Magical Express is going away on Jan. 1, 2022

[The Jackal]

Hopefully there will be a relatively low stress option.

I believe Mears is still offering transportation

 

[ITGirl50]

I'm very familiar with that document. I'm looking the LINE ITEM for Magical Express (and the others, for that matter), which was exactly my original point which you apparently don't understand.

No reason to be rude. We are all the same team. I am just pointing out that there is a WDW transportation budget included in our dues.

 

[epcotized]

If someone did want to use the train how would that potentially work for returning to the airport for 9 to 10 AM flights, for example. There would be a lot of people who would need to get to DS. Buses do not currently run there early enough. Would Uber/Lyft even be able to handle so many requests? If the buses did run there would also be people boarding who think DS was open (and have to mill around.)

 

[New Mouse]

This is a dumb argument, but the final thing I'll say is if you can afford $56k down on a timeshare, 8% of it spread over 50 years for transportation should be the last of your concerns especially considering the annual dues.

8% of $56k is a lot for me too, but the person I initially replied to already paid out $56k so clearly the funding is not an issue for them. And as has been stated many times here and elsewhere, the buy-in is the smallest expense on this timeshare.

So if your car dealer decided to charge you an extra 8% a few years down the line just because they can, would you still buy the car?

 

[taaren]

Since we don't have ME on the West Coast and the paid service from LAX to DLH is not magical at all (expensive, pretty much only worth it if you're flying solo into the worst airport in SoCal), ME was a welcome surprise when we went to Florida, which made my trips there a lot more magical.
Since I have a carseat-aged child again, being able to do our last trip using ME and Minnie Vans only was a luxury that I wouldn't have done a WDW trip without, because hauling the carseat is a pain, and removing it from the equation with ME made using my points in Florida a lot more attractive. Without it (or a reasonably priced alternative for my entire family - I suspect that Mears may offer a similar service paid), I won't be back to WDW until my youngest outgrows her need for a carseat ... it'll be the VGC (and perhaps Aulani) only for us until then.

 

[skeeter31]

N

If someone did want to use the train how would that potentially work for returning to the airport for 9 to 10 AM flights, for example. There would be a lot of people who would need to get to DS. Buses do not currently run there early enough. Would Uber/Lyft even be able to handle so many requests? If the buses did run there would also be people boarding who think DS was open (and have to mill around.)

Not to mention the train station isn’t going to be in DS. At best it’s going to be in the parking lot next to the gas station and Team Disney on the other side of the road. Otherwise it could wind up being further down the road, on the other side of Typhoon Lagoon. That’s if it gets built at all.

 

[Sandisw]

I'm definitely bummed about ME going away.

As others have said, WDW should have communicated this better... either explained why it was necessary and/or talked about potential alternatives in the works... instead of saying "hey, looks like this isn't needed any more - you guys are good with ride shares, right?"

It's kind of a head scratcher how poorly this was communicated.

That said, I was already thinking about just getting a Lyft the next time we go. Seems like it's a faster way to get to the resort (I have no data to back this up, but waiting for the bus and potentially driving to another resort first seemed a lot longer than just driving directly).

Its definitely faster. We waited an hour in October just to board the bus. Definitely would have been to the resort in time.

This week, boarded quickly but was last stop so about 60 minutes?

 

[striker1064]

So if your car dealer decided to charge you an extra 8% a few years down the line just because they can, would you still buy the car?

Please show me where Disney, on our timeshare/annual dues, are now charging us for airport service directly as a result of ME going away.

 

[jimim]

This was how it used to work, via Mears. There were no Disney cartoons, and you had to get your luggage, but given that the BAGS infrastructure is already in place, Mears might well continue it.

Yup. I remember it well. We always used it. Once in a while we would hire a driver. Might go back that route whenever we go back. I’m in no hurry.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

So if your car dealer decided to charge you an extra 8% a few years down the line just because they can, would you still buy the car?

