Hope DVC is ready for the cars in 2022!

[tjkraz]

1. MF never covered the cost of DME, so there would be no reduction for us. My understanding is that the line item for “transportation“ in our MF correlates to resort-to-park transport, for example, Skyliner. I could have misunderstood though, I’m sure one of the more seasoned owners will chime in.

Disney has always been very dodgy about transportation costs. They claim they use internal calculations based upon types of transportation offered, resort size, frequency and distance to each destination to set costs. But the general rule of thumb is that if Disney can pass some costs on to DVC owners, they will. There's little reason to believe Disney is absorbing 100% of the cost of DME itself.

 

[CarolynFH]

Disney has always been very dodgy about transportation costs. They claim they use internal calculations based upon types of transportation offered, resort size, frequency and distance to each destination to set costs. But the general rule of thumb is that if Disney can pass some costs on to DVC owners, they will. There's little reason to believe Disney is absorbing 100% of the cost of DME itself.

I agree and would be very surprised if DVC wasn’t charged for DME in their MFs just as the non-DVC resorts were charged in their room rates.

And daytime parking at BWV has always been a problem - like CR, the lot empties out after parks close. I wish they’d charge day guests an hourly rate, with the restaurants validating for up to 3 hours free (and conventions validating for length of their sessions), with the all-day price being higher than the theme park lots.

 

[Skywalker3]

Been going to WDW regularly since 2000, and staying DVC since we bought in 2011. We always drive, every time. Stayed multiple times at BWV, BLT, Poly, AKL Kidani, SSR, and once each at OKW, BCV. No experience yet at GFV. Only twice did we have parking issues at BWV, But that was several years ago, before they started being more strict, and lots of folks were parking there and walking to parks. Since the guards started stopping more people from doing this, have not had any issues. . Has been a bit hard to find a good spot at BLT, but always do, even if it's a bit of walk. Also, we've had in-laws join us, and they've had their car, and never had any issues w 2 cars in the lot on the same reservation. We tend to park the car at the resort, and it stays there the whole time, until check out. We do make a grocery run the first day, and then if we are doing a split, move the car then, and might be offsite awhile. Otherwise we take Disney transportation. We don't like driving and parking at the parks if we can help it, except water parks.
If we do Universal, we make that a separate trip, and stay on site there.also driving .
Have never used ME to arrive at Disney, used once in 2010, to fly home for family emergency . When I flew in for the Star Wars convention, used mears easily.

 

[going/again]

That would be quite a walk while carrying a case of water, a case of beer, and a few bags of groceries.

Got a folding wheeled crate in my owners locker, or it's about $10 back to SSR

 

[lawboy2001]

If there is a reasonably priced service (like maybe if Mears takes over operation of DME) I'd still take the bus over a rental car. But that of course, depends upon the number of people in your party.

I imagine this will happen, and will prevent the resort parking lots from being overrun with additional rental cars.

 

[Meglen]

Honest question since I don't know. How do they time the cars? If someone is staying at the resort vs visiting. Is there a sheet the guard has ?

 

[Sandisw]

Honest question since I don't know. How do they time the cars? If someone is staying at the resort vs visiting. Is there a sheet the guard has ?

I don’t think they do but they have a lot of data to make decisions. While we don’t know the true impact yet, there will still be many families who use Mears regardless of whether it’s called DME vs renting a car.

 

[The Jackal]

1. MF never covered the cost of DME, so there would be no reduction for us. My understanding is that the line item for “transportation“ in our MF correlates to resort-to-park transport, for example, Skyliner. I could have misunderstood though, I’m sure one of the more seasoned owners will chime in.

2. As someone else mentioned up thread, many resorts were already in existence prior to the DME service which has only been around since around approximately ‘05 or ‘06, although I don’t recall the exact date, I just know that it was after ‘04 and before ‘07. Parking should‘t be an issue due to #3.

3. There are many transportation options besides DME, most of them very reasonably priced as there’s a lot of competition. These options were available even prior to DME, in fact there are more now that we have Uber and Lyft. These options would be cheaper than renting a car in most cases.

