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

[MickeyMinnieMom]

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?

They may... but my gut says it's unnecessary. We saw very few people waiting for the express service when we tried to use it. The one time we were able to, there were 2 people on the bus besides our party. Didn't look like it was getting much traffic that would have to be given a different option in the form of the Minnie Vans. But I know that you've used the service A LOT!! Maybe you've seen it get a lot of use?

 

[Doug S]

I think the only big cost to Disney with running the express service is the CM's that have to work the kiosks. The buses are simply just regular old buses that dispatch has assigned to the express routes, so no extra cost there. I've gone ahead and made a copy of my plans with extra park hopping time in case the service is discontinued, but I'm hopeful.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

So I've seen an article about Minnie Vans but didn't really think I'd use them so I don't know much about them.
When are they expect to start?
How much are they?
I realize its not in park to in park service but it's direct from your resort to the park entrance and from park entrance to park entrance correct?
Can you take it to DS?
Again sorry but I am really out of the loop with these new fangled transportation options lol

 

[AngiTN]

They may... but my gut says it's unnecessary. We saw very few people waiting for the express service when we tried to use it. The one time we were able to, there were 2 people on the bus besides our party. Didn't look like it was getting much traffic that would have to be given a different option in the form of the Minnie Vans. But I know that you've used the service A LOT!! Maybe you've seen it get a lot of use?

Most of the time it was us and one or two other groups, so maybe 6, 8 on the bus at most. During Pandora opening week we had at least one completely full bus going to AK.
We did see others waiting on other buses everytime we rode one

 

[AngiTN]

So I've seen an article about Minnie Vans but didn't really think I'd use them so I don't know much about them.
When are they expect to start?
How much are they?
I realize its not in park to in park service but it's direct from your resort to the park entrance and from park entrance to park entrance correct?
Can you take it to DS?
Again sorry but I am really out of the loop with these new fangled transportation options lol

They have started for Guests at BWI, YC and BC only
$20 per ride total
Anywhere, between two points on property

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Most of the time it was us and one or two other groups, so maybe 6, 8 on the bus at most. During Pandora opening week we had at least one completely full bus going to AK.
We did see others waiting on other buses everytime we rode one

Sounds like pretty sparse use overall though... seems like if they wanted to keep it around they'd have to really advertise... but I still don't know how you overcome the weather restriction during the summer... big problem IMO.

 

[jo-jo]

I just had a thought, the issue about rain. When one does the VIP tours, either the private $600 bucks an hour ones or the pay so much for the rides in three parks deal, how do you get from park to park? Don't you travel by van backstage? Do you walk open areas or is there covered van parking?

 

[AngiTN]

I just had a thought, the issue about rain. When one does the VIP tours, either the private $600 bucks an hour ones or the pay so much for the rides in three parks deal, how do you get from park to park? Don't you travel by van backstage? Do you walk open areas or is there covered van parking?

No idea about VIP tours but for regular tours we used tour style buses, similar to ME, just unmarked. We had rain on tours. They gave out ponchos

There was a lot of rain during some of our trips. I guess we hit all of our hops with lucky timing. Never had a single one canceled

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

It just seems so weird that the rain stops the service.
If you need some kind of "shelter" for the CMs and guests then make one for people to stand under to wait.

 

[sharonabe]

Sounds like pretty sparse use overall though... seems like if they wanted to keep it around they'd have to really advertise... but I still don't know how you overcome the weather restriction during the summer... big problem IMO.

Perhaps, but if you think about it, how many people are on the regular buses when you hop to another park? In the middle of the day, we've been the only ones on a regular bus both hopping to another park and going back to our resort.
Also, correct me if I'm wrong @AngiTN , but isn't it just 6 buses that do a continuous back and forth?
I don't think it's a cost issue. If anything it's the weather issue:

It just seems so weird that the rain stops the service.
If you need some kind of "shelter" for the CMs and guests then make one for people to stand under to wait.

From what I understand, it's not the RAIN, it's the lightning. Anytime there is lightning in the area, they can't risk their CMs OR the guests being struck by lightning, and there's just nowhere to take cover. AND yes, there could be lightning close enough and indicated by weather alerts that you never see or hear (thunder).

If they stop it, I see this as the main culprit, as I'm sure they've had lots of complaints from those who've spent the money and have not been able to use it due to closures. So they either need to refund the money, find a way to make it up to those who have this problem, or they close entirely until they figure out how to make it safe.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Perhaps, but if you think about it, how many people are on the regular buses when you hop to another park? In the middle of the day, we've been the only ones on a regular bus both hopping to another park and going back to our resort.
Also, correct me if I'm wrong @AngiTN , but isn't it just 6 buses that do a continuous back and forth?
I don't think it's a cost issue. If anything it's the weather issue:



From what I understand, it's not the RAIN, it's the lightning. Anytime there is lightning in the area, they can't risk their CMs OR the guests being struck by lightning, and there's just nowhere to take cover. AND yes, there could be lightning close enough and indicated by weather alerts that you never see or hear (thunder).

If they stop it, I see this as the main culprit, as I'm sure they've had lots of complaints from those who've spent the money and have not been able to use it due to closures. So they either need to refund the money, find a way to make it up to those who have this problem, or they close entirely until they figure out how to make it safe.

