ME ending next year?

[RanDIZ]

When it comes to Disney and cost cutting, I assume NOTHING.

The consumer can also partake in cost cutting, starting with not going to Disney anymore.

 

[Gitelfor]

Mears’ shared shuttle service to/from MCO ended after December 2020. I wonder if they will bring it back, if demand is there.

 

[Ninjagrrl]

Disney Food Blog said 2022 - of course, they could be wrong, but just sharing my source: https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021...express-service-will-be-discontinued-in-2022/

Brightline themselves said late 2023 just a few weeks ago.
https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/brightline-eyes-2023-for-start-of-disney-service/

 

[nkereina]

Brightline themselves said late 2023 just a few weeks ago.
https://www.wesh.com/article/sacram...ether-car-parade-boy-battling-cancer/35175943

I believed you, I was just linking my source since I didn't in my previous post.

Assuming late 2023 is still the current projected date for completion between MCO and Disney Springs, that leaves at least 18 months of no obvious transportation between WDW and MCO - only rideshare, taxi, private transport, and rental cars. That will be interesting.

 

[Ninjagrrl]

I wasn't trying to insinuate that I didn't believe you, just putting the info out there for those that might be planning a 2022 vacation and hoping the train would be up.

 

[ParrotBill]

Brightline estimate of late 2023 is a best case scenario, too. New Train lines rarely happen on their original timeline.

So we have 2-3 years to figure out without DME.

Then, even with Brightline, we are looking at a difficult situation. If we are thinking for that to be a primary way to get to WDW, what will we pay to operate trains with a frequency good enough to transport hundreds per hour during peak times? And move only 50 during off-peak times?

How friendly is this: Get off plane, take airport train, get luggage, go back up stairs waiting for slow elevators, take airport train to train station, elevators to platform, wait for train, ride train, arrive WDW train stations and wait for a bus to your hotel, arrive hotel. Move your luggage a half dozen times. Hope you don't need a cart to manage it.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I have to guess that the contract with Mears is ending and WDW thought it was a good opportunity to work in the rail and/or Mears raised their prices, which will be par for the course as companies try to recoup from the pandemic.

I think the contract with Mears is ending.

My guess is that the two companies couldn’t reach an agreement for whatever reason.

 

[DisLiss]

I read elsewhere that is has partly to do with the fact that Disney didn't run the baggage portion of the service either, and the company that did run it closed down due to COVID. But it was just a screenshot someone else took, so I don't have a source. Sorry. I think it was a company called Bags Inc. or something like that.

It'll be win-win for Disney. They don't have to pay this company or Mears for this service, and they'll increase the number of people paying parking fees.

 

[Splashboat]

I read elsewhere that is has partly to do with the fact that Disney didn't run the baggage portion of the service either, and the company that did run it closed down due to COVID. But it was just a screenshot someone else took, so I don't have a source. Sorry. I think it was a company called Bags Inc. or something like that.

It'll be win-win for Disney. They don't have to pay this company or Mears for this service, and they'll increase the number of people paying parking fees.

I think this is another reason people will go elsewhere. One of the reasons we have not done Universal is because we liked ME arrival/departure and luggage transport. If we have to pay additional costs, and take on all the hassles and costs of transportation, we will start going to places other than Disney.

 

[Groot]

What about those of us who travel with wheelchairs/scooters? Uber’s WAV is only available in select markets, (Orlando NOT being one of them, I checked.) Lyft will more than likely contact Lynx to transport you, requesting a private car service (like a limo) will be nonexisten, and I don’t know of any rental cars that have an accessible van option.

 

[Splashboat]

What about those of us who travel with wheelchairs/scooters? Uber’s WAV is only available in select markets, (Orlando NOT being one of them, I checked.) Lyft will more than likely contact Lynx to transport you, requesting a private car service (like a limo) will be nonexisten, and I don’t know of any rental cars that have an accessible van option.

ME only began in 2005. Hopefully people who remember how things worked before 2005 can respond. I don't recall and we never had to worry about those issues so I am interested in responses.

 

[mac_tlc]

ME only began in 2005. Hopefully people who remember how things worked before 2005 can respond. I don't recall and we never had to worry about those issues so I am interested in responses.

Way back in the day, we took a shared motor coach service, which was operated by Mears. Don’t recall the price. You had to get your own luggage, and they had a number of busses doing different WDW runs.

