Group Transportation to Church

[epcotized]

Magical Express is great because it's so convenient for guests, keeps Disney visitors on grounds and is probably good for the environment. Because of its popularity there are a lot of people at resorts without cars. Why doesn't Disney contract with a company to offer once a week bus transportation to, for example, local Protestant, Catholic and Jewish services?

There would be a user fee so that it was cost effective. Perhaps TTC or a designated resort could be the gathering place. It just seems that having so many people on their own calling for cabs is inefficient.

 

[lillygator]

why? cabs work fine. Do that many people go to church on vacation?

 

[chartle]

Magical Express is great because it's so convenient for guests, keeps Disney visitors on grounds and is probably good for the environment. Because of its popularity there are a lot of people at resorts without cars. Why doesn't Disney contract with a company to offer once a week bus transportation to, for example, local Protestant, Catholic and Jewish services?

There would be a user fee so that it was cost effective. Perhaps TTC or a designated resort could be the gathering place. It just seems that having so many people on their own calling for cabs is inefficient.

I work for a transportation company and if there were need I'm sure a company like Mears would fill it. Remember ME is Mears under contract with Disney.

Also it would be difficult coordinating transportation to a number of churches with the same start time. Also which churches would be included and how far do you go out.

 

[Hannathy]

Simple answer

How would This put money into Disney's coffers?

Disney does nothing without it benefitting Disney, as it should be, because it is a business.

 

[VillageMama]

why? cabs work fine. Do that many people go to church on vacation?

The Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe (Catholic church) is packed every Sunday for three Masses. The church holds 2,000 people and it is standing room only.

The vast majority are vacationers because this is not a parish church. (You can't get married, baptized or have funerals there.) It was built because of the large number of tourists who were overfilling the local parishes.

So I'm happy to say that yes, many people go to church while on vacation. It's a really neat experience worshiping with brethren from around the world.

 

[chartle]

Ok then the churches should organize and contract with a local bus company to provide this transportation.

Its not Disney's job to organize transportation to everywhere just because its the nice thing to do. Even though they would charge for this service its not one of their core business practices.

 

[lillygator]

Ok then the churches should organize and contract with a local bus company to provide this transportation.

Its not Disney's job to organize transportation to everywhere just because its the nice thing to do. Even though they would charge for this service its not one of their core business practices.

then there would be transportation to the mall, the grocery store, day trip to the beach!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

How would This would put money into Disney's coffers?

BINGO!

And which churches would they go to, anyway? If they started this, and only went to one Catholic church and one Methodist church, for example, then the (twenty seven different types of) Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Universalists, Jews, Buddhists, Hindi, etc., would all feel left out.

 

[epcotized]

I understand that Disney does not have to do this and would need to make it profitable which is why I mentioned the user fee. They could start with test groups and expand or contract from there.

As far as the grocery argument, Disney sells some groceries at limited locations. If you run out they are happy because they can then get you in their restaurants.

Of course, not everyone goes to services regularly. But a decent % of the population does. Apparently I'm crazy but I thought there would be enough people who would want this. Don't get mad. I'm not as smart as everyone else.

 

[Tinkermom76]

I understand that Disney does not have to do this and would need to make it profitable which is why I mentioned the user fee. They could start with test groups and expand or contract from there.

As far as the grocery argument, Disney sells some groceries at limited locations. If you run out they are happy because they can then get you in their restaurants.

Of course, not everyone goes to services regularly. But a decent % of the population does. Apparently I'm crazy but I thought there would be enough people who would want this. Don't get mad. I'm not as smart as everyone else.

I would want it... we will be in the world during advent this year and we will be attending on Sunday morning and I don't rent a car so cab it is for me

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Of course, not everyone goes to services regularly. But a decent % of the population does. Apparently I'm crazy but I thought there would be enough people who would want this.

I agree that there are plenty of faithful people in WDW. But I'm thinking maybe a non-denominational service on site might be better than a bus that would go to a specific church. Because, like I said, what church(es) would they go to?

 

[Hannathy]

I understand that Disney does not have to do this and would need to make it profitable which is why I mentioned the user fee. They could start with test groups and expand or contract from there.

As far as the grocery argument, Disney sells some groceries at limited locations. If you run out they are happy because they can then get you in their restaurants.

Of course, not everyone goes to services regularly. But a decent % of the population does. Apparently I'm crazy but I thought there would be enough people who would want this. Don't get mad. I'm not as smart as everyone else.

