Magical Express is going away on Jan. 1, 2022

[Yinn]

Question: How many bloggers are planning on leaving from WDW to MCO on Dec 31st? lol

I laughed. Then I realized..I have a Guaranteed Week 52.

For anyone else who also has the same. We're scheduled for Dec 26 - Jan 2...

 

[RoseGold]

We drive, so doesn’t affect us, but I agree that it stinks. But I really see it as another attack on families.

I see it as an attack on the disabled. Disney transportation has always been far more accessible than the real world, but I guess that's not true anymore. I can load all our kids in an Uber, who cares, but it's the disabled who really benefited from ME, and now I am sad.

 

[TinkB278]

Something about this line just rubs me the wrong way:

“Vacationers have more options to choose from than ever for transportation, including ride-share services that save time and offer more flexibility to go where they want, when they want.”

those options may be available but they are an additional cost. To me this seems like they are saying “figure out your transportation yourself”. Makes me sad because one of the reasons I always tell my husband I prefer Disney over other vacation spots is its so easy. I don’t have to book a car or find an Uber. There is convenient, free, safe transportation ready to go with DME.

 

[oufpat]

Sad but not surprised, the Magic just keeps dwindling away.

 

[dclpluto]

Taxi car drivers,Uber’s,Lyft and rental car companies are loving this they can’t wait until next year.

 

[RoseGold]

I just priced out a rental car on my summer trip, which I never would have wanted before. Once I leave the bubble, you aren't getting the money, Mouse.

You'd think they are like a casino and would know that?

 

[DVCSunDevil]

A train and then bus is fine if you have no luggage, but since I do I don't want to be dragging luggage all over the place.

Who would be traveling to Disney for a week with no luggage? I have no problem with a train and then a bus, even with luggage. Especially considering the train would get you to WDW very quickly compared to a bus. Either way you’re waiting for a bus. And how do you know they will not have a system in place to manage the luggage? I would bet that you would still be checking into your resort earlier by taking the faster train and then the bus from Disney Springs compared to taking the ME.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

OK so the questions are:
1. How often is the train going to run? Lots of people will be waiting in line for it especially in the afternoon when most planes tend to land after flying from the Northeast or West.

2. Imagine families with lots of luggage and how they are going to have to negotiate where to put them while sitting on the train.

3. They you get off the train at Disney Springs, take the luggage and wait again in line for a bus to your resort. Current park buses do not have spaces for luggage so are they going to use the Mears style buses that load the luggage underneath? Imagine how long that is going to take.

4. What's the cost?

5. Will there be luggage collection at the resorts (doubtful)?

6. if the train system is not starting till 2023, why cancel ME in 2022?

Magical Express is the most enjoyable ride when arriving at the Airport. It really builds anticipation for arriving at Disney World with a smile on your face (at least mine). Now its going away. So sad.

I've took a cab to the airport a few years ago when staying at the Swan for a conference. That was about $50 one way. Face it. This is all about $$$$$. This also assumes that the train will be actually ready in 2023.

Sorry if this has already been covered. I'm just annoyed.

Yep, those are great questions. And like I said in earlier comments, why can’t everyone just wait until those are answered? Everyone is jumping to conclusions and freaking out, as if Disney will have zero alternatives to ME. Disney has almost a year before this takes affect.

You say it’s all about $$$$. How do you know that? How do you know it’s not about an issue with Mears, which would not be a first? Couldn’t the timing be January 1, 2022 because that’s when the contract with Mears expires? I mean, Mears has furloughed around 80% of its employees and has permanently eliminated a large number employees. And from what I understand, Mears and Disney were already at odds. Sorry, but I am going to wait for more information to come out before I jump down Disney’s throat on this decision.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

I'm really surprised to see the withdrawal of this service given (hopefully) DME was having a positive carbon impact (ignoring the fact that it's pickup up from an international airport).

Withdrawing the service before been able to announce a reasonable alternative from a PR side is odd. Some have commented about the train service which long term probably has some connection. Even if Disney wasn't ready to commit to more details re the train in a press release you would have expected the "Disney is excited to take this time to develop new services to connect guests of Walt Disney World and Orland International Airport" cause lets face it, if others are going to be charging for a transfer Disney would not turn down the chance to get in that game too.