It did cost money while ME is “included”, but biggest issue is luggage. That’s where ME was a big help.

mac_tlc

 

[nkereina]

Another article was just posted with a response from Mears saying that they will continue to operate transportation between MCO and WDW. No details on how that will differ from the non-DME service they previously offered, but sounds like that could be an option during the time before the rail starts running and for those of you not comfortable with ride share.

 

[patster734]

ME only began in 2005. Hopefully people who remember how things worked before 2005 can respond. I don't recall and we never had to worry about those issues so I am interested in responses.

Parking was free back then, so we’d rent a car at the airport for the length of our stay.

 

[Splashboat]

Parking was free back then, so we’d rent a car at the airport for the length of our stay.

I forgot they charge for parking. We are DVC so parking is still free but the car rental costs have risen significantly and parking spaces at the resorts can be an issue. I don't know how they will handle significant increase in the amount of vehicles trying to park.
We wouldn't be interested in paying for a motor coach service. If I am going to get my luggage and pay extra, I would rather have my own car so I can do a grocery run and not have to Uber for groceries or pay a service.
We are reaching a point where Disney is getting too expensive for what is offered and the crowd sizes increasing is getting aggravating.
The magic is disappearing quickly and I am not sure how much longer we will go before we decide to sell DVC.
We have APs to activate and 2 trips booked this year so I guess we will see what happens.

 

[Hollymom1229]

I guess it looks like we will be going back to towncars to get to and from MCO. Which is an extra $200+ in the budget for each trip. We haven't really needed one in so long that I barely remember how they work. But we used to get one for every trip pre-ME. They would have a driver that would meet us with a board with our name on it, they would pick up our luggage, do a stop at a grocery store on the way to the resort, and then promptly pick us up on the way home. They were always clean and nice, and it's definitely how we will go back to going to and from property.

 

[nkereina]

We are reaching a point where Disney is getting too expensive for what is offered and the crowd sizes increasing is getting aggravating.

I agree, but the crowds increasing while the price keeps increasing for a lessened value shows that people are still willing to pay for it. There's no incentive for Disney to offer more perks or lower the cost.

I guess it looks like we will be going back to towncars to get to and from MCO. Which is an extra $200+ in the budget for each trip

FWIW, Tony Hinds offers airport transportation in a 12 passenger van. I'm not sure what his current pricing is, but last time we used him (~2 years ago), he charged about $60 each way and included a 30 minute grocery stop on the way there. He (or his driver) also assist with collecting luggage, and they're able to park at an exit close to the baggage claim making for a quick and easy exit out of the airport. Its not as magical as DME (nor is it free), but its at least faster.

 

[Splashboat]

I agree, but the crowds increasing while the price keeps increasing for a lessened value shows that people are still willing to pay for it. There's no incentive for Disney to offer more perks or lower the cost.

Absolutely true except I believe there are many like me that are on the fence and ready to bail. They might push us too far and then it will be too late.

 

[DSLRuser]

ME only began in 2005. Hopefully people who remember how things worked before 2005 can respond. I don't recall and we never had to worry about those issues so I am interested in responses.

Someone on this thread already nailed it. Disney Magic Express was simply Mears Transportation pre 2005 it was like $50 a family if I recall. The exact same experience as Magic Express except black and gold Mears busses. not character coaches.

So Mears will just go back to the old ways and charge what is required for them to make a profit in 2022.

I will continue to rent a car because my time is worth more then my money when it comes to 2-3 hour Bus rides to and from MCO.

 

[Splashboat]

Someone on this thread already nailed it. Disney Magic Express was simply Mears Transportation pre 2005 it was like $50 a family if I recall. The exact same experience as Magic Express except black and gold Mears busses. not character coaches.

So Mears will just go back to the old ways and charge what is required for them to make a profit in 2022.

I will continue to rent a car because my time is worth more then my money when it comes to 2-3 hour Bus rides to and from MCO.

Right, but Disney is now taking away a perk, while charging a lot more for resorts stays, theme park tickets....than in 2005. The hassle of moving luggage and particularly auto rental/service costs per person is much higher now. We just returned from a trip and the loss of FPs was a disappointment. (We go almost every December and the crowds were much higher than I anticipated this year due to Covid). Just seems like we keep getting hit with higher costs for a lot less in return.