Minnie Van was useless this past weekend

[freshmanjs]

We've used Minnie Van's successfully a bunch of times in the past. Really loved the service. This past weekend, it was really useless as follows:

- Wed night at 11pm trying to leave MK Halloween Party, requested a Minnie Van about 5 times. It timed out each time without being able to locate a driver

- Sunday morning trying to go from Boardwalk to AKL for breakfast at 830am. Again, it took multiple long tries to reach a driver. When reached, it was a 30 min wait for driver to get to us. We took a van taxi immediately

- Later Sunday, same thing from AKL back to Boardwalk. 25 min wait for driver. Again, took a van taxi immediately.

Yes, it was a race weekend. Yes, the Oct 31 party was crowded. But, the resort is often busy. If they are going to have this service, it should be scaled appropriately for volume. Maybe they will just raise the prices further to limit demand.

 

[SteveH]

- Wed night at 11pm trying to leave MK Halloween Party
- Sunday morning trying to go from Boardwalk to AKL for breakfast at 830am.
- Later Sunday, same thing from AKL back to Boardwalk.

That Wednesday I can totally get, the other two times I don't understand so much but if it was race weekend and Halloween I guess that explains why to some degree but seems like the wait time should have been less.

Maybe they will just raise the prices further to limit demand.

Careful that will probably happen! The challenge, unlike Lyft/Uber, is this is a Disney fleet so there is no way for them ramp up quickly like you see that Uber/Lyft do. However there are ways around it. While Minnie Van to MK is great, you can Uber/Lyft to Bay Lake Tower and walk, same with the Epcot by the International Gateway.

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

Yeah, it’s been hard getting a MV at peak times! If I don’t want to take the bus or drive, I usually take a regular lyft. They come faster and they’re cheaper. Uber’s usually cheaper than a MV, but more expensive than a lyft. That’s unless I’m going to the MK. Then I’ll splurge for the MV. I’m a bus person, but sometimes it’s easier for the people I’m travelling with.

We treated ourselves to a MV escort to MNSSHP on 10/2 (it was my birthday trip!) from CBR. It came fast, but we wouldn’t even bother trying to get one on the way back. It’s way too hectic.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Looks like renting a car would have been a better option
By the time you spent trying multiple times to get a van plus the expensive cost of the minnie van you would have been better off with a rental

 

[snappy]

We had a great experience renting a car at the Dolphin during our last trip. Easy and reasonable and it saved our bacon on arrival night when we had to go out to locate a replacement cord for DH’s CPAP.

 

[goofy4tink]

There are only so many Minnie Vans available. Now, with the ability to get one at any park or resort, the need far surpasses the availability. For us, Uber or Lyft is a much better option, and a lot less expensive. Yes, the vans are cute but they are expensive, and the wait for one to get to you can be excessive.

 

[freshmanjs]

Looks like renting a car would have been a better option
By the time you spent trying multiple times to get a van plus the expensive cost of the minnie van you would have been better off with a rental

Couldn't disagree more. I find renting a car at WDW to be a huge pain, and I don't care about cost at all. I would gladly have paid 2x for the Minnie Vans if they would be quick. In any case, as I said, we didn't spend much time. We took taxis immediately. Would have lost a ton of time in rental car pickup, dropoff, and constantly parking it in the overflow lot at BW since the main lot was way overfilled because of the race and F&W.

 

[freshmanjs]

There are only so many Minnie Vans available. Now, with the ability to get one at any park or resort, the need far surpasses the availability. For us, Uber or Lyft is a much better option, and a lot less expensive. Yes, the vans are cute but they are expensive, and the wait for one to get to you can be excessive.

True - except at MK, lyft or uber is not so convenient. Have to go to Contemp or TTC

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

True - except at MK, lyft or uber is not so convenient. Have to go to Contemp or TTC

Well at least you can get a ride once you get there. I don’t think anything that doesn’t actually show up is very convenient

 

[JimMIA]

Well at least you can get a ride once you get there. I don’t think anything that doesn’t actually show up is very convenient

LOL...right! It always cracks me up that people walk 10 miles a day at WDW parks and then think a 1/2 mile walk is "inconvenient."

Life is hard.

 

[freshmanjs]

LOL...right! It always cracks me up that people walk 10 miles a day at WDW parks and then think a 1/2 mile walk is "inconvenient."

Life is hard.

i don't know. At midnight after a full day and a halloween party, with a bunch of kids, that extra walk can be painful. I would call it inconvenient actually. But, I'm glad to provide entertainment for you!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

i don't know. At midnight after a full day and a halloween party, with a bunch of kids, that extra walk can be painful. I would call it inconvenient actually. But, I'm glad to provide entertainment for you!

And waiting an hour for a ride will be painless?

 

[freshmanjs]

And waiting an hour for a ride will be painless?

Where did I say that? Quite the opposite.

 

[goofy4tink]

You could take the monorail to the CR and get an Uber from there if walking there isn't an option. This is the problem with transportation at WDW...there is an expectation that is seldom fulfilled. As I said, the Minnie Vans are in great demand. There are only so many. So, there could be lengthy waits for one to get to you.
The walk to the CR from the MK is under 10 mins. You would be standing and waiting for a Minnie Van at least that long. I will always choose moving vs standing still.