Magical Express-Think about it!!

[bytheblood]

If you have been reading along, it was "localdriver" that placed those websites on the forum. I only mentioned one of THEM. Your desire to quell a different view than your own has blinded this fact. If I am removed, it speaks to me that this site is totally bias. I believe that differing opinions create an amicable discussion. But some people take it too personal.

If your link is removed, it will be removed because you are advertising, not a bias opinion.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I believe that differing opinions create an amicable discussion.

I don't think anyone is saying there should not be any differing opinions.

For example, one person could have an opinion that ME is wonderful because of the luggage handling service (once all the bugs have been worked out) and because ME saves guests the $100 they might otherwise spend on a towncar or the $200 they might otherwise spend on a rental car. Another person could have an opinion that $100 roundtrip is a small price to pay for the luxury and convenience of a private towncar. And someone else could have an opinion that having the flexibility and freedom of a rental car (with the ability to go to off-site attractions, restaurants, and shops) is the best choice. Those are examples of opinions.

But, in this thread, the issue is the credibility of information that is presented as factual, but is posted by a first-time DIS poster who appears to have an agenda. That has nothing to do with differing opinions. Should we believe that "there were more than 500 people at 2:30pm waiting for one bus to show up," or should we consider this to be a distortion of the truth?

I have no doubt that we'll get plenty of first-person accounts of Magical Express experiences during the next few weeks -- many from trusted, long-time DIS participants who don't have an agenda.

In fact, there's a first-person account today by the DIS DVC Board's WebmasterDoc, "Magical Express" - Day 1 (Long). It's generally a positive review, but it appears there really were some serious problems at mid-day.

 

[ztbz]

You know it could be argued that Magical Express is not new, after all, its Mears Airport Transportation with a fancy new name, Mears for years has had Bus Service to Walt Disney World, but guest use to have to pay for this service. Maybe what’s new about it, is other than the name change, is that guest don’t have to Pay for the service, however knowing Disney after about a year or two Disney may charge for this service, in order to pay Mears Transportation, so if that’s the case would you pay to use this service or use a Town car Service, Rent a Car, or take a Taxi?

One other than about Magical Express is that when you leave your bags at the Departing Airport, you will not see them again until they get to your hotel room, yes this can be good, but it also can be bad in the event that your Luggage gets lost, who would you blame, Disney, the airline, Mears?

 

[CarolA]

If you have been reading along, it was "localdriver" that placed those websites on the forum. I only mentioned one of THEM. Your desire to quell a different view than your own has blinded this fact. If I am removed, it speaks to me that this site is totally bias. I believe that differing opinions create an amicable discussion. But some people take it too personal.

The only person who seems to taking this personally is you. The rest of us seem to be viewing you as a troll and you seem upset by that. I don't let posters get me that upset, but it sounds as if this is a personal issue to you.


Besides what are you doing on here today? According to post 1, you were to be continuing your new hobby of hanging around the airport watching "Tragical Express"? Where's todays great report? Come on now, we don't want to interfere with your retirement hobby. Get out there and watch!

 

[Amberle3]

If I am removed, it speaks to me that this site is totally bias. I believe that differing opinions create an amicable discussion. But some people take it too personal.

If this site is biased, then I believe they have an absolute right to be. This site is run by a travel agency - they're a business. This is their property, we're here as their guests. They can remove any posts or links they want to.

 

[CleveRocks]

You know it could be argued that Magical Express is not new, after all, its Mears Airport Transportation with a fancy new name,

I'd agree with you, except that you're wrong.

Mears is one of several DME subcontractors. They're driving the buses, period. I quote the following from

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/mexpress.htm:

"In addition to partners at Orlando International Airport, Walt Disney World developed this innovative service in conjunction with private and public sector leaders including: the Mears Transportation Group, the largest provider of ground transportation to the Walt Disney World Resort; BAGS Inc., the provider and innovator in off-airport passenger check-in services for the hotel, convention, cruise and airline industries; ARINC Incorporated, a leading global provider of technology systems for airports and airlines; the Transportation Security Administration; and airline partners including: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Song, United Airlines and Ted. Walt Disney World hopes to add other air carriers to the resort airline check-in service in the near future."