4. It’s going to be ok.

Then who paid for DME. Disney surely isn’t going to cover all the DVC members. If they did that was a good bonus. Cash hotel guests it is built into the price of the room. It would have to be built into a transportation cost at DVC resorts. The real question is what is the percentage of people using DME?

 

[NoTime42]

Then who paid for DME. Disney surely isn’t going to cover all the DVC members. If they did that was a good bonus. Cash hotel guests it is built into the price of the room. It would have to be built into a transportation cost at DVC resorts. The real question is what is the percentage of people using DME?

Dining and Ticketing were big beneficiaries of DME, because guests without a car were more likely to only eat on site and less likely to visit other theme parks.
I don’t know if they did, but I think it would have been fair if Resorts, Dining and Ticketing equally split the DME costs.

 

[Chuck S]

The real question is what is the percentage of people using DME?

Over the years at OKW, I noticed a huge decrees in cars in the parking lots, and a lot of people arriving/boarding DME as well as using the onsite luggage check. I'm going to guestimate at least 50% to 60% of guests/members were using DME.

 

[EM Lawrence]

From our recent experience trying to use Uber to/from DS, I think people who are relying strictly on Uber need to be prepared for longer waits than they might expect, and lots of surge pricing. It’s hard to remember the exact details, but I think it was close to $20 to get from BCV to DS early on a Friday night, and the closest car was 16 minutes away. Pro tip: during surge pricing, it can be much cheaper just to call an old fashioned cab. I read on another forum that there is currently a shortage of Uber drivers. I have no idea why that would be the case, but unless supply picks up by 2022, the problem may be exacerbated by the end of DME.

 

[MamaJessie]

I only recently bought into DVC but I definitely plan on having a car on our 2022 trip because of the elimination of DME/ free parking for DVC combo. Much to DHs dismay we are going back to driving down from CT lol

 

[tjkraz]

Dining and Ticketing were big beneficiaries of DME, because guests without a car were more likely to only eat on site and less likely to visit other theme parks.
I don’t know if they did, but I think it would have been fair if Resorts, Dining and Ticketing equally split the DME costs.

One could make a stronger argument that Disney should provide free (no dues) theme park transportation for these reasons. But they don't.

 

[drusba]

I only recently bought into DVC but I definitely plan on having a car on our 2022 trip because of the elimination of DME/ free parking for DVC combo. Much to DHs dismay we are going back to driving down from CT lol

Free parking at the DVC resorts still applies to DVC members, and anyone else staying at a DVC Resort on a DVC points reservation

 

[Sandisw]

Free parking at the DVC resorts still applies to DVC members, and anyone else staying at a DVC Resort on a DVC points reservation

To add, DVC owners who stay DVC on cash will also get it.

 

[MamaJessie]

Free parking at the DVC resorts still applies to DVC members, and anyone else staying at a DVC Resort on a DVC points reservation

Oh I know, I just wrote that strangely I suppose. I just meant the combination of eliminating DME PLUS the fact that I can now park free because I am DVC - it pushed me towards driving.

 

[DebbieB]

I used to rent a car in the early to mid 2000’s. Back then I could get a midsize for around $125 for the week. Now it’s more than double that. It’s been awhile since I have rented. Will be interesting to see what Mears charges vs Uber/Lyft or private car service.

 

[Dano1182]

You are only allowed one vehicle per DVC reservation to my knowledge.

I have had more than one car and never had an issue

 

[Eric Smith]

I don’t think they do but they have a lot of data to make decisions. While we don’t know the true impact yet, there will still be many families who use Mears regardless of whether it’s called DME vs renting a car.

We just priced out a rental car for the week that we're going at the end of April. The cheapest we could get away with was $300 for a compact. It got up near $450 for a larger SUV. I don't think a ton of people will actually end up renting cars to deal with MDE going away. For comparison's sake, a Lyft ride to or from the airport cost us $40-$50 each way.

 

[New Mouse]

We just priced out a rental car for the week that we're going at the end of April. The cheapest we could get away with was $300 for a compact. It got up near $450 for a larger SUV. I don't think a ton of people will actually end up renting cars to deal with MDE going away. For comparison's sake, a Lyft ride to or from the airport cost us $40-$50 each way.

I got a mid size car for 5 days $100. Why wouldnt you take that option? I think plenty of people will, so long as its not a peak travel period.