Here at WDW .. why so many third party buses and magical express nostalgia

[DianaMB333]

Hi
I arrived yesterday .. went down to the Magical Express location… and got the same feeling than the first time many years ago!

it is lovely to see the Disney buses there and knowing that vacation experience starts from that first very moment… got nostalgic thinking on the removal of them and how first timers will miss it..

any how.. something else has caught my attention and it was seeing a lots lots of third party buses at the parks at night..

What happened? Has Disney sold many of their buses?

precovid I don't remember seeing this many…

it is definitely not the same, accessibility and layout - and somewhat the experience piece- it is better with Disney buses

 

[OKW Lover]

any how.. something else has caught my attention and it was seeing a lots lots of third party buses at the parks at night..

What happened? Has Disney sold many of their buses?

Anywhere besides the MK resort bus stop you'll see tons of 3rd party buses. They are mostly for people staying on Hotel Plaza Blvd, Swolphin, Shades of Green and resorts in the Bonnet Creek area. You'll also see 4 Seasons buses and shuttles from other nearby non-Disney hotels.

 

[Elle23]

Our last (and final! ) Magical Express buses were third party buses back in April. Talk about a letdown.
We also rode many third party buses to and from the parks. It was my understanding that this was because of social distancing and not being able to accommodate as many people per bus. I don’t know what the excuse is now.

I think that last pathetic un-Magical Express ride was the beginning of the end of my Disney obsession, sadly. It was the straw that finally broke the camel’s back. I’m getting to where I just don’t care anymore because it feels like Disney just doesn’t care anymore.

 

[tjmw2727]

Its been this way since the re-opening, they can't hire enough bus drivers so they are contracting with other bus companies until they can hire enough drivers for their fleet.

We had an Academy bus in April for DME but we did have DME buses in September both ways. We have also had a few coach buses to and from AOA, less in September than in April!

All the coach buses were very clean and comfortable so it didn't really bother us.

 

[Narcoossee11]

The ONLY bus that are DISNEY owned are on Disney property . Insurance does not really allow their busses to leave property.
(It was weird that the Minnie Vans left property)
DME and DCL buses is owned / run by MEARS. As mentioned above, easier cheaper to out source that service.
Mears has always filled in the gap when Disney needs help .

 

[Ross Kratter]

A couple of bus drivers told me the other night that Disney instituted a new system for the buses right before COVID. Apparently this new system needs more buses and drivers than they have available. They are also short on trainers to train newly hired drivers.

 

[SteveH]

I would think that Mears may be stripping the Disney logos off their buses too. Same bus, same drivers just unbranded.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

I think a lot of the Academy buses on property are bringing the CP's to and from Flamingo Crossing.

 

[OKW Lover]

I would think that Mears may be stripping the Disney logos off their buses too. Same bus, same drivers just unbranded.

I suspect that Disney will require them to remove their logos

 

[DVC-Don]

.............................
(It was weird that the Minnie Vans left property)
..............................................

Minnie Vans were operated by Lyft.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Minnie Vans were operated by Lyft.

Not true. They were owned and operated by Disney, driven by Cast Members. They utilized the Lyft app for hailing and payments.

 

[georgina]

I don't think any first timers will miss DME since they never experienced it. I used it a few times on solo trips but prefer rental cars. Looking it up, DME just started in 2005, so it wasn't around for the first trip for many of us. I think we must have taken a Mears shuttle back then, really not much different from DME.

 

[Drewsdad]

After being picked up 5 hours before our flight, we gave up on DME and take a private service. Have budgeted for this since.

We miss the Minnie Vans. Hoping they will be back

 

[thegash35]

I think that last pathetic un-Magical Express ride was the beginning of the end of my Disney obsession, sadly. It was the straw that finally broke the camel’s back. I’m getting to where I just don’t care anymore because it feels like Disney just doesn’t care anymore.

Magical Express is run by Mears. Since the contract is ending they are probably reallocating equipment. So talk to Mears this one is on them not Disney.