So, as we see, Mears is not involved with any of the DME logistics (dispatch, planning, luggage). That in and of itself makes a big difference to me. Another big difference is the way it's structured. With the regular Mears service, walk-ups are accomodated, meaning that it is worthwhile to Mears to have a bus sit and wait for walk-up passengers. If a regular Mears bus leaves "too early" and they miss a few fares, those people who were left may decide to take a cab or some other mode of transportation rather than wait for the next Mears bus; those people left at the terminal represent lost money for Mears. Thus, Mears has a financial incentive to wait around the airport as long as possible (without the natives getting too restless), thereby delaying everyone else. Since DME requires 10-day advance reservations, there are no walk-ups to wait for, and Disney has no financial incentive to have the buses wait around for stragglers, so it would reason that the service should be quicker than regular Mears because there should be less wait time.

-- Eric

 

[manning]

Hmmm, I'm amazed thebanker took the time to count the people. Must have time on his hands.

 

[theBanker]

Hmmm, I'm amazed thebanker took the time to count the people. Must have time on his hands.

Bankers don't like to see long lines!! I retired in 1992 from Banking, and believe me, I saw lines especially on the 3rd of every month, to cash Social Security Checks.

 

[CarolA]

I am still asking??? Where's todays report? Come on now this is your new hobby, get watching.

(And just to make you feel better, even the US Goverment does direct depoist now)

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

This is pretty amusing.

I didn't expect ME to run 100% perfect on the first day, but the reports from ACTUAL USERS don't seem that bad.

I'm not going until October. They have over 160 days to figure out what they are doing before I get there. We are arriving at 10:00 PM on a Friday. If there ARE problems I will STILL be at the park when it opens on Saturday even if I have to WALK to my resort, with or without my luggage.

And when I get there I will have the $100 I saved on a Town Car to get a foot massage.

 

[minmate]

And when I get there I will have the $100 I saved on a Town Car to get a foot massage.

$100 will only get you ONE foot massage though? Wow!!!

 

[bytheblood]

Bankers don't like to see long lines!! I retired in 1992 from Banking, and believe me, I saw lines especially on the 3rd of every month, to cash Social Security Checks.

I don't believe for a moment that you were a banker because you proved in your first few posts that you cannot do math. Can't see any reputable financial institution keeping someone like that around.

You should quit while you are ahead. It gets harder and harder to make up stories to cover your "false" stories from earlier.

 

[bytheblood]

I didn't expect ME to run 100% perfect on the first day, but the reports from ACTUAL USERS don't seem that bad.

You are right. Others have had wonderful things to say about it.

Both the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Rep. John Mica, who chairs the House Aviation Subcommittee, support the concept of securing bags away from airports and having TSA-approved control of the bags to and from airports.

In the Disney program, called Magical Express, Disney resort guests take their bags to their hometown airport as usual for the flight to Orlando. Disney then picks up the bags at Orlando International Airport and hauls them directly to the guest's hotel room.

"It was fantastic. The luggage was in our room when we checked in and walked into our room," Sarah McKennedy said this week, while visiting Walt Disney World with her husband, Heath, and their two children.

"It's unbelievable customer service," Heath McKennedy said.

Seems Mr. banker is afraid losing business or he is just plain bored. Or perhaps a kid.

You know, most people will not do business with a company that dogs or trashes the competition. Even if I have a bad experience with DME in June and I make the choice to do something different next time, I would not choose a company that uses insults against DME as my transportation.

 

[pugdog]

What the banker forgot to say was that he did work for a bank, he just pushed a broom around that's all.

 

[misandrog]

I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and unfortunately I think some of the posters here are being a little rude. If this is how thebanker wants to be, I say let him be...I will have my own experience in 7 days, and I will be my own judge of how DME is working then.

Nothing on this thread has discouraged me to not use DME.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and unfortunately I think some of the posters here are being a little rude.

I agree that it's rude to attack someone, and I agree that people are entitled to their opinions.

However, I respectfully disagree that theBanker was expressing an opinion. When theBanker posted that "there were more than 500 people at 2:30pm waiting for one bus to show up," theBanker was not offering an opinion. Instead, the Banker was stating the "fact" that he had personally observed 500 people waiting for a single bus.

Many people seem quick to believe anything they read on the Internet. But it's a good idea to consider whether the source is reliable and whether the story "adds up."

 

[bytheblood]

I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and unfortunately I think some of the posters here are being a little rude. If this is how thebanker wants to be, I say let him be...I will have my own experience in 7 days, and I will be my own judge of how DME is working then.

Nothing on this thread has discouraged me to not use DME.