> How do any of us know that there isn’t something behind the scenes that could not get rectified between Disney and Mears?

One has to wonder if during contract negotiations one side has called the others bluff. Alternatively one side may have had a big loss on the deal due to covid resulting in damage to the commercial relationship.

From what I understand, the relationship was already damaged. I have read a couple articles stating how the Minnie Van launch really put a division between the two companies. And I just said in another comment that Mears laid off a ton of employees. I agree that this probably has more to do with the relationship between the two companies and, possibly, the ability of Mears to deliver the same level of service in the future. Who knows.

 

[TinkB278]

Yep, those are great questions. And like I said in earlier comments, why can’t everyone just wait until those are answered? Everyone is jumping to conclusions and freaking out, as if Disney will have zero alternatives to ME. Disney has almost a year before this takes affect.

I would be a lot more hopeful if the language they used was hopeful or teased that a replacement was in the works but they pretty much said there is Uber or Lyft nowadays so find your own ride. Nothing along the lines of “we are excited to provide alternative options to our DME customers in the future.”

 

[DVCSunDevil]

I would be a lot more hopeful if the language they used was hopeful or teased that a replacement was in the works but they pretty much said there is Uber or Lyft nowadays so find your own ride. Nothing along the lines of “we are excited to provide alternative options to our DME customers in the future.”

I see your point. I’m just giving Disney a little more benefit of the doubt. I’m guessing they probably don’t have all the details worked out yet for the alternative, which makes sense considering they still have a year. However, they cannot wait until they have all those details worked out to announce the ME part of it because people have trips they are booking for after December 31st and need to plan accordingly. If they just recently learned/determined that they were not going to be able to partner with Mears any longer, why wait to let people know until they have every little detail worked out for the alternative? What if that alternative isn’t finalized until late summer or early fall? Then they would not be giving those early 2022 visitors much time.

 

[nightwing12]

Except the Disney crowds were lower pre2005 when ME began. Not to mention the price to rent cars has increased significantly.

you hit the nail on the head, they likely expect lower hotel guests for the foreseeable future and it didnt make sense to continue paying for a service that to make it break even would require more people in hotel rooms than they expect. It sucks though for everyone that used it

 

[sethschroeder]

you hit the nail on the head, they likely expect lower hotel guests for the foreseeable future and it didnt make sense to continue paying for a service that to make it break even would require more people in hotel rooms than they expect. It sucks though for everyone that used it

I don't buy they can't afford it though. It's simply a way to make more money.

In reality less hotels open should simply mean a reduction in busses needed not full removal. They up charge enough to cover the cost.

It would be like removing park transportation.

 

[ITGirl50]

Well this is 2 more items in the column towards selling DVC and not bothering with WDW anymore.

I get it. We just added 300 points direct at CCV. It’s too late to back out. $56k. If this were announced a couple of weeks ago I would not be buying more points. Will our MFs go down since it includes transportation fees? I doubt it.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

I don't buy they can't afford it though. It's simply a way to make more money.

In reality less hotels open should simply mean a reduction in busses needed not full removal. They up charge enough to cover the cost.

It would be like removing park transportation.

That’s next

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

They don’t have the parking to accommodate all the car rentals. This is going to be a disaster.

 

[sethschroeder]

That’s next

Eh we will see. That is a much bigger change than this. Disney isn't set up for that many cars daily.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Why is nobody talking about taking everybody to DS and dropping them to spend money they have since they just got there while they wait for their rooms to be "ready." It may be more genius than we think, and even more devious.

 

[Leight19]

I would be a lot more hopeful if the language they used was hopeful or teased that a replacement was in the works but they pretty much said there is Uber or Lyft nowadays so find your own ride. Nothing along the lines of “we are excited to provide alternative options to our DME customers in the future.”

I wondered this as well and wish they had put more info on future options. However, im optimistic they will have an alternative they put forward in the future. In terms of why they didn’t lead with options in announcement, I wonder if there’s language in contract that prevents them from moving too quickly (I believe some places have
supplier contracts that define specific windows with exclusive rights for negotiating at end of contract). Maybe it’s just issue of timing for negations for options combined with covid acceleratiing changes and now bumping against booking window where needs to be announced.

 

[xWilliam]

As long as disney brings back luggage service to and from the airport and airline check-in, then i think that the train could be a far superior alternative.