Getting a Lyft

[Jonfw2]

We were at WDW in March and I wanted to check out the Minnie Van service, so I followed the instructions (which basically boils down to "download the Lyft app").

Here's where it gets slightly tricky: totally accidentally, I requested a regular old lift, not a Minnie Van. Operator error on my part. No problem in getting to our park, but I felt a bit weird paying like $9 instead of the wildly higher prices for an actual Minnie Van.

My question is: does Disney actually care which you do? Is using an actual Minnie Van preferred, but not necessarily required? The driver said it was all good, since Disney's contract is with Lyft itself, but I'm still not totally sure.

Thanks!

 

[stewart715]

Nope, it's perfectly fine If you don't need the space of a van, there's nothing wrong with using a normal Lyft.

 

[MikeOhio]

Disney certainly cares because they didn't get to collect the outrageous fee that they would have collected if you had used a Minnie Van.

 

[stewart715]

Disney certainly cares because they didn't get to collect the outrageous fee that they would have collected if you had used a Minnie Van.

This is a bad take. Not everyone needs a Minnie Van which can transport up to 6 guests, 6 suitcases and are able to accommodate up to 3 complimentary car seats. $25 for that sounds like a deal to me. If you don’t need it, don’t use it. If you don’t need it and do use it, it’s not a rip off, you just wasted your money. That’s why other Lyft options outside of Minnie Vans are available; as OP used.

 

[SG131]

No, they don't mind. Some people prefer Minnie Vans because they feel safer, or some people just need the car seats which a regular Lyft won't have. The Minnie Vans have been very successful for them even with Uber and Lyft around at lower prices.

 

[cwestpvb]

Honestly, it only seems like the Minnie Van is only worth the up charge if you are a family that needs car seats, and/or taking it to/from the Magic Kingdom where they pick you up right at the front entrance rather than the TTC. Otherwise, you can use a normal Lyft and save lots of money!

 

[Lynne M]

My question is: does Disney actually care which you do? Is using an actual Minnie Van preferred, but not necessarily required? The driver said it was all good, since Disney's contract is with Lyft itself, but I'm still not totally sure.

I'm sure they'd be delighted to get more money with the Minnie Van, but they really don't regulate (or know) how their guests get from place to place at WDW. All kinds of transportation services pick up and drop off inside Disney property. Lyft, Uber, taxis, airport van companies, limousine services, you name it. The Minnie Van is simply an option, if you want a Disney-themed ride.

 

[MikeOhio]

This is a bad take. Not everyone needs a Minnie Van which can transport up to 6 guests, 6 suitcases and are able to accommodate up to 3 complimentary car seats. $25 for that sounds like a deal to me. If you don’t need it, don’t use it. If you don’t need it and do use it, it’s not a rip off, you just wasted your money. That’s why other Lyft options outside of Minnie Vans are available; as OP used.

If you are going to criticize someone’s opinion you might want to make sure you get your facts right. Minnie vans aren’t a flat rate of 25 anymore and haven’t been for almost a year. Most rides are now 30+ depending on distance.

 

[stewart715]

If you are going to criticize someone’s opinion you might want to make sure you get your facts right. Minnie vans aren’t a flat rate of 25 anymore and haven’t been for almost a year. Most rides are now 30+ depending on distance.

Point still stands. An extra $5 doesn't change anything. And I don't get it, the other ride sharing services are freely available on property. No one is forcing anyone to use Minnie Vans.

 

[PetePanMan]

Minnie vans too expensive for us. Costs to / from airport ridulous.

 

[Luxurious_Lumiere]

Minnie Van benefits anyone who is traveling with a large party (larger cars/suvs cost more on lyft) and families who need a car seat (an additional charge on lyft). In addition, Minnie Vans can drop you off right at the park gate for MK, instead of the TTC. It's a very close drop off for all the parks. So if you have someone who cannot do much walking, that might be a benefit to you.

