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

[winthropf]

I wanted to let everyone know of an issue I had with Express Transportation today (Thursday 2/2). I wanted to go from MK to EP on the 1140 bus. I had purchased 7 days of express last Friday (1/27)at about 1100. When the CM scanned by band, it came up that I was not eligible and no longer had express transportation. After some discussion, the CM stated that computer system deactivates express on day 7 at the time of purchase on day 1. They did let me on the bus, but I pointed out that this is really then only 6 days of transportation. They were able to look up that I purchased it and let me on the bus with no problems other than a slight delay. The CM stated that the program was still a pilot with bugs, but I will follow up with feedback to Disney.

The message is to keep track of when you bought and have them either give you a receipt or email a receipt. The CM asked for either, neither of which I had since they can't print a receipt at purchase and I declined the email.

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

I wanted to let everyone know of an issue I had with Express Transportation today (Thursday 2/2). I wanted to go from MK to EP on the 1140 bus. I had purchased 7 days of express last Friday (1/27)at about 1100. When the CM scanned by band, it came up that I was not eligible and no longer had express transportation. After some discussion, the CM stated that computer system deactivates express on day 7 at the time of purchase on day 1. They did let me on the bus, but I pointed out that this is really then only 6 days of transportation. They were able to look up that I purchased it and let me on the bus with no problems other than a slight delay. The CM stated that the program was still a pilot with bugs, but I will follow up with feedback to Disney.

The message is to keep track of when you bought and have them either give you a receipt or email a receipt. The CM asked for either, neither of which I had since they can't print a receipt at purchase and I declined the email.

Interesting... thanks for sharing! This is a good tip for the of us who hope to use the system in the next few months. Although, quite sad that it's even necessary. Sounds like the CM gave you a bit of trouble, which is surprising. It sounded like the CMs working this were super-helpful at first, I'm wondering if as it increases in popularity, they might be less willing to work with people. In any case, if I use this, I'll be sure to carry a receipt on me.

 

[gap2368]

It was not during our use last week.
There was never more than 6 on any bus except our last one from Epcot to MK on Friday night. We took the 6:00 bus and there was actually enough people to fill the queue at Epcot and even an ECV to load. It was maybe 10 people, easily the busiest we had. I did notice that every time we used it there were others heading to other parks too. So I think every bus was leaving with at least 1 guest on it
I did note a potential issue with ECV usage. Their schedule.
Loading 1 ECV caused them to leave Epcot a couple of min late. Had there been a 2nd one, it would been even more late. Now, maybe the bus arrived later than it should have, not sure. But if ECV users start to use it often they'll want to tweak loading a bit, to give themselves more time. The CM loading us had us wait while he went to tell the driver they had an ECV so he had the seats up and ramp down when we walked to the stop. Still, they didn't allocate quite enough time to get the ECV loaded, the guests loaded and depart on time.
Otherwise, every bus we departed on left at the exact minute it was supposed to.

when I went with my friend with an ECV they let us back to lead about 5 minutes before they let other people back on the bus They do ask that you get there 10 minutes early and this maybe why so if they have to load someone or someone need more time ( like the long walk at AK) then they can do this. now this is just a guess but just about every time we were loaded and had to wait about 4ish minutes to leave

 

[sharonabe]

I wanted to let everyone know of an issue I had with Express Transportation today (Thursday 2/2). I wanted to go from MK to EP on the 1140 bus. I had purchased 7 days of express last Friday (1/27)at about 1100. When the CM scanned by band, it came up that I was not eligible and no longer had express transportation. After some discussion, the CM stated that computer system deactivates express on day 7 at the time of purchase on day 1. They did let me on the bus, but I pointed out that this is really then only 6 days of transportation

Technically, you had 7 days. You had Friday from 11:00 when you bought it. Seven 24 hr days later is Thursday at 11:00. They didn't have to let you on that 11:40 bus.

However, this needs to be a prominent explanation somewhere as most of us do not "count" days from the hour.