How is it different than the regular buses as far as lightning goes?

 

[KatLight]

Question re: returning to your origin point. We are staying off-site and as such would be driving in to the first park of the morning, not bussing in. We would generally stay until the close of the latest park. So say we start at Animal Kingdom and leave Epcot at 10, when AK is already closed. How would we get back to our car? I'd love to take advantage of this service because we often try to hit up three or even 4 parks in 1 day, but since we tend to stay until the bitter end, I fear we may be setting ourselves up for trouble.

 

[sharonabe]

Question re: returning to your origin point. We are staying off-site and as such would be driving in to the first park of the morning, not bussing in. We would generally stay until the close of the latest park. So say we start at Animal Kingdom and leave Epcot at 10, when AK is already closed. How would we get back to our car? I'd love to take advantage of this service because we often try to hit up three or even 4 parks in 1 day, but since we tend to stay until the bitter end, I fear we may be setting ourselves up for trouble.

You would just take a regular bus at the end of the day, but to be honest, I don't know how late past closing the park-to-park buses still go to a closed park. I'd ask that question over on the transportation board. Make sure they know you are asking about REGULAR park hopping buses.

How is it different than the regular buses as far as lightning goes?

The regular buses all have covering at their waiting area, and there is no CM escorting you to/from. You as a guest are responsible for yourself in this instance. With the express, there is a CM that escorts you backstage and it's all open; there is no cover, no protection from lightning strikes. You are essentially "in their hands" and so Disney is responsible for what happens to you backstage.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

You would just take a regular bus at the end of the day, but to be honest, I don't know how late past closing the park-to-park buses still go to a closed park. I'd ask that question over on the transportation board. Make sure they know you are asking about REGULAR park hopping buses.



The regular buses all have covering at their waiting area, and there is no CM escorting you to/from. You as a guest are responsible for yourself in this instance. With the express, there is a CM that escorts you backstage and it's all open; there is no cover, no protection from lightning strikes. You are essentially "in their hands" and so Disney is responsible for what happens to you backstage.

Which was the point of my post about making a sheltered area.

 

[Lesley Wake]

I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope the service isn't cancelled. We had planned to use it a bunch in our trip. I guess we can use the regular buses, but definitely a disadvantage. I had our park plans based on locations of bus pickup/drop off (rather than walking to front of park), set bus times, and skipping security. It just really sucks! Maybe Disney should have just made it more known to people visiting-a flyer in resort rooms?

 

[sharonabe]

Which was the point of my post about making a sheltered area.

But it's not just a sheltered "waiting area." You're walking back stage to where the buses are. Creating shelter for the waiting AND walking isn't a simple endeavor.

 

[AngiTN]

Perhaps, but if you think about it, how many people are on the regular buses when you hop to another park? In the middle of the day, we've been the only ones on a regular bus both hopping to another park and going back to our resort.
Also, correct me if I'm wrong @AngiTN , but isn't it just 6 buses that do a continuous back and forth?

I don't know how many buses they have running.

It just seems so weird that the rain stops the service.
If you need some kind of "shelter" for the CMs and guests then make one for people to stand under to wait.

Which was the point of my post about making a sheltered area.

But it's not just a sheltered "waiting area." You're walking back stage to where the buses are. Creating shelter for the waiting AND walking isn't a simple endeavor.

Right. You can't have a shelter and walk too. It's the moving from point A to point B that is the issue. Actually, in some cases there are shelters in the waiting areas as they are often using the same area as the bus stops for CMs. But because the guests are back stage a CM must escort (ie, walk with) the guest from the bus stop to the on stage area. This is the reason where there is a problem when it rains. This is also the reason where there is no way to "cover" the CM to protect them.

 

[AngiTN]

I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope the service isn't cancelled. We had planned to use it a bunch in our trip. I guess we can use the regular buses, but definitely a disadvantage. I had our park plans based on locations of bus pickup/drop off (rather than walking to front of park), set bus times, and skipping security. It just really sucks! Maybe Disney should have just made it more known to people visiting-a flyer in resort rooms?

It was included at least one of the pretrip emails. No idea how many bother to read them, since many still arrive with no clue about FP, which are also covered in pretrip emails.
I do wonder even if you told everyone how many would be interested. I think a large number of guests who hop do so with a visit to their resort between parks. I am not sure if the audience for the service is actually significantly larger than the one that's been using it.

 

[FastPasser.]

I think the only big cost to Disney with running the express service is the CM's that have to work the kiosks.

That is not the case. The big cost is the cost of providing the bus service. For every CM working at the kiosk, there are several bus drivers supporting that location. And bus drivers make a lot more than Guest Relations CMs.

The buses are simply just regular old buses that dispatch has assigned to the express routes, so no extra cost there.

Don't know why you think that, but they use the same buses that are used everywhere else. If they weren't doing the express routes, they would either not be scheduled to operate or they would be doing resort runs.

 

[Lesley Wake]

What I also worry about is that Disney will just be discontinuing it during "off season", so it would start back up again in October. Just annoys me that our September keeps getting the shaft. First Splash Mountain closed, then reduced EMH hours as compared to previous years, then rides permanently closing before we get there, then CM hours cutback which may impact wait times, transport, etc, and now no express transport. Makes me want to reschedule my trip for a busier time (though that's not happening at this stage).