I do agree that everybody has and are entitled to their own opinions, however thebanker was not giving his/her opinion. He/She was providing what he/she said was factual, but his/her "facts" do not add up. Nobody is being rude to thebanker....just calling a spade a spade.

 

[quicksilver]

Hello Everyone,

Before anyone says I'm a "troll", an unhappy Towncar company, or anything of that kind, I'll just tell it like it is.
I'm the owner of a Towncar service, not a troll or lurker, I'm unhappy with the ME free shuttle (for 1 1/2 years!!!) for obvious reasons, read most Discussion Forums (some that I sponsor), will give credit where credit is due, but until now have not heard many positive reviews.

Here are a couple from the Passporter boards:

www.passporterboards.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=826883&an=0&page=0&gonew=1#UNREAD

www.passporterboards.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=826578&an=0&page=0&gonew=1#UNREAD

If you search other Discussion Forums you will see the majority are complaining, or at least stating the fact that ME needs a lot to work the way it is supposed to.

Everyone defending ME is saying that it has just started and it might get better. Give me a break! A big company like WDW willing to bankrupt anyone in their way, with the money and power they have, that planned ME for the last year or so, made tests for the last month with the luxury resorts, are giving bad excuses for their lack of organization. I understand a big system like ME can not work perfectly at all times, but when you open a new business you must have it working properly the very first day (actually the most important day!). Would you go back to a restaurant that just opened but the food was so so, and just say, poor people, they just oppened it? Would you go back?

I love Disney too, and what it really stands for (the magic, the fun with family and friends, and so forth), I have said that before in this forum, but will not, never, sit down and let it put me down like it has, and say nothing when they mess up. Bad business on my part you might say; I could be saying all the good things about towncar services instead of badmouthing ME. Yes I could, like I've being doing for years now, but not today!

Am I being quick to judge. You bet I am.
Will I work harder to keep my customers ever so happy they will not even consider using a shutlle service (even for free); yes, I definetely will too.

It is said that Disney did not promise luggage to be in the room upon arrival, but this is from their website:

"Q. What is the best way to get to Walt Disney World® from the Orlando International Airport?
A. Your best option is to use Disney's Magical Express Service* or an airport shuttle or car rental.
With Disney's Magical Express Service, scheduled to begin in May 5, 2005, your vacation starts the moment you land at Orlando International Airport:
Don't bother picking up your luggage when you arrive; Disney takes you from the airport to check-in, while your bags go straight from the plane to your room. Save on transportation costs, tolls, parking, and more - the service is complimentary.
Enjoy comfortable transportation to and from the airport in deluxe air-conditioned motor coaches.
When your vacation's over, you and your bags are whisked back from your Disney Resort to the airport. "

Friends from a family we brought to disney yesterday arrived at 8:15pm in Orlando and only received their luggage at 1:30am (that is 5:15 minutes without your luggage). I don't know about you, but to me this is unacceptable. no matter if it is the first (actually second) day.

Let's all hope, for the sake of many, that it gets better. But for those who could afford a Towncar service before or rented a car, do not care much to be in a bus with other people, and like to have their luggage with them at all times, I urge you to continue to use a towncar service or a rental car company.

Regards,

Gregory Nicolas.

 

[sanibelover]

Unfortunately the review on Mousavers isn't too favorable...



http://www.mousesavers.com/magicalexpress.html#update

 

[quicksilver]

I agree that it's rude to attack someone, and I agree that people are entitled to their opinions.

However, I respectfully disagree that theBanker was expressing an opinion. When theBanker posted that "there were more than 500 people at 2:30pm waiting for one bus to show up," theBanker was not offering an opinion. Instead, the Banker was stating the "fact" that he had personally observed 500 people waiting for a single bus.

Many people seem quick to believe anything they read on the Internet. But it's a good idea to consider whether the source is reliable and whether the story "adds up."

All my drivers that worked for the last 3 days said the lines, at certain periods of the day, were huge. Some people were waiting 45 minutes to get to the counter, then another 30 to 45 minutes to board the bus. Traffic at the ground transportation level was a mad house because of the dozen buses pulling up, but with hundreds of people coming down at the same time, they definetely needed some more. Just yesterday is said that 6.000 people were transfered. (50 per bus = 120 pick-ups in a day...WOW!).
The joke amongst them (the drivers) was that it reminded them of the lines in the high season for the popular disney attractions in the WDW theme parks (strangely enough Splash Mountain came to the mind of a couple).
That's a fact, believe you may...

My best regards,

Gregory Nicolas.