Magical Express - who's paying for it?

[dvc_john]

Prompted by the debate over whether or not internet service should be 'free' or paid for only by those who use it, my question is:

Who pays for Magical Express?

I know it's a multi-million dollar operation. I also know OKW transportation costs for 2006 are 23.3% higher than in 2005. Is that all just increases in the regular transportation operation (salaries, fuel, etc.), or is any of it for Magical Express?

If the cost is borne by the hotels, then they are subdizing DVC'ers.
If part of the cost comes from maintenance fees, then those who don't use it are subdizing those who do.
In fact, in any scenario of where the money comes from to operate ME, be it hotels, DVC maint fees, retail, dining, or even movies and tv, it would seem people who don't use ME are subdizing those who do.

If anyone who thinks internet should be paid for by only those who use it, also think Magical Express should be 'free', I'd love to hear your reasoning.

 

[bpmorley]

I think everyone is paying for it.

 

[rigs32]

The same argument can be made for ANY amenity offered by a hotel. They can go back to charging for EMH (like with e-ride nights) but only allow hotel guests to purchase tickets. That way only those who use the service pay for the cost. Entrance fees for pools and busses follow the same logic, too. Disney made a decision to offer another amenity to all onsite guests - one that some will use and others won't.

 

[simzac]

1st, if you're on the internet, aren't you using it?
2nd, I believe all resort guests at WDW are helping to pay for ME, DVC included. JMO

 

[photobob]

FWIW, just back and was watching one of the WDW channels at the resort and it said that the ME is free during the Happiest Celebration on Earth. I'm guessing that means it'll require $$ to use it later..

 

[bpmorley]

FWIW, just back and was watching one of the WDW channels at the resort and it said that the ME is free during the Happiest Celebration on Earth. I'm guessing that means it'll require $$ to use it later..

Not at the moment. They just extended the free service til 2008 or 09.

 

[dianeschlicht]

This is a good question for someone to ask at the annual meetings in November and December. Unfortunately, we don't arrive in time for those, but anyone who is attending them should ask that very question. I'd sure hate to find out my dues are going for something as big as DME that I don't ever intend to use.

 

[Fitswimmer]

There are many services that Disney provides that are not used by every guest. We don't use the Disney Dining, it just doesn't work for us, but I'm sure our full priced meals subsidize that plan. We don't have small kids anymore so we don't use free stroller rental. There are rides and shows that do not appeal to everyone, but we all pay for the development and maintenance of them. My family lives in Central Florida, so I probably won't utilize ME either, but I have no problem subsidizing it for others to use.

 

[*elaine*]

There are many services that Disney provides that are not used by every guest. We don't use the Disney Dining, it just doesn't work for us, but I'm sure our full priced meals subsidize that plan. We don't have small kids anymore so we don't use free stroller rental. There are rides and shows that do not appeal to everyone, but we all pay for the development and maintenance of them. My family lives in Central Florida, so I probably won't utilize ME either, but I have no problem subsidizing it for others to use.

Woah! Hold the horses! Tell me more about free stroller rental. Pretty PLEASE.

 

[n2mm]

Woah! Hold the horses! Tell me more about free stroller rental. Pretty PLEASE.

I thought the same thing. The last time we had free stroller rental was during the 8 years hubby was a CM. Did I miss a DVC perk here??

 

[dianeschlicht]

Full priced meals and pay to rent strollers are not good comparisons to DME or the dining plan. As far as I know, DVC dues aren't subsidizing the dining plan and certainly don't subsidize any part of stroller rental. I just don't think subsidizing DME with DVC dues something I would go for.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Full priced meals and pay to rent strollers are not good comparisons to DME or the dining plan.

Yes, they are. They are examples of services offered by Disney that are paid for, but not utilized by every guest. There is no such thing as a discounted meal or a free service, somewhere down the line that cost is recouped-whether it is from full priced meals, park tickets, merchandise-we don't know where Disney recoups the costs, but they're doing it someplace.

When I go out to dinner with friends, we divide the bill evenly by the number of people. We don't go down the menu and charge each person by what they ate. Sometimes I pay less than the value of what I ate, sometimes more-that's just the way things work out. When I go on vacation, I don't think about what I'm paying for that I'm not using or what someone else might be getting for "free" that my money is paying for.

 

[Chuck S]

There are no free stroller rentals. The dining plan is NOT a bargain for adults only parties, unless they are really big eaters. It is isn't free by any means, and the "free plan" is subsidised by full price rooms, not available to those staying on points. Other costs are included in the park admission tickets, which increase in cost almost yearly. DME is subsised by something, whether ir not DVC it is by DVC Dues transportation budget, we don't know. It is,as Diane suggest, an excellent qestion for an annual meeting, if anyone is going during that time period.

