MCO to WDW issues and thoughts

[Lewisc]

1. Pricing for Mears express went up to $250
2. Ride guru has little value. It doesn't reflect surge or dynamic pricing
3. There are only so many available car service drivers and vehicles. Tiffany is.booked through January.
4. DME worked because it was free. Free resulted in volume. Volume meant buses could be dispatched frequently, with a small number of stops

 

[Jacq7414]

I booked Tiffany Towncar. It was recommended on one of my Disney FB groups. It was $165 round trip for a towncar. I didn’t think it was that bad. It’s for 3 of us.

we are booked for april

 

[sam_gordon]

Surely the $250 is for your entire family. How many people?

And, believe it or not, DME wasn't always around. People still found ways to get to WDW without it. And that was before ride shares. Taxi, rental car, and car service got it done. Now add Mears, ride share, and there's another bus company, there's a way to get between the two.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Surely the $250 is for your entire family. How many people?

And, believe it or not, DME wasn't always around. People still found ways to get to WDW without it. And that was before ride shares. Taxi, rental car, and car service got it done. Now add Mears, ride share, and there's another bus company, there's a way to get between the two.

$250 is for up to 4. Additional riders are $55.

 

[JFox]

Prior to DME we exclusively used Tiffany Towncar. Booked next week with Mears. $32 RT per person is reasonable and I don't expect much difference other than the removal the Disney overlay. Booking was easy and I've gotten confirmation emails for both our airport departure and arrival days.

 

[RebYork]

I booked Tiffany Towncar. It was recommended on one of my Disney FB groups. It was $165 round trip for a towncar. I didn’t think it was that bad. It’s for 3 of us.

we are booked for april

Will the towncars stop at a grocery or liquor store to pick up a few things on the way to Polynesian?

 

[Jacq7414]

Will the towncars stop at a grocery or liquor store to pick up a few things on the way to Polynesian?

Yes. They said that they would stop at a grocery store. It was a specific one though

 

[Lewisc]

And, believe it or not, DME wasn't always around. People still found ways to get to WDW without it. And that was before ride shares. Taxi, rental car, and car service got it done. Now add Mears, ride share, and there's another bus company, there's a way to get between the two.

Absolutely. I was able to rent a car for not much more then $100. Resort parking was free. Shared shuttle was available from Mears. Wait up to an hour for a bus to fill. Another hour plus as you made a numerous stops. Free increased the number of passengers. Waiting time at MCO was slashed and the number of stops, at least in the beginning was maybe 3.
JMO but luggage handling is the biggest loss. We can't duplicate RAC. Inbound luggage handling isn't promoted and is $$.

Disney hotels were always on the expensive side. Hotel prices have gone way up in the last 15 years. DME was one of the things that allowed some of us to justify overpaying for hotel rooms. Disney used to give reasons to pay extra. Now it's simply because they can. Disney is no longer going after our loose change in our pockets, they want to hold us upside down and shake to get the last penny out.

One of the keys. Over the last few years Disney has reduced the number of hotel rooms. Parts of WL, AKL, GF and Contemporary were converted to DVC. A large section of CBR was converted to DVC. A large section of CSR was converted to allow building of expensive tower rooms. Parts of the All Stars were converted to suites.

Disney is able to keep prices high, limit discounts and reduce perks by reducing the number of rooms.

 

[RebYork]

Yes. They said that they would stop at a grocery store. It was a specific one though

Doesn’t matter which one as long as the store has liquor, bottled water, and snacks.

 

[sam_gordon]

Disney is able to keep prices high, limit discounts and reduce perks by reducing the number of rooms.

Disney is able to keep prices high, limit discounts, and reduce perks because PEOPLE KEEP PAYING.

DVC was ADDED on at WL, AKL, and CR. I believe they've also built Pop, AoA, Riviera, and Coronado Springs since DME started.

My point is there are ways to get to the resort from the airport. Does it cost? Yes. But in actuality, DME was never "free". It was paid by everyone staying on property regardless of whether it was used or not.

 

[Lewisc]

Disney is able to keep prices high, limit discounts, and reduce perks because PEOPLE KEEP PAYING.

DVC was ADDED on at WL, AKL, and CR. I believe they've also built Pop, AoA, Riviera, and Coronado Springs since DME started.

