Magical Express was AWFUL!

[bytheblood]

I have been reading the threads on the ME experience and I've come up with some observations. (Donning flame proof suit)

1. Why are some people expecting perfection right out of the starting gate when it comes to ME? This is a major undertaking by Disney and has to be complicated, Think about it. It's going to take many months to work out all of the kinks and bugs out of the system. If people would read up on the history of Disneyland they will find that the opening day in July 15th 1955 was considered a disaster. Critics said it would never work but Walt and company worked out all of the kinks and look who's going to have a 50th birthday party comming up! Remember everyone is newbie at one time in their life and there is a first time for everything.

No flaming here, just respectful disagreeing.

I do not think that people are expecting perfection, I think many are just disappointed. Disney is advertising the crud out of this on TV, their website as well as pop-ups on other sites.

Disney is using this (in addition to MYW) to lure people to book vacations and the system works like a set of broken cogs. Disney is setting high expectations and people are being let down.

The first time I went to Disney, I did a land/sea package. I only called to book my trip, ask questions, pay it off and provide my flight schedule. I knew nothing about discount codes, booking things separately to save money, how my luggage could have (but did not) get lost with Disney picking it up, etc. I just trusted a huge company like Disney to get the job done and do it right. I think many people go into this trusting Disney and believing them on their word. I know I did.

Also, many people do not read these (or other) boards and many who do look at certain threads only. Up until I created a user name, I used ALLEars and nothing else. Then I learned about MouseSavers, The Dis and other helpful sites. Millions of people visit Disney a year, the Dis only has a small portion of those people reading.

2. Why is everyone saying that the service is free? Nothing is truly free in life and Disney built the cost into the package you buy. They may advertise it's free but you're paying for it some how. The Walt Disney Company didn't get to be the giant it is by giving a way things for free. Keep this in mind when comparing the cost of a town car or limo. I might use ME on my next trip but I do love a private town car to pick me up and take my family directly to the resort we're staying at. You have to weigh all of the factors for your next trip.

I would be interested in you explaining to me how the costs are figured in. Let's see, I booked my room-only stay early 2004 and was originally booked for PC @ $99 a night, which consequently, is the same price it had been the previous year. When 2005 room rates were released in May of 2004, my room for PC was still $99 a night. After DME was released, I called to add it to my room-only reservation and guess what??? My room was still $99. I received a discount code in February and changed to POFQ and my room was $79 a night. I started a brand new reservation, added on DME and it was still $79 a night.

Disney is not losing any money doing this, but it is not being paid by the cost of our room or packages. It is only by keeping people on property longer that Disney gains. We may be indirectly paying for it, but it is by choice. I do not have to purchase 5 Mickey heads (Mickey Bars) while I am in WDW and I do not have to go shop in DTD while in WDW, but I choose to. You choose the amount of money you spend on food, souvenirs, etc. I have friends who can go to WDW for cheap. My in-laws are cheap and spend way less money than we do. However, I feel like I am on vacation...so I spend more. You make your choice.

 

[BettyCv]

I called because we got our packet today FedEx (we leave on the 25th) and it only had tags for my youngest daughter and myself. Only one return voucher for my daughter. But the CM said that those booklets are for 4 passengers at a time and since there are 5 of us the rest are probably in another package. Hey, but they had our flight info correct.

Same thing just happened to us. My youngest daughter's package arrived the first day, then the rest of our family's info. came the very next day. The good news is, you'll have TWO vouchers for lanyards and pins. The bad news is, you probably have three kids... (not that it's bad to have three kids, just bad to have 2 vouchers with 3 kids!) LOL!

Betty

 

[Pedler]

I have been reading the threads on the ME experience and I've come up with some observations. (Donning flame proof suit)

2. Why is everyone saying that the service is free? Nothing is truly free in life and Disney built the cost into the package you buy. They may advertise it's free but you're paying for it some how. The Walt Disney Company didn't get to be the giant it is by giving a way things for free. Keep this in mind when comparing the cost of a town car or limo. I might use ME on my next trip but I do love a private town car to pick me up and take my family directly to the resort we're staying at. You have to weigh all of the factors for your next trip.

Hmmm.. Can you give me the name and address of your flame proof suit tailor? (Ha, ha).

Seriously it is "free" in that Disney does not charge a fee for the service and they did not raise prices on packages to get the service. Where Disney benefits from this service is that by having people use this they are essentially captive on site at WDW. We are a case in point. Our initial plan was to stay off site, then on site and get a car. Now we are going to use ME, get the dinning plan and stay for extra nights because of the new ticket pricing. The mouse is litterally getting every dollar that we are going to spend in Florida just for the cost of a round trip bus ride. It is almost laughable but I can point out to an extra $1,000 we will be spending just because of the new programs. (Extra nights with dinning) They are in essence altering the behavior of some guests that would have otherwise had options to spend money off site. It is in essence a loss leader to gain additional sales. My guess is that it will work out well for Disney for the vast majority of people that use ME. Admittedly the seasoned DIS vet with multiple visits under thier belt may be stunned that these programs could have such an effect but I do believe they will increase spending at the WDW.