Oh don't get me wrong I think it would be a nice thing and I do think a lot of people go to church BUT in the end Disney is a business a big business and to do something it has to be profitable not just break even. Also in this world of every group under the sun yelling discrimination could you imagine the legal fine print they would have to wade thru and jump over? they would have to have every option possible to every known and unknown "religion" plus be fully accessible to every single person who could think about using it.

Unfortunately things aren't simple anymore and no good deed by business goes unpunished.(or un-sued!)

 

[chartle]

I understand that Disney does not have to do this and would need to make it profitable which is why I mentioned the user fee. They could start with test groups and expand or contract from there.

But again Disney isn't in the business of transporting people off site. Creating and maintaining an off site transportation system that doesn't have any benefits to the company is a hard sell to management. Unless someone can sell the idea that "more people will stay in our hotels if we can get them to church" its not going to happen.

Just like the shuttle that can take you to the outlet mall, the best people to create this service is the churches themselves not Disney. Disney is a third party in the equation.

In fact your example of what a great service ME is is a reason why Disney wouldn't do this. Disney wants you on property as much as possible thats what ME does, keeps you from renting a car and going off site for any reason. If you want to go somewhere like church or Universal either you or the destination are going to have to make it happen.

 

[disney_bob]

I may be in the minority here but I for one am glad they don't offer such services. The most (personal) PC reason I can think of is because I have to pay for a taxi anytime I'm going to an event on Disney property that takes place before opening hours (such as a 745am Segway Tour that I'm already paying $90/person for). I'd find it insulting that others would get better treatment for off-site activities.

Logistical and financial reasons are too numerous for me to list, suffice to say it wouldn't make financial sense (spending money to put people off property) and they could get into various issues depending on the attitude of said worship-goers.

 

[MurphyJoe]

Magical Express is great because it's so convenient for guests, keeps Disney visitors on grounds and is probably good for the environment. Because of its popularity there are a lot of people at resorts without cars. Why doesn't Disney contract with a company to offer once a week bus transportation to, for example, local Protestant, Catholic and Jewish services?

There would be a user fee so that it was cost effective. Perhaps TTC or a designated resort could be the gathering place. It just seems that having so many people on their own calling for cabs is inefficient.

Disney used to provide two Catholic and one Protestant services once a week.

As for the reasons why: http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2002/12/16/story1.html

 

[Lynne M]

For Disney to do this and cover their costs, it would be at least as expensive as a cab.

The greater Orlando area is very large, and very spread out. You'd likely need a separate bus for each church, as they could be miles apart. Imagine, out of the tens of thousands of guests on property at any given time, coordinating which guests want the Methodist church bus, and which ones want the Presbyterian church bus, and which ones want the Catholic church bus. Does each bus stop at each one of the 30 or so resorts on property? You'd have to have people reserve the trip in advance. You'd need a whole group of employees just to coordinate all of this, and then add in fuel costs, and maintenance costs....it'd cost Disney a fortune, and they'd pass that cost right on to the guests, along with a little extra profit to make up for the fact that you're sitting in church instead of spending money in their parks.

Cabs are the most cost-effective way to go.

 

[epcotized]

The idea that not every denomination would be able to be covered is very likely true. But how many situations are like that where you can't accomodate or help 100%. The choice is then to either do nothing or do something which make things improved for some people even though it's not everyone.
I'm trying not to look at it with a glass is half emply attitude. After all WDW is such an upbeat place because of people who wanted to try ideas and get things done. It's a little like when the workers at a Green Giant plant said to Barack Obama "yes we can."

OK - I apologize for that last one. My effort to create a joke makes the Jungle Cruise look like Shakespeare.

 

[freepixie]

I for one would LOVE it if they had some sort of shuttle to Church!! Yes I understand, logistically, it would be a nightmare, and also that Disney only looks out for the bottom line.

Our family rents a car each vacation for the purpose of going to Church and to get to a grocery store as well. We have been in lines at the rental place and got chatting with other folks who were doing the same as us.

And for the PP who asked if that many people actually go to Church on vacation? YES!! There are SO many of us who do!! I feel so thankful to God for our blessings of being able to have a vacation, so I feel I NEED to worship while on vacation. Just because you may not have the same feelings, please do not make a judgement call thinking that most folks skip Church - for many of us its just so important to get there!

But anyhow, yes, I would love it if there were a shuttle to/from Church!!

 

[Tara922c]

I would say it would be up to the individual church to organize transpertation to their services, not Disney's. Disney would have to provide transpertation to every single type of church in order to make it work. Religion is a sensitive subject, and one person may feel left out if their is no bus to their church of choice. Plus, who would pay for all of this? I think if you truly want to attend religious services on your vacation, you should plan your own transpertation to that church.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this over to our transportation board. They may have some suggestions over there.