Magical Express-Think about it!!

[q21701]

I am checking into POR on the 17 and I havn't recieved my luggage tags yet. I'll post with more details as I have them. BTW where is thebanker today with his ME traffic report?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

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.

As customer of Quicksilver Tours, I can vouch that Gregory Nicolas runs an excellent towncar service. Gregory's emphasis is on high quality customer service.

If I were in Gregory's shoes, I'd be upset with Magical Express too.

However, I think Gregory will continue to get plenty of business from WDW guests who value privacy, personal service, a grocery stop, and the feeling of luxury that Gregory's service provides. Just as many WDW guests choose to pay a premum to stay at the higher-end Disney resorts, many guests will see value in paying for a high quality towncar service.

Even when all the start-up bugs are worked out of ME, the complimentary ME service will never be as good as Quicksilver Tours or the other high quality towncar services (which, I assume, would include this site's sponsor FL Tours, although I have no personal experience with them).

Everyone defending ME is saying that it has just started and it might get better. Give me a break!

Well, I'm certain ME will get better. I have to believe that Disney will get their act together and mail the packets 21 days before travel, as promised. And I have to believe Disney will adjust staffing levels as needed, and that every employee providing the ME service -- Disney CMs and employees of contractors -- will gain experience that leads to better service.

I don't expect my luggage already to be in my room when I check in. Nothing I've read from Disney, including the text that Gregory quoted, would lead me to think that the luggage would beat me to my room, only that I won't have to bother with my luggage when I arrive at the airport. In fact, what I've read would lead me to believe I might already be on the motor coach while the aircraft is still being unloaded (and other passengers on my flight are still waiting at the baggage claim).

Obviously, 4-6 hours is way too long to wait for luggage. That will be fixed. (When the bugs are worked out, the only time guests will need to wait that long would be if the airline misrouted the luggage, in which case it would not be at the baggage claim for the towncar driver either.) I won't be surprised if I have to wait an hour or so -- but that won't be a problem because I don't have to be in the room (the ME service includes inbound bell services gratuities). Even when I've used a towncar service, I've run into a situation where bell services was backed up. (It was at OKW, and my wife and I ended up dragging our bags onto a bus to our condo.)

Gregory Nicolas -- I urge you to continue to concentrate on excellent service and the many advantages that your towncar service offers to guests. You won't get the guests for whom the lowest price is the primary consideration; before ME, most of them were probably booking cheap rental cars, or riding on the old Mears service, or using the cheapest towncar service they could find.

As for myself, I plan to try Magical Express for a short trip in summer (for which I was originally planning to rent a car); I plan to use Quicksilver Tours' towncar service for a cruise later in the year; and I'm still undecided about whether to use Quicksilver or ME for a week at the F&W Festival.

 

[goofy4tink]

Extremely well said HoraceHorsecollar!!! I totally agree. And while I haven't used Gregory's service myself, I have read of many who have and been very happy with his towncars. So, for you Gregory, a job well done and I can only hope that those of you out there, providing good service will continue to do so. There is room for all and those that have been providing just mediocre service will either have to step up to the plate and improve their service or go out of business, leaving those that do the job well to continue serving us.

 

[localdriver]

Extremely well said HoraceHorsecollar and Gregory as well!

It is fine to point out issues. But to redicule, and put blame on one party is OBVIOUS what the deal is. This banker dude's agenda isn't to help anyone, just a Mears bashing session.

All companies should promote their strengths and features.. People will choose, based on there needs, budget, and reputation of the those who provide the services they require and want.

Those who resort to bashing, rather than promoting their strengths and why they are a better choice will lose every time.

 

[manning]

I know someone in business and does quite well. His prices are not the cheapest (some competitors are considerably cheaper), but he has a successful business in spite of them.

He says it is not always a good idea to be the cheapest. If you provide quality with fair pricing and integrity, you will have more business than you know what to do with.

 

[quicksilver]

Gregory Nicolas -You won't get the guests for whom the lowest price is the primary consideration; before ME, most of them were probably booking cheap rental cars, or riding on the old Mears service, or using the cheapest towncar service they could find.

Hi Horace Horsecollar,

See if you agree with me...