4. Last point. Why are some people getting upset over the bad reviews? It's not like we own the company or the original OP is insulting our familes or something. I'm sure Disney is working on this as we speak and will fix somethings but I don't think it will ever be a 100% perfect, it just too big to have everything go smooth. This is a huge undertaking and problems are bound to happen. I just can't see myself giving up curbside check in and a private and direct limo ride to my resort I'm staying at. FL Tours took good care of me and I was impressed how nice the driver and car was. Food for thought and I look forward to your replies.

I have to admit that this is something I don't get either. I think Disney did over market the whole baggage thing and the could have done a better job on the roll out of the service. (For example why not do a rolling start and start one cluster of hotels first, then the next and so on? It would have worked better than the "big bang" approach.)

From what I see even when ME is working well it will not be for everyone. I don't think they will ever get the luggage down below 2-3 hours on average. If that doesn't work for some people I am OK with that. For us it is OK. We land at 11:45 AM and plan to go right to the parks (Its that darn new ticket pricing.) I will have carry ons for a days worth of clothes, valuables and stuff. If I don't see the luggage for 7 hours I am OK with that. I am also OK with people that want to get thier luggage to the room right away, unpack and unwind at the hotel. For them ME may not work out so well. What I don't understand is why some people on DIS have a problem with people expressing an opinion that a certain type of service isn't for them. I think it is totally fine to want to have a personal greeting you at the airport and getting your luggage faster. Its not for me but I also don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to do the whole town car thing either.

 

[fanofdisney]

Even if I had packed a change of clothes for the day just in case, I think 8 hours is a bit TOO long for luggage to arrive. And it only came that quick b/c after so much calling and inquiring, they expedited it for us.

 

[sk!mom]

Just to clarify...
I hope they do work out the kinks. Seems like I offended people by being honest. I just didn't want other people to have to go through it. When you count on that half a day to be able to go to the parks, and instead you just have to stay in the hotel...it sucks.

I'm very sorry that some seem to take offense at your honest posting of your experience. I'm posting just to let you know that I appreciate your honesty. You did nothing wrong by not bringing a change of clothes - you simply took Disney at their word that your luggage would arrive in a reasonable length of time. Now if use this service again and aren't prepared for the delays then the comments would be fair.

I have been very interested to hear how this service would work and think that unless reviews improve drastically I wouldn't use it for the same reasons that I have never used Mears- I want to get to the resort with the least amount of delays possible.

 

[bytheblood]

I'm very sorry that some seem to take offense at your honest posting of your experience. I'm posting just to let you know that I appreciate your honesty. You did nothing wrong by not bringing a change of clothes - you simply took Disney at their word that your luggage would arrive in a reasonable length of time. Now if use this service again and aren't prepared for the delays then the comments would be fair.

I agree. Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Even if I had packed a change of clothes for the day just in case, I think 8 hours is a bit TOO long for luggage to arrive. And it only came that quick b/c after so much calling and inquiring, they expedited it for us.

I don't think anyone on this board thinks that 8 hours is reasonable. I don't even think that 4 hours is reasonable.

It is interesting, however, that the DIS participants who gave ME good reviews and those who gave ME bad reviews often had similar, long delivery times for their luggage. The difference is that the former went went off to the parks and were happy to have the luggage in their rooms when they returned. The latter waited for their luggage or were stressed and disappointed by the time it took to get their luggage.

When the system works that way it's supposed to, the wait times are likely to be much shorter. But, even then, there will be some guests who will be livid if their luggage doesn't get to their room until 30 minutes after they check in, while other guests just go off and have fun, knowing that their luggage will be there when they return.

In any case, Disney needs to set better expectations. Guests should not expect immediate luggage delivery at check-in. And Disney should recommend that guests bring a carry-on bag with items that they want before the luggage is delivered.

 

[bavaria]

Keep in mind that the difference for some is also travel time. After a 2 hour flight, heading straight to the parks is do-able. For someone coming from the west coast and changing planes, or someone coming from the UK, etc the travel time can be 8 hours or more.

At that point, I am ready for a shower etc before heading out.

 

[fanofdisney]

Keep in mind that the difference for some is also travel time. After a 2 hour flight, heading straight to the parks is do-able. For someone coming from the west coast and changing planes, or someone coming from the UK, etc the travel time can be 8 hours or more.

