Eliminating Magical Express

azcavalier;2530056 wrote: I read an article where a Mears spokesperson stated that they will still be offering bus service to the various Walt Disney World resorts after DME ends its service. Of course, what he didn't say was that there would be a charge for it. But if they sell some kind of roundtrip package to get you back to the airport, and it's around $10/person, that's not terrible at all.

$10 per person isn't bad. Even if its only one way. The down side to the rail service is that it drops you at DS vs. your resort which will likely add time to getting your vacation started. The may give Mears a leg up on the train.

I can't see them charging only $10 a head...

PopPhan;2530066 wrote: If I remember correctly, the Mears transportation, prior to the implementation of DME, was around $80 round trip. I'll have to go back through my old reservations to be sure.....

Yeah, I just made up the $10/person number off the top of my head. Even $20/person wouldn't be terrible. $80/person? Seems like price gouging. Holy cow.

I would be okay with paying for it if it was a reasonable amount. When you take a Mears bus, do they play the Disney stuff on a TV like Magical Express?
The train sounds like fun, but I'm not going to be dragging my luggage from the airport to a train to a bus and into a hotel.

azcavalier;2530044 wrote: They're keeping it until 2022. In 2022, a lightrail system with connection from MCO to Walt Disney World will be coming online. Honestly, this makes sense to me. I know it's not exactly a 1=1 change, as you'll have to handle your own luggage and also get from the Walt Disney World hub to your Walt Disney World hotel, but still. With the financial losses of COVID impacting the Disney Parks, maybe getting rid of the ME Bus System allows them to keep other things alive and well in the parks themselves. Plus, Minnie Vans are supposed to be coming back, I hear.

So why didn't Disney mention the light rail system (maybe) replacing Magical Express? Are they TRYING to upset everybody?

nicholsbears;2530041 wrote: For me this is the last straw. Disney keeps raising pricing at over twice the rate of inflation and keeps reducing what is offered to the guests.

I agree.

azcavalier;2530071 wrote: Yeah, I just made up the $10/person number off the top of my head. Even $20/person wouldn't be terrible. $80/person? Seems like price gouging. Holy cow.

I may have been over-pricing it. That price may have been for two people -- I was married at the time. But, even so, $40/person seems a bit steep....

PopPhan;2530084 wrote: I may have been over-pricing it. That price may have been for two people -- I was married at the time. But, even so, $40/person seems a bit steep....

Not when they charge you $4-$6 for bottled drinks in the park...

$40 may be "cheap" to get into Disney. Heck, you can take the train from Philly to AC for like $10 per trip, but that's because they want to get you there to gamble. Disney expects to make their money and the locals can get the "extras."

azcavalier;2530044 wrote: maybe getting rid of the ME Bus System allows them to keep other things alive and well in the parks themselves. Plus, Minnie Vans are supposed to be coming back, I hear.

You give Disney the benefit of the doubt. I learned long ago not to do that. Everything is about the money.

I bet Mears is playing hardball because they think they can get a lot more from individual guests than whatever Disney was paying them.

PopPhan;2530084 wrote: I may have been over-pricing it. That price may have been for two people -- I was married at the time. But, even so, $40/person seems a bit steep....

I would pay it if my luggage magically appeared in my room. It's a bit much if I'm the one dragging it around.

Cinderelley;2530099 wrote: I would pay it if my luggage magically appeared in my room. It's a bit much if I'm the one dragging it around.

Totes!

We had been looking to forward to making multiple trips a year to WDW once we retired, but the way they are devaluing the experience and eliminating more and more of the perks, I think once a year will be plenty. And we may very well drive since time isn't as much of a factor any more.

Anyone else heard the runour about them re-calling Minnie-van drivers?
Is there a connection here?

Pooh Fan;2530198 wrote: Anyone else heard the runour about them re-calling Minnie-van drivers?
Is there a connection here?

But wasn't the cost to or from the airport something like $150 each way? As much as I love the look of a Minnie van, too costly for us

Agreed! At $150 each way I would opt for a car rental for the week! However I'm wondering if they are looking at a re-vamp of these systems to something between a bus and a regular van?