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

[shoreward]

An Express driver told me there was a fleet of 16 dedicated buses that was being used just for the Express runs.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

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.

Agreed. That's what I said in an earlier post. It was a real waste of money and time for us.

 

[123SA]

Has this service had an impact on the free park to park service? I need to get from dhs to mk. I just can't justify $100 for my family.

 

[sharonabe]

Has this service had an impact on the free park to park service? I need to get from dhs to mk. I just can't justify $100 for my family.

No impact whatsoever. You may "freely" go from park to park on the regular buses at the regular stops right outside each park.

 

[jerzeystar09]

I really hope this isn't ending. We used the service many times in March and loved it. We were looking forward to using it again for our trip in 3 weeks.

 

[AngiTN]

I hope everyone who has used it, or plans to use it, will email Guest Services.
It may be a waste of time but not emailing will not help for sure. Letting them know it will be missed can't hurt.
And maybe, just maybe, if the current offer does go away, they'll use the knowledge that there are a fair number of guests that want some sort of park hopping transportation option available to come up with another service.

 

[shoreward]

Can anyone currently at the parks inquire about continuation of service?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Can anyone currently at the parks inquire about continuation of service?

I'd be really surprised if they'll say anything other than what the standard email said. Someone would have to speak out of turn, even if they knew it was ending.

 

[Lesley Wake]

I hope everyone who has used it, or plans to use it, will email Guest Services.
It may be a waste of time but not emailing will not help for sure. Letting them know it will be missed can't hurt.
And maybe, just maybe, if the current offer does go away, they'll use the knowledge that there are a fair number of guests that want some sort of park hopping transportation option available to come up with another service.

Done. And I added a line requesting they forward the email onto transportation department as I know sometimes Guest Relations isn't informed about schedule changes.

 

[AngiTN]

Things are getting more and more interesting.
I just got a phone call from Disney Guest Relations.
Based on my email regarding the Express Bus Service.

This is my email,
We are Annual Passholders and I would like to let someone know how much we love using the Express Bus service when we visit. We have purchased it on each of our trips since it started and use it at least once every day. It has let us get so much more accomplished during our trips. We arrive on another trip on August 25 and another trip on Oct 5 and plan to purchase the service on both trips. We have plans that make it very important to be able to get between the parks quickly. Without this service we would not be able to make these plans. We look very forward to the service continuing.

I purposely didn't mention that I'd heard it was ending. I just wanted to talk about how much we use it and plan to continue to use it and how important it had become to the way we toured the parks
Well, the gentleman called and wanted to thank me for letting them know how much we value the service. He said they have gotten some great feedback about it. I explained that I wanted to share our thoughts in part because we do use it and we aware that sometimes there weren't very many other guests using it. He did acknowledge that there are some challenges that they are working with but we should expect to be able to use it on our upcoming trips. He didn't give me any indication that it was ending at all. Not that I take that to mean it isn't, or is ending. Just found it very interesting.
Also, when he learned the trip in August was for my birthday he offered to give us some extra Fast Passes for the trip.
Now, the tiny little conspiracy theorist in me may say, hmmmm..... he did that because he knows that we won't have access to the service and this will be there to ease the pain of having to change our schedule when we don't have the Express Bus that we are counting on.
So, bottom line, no idea if I learned anything from that phone call other than Disney still does care about the little guest. And I was wrong. One little email does matter. It may not make them change their mind but it did matter to them. Some read it and someone took action on it.

 

[sunflowerblooms]

We are arriving on the 17th for a 5 day stay. Of course I have incorporated taking the express bus into my plans with the awareness that if might now always be available. I had mostly planned to rope drop EMH then hop to the next park around 11 am. thinking that at the very least we would not be impacted by any afternoon or evening storms. Since we all know Disney changes things at the drop of a hat I am working on the assumption that this information is correct. My question (and I will be emailing guest services for what it's worth) is: Will I still be able to purchase 1 days passes or a pass for my 5 day stay if the bus is still operating during my resort stay? At this point cost doesn't really factor in. (I injured my calf muscle and will be in a scooter so one of the reasons I am hoping to take express bus is simply the ease of transport between parks and keeping myself out of the crowds entering the parks). I am staying on Boardwalk to if no bus I will probably use the Minnie Vans to go from park to park but of course I am still holding out hope that I will be able to use the express bus.

