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

[rteetz]

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

Whatever. Who cares about show.

Iger and Chapek sure don't care.

 

[rteetz]

Interesting. But I'll wait for $1000 helicopter transfers between the parks. Just kidding of course.

Oh just wait that will start next month

Seriously though nothing surprises me anymore. This has to be like 10 new add ons in the last month or so.

It's all about the bottom line. Gotta make wall street happy.

 

[miamimi]

I was wrong and I know better. There are always folks who will find fault with anything Disney does. No matter what it is. I knew better.

Actually you could be right, but stating that this won't effect the average park goer is just an assumption on your part. There are always people who think Disney can do no wrong, no matter what it is.

 

[Mousetopia]

They need to clarify the "$24 multi day ..If I am there 15 days I can pay one low fee of 24$ and this is covered? If so I am IN....seems unlikely.

I love the SHOW of going in the regular way..but I am OLD (LOL) and overweight and the long hoof in and out is exhausting at times. I like the concept of being plopped down in the middle of the park. Looking forward to hearing more.

Although I am concerned about the money grab feel I get too often from Disney decisions of late this just sounds like good business. Yes they should continue to improve regular busses..and it seems like they are but this is a completely different animal. I love the convenience of uber and willingly pay for that this is one notch above if they make it affordable.

 

[mom2rtk]

Oh just wait that will start next month

Seriously though nothing surprises me anymore. This has to be like 10 new add ons in the last month or so.

It's all about the bottom line. Gotta make wall street happy.

Anybody who doesn't see the big picture of how desperate this all seems isn't looking.

It feels like they pulled everyone off of their regular responsibilities and put them in a room to brainstorm on ideas and implementation of as many additional revenue streams as possible.

That makes me wonder what's up behind the scenes. I mean, more revenue is always good, but why such an intense focus all at once?

 

[mom2rtk]

They need to clarify the "$24 multi day ..If I am there 15 days I can pay one low fee of 24$ and this is covered? If so I am IN....seems unlikely

You can only buy up to a 10 day park hopper. No word yet on whether there will be multi day rate for AP holders.

 

[HopperFan]

They're adding capacity just for this? If not, then something is being taken away: buses normally used for other routes.

Park-to-Park. 6 routes. Every 30 minutes. @3 buses per route allowing one at each end and one in transit. 18 buses.

Guarantee at any given moment there are at least that many sitting idle. As Disney continues to buy new buses, they can simply move older ones into jobs like this and other backstage transports. All they will need is the drivers scheduled. HIGHLY doubt this will impact regular operations at all - in terms of buses and drivers.

They will need in-park kiosk & escort CMs but you know .... DCP covers lots of these jobs at minimum pay.

I wish I could picture where all those busstops are... I need a map, lol.

Magic Kingdom. When you come off of Buzz Lightyear ride, where Buzz where stand meeting. He will go behind the wall through a door. Back there is parking and that is where they will take you to get on the bus which will exit a service road out next to the bus depot.

Epcot. EDITED: Apparently this is more by front entrance.

DHS. When you go to RnR ... there is now a huge gate in the courtyard by the FP+ entrance. That goes to the Sunset Showcase where Club Villain is held. Beside it is parking/road that is by ToT for proximity.

AK. Go to Safaris entrance. Hard left is a service road just behind the wall that will wrap around Pandora as it head to the Bus Depot road.

Anybody who doesn't see the big picture of how desperate this all seems isn't looking.

It feels like they pulled everyone off of their regular responsibilities and put them in a room to brainstorm on ideas and implementation of as many additional revenue streams as possible.

That makes me wonder what's up behind the scenes. I mean, more revenue is always good, but why such an intense focus all at once?

Disney is sending tons of surveys at WDW. One of the later ones was about transportation, uber, taxi etc. It asked questions about Disney offering a pay for service that could shorten travel time. I would imagine the responses they got were in favor of this and now they are testing it out. I'm not surprised they would try to reduce on site traffic by limiting some need for ubers/taxi.

 

[hakepb]

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

Whatever. Who cares about show.

I agree, but the extra bag check and security checkpoints have already reduced the value of that show.

If they eventually remodel these back entrances like the behind Main Street walkways, or even better they could do some fun theming and more of the personal greeting panels showing up in rides and queues) it might be a Show improvement due to the lack of security and bag check.

 

[rteetz]

Anybody who doesn't see the big picture of how desperate this all seems isn't looking.

It feels like they pulled everyone off of their regular responsibilities and put them in a room to brainstorm on ideas and implementation of as many additional revenue streams as possible.

