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

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Honestly, without a way to get around closures due to the slightest weather, we wouldn't do it again. That's just way too big an inconvenience, especially during FL summers.

 

[AngiTN]

The bad news delivered by Timmy Boy has now been deleted. In the past year he has posted 15 times. Twice the post has been deleted and once it's been changed to "blah". Hopefully he is mistaken. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Curious.

ETA - I had a thought (a sad thought I admit) that PP deleted this post because it shared too much, too many details. CM are often not suppose to share their inside info and if they do, can get in trouble. If he(she) shared details only known to a select few and it was discovered then it wouldn't be hard to find out who shared it.

 

[MandyLovesMulan]

I wish they offered pre-purchase on this option. I plan on using it in September to make it to dining reservations at Epcot. (Replying to post to be kept updated on status/price of Express Transportation).

 

[AngiTN]

For what it's worth the Express Transportation page at the Disneyworld website remains live and unchanged. No mention of services ending.

That wouldn't be any indication at all. I wouldn't expect the website to show an announcement even if it were true

Can someone post (for the zillionth time, I'm sure) the best Disney contact info to use for an email like this? We have 3 upcoming trips and were planning to use it for all 3 trips! We LOVE Express Transportation!

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com
(google can find everything, I just had to scroll past the few official links to the response page on the Disney site)

Even if the PP was incorrect, it would be worth an email to report how much we love the service and look forward to using it on our next 2 trips.

 

[MandyLovesMulan]

Just emailed to voice support. Would like to use Express Transportation to stop by Epcot for Food & Wine festival, and Epcot restaurants during week of DisneyWorld park-visiting.

 

[prink022]

Emailed as well,

 

[Ydnameht]

I emailed via the website contact form last night. Said how much I'd liked the service, and encouraged others to use it, used it on all my trips this year and was planning on using it again in December and asked if it would still be running then.

Got this in reply:

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

We are so excited to hear how much you enjoy it!

We have not heard of it being stopped at any point at this time. It has been really well received, and hopefully it will not be ended anytime soon.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Justine Worthington
eCommerce Sales and Service Team

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

That figures. I booked EMM in MK on the 27th and the only way I was going to make my FOP FPs in AK was express transportation. Ugh. But thanks for the heads up.

A word of caution on this... I would NOT make any plans that cut things close enough that you are DEPENDENT on express transportation to make it on time.

We've tried to use it 3 times this past week. 2 out of 3 it was UNAVAILABLE -- because of bad weather was "forecast in the area" and they shut it down -- it drizzled both times for 3-5min and that was it. If we didn't have some leeway in our plans, we would have missed the Frozen dessert party.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I emailed via the website contact form last night. Said how much I'd liked the service, and encouraged others to use it, used it on all my trips this year and was planning on using it again in December and asked if it would still be running then.

Got this in reply:

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

We are so excited to hear how much you enjoy it!

We have not heard of it being stopped at any point at this time. It has been really well received, and hopefully it will not be ended anytime soon.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Justine Worthington
eCommerce Sales and Service Team

In my experience, they'll send these right up until the second something is discontinued if it hasn't been announced officially yet.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

A word of caution on this... I would NOT make any plans that cut things close enough that you are DEPENDENT on express transportation to make it on time.

We've tried to use it 3 times this past week. 2 out of 3 it was UNAVAILABLE -- because of bad weather was "forecast in the area" and they shut it down -- it drizzled both times for 3-5min and that was it. If we didn't have some leeway in our plans, we would have missed the Frozen dessert party.

It's a shuttle isn't it? Why would they close express transportation due to rain?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

It's a shuttle isn't it? Why would they close express transportation due to rain?

Nowhere in the "backstage" area where you board the bus that is sheltered, is what we were told by the CMs there -- twice.

Really diminishes its value when you cannot count on it, IMO. Surprised that's not mentioned more on here, actually!

 

[AngiTN]

It's a shuttle isn't it? Why would they close express transportation due to rain?

It's not the bus that can't run.
The CM required to escort the guest can't be out

 

[Gehrig1B]

It does seem the summer weather plays havoc with the service. We have used it in the Christmas season and not once was it interrupted by weather. Maybe they will build infrastructure if it continues to be popular.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

It does seem the summer weather plays havoc with the service. We have used it in the Christmas season and not once was it interrupted by weather. Maybe they will build infrastructure if it continues to be popular.

Agreed. I mentioned this a page or two back... that would be the only way we would buy it again... certainly in the summer... if they keep it around.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

So really then how worth it is it especially between like June and mid September (with mid August to mid September being peak hurricane season) to pay the $29 per person to PH early afternoon when it seems to be prime rain time?
If I can't use it and have to walk to the front and catch a bus I'm wasting time and money.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

So really then how worth it is it especially between like June and mid September (with mid August to mid September being peak hurricane season) to pay the $29 per person to PH early afternoon when it seems to be prime rain time?
If I can't use it and have to walk to the front and catch a bus I'm wasting time and money.

It has been an utter waste for us. Yup. YMMV, but during summer months... I don't see it being worth it. I could imagine it being discontinued for this reason... I could imagine many dissatisfied customers having shelled out ~$120 as we did for our party of 4, and effectively using it once so far.

YES, I knew ahead about the weather issue, but had no idea how SLIGHT the weather issue could be to cause the thing to be shut down! Literally drizzled for 3-5min -- we timed it!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Just a suggestion to @yulilin3 if she's still monitoring this thread in the awesome way that she manages to watch SO MANY threads on here... might it be a good idea to include the weather warning in the 1st post for people to be really clear on this?

Apologies if it's in there and I missed it.

 

[Ydnameht]

In my experience, they'll send these right up until the second something is discontinued if it hasn't been announced officially yet.

There is always that, yes.
For the moment I'll be cautiously optimistic.

 

[yulilin3]

Just a suggestion to @yulilin3 if she's still monitoring this thread in the awesome way that she manages to watch SO MANY threads on here... might it be a good idea to include the weather warning in the 1st post for people to be really clear on this?

Apologies if it's in there and I missed it.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll update post 1
The service is not available because cm have to escort people in and out and in case of lightning and heavy rain they can't be out .
I'm at dhs right now, I'll go over and ask about the service being discontinued or not

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll update post 1
The service is not available because cm have to escort people in and out and in case of lightning and heavy rain they can't be out .
I'm at dhs right now, I'll go over and ask about the service being discontinued or not

As a side note to the service being discontinued, which is looking more and more probable sadly, I wonder if the date will coincide with the Minnie Van rolling out to all resorts? Not that it is a replacement by at means just wonder if it will time together?