 

[AngiTN]

We are arriving on the 17th for a 5 day stay. Of course I have incorporated taking the express bus into my plans with the awareness that if might now always be available. I had mostly planned to rope drop EMH then hop to the next park around 11 am. thinking that at the vary least we would not be impacted by any afternoon or evening storms. Since we all know Disney changes things at the drop of a hat I am working on the assumption that this information is correct. My question (and I will be emailing guest services for what it's worth) is: Will I still be able to purchase 1 days passes or a pass for my 5 day stay if the bus is still operating during my resort stay? At this point cost doesn't really factor in. (I injured my calf muscle and will be in a scooter so one of the reasons I am hoping to take express bus is simply the ease of transport between parks and keeping myself out of the crowds entering the parks). I am staying on Boardwalk to if no bus I will probably use the Minnie Vans to go from park to park but of course I am still holding out hope that I will be able to use the express bus.

From the info we did get if the info is correct and the service ends on the 24th you can purchase single days up until it's final day of operation.

 

[sunflowerblooms]

From the info we did get if the info is correct and the service ends on the 24th you can purchase single days up until it's final day of operation.

That would be welcome news. Still an extra cost but one that would be worth it!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Things are getting more and more interesting.
I just got a phone call from Disney Guest Relations.
Based on my email regarding the Express Bus Service.

This is my email,
We are Annual Passholders and I would like to let someone know how much we love using the Express Bus service when we visit. We have purchased it on each of our trips since it started and use it at least once every day. It has let us get so much more accomplished during our trips. We arrive on another trip on August 25 and another trip on Oct 5 and plan to purchase the service on both trips. We have plans that make it very important to be able to get between the parks quickly. Without this service we would not be able to make these plans. We look very forward to the service continuing.

I purposely didn't mention that I'd heard it was ending. I just wanted to talk about how much we use it and plan to continue to use it and how important it had become to the way we toured the parks
Well, the gentleman called and wanted to thank me for letting them know how much we value the service. He said they have gotten some great feedback about it. I explained that I wanted to share our thoughts in part because we do use it and we aware that sometimes there weren't very many other guests using it. He did acknowledge that there are some challenges that they are working with but we should expect to be able to use it on our upcoming trips. He didn't give me any indication that it was ending at all. Not that I take that to mean it isn't, or is ending. Just found it very interesting.
Also, when he learned the trip in August was for my birthday he offered to give us some extra Fast Passes for the trip.
Now, the tiny little conspiracy theorist in me may say, hmmmm..... he did that because he knows that we won't have access to the service and this will be there to ease the pain of having to change our schedule when we don't have the Express Bus that we are counting on.
So, bottom line, no idea if I learned anything from that phone call other than Disney still does care about the little guest. And I was wrong. One little email does matter. It may not make them change their mind but it did matter to them. Some read it and someone took action on it.

@AngiTN, you always give me hope!

 

[FinnsMom7]

So I guess at this point the only thing to do is see what happens when the week ends - anyone on site this weekend, please report if they have stopped selling or not, I had such high hopes to use this in December with what now seems like a crazy packed week

 

[anomamatt]

The more I think about the timing, the less sense it would make. Food & Wine makes a LOT more people hop. October, November, and December are getting to be the peak WDW times. So it makes no sense time-wise. Which means it's probably real (given the other choices WDW makes). But either way, we should know by Thursday if this specific rumor is true.

 

[MandyLovesMulan]

If you email, be sure to mention how using express bus will allow/encourage you to make more purchases. (I.e. if i have to wait for 1 hour in a bus line outside a park, I can't be buying souvenirs and snacks in the parks). They need to see this service as adding value to their bottom line.

In my email, I mentioned being able to pop into Epcot for food and wine while visiting other parks... the potential for more sales is an incentive for them to keep the service going.

 

[shoreward]

Coincidence or not?

Minnie Vans expanding service today, to now also include Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, and Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[AnnaKat]

Bummer if they cancel the service
It started right after our last trip in 2016.
We were really looking forward to using it!

It's sad that they won't keep it because it is "losing " them $$$;
WHY can't they just keep it for the intangible purpose of goodwill//-
for a small charge,
they offer it to help make your Park time more magical?!?!

It makes me skeptical of the new Minnie vans, NOW.
Maybe they won't make enough profits,
AND they will RAISE the $20
flat rate!!!!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Coincidence or not?

Minnie Vans expanding service today, to now also include Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, and Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge.

Unless it expands to all resorts I don't see the connection.
Express transportation was for ANYONE that had PH not just for certain people.