Minnie Vans--A goo decision?

[TheBigErn]

The only transportation we have ever used to get around WDW is either a rental car or the historic transportation options (monorail, bus, boat). I'm looking into using the Minnie Vans but I some reservations. First is cost. Doing some online research and it looks like I have a bill that doubles (at least) the cost of a rental car. Also, are the vans readily available, i.e. is there ever a time when there just aren't any available? What's the typical wait time for one to arrive? What are the advantages of the van vs. rental car? I do know that going to Hoop Dee Do they can drop off right at Pioneer Hall vs parking and taking a bus. That's the only place we will be going other than the 4 parks and DS

 

[fla4fun]

The only transportation we have ever used to get around WDW is either a rental car or the historic transportation options (monorail, bus, boat). I'm looking into using the Minnie Vans but I some reservations. First is cost. Doing some online research and it looks like I have a bill that doubles (at least) the cost of a rental car. Also, are the vans readily available, i.e. is there ever a time when there just aren't any available? What's the typical wait time for one to arrive? What are the advantages of the van vs. rental car? I do know that going to Hoop Dee Do they can drop off right at Pioneer Hall vs parking and taking a bus. That's the only place we will be going other than the 4 parks and DS

We use a combination of MV and traditional Disney transportation. Typically, we use regular Disney transportation to go to the parks or DS, but depending on how tired we are or what the weather is doing, we might take a MV back to the resort. Taking a MV to and from Hoop Dee Do is a good choice, since you do have access to Pioneer Hall, but it also depends on what else you are doing that day. For example, if you are going to MK, the FW boat also drops you off near Pioneer Hall so you could use that and just take a MV back to your hotel afterwards.

Yes, a MV does cost more than an Uber/Lyft, but they can get you closer to your destination in some cases. The MV will also be allowed to drop off at hotels like CR or BC where access may be restricted at certain times to regular rideshares. However, they can be an option in some cases where the MV doesn’t have any special access, or for going off property if you choose.

We have not had an issue with availability but we have not used one during the worst of park opening and closing crowds. I think our longest wait was fifteen minutes at BC on a rainy evening around 7:00pm that shut down the Skyliner so we needed another way to get to Pop.

 

[TheBigErn]

To further refine my original post--all of days will originate from AKL. So arrival day we will go to Hoop Dee Do only. Day 2 to HS only. Day 3 AK in the morning then to MK for MNSSHP. I have some concerns getting a MV that night getting back to AK. Then day 3 to EP. Departure day to DS and from there to MCO.

 

[fla4fun]

To further refine my original post--all of days will originate from AKL. So arrival day we will go to Hoop Dee Do only. Day 2 to HS only. Day 3 AK in the morning then to MK for MNSSHP. I have some concerns getting a MV that night getting back to AK. Then day 3 to EP. Departure day to DS and from there to MCO.

I am not sure how late they run, and the website just says hours may vary. Perhaps a search of the threads regarding the party will shed some light on that. I don’t believe they run 24 hours like regular rideshares though. You may be stuck with a bus at that hour.

Last I heard, only concierge guests can use MV to/from the airport and it has to be pre booked by phone, not through the app. Not sure if they are still doing it. I drive to WDW so I don’t have experience with that.