New Express Transportation: $19/day or $29/week-SERVICE ENDING AUGUST 23RD 2017

[yulilin3]

Are these going to be the same type of buses as used for the resorts? Or shuttle vans? If vans, how does that work with kids needing to be in car seats?

They have not indicated what type of transport it will be yet

 

[Mom2Stitch]

All I can think of is the show aspect that was built into the entry of the parks.

Whatever. Who cares about show.

This is exactly how I feel about the cabanas going up. They don't belong and are not part of the show.

 

[famy27]

They just added the multi day for AP
Annual Passholders may purchase the single-day service for $15 or the multi-day service for $24 (valid for seven consecutive days from day of sale).

This is excellent. I was feeling unloved as an AP. I could definitely see us using this. We do a fair amount of park-to-park hopping, and I would love to skip the lines to get into the park and be able to get to the second park faster. If they have transport ready and waiting when Illuminations is over, and I can hop to MK for EMH, I would be all over this. Hopping from AK will be great as well. I think we'll still walk between HS and EP, but pretty much everything else is on the table as a possibility. For $100 for the four of us for a week, that's really not a bad deal at all.

 

[HopperFan]

Oh my ..... this is not a scam. It's a luxury service that Disney is offering (probably due to responses from guests taking the survey on transportation and asking if they would pay extra for it). Everyone has different perceptions of value and what they want to spend their money on. I think deluxe resorts are grossly overpriced for what you get and can't fathom spending triple and more their market value - but am fine if those resorts make your trip special. And some think cabanas, progressive dinners and now "express" buses for a fee are overpriced and unneeded while others find they will be a nice plus to their trip. Disney has been testing stuff for decades, it's what a good business does to tap all the income they can from their market. It is up to US the consumer to decide what is good for us, and not worry about the next guy and their wallet.

Well, so is Park to Park.
I think PP meant they'd love to be able to go from inside the park to their Resort, or from the resort to inside the Park.
I am fairly sure we'll not see that added due to security concerns. Unless they add on bag check on the bus like they do for tours. I believe this would have to be a huge success for them to add that portion on. Just my opinion

Oh .... I didn't read it that way. Not sure what I think about that.
To put security at the hotels, the infrastructure of a different bus stop, equipment and staff ...
... then upon arrival at the park, it seems invasive to the resort atmosphere.
It sounds like it's just making a lot of work and complication for little money at this point.
I think I would just assume get on the regular bus and approach a span of security than one at each hotel.

No, the Eastgate bus loop is at the front of the park, behind the security and admissions offices, near the tunnel entrance.

Has already been noted earlier, and edited.

Are you staying longer than 7 days?
Annual Passholders may purchase the single-day service for $15 or the multi-day service for $24 (valid for seven consecutive days from day of sale).

Great they made this more clear.
Sounds like you don't have to be tied to a resort stay ... which is fair since hoppers don't have to. And 7 matches up with our FP+ booking, consistent.
If I were staying a week and planning lots of park time, could be a plus.

I avoid backstage views,so no go for me.

Still traumatized by my evac from Maelstrom 20+ years ago and I saw the awful backstage there. So opposite pristine magical Disney.

They have not indicated what type of transport it will be yet

Guessing this will depend/change based on how many folks are interested. What I am afraid of is at this low price the demand will be high and they will have to look at a more formal type of entry to transport bigger numbers ...

This is exactly how I feel about the cabanas going up. They don't belong and are not part of the show.

The cabanas/tents are temporary. If they become permanent they are expected (based on rumors) to be designed and incorporated into the area to blend in. Just like all the retail stores, fast food restaurants and amusement rides at the parks.

 

[yulilin3]

They just said it will be buses and not vans

 

[nkereina]

We park hop frequently but not until after our mid-day break, so we're coming from our resort anyhow. Unless/until something like this includes resorts, it wouldn't appeal to us. But more power to the people who are into this idea! Go for it - I don't understand why people would be against it when it's completely optional.

 

[AngiTN]

We park hop frequently but not until after our mid-day break, so we're coming from our resort anyhow. Unless/until something like this includes resorts, it wouldn't appeal to us. But more power to the people who are into this idea! Go for it - I don't understand why people would be against it when it's completely optional.

You and me both

 

[mickeyluv'r]

So this is now a scam? Really? Care to explain how folks interested in this are being scammed? At least based on what we know now (not what guesses are being thrown around)

Where will it stop?

Maybe they can add an upcharge for the shuttle boats while they are at it.

Disney used to offer free transportation within WDW.

From WDW's POV, this doesn't cost them more, it costs them LESS.

Cutting the number of guests who have to be screened enables them to reduce staffing costs, because they will need fewer security screeners. It saves them money to shuttle guests within the security perimeter instead of having guests going outside the secure area, and being screened twice.


I'm not sure you are thinking through how this is actually going to play out.

 

[yulilin3]

Disney used to offer free transportation within WDW.

it still does, the free transportation is not going away

 

[AngiTN]

Where will it stop?

Maybe they can add an upcharge for the shuttle boats while they are at it.

Disney used to offer free transportation within WDW.

From WDW's POV, this doesn't cost them more, it costs them LESS.

Cutting the number of guests who have to be screened enables them to reduce staffing costs, because they will need fewer security screeners. It saves them money to shuttle guests within the security perimeter instead of having guests going outside the secure area, and being screened twice.


