End to Disney Magical Express???

[disneydawn6]

A friend said she read because of all the Complaints from bus/ limo copanies Disney is ending Magical Express on Oct 31 2005. Is this true???? I hope not since I was going on Dec 31 and wanted to use them.. Was not sure which forum to post this in..

 

[minnie61650]

A friend said she read because of all the Complaints from bus/ limo copanies Disney is ending Magical Express on Oct 31 2005. Is this true???? I hope not since I was going on Dec 31 and wanted to use them.. Was not sure which forum to post this in..

About 10 days ago, the Orlando Internation Airport informed Disney that greeters for the Disney's Magical Express (DME) services would have to be removed from the third floor of the airport's terminal. Disney has been given until October 31 to remove the greeters from the terminal.

The greeters will have to greet travelers with DME reservations at baggage claim, where all other ground transportation providers are located.
You can find the DME counter in terminal A on the first floor.
Have fun at Disney!
Linda

 

[Supercod]

I don't think so as we are going end of November and they asked if we wished to use the service when I paid off the balance in September. By the way I was told that this is a free service until end of next year and after that they plan to charge for it, I guess the first 18 months is all about trying the service out, making sure they get it right and that people want to use the service. I have a number of questions posted in the UK forum that I hope someone who has had experience of the service could answer for me.

 

[Adrienne]

I booked a package for Jun 06 and disney have said that ME will still be running. They may be restricting the access that the greeters have in MCO soon though, ME users would have to follow the signs instead of looking for ppl from ME in the airport arrivals.

Adrienne

 

[Hugpug]

I am sure this will not be discontinued. The service has been a great success, the only thing that might change is after the 18 month celebration they will start to charge for the service. The other thing is as of Oct 31 Disney has to have all its greeters removed from the third floor. The will have to be on same floor as all other companies. I see no problem with this. It is only fair whats good for one should be for all.I am sure we all can read signs and fined our way. If not you just have to ask for directions. Orlando Airport is layed out very easy and I have never found a much of a problem. Now Dallas Forth Worth is awful IMHO.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Disney has been given until October 31 to remove the greeters from the terminal.
Linda

Great! I was getting worried that I wouldn't be able to find them.

I am booked with DME, leave on Wednesday and my yellow tags haven't arrived yet!!

Andrew

 

[disney's daughter]

My sister and I are leaving Tuesday. She just received our tags (Magical Express luggage tags) Saturday. She lives in Kentucky and I live in Michigan. There is no time to mail me my tags.. I guess she will use the tags and I will have to give them my luggage tag number...hoping for the best. The last time we went.....she NEVER received the tags at all....The tags are all in her name since that is the name on the room reservation.. ....This should be interesting...

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Not to start a debate but...

I see what you mean when you say that what's good for everyone else should be good for them. But ME is a prearranged deal, they aren't stealing business from other companies, because if you walked up and said "Hey, I want to use this service now" I don't think they could take you.

It's not a big deal of course, just thought that was interesting.

D4D

 

[Phrank40]

Interesting that the greeters are being moved, but I wondered about that a few weeks ago when I was sitting in the terminal waiting for my wife to pick me up. She got caught up with business/traffic and I wound up sitting in the terminal for an hour or so. I noticed the Disney greeters in the terminal outside the security area, there were 2 or three Disney greeters in matching suits each with a big Mickey hand on one hand. I think they were holding a Disney Magic Express sign. I did get to wondering why the other theme parks or shuttle businesses couldn't have a greeter/character standing in the terminal where people were arriving if Disney could do it.

Phrank

 

[minnie61650]

Not to start a debate but...

I see what you mean when you say that what's good for everyone else should be good for them. But ME is a prearranged deal, they aren't stealing business from other companies, because if you walked up and said "Hey, I want to use this service now" I don't think they could take you.

It's not a big deal of course, just thought that was interesting.

D4D

The airport also told Disney that only those travelers that had pre-booked the DME service would be allowed to use it. The Disney greeters had reportedly been seen offering the DME service to travelers who had not already booked it, in violation of the airport's policy against solicitation. Disney, for its part, claims that it has not violated the terms of its agreement with the airport.

 

[NerdDad]

If you ask me, the service isn't all that great if you don't fly a participating airline. Getting to the park, never having to worry about your bags is great. But if you buy anything while at DIS (and you will) and you aren't on the return trip plan, they drop you off in a corner of the terminal on the bottom level and you have to make your way to the ticket counter with all your bags and kids in tow.