Many Towncar service's customers just did the math:

a family of 4 (2ad + 2Ch under 11 years old - average family structure coming to WDW) would pay 2 x $29.00 + 2 x $24.00 = $106.00 to ride in the Mears shuttle. Not sure if the $24.00 figure is correct but just about...
Most reliable towncar companies are selling their round trips to WDW for about $100.00 (with free groceries and etc.) with a luxury sedan.
Who would you go with? Easy answer isn't it.

But now, against FREE, who can compete? For sure not many. Sure we will still maintain our high end clients, the ones who will not board a bus even if they pay them the same $100.00, but unfortunately for us, that is only about 50% of our business, the other 50% where the ones doing the math above...

Bottom line is, we all will lose at least 50% of our customers. How we will compensate the loss will be to each company to decide, but it will not be an easy task. BTW, got to go back to work...

Gregory.

 

[All Aboard]

~post deleted~

 

[bavaria]

It will also be interesting to see what happens to rental car rates, already pretty much the lowest in the country, at MCO.

I doubt that I will ever use ME - I always rent a car because I like my freedom, and definitely want my luggage with me, even if my room is not ready.

However, if there are people who rent right now because it may be equal to the cost of taking a towncar (or Mears, pre ME) for their family, those people may end up on ME, resulting in fewer possible renters. (if that makes sense)

ME will certainly have an impact on the transporation industry in MCO, and I suppose that we can only stay tuned to see the ultimate outcome. I suspect that it will take several months for an 'average usage' of ME to result.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Hi Horace Horsecollar,

See if you agree with me...

Gregory --

Yes, I agree with you. It is difficult to compete with "free." In my previous comments about your post, I did not mean to play down the very real business challenges that Quicksilver Tours and the other towncar companies face from Magical Express.

There's no way to stop Disney from providing Magical Express. So the issue becomes how to deal with the new reality in MCO-to-WDW transportation.

I don't think it's productive to point to start-up problems with Magical Express, and to suggest that the service will never get better.

You had the right idea when you wrote, "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."

 

[CarolA]

I do have one recurring question regarding QuickSilver. Why are they allowed to post here as a vendor competing with the sponors when other vendors aren't?????? I think that the vendors pay for exclusivity and if I was Fl Tours I would be PO'd and start thinking about taking my money elsewhere.

 

[bytheblood]

Quicksilver,

I do think you have some good points and of course you are bias (which is understandable), but as an owner of a company, are you stating that from day one of your business, everything was perfect....running just the same as it is today?

Edited to add: I do wish you the best in your business and I do hope that ME will not put you, Murray Hills or FL Tours in a bind as you are all great companies with awesome customer service.

 

[Amberle3]

I think they're allowed to post because they're not doing outright advertising. He's not saying "visit my site and book with us". He's saying that, in this case, as an example of a towncar service he'll be making sure that his clients are too happy to even consider using ME".

I think he falls in the same category as the Anaheim Howard Johnson manager, who appears occasionally on the Disneyland forum and answers a question or two about the hotel. I also think he falls in the same category as the numerous travel agents (including myself) who use these forums and will reply to posts providing personal experience on what travel agents do for clients. We're not soliciting clients, and in fact that I think that DU does a fabulous job for their clients. We're just providing our input as people in the industry. That's all I see that Quicksiler is doing.

 

[quicksilver]

I do have one recurring question regarding QuickSilver. Why are they allowed to post here as a vendor competing with the sponors when other vendors aren't?????? I think that the vendors pay for exclusivity and if I was Fl Tours I would be PO'd and start thinking about taking my money elsewhere.

Hello CarolA,

Simple, I'm not advertising, on the contrary, I'm pretty much helping every transportation company in Orlando. I'm just pointing out my opinion as a member of this board as I'm allowed to.
FL Tours owner is a dear friend of mine and our "competition" has been for long a very healthy one. I never posted my phone, website address or promoted my company in any shape or form, never used false names as many other transportation companies clearly use to promote their business, I just wrote what's on my mind the same way I would in any other forum. I do believe FL Tours (one of the best companies around, no doubt) will quite well understand my intentions.

Regards,

Gregory Nicolas.

 

[Lewisc]

I normally rent a car. I figure it's only a few dollars more than a towncar and I have a lot more flexibility. Disney's new passes basically gives the guests and extra 2 days for almost free.

