tried out a Minnie Van

[robl45]

We tried out a Minnie Van yesterday. Wanted the Daughter to get a chance to ride in one. Honestly I wasn't super impressed. We took a normal lyft the first day of the trip. Nothing special, but it was there in 2 minutes and cost 10 bucks. We took the Minnie Van yesterday and it took 15 minutes to arrive making us late for our dinner reservation. A normal lyft at the same time would have been there in 3 minutes. I had checked an hour earlier or so and the Minnie Van was running at about 3 minute wait. Apparently as it got later more people wanted them and the wait got longer which I can understand, but still the normal Lyft wait was still 3 minutes.

Obviously if you have more than 4 people the price is going to end up just about the seat, the Minnie Van has it included, but if they can't be there when you need them, whats the point?

As people have mentioned, you get a Disney cast member, but while she was nice, there was nothing super special about it.

Really the only advantage I could see truthfully is either you need a vehicle that seats 6 or you don't want to walk the 5 minutes from Bay Lake tower to the magic kingdom.

 

[goofy4tink]

The biggest advantage I can see is that you 'know' who your driver is. It's a Disney CM. There are many people, especially women (alone or traveling with kids) that just aren't comfortable using uber or lyft. So, the MinnieVans serve a need. Because the fleet is limited, and the resort is so spread out, I can see where it might take longer to get a MV vs lyft or uber. Here's the thing though...if you had to wait 15 mins for the MV and it made you late for your ADR, you probably cut it too close.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am a single female. I have no problem taking lyft or uber. Sorry but I "know" who my driver is there too and honestly I don't think Disney is doing that much more to check their CMs.

And no OP didn't "cut it too close" for the service levels we have grown to expect with on demand car services. So if Disney wants to play in that field they need to step it up!

 

[JimMIA]

I am a single female. I have no problem taking lyft or uber. Sorry but I "know" who my driver is there too and honestly I don't think Disney is doing that much more to check their CMs.

Regardless of what you call it, or what kind of decoration you put on the vehicle, Minnie Van is operating on the Lyft app and therefore all drivers have to meet the Florida state requirements for background checks...which are very stringent. Florida's required backgrounds include local, state and FBI criminal history checks, state and national sexual predator list checks, DHS Watch List checks, and of course driving history checks.

I'm sure the backgrounds required are MUCH more than Disney does on regular CMs who are not handling money.

OTOH, Disney knows these CMs, and that is a plus.

And no OP didn't "cut it too close" for the service levels we have grown to expect with on demand car services. So if Disney wants to play in that field they need to step it up!

I've been saying from the start that Disney's challenge with MV will be scale. Uber and Lyft have hundreds of vehicles onsite at WDW almost 24/7. MV is going to have to either provide a large number of vehicles or change to a scheduled pickup system in order to meet any reasonable demand level.

 

[JimMIA]

We took the Minnie Van yesterday and it took 15 minutes to arrive making us late for our dinner reservation.

Did the app accurately predict the MV's pickup time? Or were you expecting 5 minutes and got 15?

Really the only advantage I could see truthfully is either you need a vehicle that seats 6

Uber and Lyft both provide vehicles which carry up to six passengers -- UberXL and Lyft Plus. The pricing for those options will be about the same as MV...maybe a little less because Uber/Lyft rates are so low in Orlando.

Uber also offers a limited number of both X (4 passengers) and XL (6 passengers) with ONE child car seat, but the pickup time for those will be longer than for a ride without a guaranteed car seat.

 

[robl45]

I am a single female. I have no problem taking lyft or uber. Sorry but I "know" who my driver is there too and honestly I don't think Disney is doing that much more to check their CMs.

And no OP didn't "cut it too close" for the service levels we have grown to expect with on demand car services. So if Disney wants to play in that field they need to step it up!

Agreed, I was going to say, if I'm paying for the service then I shouldn't have to plan ahead like I do for a bus. An uber or lyft would have been there on time. Clearly Disney doesn't have enough Minnie Vans available yet if they ever will. More troubling is it seems like the bus service has been getting worse. Potentially to move people into Minnie Van service?

 

[robl45]

Did the app accurately predict the MV's pickup time? Or were you expecting 5 minutes and got 15?

Uber and Lyft both provide vehicles which carry up to six passengers -- UberXL and Lyft Plus. The pricing for those options will be about the same as MV...maybe a little less because Uber/Lyft rates are so low in Orlando.

Uber also offers a limited number of both X (4 passengers) and XL (6 passengers) with ONE child car seat, but the pickup time for those will be longer than for a ride without a guaranteed car seat.

Yes, the app accurately predicted it. No issue there. My point in the advantage to Minnie Van is that if you have 6 people, you are going to pay about the same price anyway so might as well do the Minnie Van, otherwise its half the price and the only real disadvantage is walking a few more steps at Disney Springs and a few more steps to magic kingdom if you need to be dropped at Bay Lake with a normal Lyft.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We took the Minnie Van 4 times and never waited more than 4 minutes each time. Once it was 2 minutes - and 3 of the times it was during closing time of HS and MK. What a dream it was for MK. They can drop off and pick up at MK - for that it is worth it - the other services are only allowed to go to TTC. They also carry car seats in the trunk in case you need them - we didn't. This is in trial run-they are working out the kinks. I personally like that they are DW CMs. Each driver was so nice and giving us Disney info for our trip. Each time it was an enjoyable ride. The red car with white polka-dots was an added bonus for the kids.

