companies that work at the Orlando International. There price to WDW, not knowing the resort you are going to would run you about $60.00 give or take $5.00.one way. A car service which is a separate service than taxi will run you between $100.00 and $130.00, round trip, from MCO. Most car services will do a grocery stop and meet you at the baggage floor. Taxi does not offer those services.

You can find those car services listed on the web or on the airport sites. Be sure to tell them you want a grocery stop and make sure they will meet you in the baggage claim area.

 

[testtubes]

Thanks, Edd and Justplaingoofy, for your responses. I went to Mousesavers and got the info that I needed. I knew that I'd find answers on the DIS.

 

[goofy4tink]

I wouldn't even waste your time telling what went wrong. You'll get slammed on it not being Disney's fault (ie: it's YOUR fault) and they will imply that you're an idiot because you didn't contact Disney. But it wasn't Disney's fault supposedly - so why would they want you to contact Disney?

Best to just not even say anything.

I don't think anyone slammed anyone here. We do not say that Disney is never at fault. No one implied that anyone else was an idiot for not contacting Disney.
The fact is that DME is set up to move as many guests as possible to their resorts in a reasonable amount of time. It is not a personalized service. If there are 5 peope on a bus, going to one of possibly four resorts, and DME knows that there will be 10 more guests arriving, that are going to those same resorts, in another 20 or so minutes, then that bus is going to sit there and wait for those other guests...especially late at night. No bus is going to be full but they will wait to get as many guests on a bus as they can.

Disney is at fault for many things. But here's the thing...if no one contacts them, with their particular issue, how the heck do you think Disney is going to know there is an issue that needs attention. Perhaps one guest did write Disney, telling them of excessively long waits on the bus after midnight. And perhaps Disney thanked them for their imput, but did nothing about it because they never heard of anyone else having any issues with bus service at that time. You have to let Disney know there is an issue. Will they do something about it? Maybe, maybe not. But at least you made yourself heard.

My issue here is that group of people who feel that DME should run on their schedule...after all, they are paying big bucks to stay at the GF (for instance) and they don't think they should be kept waiting for 15 mins on a bus for anyone else. And no...I am not accusing anyone in this particular thread about doing/saying that. But there have been posters who have felt that way in the past.
DME has been set up as an efficient way to move a lot of guests from MCO to their respective resorts as quickly as humanly possible. Those getting in late, after 11pm or so, are often told that their wait may be longer due to fewer buses and those buses waiting for later arrivals vs buses leaving every 15 mins or so during the regular hours (9am-9pm or so). Those guests who feel that they don't want to take a chance on being held up at the bus, may want to arrange more personal transportation. At least that's what we routinely tell those who want fast service around midnight.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks, Edd and Justplaingoofy, for your responses. I went to Mousesavers and got the info that I needed. I knew that I'd find answers on the DIS.

I'm sorry but that made me laugh....you asked a question, you were told to check out Mousesavers..you come back and say you knew you would find the info on the DIS!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't think anyone slammed anyone here. We do not say that Disney is never at fault. No one implied that anyone else was an idiot for not contacting Disney.

Absolutely. I never even implied anything negative about anyone who had bad experiences with Magical Express. I just asked (several times) if any of those people informed anyone at Walt Disney World of the problem(s) they had. Again, Disney - any company, entity, or person - cannot fix a problem they don't know exists!!!!!

Come here and complain - great (keep in mind, of course, that opposing opinions/views/experiences are typical and to be expected on a public forum). Not a problem. Go ahead and vent - fine. But don't expect anything to change* if the service provider cannot reasonably be expected to be aware of a problem - not several weeks or months later, but as close to when it occurs as possible.

*Here's where I throw in "the vast majority of the approximately nine million** Guests who've used Magical Express since it started apparently have had satisfactory or better experiences with this service". Also, NOT that it applies here, but often the negative DME experiences reported are based on unreasonable expectations: It is not a personalized service; your luggage likely will NOT be in your room when you check in; etc,

** Figures based on Disney's count of 5,000 to 10,000 passengers per day, times three years plus 26 days in May, 30 days in June, 31 days in July, and 18 days in August, since today is not over.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

You are soo geeky it's cute!

*Here's where I throw in "the vast majority of the approximately nine million** Guests who've used Magical Express since it started apparently have had satisfactory or better experiences with this service". Also, NOT that it applies here, but often the negative DME experiences reported are based on unreasonable expectations: It is not a personalized service; your luggage likely will NOT be in your room when you check in; etc,

** Figures based on Disney's count of 5,000 to 10,000 passengers per day, times three years plus 26 days in May, 30 days in June, 31 days in July, and 18 days in August, since today is not over.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, I'm glad you think something about me is cute, because really I'm sardonic/sarcastic, a little OCD, and a dumpy middle-aged self-centered antisocial Disney fanatic... who, yes, has a geeky interest in numbers (not to mention a desire to provide as many facts as possible )

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm sardonic/sarcastic, a little OCD, and a dumpy middle-aged self-centered antisocial Disney fanatic... who, yes, has a geeky interest in numbers (not to mention a desire to provide as many facts as possible )

I think I'm in love

 

[Maine-iac]

I think I'm in love

Eric you know who kaytieeldr is right? You know her from another message board that she has failed to post on for a long time.
We miss her "because really I'm sardonic/sarcastic, a little OCD, and a dumpy middle-aged self-centered antisocial Disney fanatic... who, yes, has a geeky interest in numbers (not to mention a desire to provide as many facts as possible )"

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think I'm in love

As long as your wife knows (a) it's entirely platonic and (b) that I'm almost old enough to be your mother (maybe not, but I am old enough to be your kids' grandparent!)... okay, I love you too

And, Lisa - I don't like the FORMAT of "that other message board" since AOL claims to have 'improved' it. I do miss the people, though (but I understand more than a few of you read the DISBoards, even if most of the other ones never post )

 

[goofy4tink]

Hey....why am I seeing hearts floating around here??? What's the matter with you guys...you know how I feel about lovie-dovie stuff. Sheesh.
Isn't it nice to see everyone getting along

 

[CleveRocks]

Eric you know who kaytieeldr is right? You know her from another message board that she has failed to post on for a long time

As long as your wife knows (a) it's entirely platonic and (b) that I'm almost old enough to be your mother (maybe not, but I am old enough to be your kids' grandparent!)... okay, I love you too

kaytieeldr (Ronda) and I have a long history together. My wife has made her peace with it ... she even enjoys watching sometimes (the DISboards, of course!).

 

[Maine-iac]

As long as your wife knows (a) it's entirely platonic and (b) that I'm almost old enough to be your mother (maybe not, but I am old enough to be your kids' grandparent!)... okay, I love you too

And, Lisa - I don't like the FORMAT of "that other message board" since AOL claims to have 'improved' it. I do miss the people, though (but I understand more than a few of you read the DISBoards, even if most of the other ones never post )

Yes I know. But we do miss you. At least I can learn from your wisdom here.