Somehow you are thinking that Disney is charging you for your future transportation from the airport to the resort. They aren't. They are eliminating a shuttle. They aren't charging you anything. As a matter of fact, the yearly MFs (or resort fees if not using DVC) should be reduced because of this. Just because your travel to the resort isn't being provided by WDW's "free" (which it isn't) shuttle doesn't mean they are charging you for your future travel. You can get to the resort any way you please.

 

[MrsBergs]

This is the response that I received when I emailed saying that I was not unhappy with the announcement

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Rescinded

 

[a742246]

This is the response that I received when I emailed saying that I was not unhappy with the announcementView attachment 549991View attachment 549992

I received the same response. But the name on it was Farah.

 

[Fanofthegame]

I received the same response. But the name on it was Farah.

I wonder if the person responding washed his or her hands be ffg or responding. I bet they had a mask on. What a generic response.

 

[Cheburashka]

In the early entry model, it will be impossible to rope-drop any park any day as an offsite guest.

Unless you stay in one of the several non-Disney hotels near WDW that will also receive the early entry perk.

That's what people are referring to. You can stay at a non-Disney hotel within the Disney World gates, and get the exact same (cough) "perks", yet not have to pay WDW resort prices. That proposition is going to look better than ever to many families. Several times in years past, I priced out Bonnet Creek Hilton and was mainly put off by the lack of DME. Now DME won't even be a consideration. In July, we didn't want to use DME due to Covid, so we rented a car. Without DME to consider, we stayed offsite for the first time, at Four Seasons Orlando, which is a true luxury family resort that was priced the same as a Disney deluxe. And we got the same theme park perks as onsite guests (meaning: almost none, lol- just being able to make a theme park reservation), so why not?

 

[New Mouse]

Please show me where Disney, on our timeshare/annual dues, are now charging us for airport service directly as a result of ME going away.

Youre right, it is possible to walk to the park. Please let us all know the best route you find for this purpose.

 

[BWoody]

I received the same response. But the name on it was Farah.

Lol I got Farah too! It was clear the second I read it that this was a copy and paste standard response that the pr team put together and front line cast members have been told to use as a response to all dme inquiries. I was tempted to reply since the response didn't address anything I specifically said but figured it wasn't worth my time since I'll just end up getting whatever secondary standard response the pr team drafted likely a couple weeks ago.

 

[LAX]

Please show me where Disney, on our timeshare/annual dues, are now charging us for airport service directly as a result of ME going away.

I can't help but to chime in on this analogy. Your local friendly car dealership sold you a "Magical" vehicle (Disney theme!) on the promise (not guaranteed on the contract, I know) that its maintenance will be included during your ownership (hassle-free, just like ME for many). Well, 5 years later, the dealer is dropping that once "included" service and touting how you now have so many different options on where you can have your "Magical" vehicle serviced.

May be it won't have changed your purchasing decision, but I don't find it unreasonable that it would have factored into the decision for many. Sure, if I can afford spending $50K on a vehicle (timeshare), what's an extra $100 a year to service it. However, that really isn't point, IMHO.

LAX

 

[striker1064]

Youre right, it is possible to walk to the park. Please let us all know the best route you find for this purpose.

Please show me where in our contract Disney provides airport service.

I can't help but to chime in on this analogy. Your local friendly car dealership sold you a "Magical" vehicle (Disney theme!) on the promise (not guaranteed on the contract, I know) that its maintenance will be included during your ownership (hassle-free, just like ME for many). Well, 5 years later, the dealer is dropping that once "included" service and touting how you now have so many different options on where you can have your "Magical" vehicle serviced.

May be it won't have changed your purchasing decision, but I don't find it unreasonable that it would have factored into the decision for many. Sure, if I can afford spending $50K on a vehicle (timeshare), what's an extra $100 a year to service it. However, that really isn't point, IMHO.

LAX

But Disney didn't promise this. I've purchased Direct, sat through the sales pitched, talked to my guide several other times. At no point did they bring up ME. Any assumption that ME was guaranteed to stick around was just that, an assumption by the buyer.