I'm not sure you are thinking through how this is actually going to play out.

The stops are listed in the first post.
I'm thinking it through very well. I'm keeping an open mind.
This stands to be a very beneficial service to those that are interested in it. And it stands to be a mess. No one knows which at this point.
I'm not discounting it just because I currently think Disney can do nothing right.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I don't understand why people would be against it when it's completely optional.

I think you have to look at the big picture impact.

What happened to no-expire tickets?

Maybe I'm getting too old, but all WDW tickets used to non-expiring hoppers. You bought a ticket and it never expired.

Then they discovered they could make more money if they charged for hopping, and the no-expire option.

Then they decided they could make more money if all tickets expired.

This is a downward trend where we are going to pay more for less.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

it still does, the free transportation is not going away

Just like never-expiring tickets, I'm sure.

 

[hsmamato2]

I think you're jumping the gun a bit. This is an added service primarily meant to make transport between parks faster for those who want it. There will still be free resort transportation options, which I think for the most part runs ok.[/QUOTE
respectfully...I don't think so. If the 'free' system is already under stress to perform optimally (aka 'hey folks,want BETTER QUICKER service?') then diverting money,time,and workers for a paid service isn;t going to improve the situation any. Rather than working on that 'free onsite' perk and bettering it, the solution is to charge for something that's better. Hmmm novel idea, I believe that already exists in the form of taxis,uber,and rental cars.

 

[Number Six]

So buses after all...they got to come from somewhere.

 

[squirrel]

I would actually consider it since I'm so allergic to smoke. I find leaving the parks the most dangerous for me as that is when everyone lights up after leaving the park.

 

[yulilin3]

Just like never-expiring tickets, I'm sure.

I'm not here to try and convince anyone that something Disney does is good or bad. Like I said you can have your negative opinion on this and that's ok.

For those that are contemplating on using this optional, add-on service. I will continue checking the Hub and see if they post anymore information, and if need be, I'll update the first post

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I'm intrigued and I'm one of those people who will try it for the sake of trying it! Eliminating a lot of walking and 2nd security lines for a week for $24 sounds pretty good. Just curious, it sounds like they are not picking up/dropping off anywhere backstage in EP WS, is that correct?

 

[yulilin3]

I'm intrigued and I'm one of those people who will try it for the sake of trying it! Eliminating a lot of walking and 2nd security lines for a week for $24 sounds pretty good. Just curious, it sounds like they are not picking up/dropping off anywhere backstage in EP WS, is that correct?

correct, as of now it seems it's in Future World

 

[mom2rtk]

So buses after all...they got to come from somewhere.

Nah, I'm sure they're buying a new fleet. Nothing to see here. Let's all just move along......

 

[IrishNYC]

I don't see how this is going to eliminate the walk to the bus stop, unless this new bus magically pulls up beside you as soon as you decide you want to hop. From the description of the stops, you will just be stepping behind the scenes, not walking all the way to the front of the park, and out to the bus stops, which can be very far from the entrance/exit. But hey, if for an extra price I can get something like a golf cart to transport me on demand, I'm in. What's the uncharge?

The one thing mentioned is that this new bus will run every 30minutes, AND there is an upcharge. to me, that is way too far apart to be useful. Do park to park buses come less than every half hour now? Probably close to it. They're not currently on any particular schedule, either, so a scheduled departure time is a big plus.

If it only arrives every half hour, then people will have to walk to the designated bus stop and wait.

Waiting is waiting. It is wasted time. If the far left line is 5mintues shorter, I will happily walk the extra 15 feet.

Any time I have to be in a designated spot at a designated time at WDW, then I have to modify my actions to arrive at location at the prescribed time.

Disney is adding this for their benefit, not ours.

Clearly it's not for your benefit or interest, but it's not taking anything away from your enjoyment, either.

A scam is a scam is a scam is a scam. Calling it a rose, as Bernie Madoff did, doesn't mean it isn't a scam.

I think I still live in America, where I'm allowed to be skeptical, and have my own opinion.

Sorry if you disagree.

There's no scam here, nor any need to continue to besmirch anyone that sees the value in this.

Where will it stop?

Maybe they can add an upcharge for the shuttle boats while they are at it. You can get a private water shuttle for an upcharge. Pretty similar to this program.

Disney used to offer free transportation within WDW. They still do.

From WDW's POV, this doesn't cost them more, it costs them LESS. Are you privy to this information where this will "cost them less?" Source?

Cutting the number of guests who have to be screened enables them to reduce staffing costs, because they will need fewer security screeners. It saves them money to shuttle guests within the security perimeter instead of having guests going outside the secure area, and being screened twice. With the increase in security over the last year, perhaps they see this as easing the time and manpower associated with that increase. You're just assuming this is budgetary, but it's also a benefit to those who choose not to use the premium shuttle service, as now there are less people (Ooooh a whole 2-6 busloads per hour!) going through security.


I'm not sure you are thinking through how this is actually going to play out.

I think you have to look at the big picture impact.

What happened to no-expire tickets?

Maybe I'm getting too old, but all WDW tickets used to non-expiring hoppers. You bought a ticket and it never expired.

Then they discovered they could make more money if they charged for hopping, and the no-expire option.

Then they decided they could make more money if all tickets expired.

This is a downward trend where we are going to pay more for less.

It really just sounds like Disney can do no right in your eyes, so why do you keep giving them your money?