 

[robl45]

We took the Minnie Van 4 times and never waited more than 4 minutes each time. Once it was 2 minutes - and 3 of the times it was during closing time of HS and MK. What a dream it was for MK. They can drop off and pick up at MK - for that it is worth it - the other services are only allowed to go to TTC. They also carry car seats in the trunk in case you need them - we didn't. This is in trial run-they are working out the kinks. I personally like that they are DW CMs. Each driver was so nice and giving us Disney info for our trip. Each time it was an enjoyable ride. The red car with white polka-dots was an added bonus for the kids.

Red car was a bonus, we got some pictures. Cast member was nice for us, but we didn't really get any Disney info.

 

[joelkfla]

We took the Minnie Van 4 times and never waited more than 4 minutes each time. Once it was 2 minutes - and 3 of the times it was during closing time of HS and MK. What a dream it was for MK. They can drop off and pick up at MK - for that it is worth it - the other services are only allowed to go to TTC. They also carry car seats in the trunk in case you need them - we didn't. This is in trial run-they are working out the kinks. I personally like that they are DW CMs. Each driver was so nice and giving us Disney info for our trip. Each time it was an enjoyable ride. The red car with white polka-dots was an added bonus for the kids.

Yes. but did they offer a free bottle of water? At WDW, that's a $3 saving.

(I know, not ALL Uber/Lyft drivers offer water.)

 

[robl45]

Your supposed to get water? We didn't get any water.

 

[JimMIA]

Your supposed to get water? We didn't get any water.

Good one, Joel! You got 'em!

There was a time when many Uber/lyft drivers offered water, mints, etc. to their riders. But that was back when driver pay was double what it is today.

Drivers also got tired of people leaving the mint wrappers and half empty bottles in the car and then getting cleanliness complaints from the next riders. Not many do it these days.

 

[joelkfla]

Good one, Joel! You got 'em!

There was a time when many Uber/lyft drivers offered water, mints, etc. to their riders. But that was back when driver pay was double what it is today.

Drivers also got tired of people leaving the mint wrappers and half empty bottles in the car and then getting cleanliness complaints from the next riders. Not many do it these days.

I've never done candy because of the mess, but I still offer water. Heck, it's about 13 cents a bottle at Walmart, and it's a nice thing to do. And I know what it's like to be out in the parks for hours on a Florida summer day.

It gets the ride off to a nice start. Even though well under half accept the offer, everyone seems to appreciate it.

 

[JimMIA]

I've never done candy because of the mess, but I still offer water. Heck, it's about 13 cents a bottle at Walmart, and it's a nice thing to do. And I know what it's like to be out in the parks for hours on a Florida summer day.

It gets the ride off to a nice start. Even though well under half accept the offer, everyone seems to appreciate it.

Yeah, I'd offer water too if I were driving up there in that heat and picking up folks from theme parks where they've been commandoing all day. Orlando is brutal this time of year.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have a question about those carseats in the storage area. I will have 3-5 people (depending on the day), but we have a fold up large chair (sort of like a giant stroller, a Convaid chair, for a special needs adult who can walk and get in and out of the van ok). So if we called for a Minnie Van, we would need that storage in the back for this chair (same would be true for a family with a double stroller, but they would likely USE the car seats, freeing up that storage area!)

I am wondering how to use a Minnie Van and get one without those car seats, lol. We usually drive to the parks except MK because this chair is a beast to get on and off the busses as well.

Edit: one of my Lyft drivers offered a cord to charge my iPhone on the long drive from LAX to DL, nice!

 

[JimMIA]

I have a question about those carseats in the storage area. I will have 3-5 people (depending on the day), but we have a fold up large chair (sort of like a giant stroller, a Convaid chair, for a special needs adult who can walk and get in and out of the van ok). So if we called for a Minnie Van, we would need that storage in the back for this chair (same would be true for a family with a double stroller, but they would likely USE the car seats, freeing up that storage area!)

Even with 5 people, you should be okay. The third row of seats holds 3 adults and that seat is split. If necessary, the driver simply folds down the smaller part of the third row and your chair should fit easily there. 2 in the back, 2 in the middle row, 1 in the front passenger seat -- done.

Edit: one of my Lyft drivers offered a cord to charge my iPhone on the long drive from LAX to DL, nice!

That's something I think should be a standard amenity in any rideshare vehicle.

I drive a Buick Enclave SUV and it has two charging USB ports on the back of the center console. I keep a multi-charger plugged in there all the time. This charging cord cost $10 and will charge any phone/tablet except a new LG phone. Riders love it -- and just by coincidence I have an LG phone, so if they need to charge an LG, I just let them use my cord.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

Does the Lyft app tell you what your approximate wait time is for the MV when you are requesting it?

 

[JimMIA]

Does the Lyft app tell you what your approximate wait time is for the MV when you are requesting it?

Yes.

 

[PrincessMamma4]

Even with 5 people, you should be okay. The third row of seats holds 3 adults and that seat is split. If necessary, the driver simply folds down the smaller part of the third row and your chair should fit easily there. 2 in the back, 2 in the middle row, 1 in the front passenger seat -- done.

That's something I think should be a standard amenity in any rideshare vehicle.

I drive a Buick Enclave SUV and it has two charging USB ports on the back of the center console. I keep a multi-charger plugged in there all the time. This charging cord cost $10 and will charge any phone/tablet except a new LG phone. Riders love it -- and just by coincidence I have an LG phone, so if they need to charge an LG, I just let them use my cord.

I have a question about car seats. I will be in Disney World in October with husband & 4 children (10, 8, 5 & 3). I know the Florida laws require cat seats up to 5 years old but will I need to add them to my ride or can the children just sit with seatbelts in an Uber or Lyft?We will be 6 in all.

 

[robl45]

Probably better just getting a minnie van if you have that many people assuming its offered when you are there. By the time you add car seats, or a 6 person vehicle, be almost the same cost.