Magical Express to stay free!!!

[shellybaxter]

I haven't seen this reported on these boards. During the press conference Thursday Disney announced the ME would remain complementary even after the Happiest Celebration is over. Here is the report from allearsnet.com. Scroll about half way down

Shelly

http://www.allearsnet.com/news/hnews.htm#0407

 

[CleveRocks]

GREAT NEWS!

 

[DebbieB]

Where did it specifically say "free"? It said the service will continue but it didn't say "free". They could begin charging for it. This agreement applies to the charges they have to pay the airport and permission to do it. It may remain free, but this article did not specify that.

The Orlando Sentinel reports today that the Orlando International airport and Walt Disney World agreed to terms keeping the Disney shuttle running into 2011. With the new agreement, the Magical Express booth will move from Terminal A to Terminal B. Disney's greets will also be allowed back on the 2nd level of the terminal to assist passengers.

For the full story visit:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...7101079.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-orange

 

[dcgrumpy]

Where did it specifically say "free"? It said the service will continue but it didn't say "free". They could begin charging for it. This agreement applies to the charges they have to pay the airport and permission to do it. It may remain free, but this article did not specify that.

in the allearsnet link in the OP it says free

 

[paladin]

This is from allears

"Launched as part of the "Happiest Celebration on Earth," which will conclude later this year, Disney's Magical Express will remain operating as a complimentary service, Disney announced today. The company recently reached an agreement with OIA to continue the program."

 

[DebbieB]

Sorry, I was reading the part lower on the page.

 

[ameraumi]

Even with a nominal fee it is well worth it!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Yes, Magical Express will remain comlimentary. Here's the last paragraph from Disney's press release on Friday, April 7, New Walt Disney World Attraction Unleashes an Avalanche of Adventure and Surprises:

Officials also announced that Disney's Magical Express, which offers airport shuttle and luggage delivery between Orlando International Airport and select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, will continue beyond 2006 and remain complimentary. To take advantage of the popular service, guests affix special tags to their luggage before leaving home, then skip a trip to baggage claim and board modern motor coaches for the Vacation Kingdom, and have their luggage delivered directly to their guest rooms.​

By the way, there other interesting things in the press release, including confirmation of two new Finding Nemo attractions.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I am very surprised that it's going to remain free. I wasn't expecting that at all. I bet the towncar companies did not want to hear this!

 

[TLinden16]

I'm surprised that it's going to remain free, too. I thought for sure they would charge for it.

 

[shellybaxter]

I think they will and already do charge for, they build it into the room charge just like everything else that is "complementary" (soap, shampoo, coffee, park transportation). Why would a company like Disney risk charging for something that doesn't currently cost guests anything when they have other ways of recouping the money? I've always thought it would remain free, at least for now.

 

[CleveRocks]

I think they will and already do charge for, they build it into the room charge just like everything else that is "complementary" (soap, shampoo, coffee, park transportation). Why would a company like Disney risk charging for something that doesn't currently cost guests anything when they have other ways of recouping the money? I've always thought it would remain free, at least for now.

I totally agree with you in theory, but at least at the very beginning it was truly free. I'm sure of this based upon my experiences.

I vacationed at WDW May 8 - 14, 2005. DME started on May 5. I booked the vacation in October of 2004, before DME was announced to the public. We initially weren't sure of our exact travel dates, so I got price quotes for the above dates as well as about 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after. All 3 quotes were for the identical price. Note that 2 weeks before our eventual actual travel dates would have placed us in the pre-DME era.

In about February of 2005 or so, months after we booked our package, I began sniffing around for price quotes again -- if prices went down I'd try to capture the savings, and if prices went up I'd feel very full of myself for getting a bargain when I did . At that time, the price quotes for all three dates were IDENTICAL, to the penny (the cost of park tickets went up on 1/2/06, but I hear that happens every year, anyway). By that time, DME had already been announced.

