What would you choose? Minni Van options

[LordVader]

So this will my family's first visit to WDW next week. It'll be me, my wife and 2 daughters (5 & 2). We're debating using the Minnie Van service either to help rope drop and early entry HS or trying to use it at the end of the MVMCP?

Wanted to see what people thought would be the best choice? I know Minnie Van starts at 6:30 so wondering if I get on the Lyft app if that would be preferable to waiting for the bus? We're staying at all star sports.

Thank you for any opinions and advice!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

So this will my family's first visit to WDW next week. It'll be me, my wife and 2 daughters (5 & 2). We're debating using the Minnie Van service either to help rope drop and early entry HS or trying to use it at the end of the MVMCP?

Wanted to see what people thought would be the best choice? I know Minnie Van starts at 6:30 so wondering if I get on the Lyft app if that would be preferable to waiting for the bus? We're staying at all star sports.

Thank you for any opinions and advice!

My advice would be to plan to be flexible. You just never know what Minnie Van availability will be like at any given moment on any given day. You may fire up the app and connect to one quickly, or it could endlessly search and availability may not go in your favor. I love Minnie Vans and use them often - and while availability is usually at least workable, it’s definitely not a given.

That usually means making sure you have enough time to pivot if you do need to take a bus. Or do things like go to the bus stop while also seeing if it’ll connect to a driver. Or check the app from the room and make on the fly decisions.

FYI, you can play with the app from anywhere to see availability (set your location as ASSports) - if you have a second it may be helpful to test it a few times around when you’re planning on using it just to see.

Hope that helps. Enjoy your trip!

 

[135]

I agree with @GADisneyDad14. Be flexible and have a back up plan! The Minnie Vans are my family's favorite way to get around but they are not always available when we want them, especially for rope drop, early morning breakfast reservations, and post fireworks. Sometimes Lyft and Uber will have better availability at those times, but sometimes demand is too great for any of them. You don't mention where you are staying. We stay at deluxe resorts so I can't speak to moderate or value resorts, but at the deluxe resorts you can always go to the valet stand at the porte cochere and they will be happy to call you a Mears taxi. I prefer the Minnie Vans overall but I'd rather use a Mears taxi than a regular Lyft or an Uber.

Edit- I see now that you did say you're at All Star Sports (that acronym doesn't work does it?!), so you'll have to see if there's a valet stand. I really don't know. I also see that your children are going to need car seats. Minnie Vans are definitely your best bet with the two car seats on board and the drivers trained to install them. Unfortunately if you end up needing them at congested times, the bus is probably going to be your default. Plan accordingly time wise, and good luck!

 

[SkyGuy]

So this will my family's first visit to WDW next week. It'll be me, my wife and 2 daughters (5 & 2). We're debating using the Minnie Van service either to help rope drop and early entry HS or trying to use it at the end of the MVMCP?

Wanted to see what people thought would be the best choice? I know Minnie Van starts at 6:30 so wondering if I get on the Lyft app if that would be preferable to waiting for the bus? We're staying at all star sports.

Thank you for any opinions and advice!

Once a MV arrives, the driver will see that you need car seats, so there will be a waiting period in which the driver will need to get the seats out of the back and install them. In my experience, they will not allow you to help, so you’ll have to stand and wait. MVs are harder to get during rope drop and after parties/park closing. I love MVs, but the buses at the All Stars are frequent at rope drop, and you won’t need to wait for the driver to install a car seat. We took a MV toward the end of MNSSHP in September, so it wasn’t even the end of the night, and we had to wait about 30 minutes as we watched two buses for our hotel come and go. I agree with GADisneyDad that you play with the Lyft app a few mornings and evenings (make sure it’s a party night) to assess availability.

 

[jimmymc]

I would use it for after MVMCP, I would not use it for rope-dropping Studios.

Busses start running early, as early as an hour before early entry. You'll have no problem getting to Studios well before the gates open if you catch the first bus.

On the other hand, the All Star busses from Magic Kingdom are a long ride, and there will be a line/wait after the party. Minnie Vans can pick you up right at the bus loop as soon as you get out and drive right up to your building at the resort. This is actually the one case I think it's worth a splurge over Disney transport or a regular Uber/Lyft.

 

[Mle8308]

My advice would be to plan to be flexible. You just never know what Minnie Van availability will be like at any given moment on any given day. You may fire up the app and connect to one quickly, or it could endlessly search and availability may not go in your favor. I love Minnie Vans and use them often - and while availability is usually at least workable, it’s definitely not a given.

That usually means making sure you have enough time to pivot if you do need to take a bus. Or do things like go to the bus stop while also seeing if it’ll connect to a driver. Or check the app from the room and make on the fly decisions.

FYI, you can play with the app from anywhere to see availability (set your location as ASSports) - if you have a second it may be helpful to test it a few times around when you’re planning on using it just to see.

Hope that helps. Enjoy your trip!

Excellent advice!

 

[LordVader]

Thank you everyone for the replies! We'll definitely be flexible as I've seen from plenty of posts and videos that plans can shift in an instant! I think we'll try to aim for the bus for rope drop and attempt to do Minnie van for after the party.

Either way though, we'll def just do whatever is available for us. Thanks for the advice all!

 

[Best Aunt]

I had a Minnie Van pick me up at hotel a few days ago. He had two car seats already installed. He asked me to sit in the front so he wouldn't have to uninstall them.

 

[SkyGuy]

I had a Minnie Van pick me up at hotel a few days ago. He had two car seats already installed. He asked me to sit in the front so he wouldn't have to uninstall them.

Two of us were picked up from BC, in the pouring rain in September, and even though they have the porte cochere, water still gets through. MV pulled up with only one car seat installed. We offered to have one sit in the second row empty seat and the other in front or the way back. We were told no and had to stand there and watch the driver remove the car seat and, in the process, get absolutely drenched. It was crazy!