That makes me wonder what's up behind the scenes. I mean, more revenue is always good, but why such an intense focus all at once?

It's funny because a source I follow for rumors mentioned that 2016 was going to an "interesting" year in terms of the theme parks and their operations. Well so far it has, add on after add on.

This comes down to a few things,
ESPN is losing money like nothing before it
They are still recovering a bit from Shanghai
Then you have budget issues in the US with RoL, Avatar, and other projects.

They are finding ways for a quick return, they don't care about the long term because Iger won't be here for more than another 2 years.

 

[miamimi]

Anybody who doesn't see the big picture of how desperate this all seems isn't looking.

It feels like they pulled everyone off of their regular responsibilities and put them in a room to brainstorm on ideas and implementation of as many additional revenue streams as possible.

That makes me wonder what's up behind the scenes. I mean, more revenue is always good, but why such an intense focus all at once?

If it's like any of the places I've worked, it's because there are major financial problems at WDW. Notice how there's not the upsell push at DLR?

IMO it all goes back to the sucking black hole known as MDE. I think it is still costing big bucks and the expected uptick in revenue never materialized.

 

[rteetz]

I agree, but the extra bag check and security checkpoints have already reduced the value of that show.

If they eventually remodel these back entrances like the behind Main Street walkways, or even better they could do some fun theming and more of the personal greeting panels showing up in rides and queues) it might be a Show improvement due to the lack of security and bag check.

I did just see someone on wdwmagic say that they have thought about this and the point of pick up and drop off are strategically placed so that the guest isn't seeing parts of backstage that they shouldn't. The guests will just be seeing CM parking areas, and boring backstage things that won't mess with the guest experience much.

 

[Disneylover99]

You can only buy up to a 10 day park hopper. No word yet on whether there will be multi day rate for AP holders.

I will be really ticked if I stay on site for 10 days as an AP holder and it will cost me $150 if I want to use this service daily as opposed to $24 for just having a 10 day park hopper.

 

[rteetz]

If it's like any of the places I've worked, it's because there are major financial problems at WDW. Notice how there's not the upsell push at DLR?

IMO it all goes back to the sucking black hole known as MDE. I think it is still costing big bucks and the expected uptick in revenue never materialized.

No upswell push at DLR because they wouldn't pay for it there. DLR is a different animal due to the clientele. With that said DLR is planning on adding cabanas if the tests here go well.

It's also not just WDW having financial problems, ESPN, Shanghai, Paris, etc.

 

[HopperFan]

If it's like any of the places I've worked, it's because there are major financial problems at WDW. Notice how there's not the upsell push at DLR?

IMO it all goes back to the sucking black hole known as MDE. I think it is still costing big bucks and the expected uptick in revenue never materialized.

Two completely different animals, two different guest bases, two different operational styles. You can't compare them any more than you can compare WDW to Universal.

 

[rteetz]

Two completely different animals, two different guest bases, two different operational styles. You can't compare them any more than you can compare WDW to Universal.

However I have heard Bob Chapek wants WDW to be more like DLR in terms of operations.

 

[Mousetopia]

You can only buy up to a 10 day park hopper. No word yet on whether there will be multi day rate for AP holders.

I cant wait to hear if that means $24 for 10 days! That sounds great to me!

 

[gorkt]

I like the idea and I would have gladly paid for it on my last trip! My only concern is that it would burst the disney bubble a bit by seeing backstage areas.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I'm unsure if Disney is really having financial issues (if so, why announce that huge Hong Kong expansion for a park whose attendance really isn't even that great). Or if it's just Disney wanting every last dollar they can get.

 

[Madonna3]

They need to clarify the "$24 multi day ..If I am there 15 days I can pay one low fee of 24$ and this is covered? If so I am IN....seems unlikely.

Yeah, I am kind of wondering about this too. As a passholder, it's giving me the option of buying it at the single day rate, but if a multi day ticket holder can buy it for $24 and use it for 15 days like you mentioned, then why can't I, especially if I am on an extended trip. I think it would be more fair to let passholders buy it at $24, but perhaps put a limit on it like 14 days before they have to buy another one.

 

[Madonna3]

I will be really ticked if I stay on site for 10 days as an AP holder and it will cost me $150 if I want to use this service daily as opposed to $24 for just having a 10 day park hopper.

Exactly. I think they should sell it to passholders for $24 and limit the use to 14 days. It could work the same way the Guest Assistance Access passes work.