My point is there are ways to get to the resort from the airport. Does it cost? Yes. But in actuality, DME was never "free". It was paid by everyone staying on property regardless of whether it was used or not.

DVC took over the 5th floor of AKL (Jambo House). One of the Contemporary wing buildings was torn down to make room for BLT. One of the sections of the original WL was converted to DVC. DME started in 2005, CSR opened in 1997. POP opened in 2003. Since DME started Disney built expensive family suites at AoA, replaced moderate rooms at CSR with deluxe tower and built Riviera DVC.

Disney is able to keep rates $$$, in part, by reducing supply. Every hotel amenity which isn't separately billed is generally thought of as free. Pool, coffee in room, complimentary breakfast etc. A technically more accurate description is "included in your room rate" DME is no different.

Disney is able to charge $$$ and reduce services (DME, housekeeping, souvenir delivery to resorts....)by reducing the number of rooms. Universal has been adding hotels to meet demand. Disney has been reducing the number of rooms to decrease supply.

Of course there are other ways to get from MCO.

 

[EACarlson]

Disney is able to keep rates $$$, in part, by reducing supply. Every hotel amenity which isn't separately billed is generally thought of as free. Pool, coffee in room, complimentary breakfast etc. A technically more accurate description is "included in your room rate" DME is no different.

Disney is able to charge $$$ and reduce services (DME, housekeeping, souvenir delivery to resorts....)by reducing the number of rooms. Universal has been adding hotels to meet demand. Disney has been reducing the number of rooms to decrease supply.

Of course there are other ways to get from MCO.

Disney is able to charge more and reduce services because people keep paying, same reason Disney is able to keep raising prices on park tickets and charging for things like Genie+ and Lightning Lane. They will keep raising prices until they reach the point where the hotels and parks aren't full. They don't care how many people like me they've priced out between now and then.

 

[Lewisc]

g for things like Genie+ and Lightning Lane. They will keep raising prices until they reach the point where the hotels and parks aren't full

I used to think that. Not enough people will pay. Old school. Hotel rates are too high. New school. Disney has too many hotel rooms

 

[Evita_W]

Absolutely. I was able to rent a car for not much more then $100. Resort parking was free. Shared shuttle was available from Mears. Wait up to an hour for a bus to fill. Another hour plus as you made a numerous stops. Free increased the number of passengers. Waiting time at MCO was slashed and the number of stops, at least in the beginning was maybe 3.
JMO but luggage handling is the biggest loss. We can't duplicate RAC. Inbound luggage handling isn't promoted and is $$.

Disney hotels were always on the expensive side. Hotel prices have gone way up in the last 15 years. DME was one of the things that allowed some of us to justify overpaying for hotel rooms. Disney used to give reasons to pay extra. Now it's simply because they can. Disney is no longer going after our loose change in our pockets, they want to hold us upside down and shake to get the last penny out.

One of the keys. Over the last few years Disney has reduced the number of hotel rooms. Parts of WL, AKL, GF and Contemporary were converted to DVC. A large section of CBR was converted to DVC. A large section of CSR was converted to allow building of expensive tower rooms. Parts of the All Stars were converted to suites.

Disney is able to keep prices high, limit discounts and reduce perks by reducing the number of rooms.

Where did you find a rental for a little.less than $100? Best I can find is about $50 a day plus taxes and at 9 nights that's pricey for two people.

 

[Lewisc]

Where did you find a rental for a little.less than $100? Best I can find is about $50 a day plus taxes and at 9 nights that's pricey for two people.

The question was how did we get from MCO to WDW BEFORE Disney offered DME (2005)

 

[EACarlson]

Where did you find a rental for a little.less than $100? Best I can find is about $50 a day plus taxes and at 9 nights that's pricey for two people.

While @Lewisc was referring to pre-DME trips, I did actually just find a rental for a week for $76 booking a company I know nothing about, NextCar, through AutoSlash.

 

[Lewisc]

While @Lewisc was referring to pre-DME trips, I did actually just find a rental for a week for $76 booking a company I know nothing about, NextCar, through AutoSlash.

I was curious. I googled. F rating from the BBB. Lots of extras.
edited to add an example. There is a toll charge. Customers who want to use their own transponder have to pay a fee to have NextCars transponder removed from the car, they claim it's glued.