The bottom line is...nothing is free, it is paid and justified by accountants somewhere. Notice the reduction in room cash room discounts this year, relatively few AP room discounts.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, they are. They are examples of services offered by Disney that are paid for, but not utilized by every guest. There is no such thing as a discounted meal or a free service, somewhere down the line that cost is recouped-whether it is from full priced meals, park tickets, merchandise-we don't know where Disney recoups the costs, but they're doing it someplace.

When I go out to dinner with friends, we divide the bill evenly by the number of people. We don't go down the menu and charge each person by what they ate. Sometimes I pay less than the value of what I ate, sometimes more-that's just the way things work out. When I go on vacation, I don't think about what I'm paying for that I'm not using or what someone else might be getting for "free" that my money is paying for.

But you still haven't convinced me that my DVC MAINTENANCE dues should pay for these options. I do not see any correlation to disney dining plan and stroller rental where our dues are concerned. Our dues are to maintain our resorts, not subsidize things for ALL Disney guests.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Our dues are to maintain our resorts, not subsidize things for ALL Disney guests.

ok-then let's try this. If DVC adds something new to the resort that was not in your original contract, do you feel that you should not have to pay for it because it wasn't there when you bought in?

Do you use the tennis courts, bike rentals, hot tub, the pool and ALL the amenities at your resort every time you visit? If you don't use the pool for 3 days out of your 5 day visit-do you feel your dues should be pro-rated based on the days you did NOT use that service?

What bothers me about this and the Internet Access discussion is that people seem to want annual dues itemized down to the nth degree and have right of refusal to pay for services they personally don't use. I don't understand that mindset because I feel that what benefits one, benefits all. If I'm paying for the upkeep of the kiddie pools and play areas at my resort and I don't have kids or if I'm paying for ME and I don't use it, then I'm helping other Disney guests have better vacation. I don't look at being a DVC member as being separate from other Disney guests. My percentage of payment for services that I do not use is likely so miniscule that I would never notice anyway.

 

[Chuck S]

When I go out to dinner with friends, we divide the bill evenly by the number of people. We don't go down the menu and charge each person by what they ate. Sometimes I pay less than the value of what I ate, sometimes more-that's just the way things work out. When I go on vacation, I don't think about what I'm paying for that I'm not using or what someone else might be getting for "free" that my money is paying for.

But your friends still ate a meal, and the even division was agreed upon before that meal, wasn't it? The majority of people right now don't use the internet service. If 60% to 70% of people were using it, it would be one thing, but those that travel to Disney tied to their computers are still the minority.

 

[Fitswimmer]

The majority of people right now don't use the internet service.

Probably because it costs so much! I know that's why I don't use it. The question really should be, how many people WOULD use the service if it were either lower priced or free. Also, just because I don't use a service now, doesn't mean I never will. ME might come in handy for me someday, so I don't mind paying for it.
I still feel that whether I use an enhancement or not, I have no issue in paying for it because it benefits other members/guests.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The cost of ME should be paid by the Theme Parks division, which is the part of WDW it benefits the most. When there is free transportation to the airport, fewer people rent cars and are more of a captive audience spending their extra $$$ at WDW.

I doubt that the DME really made a great difference in overall room occupancy at the resorts. If boostign occupancy were the primary reason, it would probably have been limited to certain time frames, as is the "free" dining promotion.

The same argument, of course holds true for all bus transportation to the parks, and we know that it it allocated to the resorts and DVC.

As a result, I would guess that Disney actually accounts for it in their resorts division and resort transportion expenses, including those allocated to DVC, now includes the cost of DME.

Just my guess -- Suzanne

 

[bpmorley]

So some of you don't think you're paying for ME. I'm sure you are somewhere down the line. As far as not wanting to pay for things that you don't use, that works everywhere in the world. When you buy a park ticket and you don't go on all the rides, you're paying for those too.

 

[Stitch 03]

I personally do not mind extra services, even if I do not use them. Sure I do end up paying for my share, but those extra services add value to the resort.

If we do not want to subsidize 'optional services' then you have to go all the way. ex:

1) Use bell service - $5 charge on your bill
2) Use concierge to book dining - $5
3) Use the pool - $10 day per family of 4
4) Need extra towels in your room - $2 each plus $3 trip charge for housekeeping.
5) No more free valet
6) No more free theme park parking for resort guests
7) Have a car - $20 a day to park it at your resort
8) DME - $15 each way per person
9) Fitness Centre - $7.5 per hour

and we can go on. If we went this route our dues would be cheaper and my vacations would cost less as I do not use all the services mentioned above.

But I like knowing these services are available for me to use, if I so wish. So I do not mind paying for services such as DME and would gladly pay higher dues for access to free wireless (even though I would rarely use it).