Magical Express Too Slow?

[MaryKatesMom]

We always rent a car through National, not specifically to avoid DME, but because we love being able to avoid a bus to the waterparks. Try a 2 hr trip from GF to TL or a 50 minute wait at the Dolphin with no bus at all and that is all you need.

For oursleves it is a matter of control. We feel better playing with the radio and sunroof waiting in line to exit the parking garage at MCO than waiting on a bus. We can stop at CVS for snacks, a bottle of wine and suntan lotion. We like picking up whatever car we fancy from the Executive aisle.

If you keep watching Mousesavers, the Transportation board or flyertalk you may find a great rate you can live with. But that too takes time but time spent at my computer on a 40 degree rainy March day isn't the same as wasting time on a sunny 80 degree vacation day in FL.

There is always a chance it can take 2 or more hours which is what some people have experienced and that would make me nervous.

 

[CleveRocks]

DME is Mears. Disney has a contract with Mears to transport guests via Magical Express. The drivers, although wearing DME patches on their jackets, are Mears drivers, hired by and paid by Mears. The busses are Mears busses, with the DME logo painted on.
So it's not even a thin veil- DME and Mears are one and the same.

I completely disagree with your conclusions.

Yes, DME contracts with Mears to supply the drivers and the buses. That part is 100% correct.

But Disney runs it. It is run by Disney's rules, Disney's policies, Disney's procedures, Disney's commitment to customer service. This makes it very different from the old Mears shuttle.

Think of it this way: Mears is the muscle, but Disney is the brains.

Think of it another way: Let's say you owned a restaurant. You ran it in a barely acceptable manner. Prices were high, food quality was just barely okay, staff were surly, cleanliness was a problem, and so on. Then Disney comes in and buys your business from you, but pays you to stay on and operate it on a day-to-day basis for them. There are usually Disney cast members around to make sure you're doing things THEIR WAY rather than your old crappy way. The customers have a very different experience than they used to, even though you're still there and it's still your same building and your same kitchen. Because the price got lower, Disney made sure you bought better quality food and prepared it better, they made sure your staff are up to better standards, and they made sure you cleaned on a much more regular basis.

This is the comparison of the old Mears shuttle and DME. Face it. It IS different. If you don't realize it's different, please re-read my first post outlining each individual, tanglible difference.

When you re-read each actual, real, tanglible difference I wrote, you will see the facts. So far, you've offered only an emotional and superficial response that demonstrates a lack of knowledge of how it's run ... you're just stuck on the "Mears" name, and you end it there without any further information.

 

[goofy4tink]

DME is Mears. Disney has a contract with Mears to transport guests via Magical Express. The drivers, although wearing DME patches on their jackets, are Mears drivers, hired by and paid by Mears. The busses are Mears busses, with the DME logo painted on.
So it's not even a thin veil- DME and Mears are one and the same.

True...sort of. Did you ever ride the Mears bus before DME came into being?? Have you ridden the Mears bus/shuttle now, since DME came along? They are very different.
The old Mears bus used to take hours, and I do mean hours, to get you to your resort. We were lucky in that our shuttle van had only those going to DxL (POR)...but we were crammed in there like sardines....I had my feet on my luggage!!! We got to DxL about 90 mins after landing.
Most people that were put on the buses, reported times of 2+ hrs to get to their WDW resort. The bus stopped at many other Orlando resorts before heading to WDW. I, myself, experienced that in Sept. I booked the Mears shuttle when staying at the Swan. I was lucky and got a van..and I was able to get right on the van, after being told my 'beeper' would go off in about 25 mins when it was time for me to board a bus!! But, there was room in the van that was about to leave. But, that van made about 4 stops before heading to the Swan. I saw parts of Orlando that I didn't know existed..it was kind of fun, but not all that efficient.
To say that DME is really Mears in a different uniform is wrong. Disney makes the rules, Mears is 'supposed' to carry them out. We have found that sometimes the drivers make their own rules as they go along. It is always a good idea to let Disney/DME know when you experience something like that.

 

[Dorisk3]

I have not read through this whole thread- but just wanted to make a quick comment about the original post.

We took the Magical Express once- and had the same experience- one line to the other- waiting on bus for everyone forever- pretty much last stop on the bus. It did seem like a long arduous journey.

This year, we rented a car from Alamo. The cost for the week in September was around $125 with all taxes, fees etc.

We got off the plane, got luggage, and headed to the kiosk (2 minute walk from luggage area)- walked over to Alamo garage (2 minutes)- asked attendent where to pick out our car (30 sec.) We loaded our luggage drove to the exit, showed attendant our papers and were on our way (another 5 minutes). Best thing was we drove directly to the Wilderness Lodge and had the use of our car all week if we wanted it. Another advantage is that we can return to the airport when we want to-not when Disney tells us to (which is usually 3 hrs prior).

I would never go without renting a car again- it just makes the whole experience so much better and more fun and less stressful.

 

[TDC Nala]

You're getting what you pay for. If you want the free service, it'll be necessary to wait for the bus, wait on the bus, wait to check in for the bus, and you might have to wait through three other resort dropoffs before they get to yours. It's the most efficient way they have to run a free service.

Anyone always has the option of spending some money to rent a car or book a private towncar service, if the free service is not to their liking.