 

[freewill]

Technically, you had 7 days. You had Friday from 11:00 when you bought it. Seven 24 hr days later is Thursday at 11:00. They didn't have to let you on that 11:40 bus.

However, this needs to be a prominent explanation somewhere as most of us do not "count" days from the hour.

Counting 7 full 24-hour periods starting on Friday at 11 am would last until the following Friday at 11 am, not Thursday at 11, wouldn't it?

 

[yulilin3]

Counting 7 full 24-hour periods starting on Friday at 11 am would last until the following Friday at 11 am, not Thursday at 11, wouldn't it?

yes it would. Like the CM it's just them ironing out the bugs in the system. But everyone who purchases this should keep the receipt. The other thing is that they sell it by day. So technically if I buy a one day express at 11am, it should be good until 11am the next day but it is not, it's just for one day, so their system is build the same way and not a full 24 hours from the moment you purchase

 

[freewill]

yes it would. Like the CM it's just them ironing out the bugs in the system. But everyone who purchases this should keep the receipt. The other thing is that they sell it by day. So technically if I buy a one day express at 11am, it should be good until 11am the next day but it is not, it's just for one day, so their system is build the same way and not a full 24 hours from the moment you purchase

Right. So their current system is really set up for the express pass to be good for 7 calendar days, except the end time on day 7 is keyed to the purchase time on the first day. So it ends up being good for 6 days on the calendar and some portion of a 7th day too. Hope they fix and/or clarify going forward, with hope that they keep this service going forward!

 

[cakebaker]

Counting 7 full 24-hour periods starting on Friday at 11 am would last until the following Friday at 11 am, not Thursday at 11, wouldn't it?

That's how I counted it. Regardless, that's just a bad way of doing it. They shouldn't be counting on a 24 hour clock. It should be 7 days regardless of the time of day you bought the ticket. Hopefully they'll adjust that. It would appear had this person had their receipt with them, there would have been no issue. Perhaps it is not their intent to do it this way, just a glitch in how it was set up.

 

[sharonabe]

Counting 7 full 24-hour periods starting on Friday at 11 am would last until the following Friday at 11 am, not Thursday at 11, wouldn't it?

Sorry, my fingers got messed up! Good thing I didn't need my toes too.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

we were given a receipt (printed) when we purchased it - I carried it with us for a day or so then left it in the room - good reminder to keep it with us!

 

[ErinsMommy]

Still waiting for them to update their system to add this as a 'package add on' when booking.

 

[AngiTN]

Interesting... thanks for sharing! This is a good tip for the of us who hope to use the system in the next few months. Although, quite sad that it's even necessary. Sounds like the CM gave you a bit of trouble, which is surprising. It sounded like the CMs working this were super-helpful at first, I'm wondering if as it increases in popularity, they might be less willing to work with people. In any case, if I use this, I'll be sure to carry a receipt on me.

I didn't take that at all. It sounded like to me they CM was very helpful. They scanned, didn't see the service as active. They wouldn't have known that it was expired. Once they learned the story, they did let them ride, so helpful, no?

Right. So their current system is really set up for the express pass to be good for 7 calendar days, except the end time on day 7 is keyed to the purchase time on the first day. So it ends up being good for 6 days on the calendar and some portion of a 7th day too. Hope they fix and/or clarify going forward, with hope that they keep this service going forward!

I think because they sell it as days, not hours, the way they do it works.
It's no different than if you buy a 1 day park ticket. If you buy and walk in at noon you don't get till the next day at noon. You get the day you buy, till closing, no more.
With this, you get the day you buy, plus the next 6 days, till closing.
Makes sense to me

when I went with my friend with an ECV they let us back to lead about 5 minutes before they let other people back on the bus They do ask that you get there 10 minutes early and this maybe why so if they have to load someone or someone need more time ( like the long walk at AK) then they can do this. now this is just a guess but just about every time we were loaded and had to wait about 4ish minutes to leave

That would be better than the way they did it for us. They walked us all back together, we just waited to the side while the ECV loaded.