At that point, I am ready for a shower etc before heading out.

Good point. We were exhausted when we arrived, and just wanted to relax that first day.

 

[disneyfan67]

Originally posted - bytheblood

I would be interested in you explaining to me how the costs are figured in. Let's see, I booked my room-only stay early 2004 and was originally booked for PC @ $99 a night, which consequently, is the same price it had been the previous year. When 2005 room rates were released in May of 2004, my room for PC was still $99 a night. After DME was released, I called to add it to my room-only reservation and guess what??? My room was still $99. I received a discount code in February and changed to POFQ and my room was $79 a night. I started a brand new reservation, added on DME and it was still $79 a night

I was more or less refering to people who don't know Disney and just book a standard package that usally has the rooms at rack rate. I should have been more specific, sorry. We really don't know how much profit Disney has built into the room rates. I be willing to bet that even a value room discounted at $45.00 a night, makes them money. There has got to be such a mark up on everything we buy at Disney that the profit comes in at all angles! LOL!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Keep in mind that the difference for some is also travel time. After a 2 hour flight, heading straight to the parks is do-able. For someone coming from the west coast and changing planes, or someone coming from the UK, etc the travel time can be 8 hours or more.

At that point, I am ready for a shower etc before heading out.

I did not mean to imply that every arriving guest must dash off to a theme park immediately after checking in. (I'm tired too after 9 hour flights from Chicago to Europe or Hawaii.)

However, based on the lessons learned from early ME guests, it would be a good idea for arriving guests not to depend on the immediate delivery of luggage. By bringing the necessary items in a carry-on bag, it should be possible to shower and change into shorts, or to go for a swim, or to take a walk, or to relax around the resort, or to sit on the balcony and read a book -- or to go to a theme park -- without requiring the immediate delivery of checked ME luggage.

The luggage will get there when it gets there. (And I assume in the future that will mean 5 to 90 minutes after check-in, not many hours after check-in.)

This is not a criticism of those who have posted their disappointment at the excessive delivery times that many early ME guests have experienced. We can all learn from their experiences.

 

[ZacinIndy]

Now according to a statement to Mousesavers.com by Disney suits the delay was lack of tagging on the bags, now that it's about 60 to 80 percent tagged now, wait time should be reduced in all things... right?

 

[Meezers]

Is everyone here actually telling me that Regis was WRONG this week when he raved about ME and how your luggage is waiting in the room when you get there! (I admit....I NEVER watch this show...but Tivo'd cause thought I would catch some of WDW this week)

I am so glad that we are within driving distance....even though it is 7 hours...it would take us that long to get to the Atlanta airport...through security....blah...blah...blah. So we just drive....and boy am I glad!

 

[debden]

Until Disney can work the kinks out of their luggage service I would not use them. It's your vacation for goodness sakes! It's not worth the stress and worry everybody seem's to be going thru with ME.....
Hire a car,rent a car and have a happy stress free vacation!
At least you'll have your luggage when you get to your hotel...
Debbie

 

[kpk89]

during one of the MANY calls I made inquiring about the tags, to pack a carryon. It seems that unfortunately, they weren't consistent with this message to all guests. I also didn't consider the fact that official checkin is at 4 pm. We were able to check in early (1 pm) and our bags were there at about 5:30 (I think?? getting fuzzy on time details already!) Again, it wasn't a problem because we were advised that it could take a while.

Now our return trip was a fiasco. Long story, which I've put on a thread called "mixed feelings on DME".

 

[CarolA]

I was at Disney yesterday and I quizzed some folks on ME. Overall it was positive, but the luggage is slow. One family I spoke with had read on the internet that luggage was slow and packed PJs in thier carryon. They arrived late and just crashed. Called bell services first thing in the morning (Dad said "It was before 6" when kiddos awoke) and luggage was there in under 10 minutes.

However, they did say they got to the resort fairly fast and did not seemed to concerned about leaving.

 

[bytheblood]

There has got to be such a mark up on everything we buy at Disney that the profit comes in at all angles! LOL!

Isn't that the truth.

 

[BuckNaked]

I'm in the group that doesn't understand why people don't have a carry-on with essentials with them on the plane. For me, it has nothing to do with the amount of time it might take ME to get my luggage to the room, but rather whether or not my luggage will even be on the plane when we land.

 

[dkrause716]

I agree with the previous poster. We never travel without a change of clothes and essentials in a carry on bag! I certainly don't trust the airlines--remember the US Air mess over the holidays? Disney is the least of our problems! Going to give DME a shot in July. If we don't like it we won't use it again.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I bet they packed Regis' bags for him and flew them down in a separate jet or something.