So at least back then, DME was truly free. Disney did not raise their resort
room prices immediately after DME was announced, and the prices were idetical whether or not the travel occurred before or after DME started.

 

[Firebug]

Nothing is free. Especially something as expensive has DME is to provide. Think about it, The castmembers need to be paid either as Disney employees or through a contract like the luggage transfer people are paid. Buses have to be purchased and maintained. Fuel has to be bought and certainly is not cheap. The money comes from somewhere either in increase ticket prices or room rates in the future you can be sure you are paying for that service rather you use it or not.

FB

 

[shellybaxter]

So at least back then, DME was truly free. Disney did not raise their resort
room prices immediately after DME was announced, and the prices were idetical whether or not the travel occurred before or after DME started.

Yes, but what if Disney already planned the Magical Express costs into their 2005 rates and the increases in MYW tickets even though ME wouldn't begin until May. The costs could also have been figured into the increased profit Disney expected from keeping guests onsite and from increased attendence during the happiest celebration. It may not have cost the consumer any more from April to May, but it did cost more than December 2004

 

[DrTomorrow]

Nothing is free. Especially something as expensive has DME is to provide. Think about it, The castmembers need to be paid either as Disney employees or through a contract like the luggage transfer people are paid. Buses have to be purchased and maintained. Fuel has to be bought and certainly is not cheap. The money comes from somewhere either in increase ticket prices or room rates in the future you can be sure you are paying for that service rather you use it or not.

FB

I respectfully disagree. It is more likely that the increased guest expenditures of guests kept on-site (ME = no rental car = no going off-site for meals/food, no going to non-Disney parks, etc.) more than pays for the cost of ME. If each guest on a ME bus pays for only one additional (overpriced, IMHO) on-site Disney meal, that would cover the costs of ME.

IMHO - YMMV

 

[Lewisc]

DME guests don't get a grocery stop from a towncar company. DME guests who don't rent a car won't be spending time shopping and eating offsite. Some guests may rent a car for a day or so but many (most?) won't bother. DME guests without a rental car won't be contributing to full parking lots and traffic jams. Luggage delivery and resort checkin for your return flight probably reduces some of the pressure for early rooms and late checkouts.

Disney wouldn't be offering DME if it didn't benefit Disney.

Part of me wishes they'd charge for resort luggage checkin, I think that would allow them to add other airlines like SW.

Nothing is free. Especially something as expensive has DME is to provide. Think about it, The castmembers need to be paid either as Disney employees or through a contract like the luggage transfer people are paid. Buses have to be purchased and maintained. Fuel has to be bought and certainly is not cheap. The money comes from somewhere either in increase ticket prices or room rates in the future you can be sure you are paying for that service rather you use it or not.

FB

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Disney isn't offering DME on a complimentary basis during the Happiest Celebration on Earth just to be nice. DME is an example of the old adage, "you've got to spand money to make money."

The business reasons for Disney's Magical Express are to increase the perceived value of Disney-operated on-site lodging (to increase occupancy and to decrease the need for big discounts) and to discourage guests from having rental cars (which make it easy for guests to spend money off-site). Those business reasons will be just as valid in 2007 and beyond as they are in 2005 and 2006.

Let's suppose Disney had decided to start charging a fee for DME in 2007 and beyond. It would discourage guests from using DME. The operating costs for DME would not go down appreciably, but the motorcoaches would have more empty seats, on-site lodging yields would be likely to go down, and more guests would be spending money on off-site dining, shopping, and attractions.

 

[Lewisc]

Let's suppose Disney had decided to start charging a fee for DME in 2007 and beyond. It would discourage guests from using DME. The operating costs for DME would not go down appreciably, but the motorcoaches would have more empty seats, on-site lodging yields would be likely to go down, and more guests would be spending money on off-site dining, shopping, and attractions.

Disney's cost would go down, they pay Mears per passenger, but lower passenger utilization would probably lead to longer waits for buses to be dispatched and more stops before we get to our resort.