Combine both and guests are a lot less likely to go to offsite attractions like SW and are a lot less likely to go to offsite restaurants and stores like the outlet malls. Smart business move by Disney but it has to hurt the towncar companies and local Orlando attractions.

I understand there are some problems but I have to think Disney and Mears is going to be able to schedule buses to get guests out of the airport with very little waiting.

Hi Horace Horsecollar,

See if you agree with me...

Many Towncar service's customers just did the math:

a family of 4 (2ad + 2Ch under 11 years old - average family structure coming to WDW) would pay 2 x $29.00 + 2 x $24.00 = $106.00 to ride in the Mears shuttle. Not sure if the $24.00 figure is correct but just about...
Most reliable towncar companies are selling their round trips to WDW for about $100.00 (with free groceries and etc.) with a luxury sedan.
Who would you go with? Easy answer isn't it.

But now, against FREE, who can compete? For sure not many. Sure we will still maintain our high end clients, the ones who will not board a bus even if they pay them the same $100.00, but unfortunately for us, that is only about 50% of our business, the other 50% where the ones doing the math above...

Bottom line is, we all will lose at least 50% of our customers. How we will compensate the loss will be to each company to decide, but it will not be an easy task. BTW, got to go back to work...

Gregory.

 

[quicksilver]

Quicksilver,

I do think you have some good points and of course you are bias (which is understandable), but as an owner of a company, are you stating that from day one of your business, everything was perfect....running just the same as it is today?

Edited to add: I do wish you the best in your business and I do hope that ME will not put you, Murray Hills or FL Tours in a bind as you are all great companies with awesome customer service.

Thanks a lot for the wishes, we will all need all the strenght and support we can get to get over this. But I'm sure all the transportation companies you mentioned will still be around in 1 1/2 years... But in the other hand, even with lots of hard work, many will not be so lucky...

I couldn't possibly compare my company with ME, but yes, when I started I had everything working since day one. We made improvements in the long run, but we did everything we promised our clients. Of course we were very small and the problems involved were very easy to solve, but again, we did not start with 6000 clients from one day to another... (just defending ME a little bit.. )

I'm not saying ME should be working perfectly since day one, but the problems are too many for a company that invested so much into a new project where WDW's reputation was at risk. When you have that kind of money, work on a project and all the logistics involved for a year or so, practice for a month to see all the problem that may occur, and still are having so many unhappy customers for 3 whole days.
Come on folks, we are talking about over 10,000 people. There is a lot of first time visitors among those wasting their precious time with what some are calling "glitches". It's easy for us to discuss the facts from our computers and forget about the people that did not have their clothes for their first dinner at the California Grill, or the one that wanted to go swimming with his/her daughter but their swimming gear only came at night, and so on... If it was my trust I had put into ME and they ruined my first (let's say out of 4-5) day I would want my money back for what a day is worth!

The thing is, it's free and many will just say, well, it could be better, but free is free, right!
Until ME is working as it should their reputation is not so good, and since I'm definetely biased ( ) why not put some spice into this discussion...
Coke and Pepsi have been fighting for a long long time now, let me pick mine.

Gregory Nicolas.

 

[BuckNaked]

The thought of using DME sickens me and my DH!

It sickens you? Why in the world would it sicken you?

By all means, if you aren't interested in ME, then don't use it. But I'm curious as to why the very thought would sicken you.

 

[BuckNaked]

You don't "get it" do you?

I get that you prefer a town car service - good for you and have at it. What I don't get, and what you still haven't explained at all is why you are sickened by the very thought of using ME. I prefer flying to driving, but I certainly am not sickened by the thought of driving.

And with Gregory here posting the facts about DME......now do you understand?

No, I still don't understand why you are sickened by the thought of using ME.

 

[lilhopper]

Ok answer if you can with one word Rental car, towncar, or Magical Express.

 

[All Aboard]

lilhopper,

I drive 75% of the time and fly 25% of the time (and we go a lot.) So, most often I have a car. But, when I don't:

1) towncar - in most cases
2) rental car - only if I am planning to head over to Universal during the trip.
3) ME, but doubt I'll use it. Doesn't "sicken" me, though.

 

[cocowum]

We usually rent a car but since our next trip is unplanned, to keep the budget down we will use ME. I'll just make sure I throw DD's swimsuit in my carry on. And no it does sicken me one bit