Just got email from Disney about new "Disney Express" transportation..

[BC]

If you all have already discussed this, please disregard, but I just got an email with a survey from Disney asking my opinions about the new Disney Express transportation service. I guess it is still in the makings, but they must be seriously considering it. They said it would be $10 round trip from the airport for each person in your party. The Disney van would pick you up at the airport and your luggage would be taken care of by a Disney employee. They will take you to your resort and bring your luggage to you when you checkin. If your room isn't ready, the resort would hold your luggage as usual. Sounds pretty good, considering we paid $100 for our towncar service round trip. I guess the drawback would be too many people in one van causing delays and also hoping your luggage makes it!

 

[Goof]

BC, although i have not heard much of this as of yet, it sure sounds like a Mears type setup to me. If it is, then we would rather continue to use the limo services and enjoy a straight shot directly to our resort.

 

[disneyjunkie]

It sounds good to me.

Unlike Mears you won't have to stop at the off site resorts. I'm sure it will take time to get everyone to their resorts, but at least they will all be on site.

For $10.00 per person round trip, I wouldn't mind making a few extra stops.


I hope this is true.

 

[Lyndarella]

Is this something that is going on now, or something Disney is considering doing in the future?

 

[seashoreCM]

I am surprised that:

1. Mears had not already been there done that (i.e. vehicles that don't do International Drive and other off site stops.),

2. Disney had not already been there done that (requires the filing of a "tariff" with the state dept. of public utilities or a similar agency.).

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Or have they?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

This is actually the first I have heard of this service, but it makes sense to me. From what I've been hearing, the relationship between Disney and Mears is shaky. I know the DCL contract was not renewed, and that will be changing soon. So it makes sense that Disney would be doing something like this.

By the price, it sounds like it would be a multiple resort type deal.

I'm wondering if the luggage will be going with you, or in a separate cargo truck?

 

[Humphrey Bear]

Took a similar survey for Disney a while back. The idea then was to take you straight from the airport to the parks with your luggage going right to your resort. Had wondered what had happened to this concept. I'm sure that Disney would like to get in on some of the transport business.

On a side note, the second half of the survey that I took dealt with park tickets. The scary part was that it was about hopper tickets that would expire after a set time period, instead of being good forever. I told them that I liked the transport idea but was not very fond of the expiring hopper passes!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by Humphrey Bear
Took a similar survey for Disney a while back. The idea then was to take you straight from the airport to the parks with your luggage going right to your resort. Had wondered what had happened to this concept. I'm sure that Disney would like to get in on some of the transport business.

On a side note, the second half of the survey that I took dealt with park tickets. The scary part was that it was about hopper tickets that would expire after a set time period, instead of being good forever. I told them that I liked the transport idea but was not very fond of the expiring hopper passes!

I don't think the straight to park thing would work out so well, because a lot of folks would want to check into the resort. Many times the tickets are part of a package, and have to be picked up when checking in, so not sure how feasible it would be anyways.

As for the expiring park hoppers... our "Ultimate Park Hopper" length of stay passes do expire at the end of the stay, even if they have unused days on them. Perhaps that's what they were referring to?

 

[goofyandmore]

I would still go for the private service since we are 7 people and $10 a person isn't much savings compared to the fact that we are the only ones in the van and can go wherever we want, including a stop at a store. Thanks, Carolyn

 

[BrerMama]

When I first read this, I thought "Sure, we'd do that." Saves us almost $35 over a towncar service, even though we do have to use a van because there's 5 of us. On second thought, however, I wouldn't do it. It's worth the extra money to be the only people in the van and to get the grocery stop. In order to stay onsite, I need to be able to stock up with snacks so we're not throwing our money away on high-priced snacks.

 

[disneyjunkie]

If this becomes a reality, it would be cheaper me to use the service, and order groceries from Netgrocer than it would be to use a town car service.

 

[hAm53]

Now to throw some more fuel onto this fire . . .
We just got back, and while speaking to someone in management at one of the venues, we got on the topic of the high-speed train from tamp to orlando. with the only other stop on this 250mph trip that will take 15 minutes is gonna be across the street from the wide world of sports. apparently, a new TTC will be built, allowing people to hop on the train at MCO, get off at the new TTC a few minutes later, and hop on a bus straight to their resort. this would cost in the 10-25 dollar range, and would all but assure the end of Mears.
do with this tidbit what you will.

~ Chris

 

[Goof]

correct me if i'm wrong but somewhere in previous months, i read an article describing a high speed rail service that would transport from MCO directly to WDW. Could this be the same service? If it would ever become a reality, this would be great for some but would most definitely end Mears service.

 

[Humphrey Bear]

Originally posted by Chip 'n Dale Express
I don't think the straight to park thing would work out so well, because a lot of folks would want to check into the resort. Many times the tickets are part of a package, and have to be picked up when checking in, so not sure how feasible it would be anyways.

As for the expiring park hoppers... our "Ultimate Park Hopper" length of stay passes do expire at the end of the stay, even if they have unused days on them. Perhaps that's what they were referring to?

Maybe it would tie in with the Ultimate Park Hoppers, but it seemed to have some new features that they were considering. A big part of it was the idea to price it according to the seasons. You would pay more for the pass in peak times and less for it in Value season. It also had some other features, but I don't remember what they were. I just remember the pricing structure and the expiration dates.

 

[seashoreCM]

Originally posted by hAm53
get off at the new TTC a few minutes later, and hop on a bus straight to their resort. ... would all but assure the end of Mears.

I doubt that this new TTC will have 20 minute headway Disney bus service non-stop to each resort and to each park. That would require a significant upping of the bus fleet requirements, as Pop Century was the last to do. So there is still room for Mears. The TTC (or a TTC) is primarily a focal point for day guests.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

This is my thought...

What will the headway be between the trains? Then, once you get to the new Transportation Center, what's the headway for the shuttle van/coaches? And I'd be willing to bet, they'd have multiple stops as well. (ie: multiple resorts)

With the transfer, and wait time, I really don't see the advantage or time savings of this. Even if Mears may be slow, at least it's a one shot deal... you may make a few stops, but at least you dont have to transfer, and deal with the luggage. For some folks, that luggage transfer is a big deal.


I personally have only taken Mears once, and that was back in 1997. And at the time, I was more involved with the funky looking Cametal coach than anything else.

My thought is that there is nothing wrong with what Mears does. The problem lies in HOW they do it. If they (or someone else) could do the same thing, but in a more efficient manner, I think it would be a win-win situation for all. Guests would be happier for less wait times, and quicker transfers, and the company would be happy by actually getting repeat customers back.

(Somehow, I don't think the Mears shuttle gets very many repeat customers)

 

[Lewisc]

One of the rumors had you checking in at the aiport (as is done in Vegas) so you would get your passes and room key from a CM in the airport. Your luggage would go to your resort and you'd go to the park of your choice.

BTW i just took Mears (for the first time) from the Swan to the airport. Worked fine, the picked up people from the YC then us and went straight to the airport.

Originally posted by Chip 'n Dale Express
I don't think the straight to park thing would work out so well, because a lot of folks would want to check into the resort. Many times the tickets are part of a package, and have to be picked up when checking in, so not sure how feasible it would be anyways.

As for the expiring park hoppers... our "Ultimate Park Hopper" length of stay passes do expire at the end of the stay, even if they have unused days on them. Perhaps that's what they were referring to?