I was very unhappy with that.

 

[jjohnson]

There is an article this month in Budget Travel that ME is running thru 10/06 & Disney executives are looking into extending the program.

 

[Feralpeg]

Prior to ME no one cared if Disney greeters were on the third floor at MCO. The greeters were there for the cruise line. Since ME started, it has impacted other limo services, car rental companies, Universal, Sea World, other hotels and even non-Disney restaurants and shopping areas. Since people can use ME, they don't hire limo services and they don't rent cars. Without cars, many do not visit Universal and Sea World or go to off-property businesses. It has worked out great for Disney, but is hurting the other businesses.

At one time, Disney pushed to have light rail put in to go from the airport directly to Disney property. They couldn't get that through because it would have given them a big advantage over other businesses. However, no one could stop them from buying their own fleet of buses and starting ME.

Now, the Disney greeters will need to meet guests in the baggage claim area just like other limo services. That is also the floor where the car rental services reside. That way, the airport isn't showing favoritism to Disney. I don't think it will make a difference for the limo services, rental car companies or even other businesses such as Universal and Sea World.

Disney simply came up with a better idea. It was a good business/marketing decision for them. Universal could do the same thing if they wanted. I do feel sorry for the limo companies. I think there will always be those folks who would rather rent a car. As for Sea World and other businesses in Florida, they need to get creative and come up with something that will make people want to leave Disney property to visit them. In a way, I think it is good for Orlando. Orlando is the only city I've visited where the major hotels do not provide free shuttle service. They didnt' because they didn't have to. Now, they may need to think that decision over.

This is a hot topic in the Orlando area.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The airport also told Disney that only those travelers that had pre-booked the DME service would be allowed to use it. The Disney greeters had reportedly been seen offering the DME service to travelers who had not already booked it, in violation of the airport's policy against solicitation. Disney, for its part, claims that it has not violated the terms of its agreement with the airport.

From what I understand, Disney has NOT violated the agreement. DME provides free transportation to Disney Resort Guests who have prereserved the service. Anyone who has not reserved in advance is directed to the adjacent Mears counter where they pay for the ride, then board the DME bus.

If you ask me, the service isn't all that great if you don't fly a participating airline. Getting to the park, never having to worry about your bags is great. But if you buy anything while at DIS (and you will) and you aren't on the return trip plan, they drop you off in a corner of the terminal on the bottom level and you have to make your way to the ticket counter with all your bags and kids in tow.
I was very unhappy with that.

But that's exactly the same thing you'd have to do if you used Mears. Sure, a taxi or town car would drop you off at or near your airline's Departure counter, and on the correct level, but you pay extra for that service (about $50 plus tip one way for up to four people vs $17 per person via Mears bus)

There is an article this month in Budget Travel that ME is running thru 10/06 & Disney executives are looking into extending the program.

Budget Travel is a bit behind the times - Disney recently extended the free service through the end of 2006

 

[disneymama73]

The airport also told Disney that only those travelers that had pre-booked the DME service would be allowed to use it. The Disney greeters had reportedly been seen offering the DME service to travelers who had not already booked it, in violation of the airport's policy against solicitation. Disney, for its part, claims that it has not violated the terms of its agreement with the airport.

In June, we did not pre-book the ME service. We went up to ME counter, gave them our hotel info and luggage claim and got on the bus. Maybe it has changed since early June though. The greeters did NOT solicit us, however. They simply told us where the counter was when we asked them.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

It does make more sense to have them on the baggage claim level, I mean you have to go that way anyway, and it does make for good competition. US has their front-of-the-line passes for on-site guests, that's one of thier perks - Disney has introduced ME as a new on-site perk.

Once we rented a car and realized how easy it was to get around, we will always go that route. Especially now that we are DVC owners and make grocery runs.

I had no idea this was a hot topic.

D4D

 

[NerdDad]

But that's exactly the same thing you'd have to do if you used Mears.

I guess the point here being that I wouldn't use Mears if I had kids and tons of luggage in tow.

 

[twinkle]

If I arrive on 10-24 will they still be on the third floor?

 

[WDWguru]

If I'm not mistaken, Disney actually contracts with Mears (perhaps among others?) for the ME service, so when you're taking ME, you're actually using Mears.

 

[Feralpeg]

If I'm not mistaken, Disney actually contracts with Mears (perhaps among others?) for the ME service, so when you're taking ME, you're actually using Mears.

That is correct.