And again, I'm trying to make really stupid analogies because my original comment was directed at the person who said elimination of non-guaranteed airport service in a years' time is a weird reason to suddenly not spend $56k on a timeshare that does not guarantee airport service. That's it. That's all I said and I stand by it. Our contracts do not guarantee ME, EMH, APs, or anything else. They guarantee the opportunity to book a room. It's a timeshare.

I realize a lot of people assume because it's Disney and it's different, and for a while and in a lot of different ways, it is/was different. But none of that is guaranteed. It's only assumed by the buyer. Before we purchased, we did a ton of research, and read our contracts line-by-line. All we get is a room. We used to own AKL and that contract doesn't even guarantee the presence of animals! How about that, if Disney can remove the animals from Animal Kingdom, they can certainly remove airport service.

And with that I'm going to stop commenting on this. Feel free to reply if you want, but this is going nowhere. I get that this is not ideal, but it's part of timeshare ownership - sometimes you don't get the things you assume you're going to get. I hope everyone is able to find peace with this is one way or another.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I understand that. I agree that the Disney level experience is unbeatable. To that point, how do you know that an alternative won't be provided by Disney starting next year? I, personally, believe Disney will offer some alternative. I have no idea what that alternative would look like, but I think there will be one. Again, many people didn't like the DME. I, personally, don't think that Disney eliminating DME is somehow diminishing the overall WDW experience. While other resort and timeshares undoubtedly "do things better than Disney", none of them can offer the WDW experience. THAT is why people bought into DVC, not because of the transportation from/to the airport.

Please show me where in our contract Disney provides airport service.



But Disney didn't promise this. I've purchased Direct, sat through the sales pitched, talked to my guide several other times. At no point did they bring up ME. Any assumption that ME was guaranteed to stick around was just that, an assumption by the buyer.

And again, I'm trying to make really stupid analogies because my original comment was directed at the person who said elimination of non-guaranteed airport service in a years' time is a weird reason to suddenly not spend $56k on a timeshare that does not guarantee airport service. That's it. That's all I said and I stand by it. Our contracts do not guarantee ME, EMH, APs, or anything else. They guarantee the opportunity to book a room. It's a timeshare.

I realize a lot of people assume because it's Disney and it's different, and for a while and in a lot of different ways, it is/was different. But none of that is guaranteed. It's only assumed by the buyer. Before we purchased, we did a ton of research, and read our contracts line-by-line. All we get is a room. We used to own AKL and that contract doesn't even guarantee the presence of animals! How about that, if Disney can remove the animals from Animal Kingdom, they can certainly remove airport service.

And with that I'm going to stop commenting on this. Feel free to reply if you want, but this is going nowhere. I get that this is not ideal, but it's part of timeshare ownership - sometimes you don't get the things you assume you're going to get. I hope everyone is able to find peace with this is one way or another.

I know it was not promised and I know not everyone liked it. We loved it and it worked great for us as my family arrives in different groups. We will try the new system and see how it works. Most likely we will rent a car, stop for alcohol and groceries which will save us money to offset the rental car cost, and have a good trip.

We were going to buy more points to offset the point allocations as we are a little short on our annual 10 day F&W trip and bi-annual 4 day F&G trips. With this change we are putting that purchase on hold until this plays out. With no APS (potentially) we may reduce to one trip a year and spend part of the time at Universal and part of the time at the family home at Siesta Key.

I realize all along perks can change and it is Disney's right to remove this service. I will be beyond surprised if we see any type of meaningful decrease in our dues. If I am not happy with the product I own I need to make the necessary modifications so I am happy. That may mean selling or changing how we do Disney. Right now I am opting to change, but selling may be an option if the premium to stay on property or own DVC is not there in my opinion.

I am waiting to see how this plays out, but I only have about $30k invested in my points that have been owned for many years. I can easily sell right now and make money even though I don't need the money and feel we have already gotten our money's worth out of them. With all these changes I will be curious to see if the value holds. I would be upset if I just spent $56k and then these changes were announced.