In all other cases, it is generally more cost effective to use the regular Lyft service. Disney cannot "require" you to use a Minnie Van, it's just another option available to you. When I was on property, we used it twice when my boyfriend wasn't feeling up to walking (it could pick us up right outside our FW cabin, and after a break at the resort he took it back to MK to be dropped off at the gate). I would say that unless you need one of the aforementioned perks of Minnie Van, just check the app to see which option is cheapest before buying.

 

[Searc]

Point still stands. An extra $5 doesn't change anything. And I don't get it, the other ride sharing services are freely available on property. No one is forcing anyone to use Minnie Vans.

To clarify, the current cost of Minnie Vans are a $15 base rate, plus $2.75 per mile, plus tip.

 

[stewart715]

To clarify, the current cost of Minnie Vans are a $15 base rate, plus $2.75 per mile, plus tip.

Thanks for clarifying.

Whatever the cost, what I meant was Minnie Vans offer something that traditional ride shares don't including, as @Luxurious_Lumiere pointed out, drop off at immediate park entrance. That's why they are more expensive. If they were forcing you to use them that would be one thing, but they aren't. So I just don't understand the saltiness towards Disney in regards to Minnie vans nor do I think that pricing is outrageous for what it offers.

 

[Searc]

Thanks for clarifying.

Whatever the cost, what I meant was Minnie Vans offer something that traditional ride shares don't including, as @Luxurious_Lumiere pointed out, drop off at immediate park entrance. That's why they are more expensive. If they were forcing you to use them that would be one thing, but they aren't. So I just don't understand the saltiness towards Disney in regards to Minnie vans nor do I think that pricing is outrageous for what it offers.

They are more expensive because they're red with white polka dots. Where they drop off has nothing to do with it. People will pay because "they're on vacation and deserve it" or want the car seats. They cost what they do because people pay it, no other reason.

 

[stewart715]

They are more expensive because they're red with white polka dots. Where they drop off has nothing to do with it. People will pay because "they're on vacation and deserve it" or want the car seats. They cost what they do because people pay it, no other reason.

Thanks for that inside information.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you are going to criticize someone’s opinion you might want to make sure you get your facts right. Minnie vans aren’t a flat rate of 25 anymore and haven’t been for almost a year. Most rides are now 30+ depending on distance.

Very dependent on distance travelled, given that there is base price plus mileage cost.

Minnie Van benefits anyone who is traveling with a large party (larger cars/suvs cost more on lyft) and families who need a car seat (an additional charge on lyft).

V
I think you're thinking of Über. Lyft doesn't offer car seats.

They are more expensive because they're red with white polka dots.

And because they were purchased outright* and are owned by Disney. And because the drivers are Fast Members, not independent contractors.A

*okay, maybe not paid for in full at time of purchase.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Our trips are only DH and I, so we just use regular Lyft. The Minnie Vans are cute and it would be "fun" to ride in one, but I can't justify paying 3x as much when we don't actually need the room or car seats. We used a ton of regular Lyft cars last year and only paid about $7/ride.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yeah, a lot of people who don't need what the Minnie Van provides still get one once, largely for the photo op.

 

[Searc]

Yeah, a lot of people who don't need what the Minnie Van provides still get one once, largely for the photo op.

We got a MV once on our last trip, as a surprise for our Mom for our dinner at Flying Fish. She rode in it with the grandkids and the rest of us chumps (her children and their spouses) took a regular ol' uber. She loved the surprise, because she had been talking all week about how cute the MV were, but I said we weren't using them because they were too expensive. So the MV pulled up to our resort and she said "oh look, someone is getting a Minnie Van!" and all of us said at the same time "It's for you!!" She cried.

 

[Luxurious_Lumiere]

@kaytieeldr Lyft absolutely offers car seats. When selecting a car option scroll to the right. You will move through the headings "economy," "extra seats," "luxury," and finally "More." Under the "More" heading is where you can find the car seat option. It tends to be an expensive add-on (Im guessing since few Lyft/Uber drivers actually have car seats), so as I said above, if you need one of those then the Minnie Van service is likely more cost effective in that scenario.