Magical Express May No Longer be Free

[tiffany123]

Sorry guys, I have spent the entire day trying to find where I read this rumor but so far I've had no luck in finding it. I read it last night on one of the many Disney boards that I read. I have rechecked several of them and can't find the information. I do know that the person who was writing seemed really well informed about the upcoming ticket price increases, etc. I do remember there being a contract agreement between MCO and Disney Transportation through 2010 or 2011 but thought there might be some substance to this rumor with the rising diesel prices. Contracts can be renegotiated and at the time ME was established, no one could have imagined fuel prices being as high as they are now. I just tossed the clip out there and apologize again for not being able to locate the source. I will keep looking and post if if I find it.

 

[photobob]

I drive so it doesn't affect me. I agree with those don't think will happen. Disney has been going to great lengths to keep us on property the last few years, tying in the DDP with MYW tickets being a prime example. The know we only have so much $$ to spend on our vacation and if they keep us on property that is where all of it will go. Pretty savvy business folks..

 

[corpcomp]

same rumour kicked around the end of last year too

i could care less, tried it once & just too much of a type A person to sit thru multiple stops & offloading of luggage that was drug along for the ride

the best way to get peeps hooked on something is to give it away "free", to encourage the habit, then start charging for it once it becomes ingrained.

I've been hearing it for 2+ years now - old news -

 

[Laxmom]

I may be in the minority, but I think this rumor is false. The whole reason for ME is to keep people from renting cars so that they stay on property for their entire visit. Since it has been implemented, per visitor spending has increased dramatically. charging $25.00 per person for this service will just drive people to rent a car (a family of 5 for instance would pay $125.00) for a little more than that you can get a rental car for a week. And the whole "keep them on property" advantage goes out the window.

I don't think it will happen, and if it does, it will not be $25.00 per person.

JMHO.

By the way, where are these rumors circulating?

I am going to agree. That would be a bad business move. As of now, people using ME are spending more time and money on property. For some resort guests, having to rent a car because of the cost of ME could mean the difference between staying on property or not. It would at the very least cut into their disposable cash that they normally would spend in the shops and restaurants.

We just used ME last week for the first time and loved it. No schleping bags around! Yeah baby!

 

[simzac]

I am another one who thinks that ME will continue to be free. I believe the rumor mill comes from the town car owners. JMO

 

[PIERCEDRN]

I won't use ME again if they PAY ME! I waited 30 min to get into the beach club line... to wait 45 min. Then I was trapped on Disney buses and the neverending wait times in and out of the bus. All I could think of is that it would cost $20 a day to rent a car and be done with this hassle. Going in Oct. and will rent a car. I hope that if they charge a fee, it will hold someone accountable for this sloppy, very "undisneylike" service.
BOB

 

[deedeetoo]

I agree this would be a bad business move. People would rent cars and take their money off Disney property.

This summer we rented a car for the first time in years because we were traveling around a bit. We realized how much we missed the freedom. We've been debating whether to rent a car next year - we don't really need it since we plan to be on WDW property the whole time. But, if they start charging, even a little, that will be enough to tip the scales. And if we have a car I know we will do a grocery stop for breakfast and snack items and eat some dinners offsite which will take food dollars out of Disney's pocket.

 

[kimberh]

We drive, but I think ME as it is now, is a smart business move on Disney's part. People not going to Universal, Seaworld on top of the restaurants and shopping. With rental cars the Orlando area is open to them. I know we have some trips where we combine other parks with Disney.

 

[DaveH]

If I remember right the cost for Mears before ME was $30 round trip for an adult. That makes $25 not too bad. That said we would consider using a town car again depending on the charge for ME. The old way everyone had to get their own luggage. So if the luggage movement stays with a charge can still make it a good deal for many. Every time we used a town car the driver has always helped us with our luggage. We would pull it off the carousel and they would move them to the car for us. The one good thing with a town car was a grocery stop. I did not hear about how long free before. I was expecting them to charge long before now. Time will tell.

 

[brack]

I like ME and have never had a problem with the wait or service. I would pay for it if necessary.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

I spoke with MS yesterday for a reservation for someone and the guy on the phone told me that they had just gotten word that ME was going to be free next year. he said that they thought they might start charging next year for it but they had just gotten word that it would indeed be free.
I am not sure if thats for everyone or just ones staying DVC.

 

[JenSop]

luvindisneyworld
I spoke with MS yesterday for a reservation for someone and the guy on the phone told me that they had just gotten word that ME was going to be free next year. he said that they thought they might start charging next year for it but they had just gotten word that it would indeed be free.
I am not sure if thats for everyone or just ones staying DVC.

That's good news! Especially since we're going in June! I like ME - no complaints here!

 

[tjkraz]

I am another one who thinks that ME will continue to be free. I believe the rumor mill comes from the town car owners. JMO

So who would rank lower on the rumor mill accuracy ladder: Town car drivers or Disney bus drivers?

 

[donmil723]

Although we have had good experiences using ME, if they start charging for it, we will probably go back to renting a car. With free ME and no waiting at baggage claim, we'll continue to use ME and spend all of our vacation at WDW. If they begin charging for ME, then we'll rent a car and have the freedom to go offsite for more meals and shopping.

Donna

 

[Mtnman44]

The cost of ME is built in to the Disney Resorts' relatively high room rates. IF they started charging for ME, I'm not sure the market would also support the high hotel costs; they'd probably have to lower room rates to compete with the surrounding equivilants. So, you do pay for ME of course, the only question is what model Disney would choose to continue with. There are a lot of indirect benefits that come with ME that have already been mentioned such as capturing more of guest's time and shopping so I think they will keep ME going as it is. Additional costs for fuel and such will found in room rate increases.

 

[murphyjh]

Disney has to consider the fact that many ME users will switch to rental cars, overloading many resort lots. Is Disney also going to start charging for parking? This is the way to encourage people from going off-property: make personal and rental cars more expensive.

With free ME and free parking, the only group not getting something free is the towncar crowd.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So who would rank lower on the rumor mill accuracy ladder: Town car drivers or Disney bus drivers?

Disney bus drivers who moonlight as towncar drivers.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We've had good ME experiences and will use it about 50% of the time, but our flying guests have always used it. I think it will stay free.

We rent a car for church on Sunday, and a one day rental isn't a bad price, and that car does enable us to get some bottled water off site.


Bobbi

 

[wrighter]

Count us in the group who would find alternate transportation if Disney started charging for ME. We have used it the past two years, and find it to be useful because we don't have to shlep car seats through multiple airports. We do not, however, use ME for our luggage handling - we do that ourselves. (The first year we went we landed at 1:00 and didn't get any of our bags until after 8:00 p.m.! With VERY young kids at the time, that just didn't fly with me. So last year we got our luggage ourselves. That way when we got to our room we could unpack and get settled.)

We have been lucky so far (knock wood!) and haven't had the enormous waits that others have encountered. I will hope that it holds out for one more year.

 

[Laneychris]

We would also start renting a car, it would not be worth it.