 

[gap2368]

That would be better than the way they did it for us. They walked us all back together, we just waited to the side while the ECV loaded.

I think like all things with Disney it just depends on how many CM are there and things like that but I think they did this for use just about every time.

 

[cakebaker]

With this, you get the day you buy, plus the next 6 days, till closing.

This is seriously making my head hurt. lol

If I buy the express pass at noon on Monday, I will get until noon the following Monday the way it's set up now. That's not up until closing on the next 6 days after I buy it. It expires on the following Monday (the 6th day after purchase) at noon. It would seem to me they are running it on a 24 hour clock, not by day.

I agree it didn't sound to be like the guest was given any trouble- they just had to figure it out first.

 

[AngiTN]

Ah, gotcha. I didn't count days and I should have. I made a mistake that Wednesday would be the last day. My bad.
So it was from 11:00 Friday till 11:00 Thursday. Got it now. The clock started counting day 1 at the hour 1 of purchase vs. hour 24.

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

I didn't take that at all. It sounded like to me they CM was very helpful. They scanned, didn't see the service as active. They wouldn't have known that it was expired. Once they learned the story, they did let them ride, so helpful, no?

Okay, after a re-read, I can see that. I was just surprised they wanted to see receipts and such, but I guess they can't just take the word of guests, which makes sense.

 

[ChrisNY2]

This is seriously making my head hurt. lol

If I buy the express pass at noon on Monday, I will get until noon on Monday the way it's set up now. That's not up until closing on the next 6 days after I buy it. It expires on the following Monday (the 6th day after purchase) at noon. It would seem to me they are running it on a 24 hour clock, not by day.

I agree it didn't sound to be like the guest was given any trouble- they just had to figure it out first.

Are you sure? I think it IS in fact by calendar day. So if you buy it at 11:00am on Fri Jan 27, you get 7 calendar days: Fri Jan 27; Sat Jan 28; Sun Jan 29; Mon Jan 30; Tues Jan 31; Wed Feb 1; Thurs Feb 2 and then it expires at midnight on Feb 2. That would be consistent with every other kind of Disney tickets. And using it on Friday Feb 3 at 11:40 would be after the expiration date. If you buy a single day, you just get it for that calendar date, not 24 hours.

From my recent resort email from disney:

• Single-day ticket: $15
  Valid for date of purchase only
• Multi-day ticket: $24
  Valid for up to 7 consecutive days beginning on date of purchase

 

[AngiTN]

Are you sure? I think it IS in fact by calendar day. So if you buy it at 11:00am on Fri Jan 27, you get 7 calendar days: Fri Jan 27; Sat Jan 28; Sun Jan 29; Mon Jan 30; Tues Jan 31; Wed Feb 1; Thurs Feb 2 and then it expires at midnight on Feb 2. That would be consistent with every other kind of Disney tickets. And using it on Friday Feb 3 at 11:40 would be after the expiration date. If you buy a single day, you just get it for that calendar date, not 24 hours.

From my recent resort email from disney:

• Single-day ticket: $15
  Valid for date of purchase only
• Multi-day ticket: $24
  Valid for up to 7 consecutive days beginning on date of purchase

Right, that's how I was looking at it too. But PP said they were tying to use it on Thursday at 11:40, not Friday. So that blew the theory out of the water

 

[ChrisNY2]

Right, that's how I was looking at it too. But PP said they were tying to use it on Thursday at 11:40, not Friday. So that blew the theory out of the water

Thanks! Missed that.

 

[jrsharp21]

Contemplating using this service for when we go for the Princess Half Marathon weekend. We will be there for three days and have park hoppers. Our niece is coming with us and she has never been before and wants to do as much as possible in those three days. Our ADR's, race viewing, and FP's have us hopping all over place. Also, our plan is to close down the MK each night after the other parks close earlier. I am thinking this may be the most efficient way for us to park hop that weekend and not spend a ton of time on buses and security lines, especially with the run crowds that weekend.