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

[Gillbob316]

Great recap. Lack of employee knowledge of basic things frustrates me but I can see in this case how some of the "front line" folks may not have known, at least at the start. But as you level up they should have at least known the basics like where the pick up points are.
One question, did they not have the signs out? There have been photos through the thread of signs pointing to the pick up points but I'm not clear on when they put them out, or exactly how far from the pick up point they have placed them

The only signs I saw for the service at all were directly out front of the pickup points. I didn't see any that weren't within eyeshot of the pickup points themselves. (But again, it was like... Day 3 of the service running, so they may have spread around a bit in the days since.)

Also, for the sake of saying it, I walked directly past the Epcot pickup area on my way into the park that morning, and took no notice of it whatsoever, so I'd go so far as to say (in my opinion) they don't jump out at you if you're not looking for them. (As I wasn't at that point. I was on my way to rope drop Frozen.) They're more or less just a subtle little makeshift area with a table, some benches, a few clapboard signs and a couple employees holding an ipad.

 

[campbellus]

Wondering when/if we will know if this service is going to continue? I'm going in April and absolutely love this idea when trying to travel with 4 teenagers who want to go everywhere and do everything...hoping that they keep it around and it's not TOO big of a success!!!

 

[yulilin3]

Wondering when/if we will know if this service is going to continue? I'm going in April and absolutely love this idea when trying to travel with 4 teenagers who want to go everywhere and do everything...hoping that they keep it around and it's not TOO big of a success!!!

We will probably find out closer to January 7th

 

[beaprn]

AngiTN said: ↑
Nothing has been taken away from those not paying for this service. Park to Park buses haven't gone anywhere. The same options you had before this are there after it.
There is really not much they can do to improve buses. They are darn good now. I said before, I think one would be hard pressed to find a municipal bus service run better.


So you think they have bought new bus and drivers in for this upgrade? Not a chance! As noted by several threads the regular bus system can be a challenge with empty buses one after another going by full guest stations waiting for long periods of time. You may think the system is great but others do not. I myself have waited at times for 45 minutes for a bus back to a moderate. Only time will tell whether this will "take away" from the regular bus and regular guests.

 

[IrishNYC]

AngiTN said: ↑
Nothing has been taken away from those not paying for this service. Park to Park buses haven't gone anywhere. The same options you had before this are there after it.
There is really not much they can do to improve buses. They are darn good now. I said before, I think one would be hard pressed to find a municipal bus service run better.


So you think they have bought new bus and drivers in for this upgrade? Not a chance! As noted by several threads the regular bus system can be a challenge with empty buses one after another going by full guest stations waiting for long periods of time. You may think the system is great but others do not. I myself have waited at times for 45 minutes for a bus back to a moderate. Only time will tell whether this will "take away" from the regular bus and regular guests.

They're currently using about 12 buses /drivers for this. 12 buses from the regular fleet that would otherwise sit idle in a lot somewhere. It's been discussed upthread how Disney came about using these buses and drivers, per info from one of the express drivers.

 

[Roxley]

Used this for the first time last night around 8:30 from AK to Epcot. We walked up, they asked us where we wanted to go, they said "let's go!" I think they were bored and would have had the bus take us to any park. Empty bus, nice cast members. It isn't very obvious that this is available. Maybe they will market it more if they decide to keep it. But for the trial period it worked in our favor!

 

[JJsmama]

So the drop off point in epcot is near Spaceship? It would be rewlly grewt if they would create a drop off in WS. I would definitely sign up for that bc hopping to dinner in WS from another park, you still have a loooong walk after getting to FW.

 

[AngiTN]

So the drop off point in epcot is near Spaceship? It would be rewlly grewt if they would create a drop off in WS. I would definitely sign up for that bc hopping to dinner in WS from another park, you still have a loooong walk after getting to FW.

I'm hoping that is added at some point. There is a good point back stage behind the US Pavilion. We used it for tours. Maybe, if it's made permanent they can consider adding WS too. Wishful thinking I'm sure

 

[rcraw45425]

It would be awesome if they added Disney springs as well! Hop from a park to DS, dine and then back to a park!

 

[Stitch808]

It would be awesome if they added Disney springs as well! Hop from a park to DS, dine and then back to a park!

I think with having the park to park express bus, they can alleviate congestion at the security checks for the park hoppers. They don't need to do any additional screenings since you wouldn't be able to obtain anything that you couldn't have at the previous park. If you add a DS to park, you would need to have a security check before getting to the park. I could see them adding DS if they do security checks for DS like they do at CityWalk.

 

[IrishNYC]

It would be awesome if they added Disney springs as well! Hop from a park to DS, dine and then back to a park!

That wouldn't work because you leave the security bubble once you enter DS. You'd need to clear security again upon park re-entry.

 

[Rory CB]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet: in my Destination Disney "It's Almost Time" email, they mentioned Express Transportation as something to add with no mention of a Jan 7th end date.

Make hopping easier with Express Transportation!
Add Express Transportation to your theme park ticket with Park Hopper®Option and get to the magic sooner. This new service will pick you up and drop you off from inside the theme park, bypassing the main entrance and standard theme park transportation.

Valid theme park admission and Park Hopper® Option required. Click here to Learn more.

There is even a webpage for it https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/express-transportation-options/ (summarizes what has already been mentioned in this thread)

edit: removed links, who knows what details they encoded but left the unadulterated one I had originally

 

[Elenadc]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet: in my Destination Disney "It's Almost Time" email, they mentioned Express Transportation as something to add with no mention of a Jan 7th end date.



There is even a webpage for it https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/express-transportation-options/ (summarizes what has already been mentioned in this thread)

edit: removed links, who knows what details they encoded but left the unadulterated one I had originall

Awesome! We check in on the 7th and were planning to add this on the 9th to last till the end of our trip, hopefully this means it'll still be in operation.

 

[beesly]

There is even a webpage for it https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/express-transportation-options/ (summarizes what has already been mentioned in this thread)

I hadn't noticed this! I hope this means the test is going well and that it's going to be extended. I'd really like to use this service at the end of January!

 

[Gina Starr]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet: in my Destination Disney "It's Almost Time" email, they mentioned Express Transportation as something to add with no mention of a Jan 7th end date.



There is even a webpage for it https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/express-transportation-options/ (summarizes what has already been mentioned in this thread)

edit: removed links, who knows what details they encoded but left the unadulterated one I had originally

I was going to come and report the same thing. My check in date is after the 7th so hopefully that means it's going to be extended!

 

[Gehrig1B]

We ride the Express bus today, HS to Epcot 5:00 departure. Could have been an anomaly but there were 19 riders on our bus. If you did not know where to look you would have a hard time finding the pickup point at HS. Hidden nicely behind Rockin' Roller coaster fastpass queu.

 

[j2thomason]

We just got home yesterday from our trip and used the express transportation several times throughout the week. We did notice as it got later in the week that there were more riders on the buses, but we were never on a full bus. I also noticed on the counter at the concierge desk at our resort they had a frame displayed with all of the information about the express bus service. I sure hope they keep it, we LOVED using it to park hop! It was well worth the price for 7 days.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

That wouldn't work because you leave the security bubble once you enter DS. You'd need to clear security again upon park re-entry.

For now.....

MG

 

[awilliams4]

I really hope this new service works and and becomes long term.

 

[AngiTN]

Promising news with the addition of the website and the info in the email. If it's still there for our trip later this month we will use it for sure.