Well I for one - think for what you pay - the DME was a great perk. Disney has taken so much away and this was one of the features that did attract guests - families. One less think to worry about. Everyone knows you can figure out how to get from MCO to WDW - that's not the issue - again, it was nice to get something "extra" for what you lay down to go to WDW.Alright, fine. I guess I've just been lucky at all of the places I've stayed where I've needed a shuttle. Personally, I've used free airport shuttles at hotels in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Kansas City, San Antonio, and, yes, Walt Disney World. I've never traveled to a place where I wanted one and they weren't available. However, clearly other people have had different experiences than me and seem to find all of the places that don't offer them. To me, it seems like a standard service all hotels should offer if they have an airport in their city. It sounds like you all disagree and think it's no big deal not to offer one. I hope for Disney that most guests feel that same way and don't care that the Disney airport transportation is gone.
You are misunderstanding what we all are pointing out; not that we all disagree and think it's no big deal, but that free airport shuttle are not common outside of airport hotels. This is a big change that will affect a lot of WDW guests and it's a big deal.To me, it seems like a standard service all hotels should offer if they have an airport in their city. It sounds like you all disagree and think it's no big deal not to offer one.
Very dramatic. We all know you do not hope for Disney that most guests don't care. You hope most guests DO care and speak up and that Disney reverses their decision. I hope so, too.I hope for Disney that most guests feel that same way and don't care that the Disney airport transportation is gone.
Hey, I'm in my 70s, and I love going too....
And for our trip in Apr, we found hiring a private car to be very easy, convenient, efficient, and a great way to get to our resort quickly with much less hassle. The cost round trip including a grocery stop if we wanted it, was what we would have paid way back before DME was even a idea in someone's head - a taxi.
Now days, there are many options, but being picked up at the luggage carousel, riding in a clean, quiet vehicle, and having a great conversation with a dedicated driver, instead of having to stand in a line with 500 of my closest friends and families, wait for a bus, and possibly go to several other resorts before being finally dropped, is a choice I willingly will make from now on.
I do value the luggage service DME provided as well as resort luggage/airline check-in, but we did it ourselves before DME and can do it now if that option goes away. I would willingly pay extra if that were an add-on option going forward.
Now, I understand that families may not see it the same way as some adult only travelers, but it's good to look at this from all sides.
ETA: I believe that our car service used electric cars - much less environmental impact. Many of the shuttles and buses do too, now.
You are misunderstanding what we all are pointing out; not that we all disagree and think it's no big deal, but that free airport shuttle are not common outside of airport hotels. This is a big change that will affect a lot of WDW guests and it's a big deal.
Very dramatic. We all know you do not hope for Disney that most guests don't care. You hope most guests DO care and speak up and that Disney reverses their decision. I hope so, too.
You've been around these boards for a while, Becky Mouse, so you know the recent history:
People on the DIS flipped out and said they would never return to the resorts when Disney allowed dogs.
People on the DIS flipped out and said they would never return to the resorts when Disney charged for parking.
It sure seems the resort bookings didn't drop one bit. I would guess that 98% of WDW guests do not read these boards so the loss of free transportation from MCO won't mean much to them - even World regulars. You're posts are very dramatic but the reality is WDW guests will still go and will just add transportation costs to their budget. In 12 months this will be as controversial as pets and paid parking - and the parking fee adds a lot more to a WDW vacation than paying for transportation.
Disney airport transportation will not be gone. But I share your disappointment that Magical Express is gone.
Alright, fine. I guess I've just been lucky at all of the places I've stayed where I've needed a shuttle. Personally, I've used free airport shuttles at hotels in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Kansas City, San Antonio, and, yes, Walt Disney World. I've never traveled to a place where I wanted one and they weren't available. However, clearly other people have had different experiences than me and seem to find all of the places that don't offer them. To me, it seems like a standard service all hotels should offer if they have an airport in their city. It sounds like you all disagree and think it's no big deal not to offer one. I hope for Disney that most guests feel that same way and don't care that the Disney airport transportation is gone.
It wasn't even a thing prior to the implementation of ME in 2005. WDW opened in 1973. That's a looooong time of no free airport shuttle that Disney did not suffer during.
I agree with you. As a family with 2 kids in car seats I am not looking forward to bringing them in order to use a taxi/car service. I hope there is an affordable bus option that goes to Disney without lots of stops elsewhere.OK. Got it. I thought a lot of people would feel inconvenienced by Disney ending the Magical Express. I was wrong. Most people are responding and telling me it is no big deal, easy to get a ride share, and easy to arrange your own transportation to get to Disney. Multiple people have reminded me this is the way it was for 34 years. I get it. Apparently, I am part of a minority of Disney travelers who feel it's a problem to not have the Magical Express available.
I had thought everyone loved the convenience of the Magical Express. I made the mistake in thinking that because I have loved it so much. I have enjoyed getting my kids excited for their Disney trip by telling them to put on their MagicBands to scan at the shuttle pick up, and I loved how much my kids enjoy the Disney shorts that play on the way to our resort. To me, it was a great service, and I'm disappointed it is ending. I had thought most other travelers would be disappointed, inconvenienced, or stressed that Disney was canceling it. I had thought it was a big mistake by Disney. I can tell from the overwhelming responses I'm getting that most people disagree. So, clearly I was wrong.
It wasn't even a thing prior to the implementation of ME in 2005. WDW opened in 1973. That's a looooong time of no free airport shuttle that Disney did not suffer during.
You are correct, but Disney will not be reducing the resorts costs when they take these perks away.It was never free, the resort price skyrocketed over time as they added "free" perks, which were used to justify the unusually fast price jumps.
I agree with you. We have been going to Disney for years and always rented a car. Because of the high rates for car rentals, we have been using Magic Express. I really enjoyed the convenience, especially on the way back to the airport. We did do Uber to the resort once when the line was long. That was an additional 40.00 out of my budget. May not seem like a lot to some here, but if you are on a budget quick trip for a bit of magic it is.OK. Got it. I thought a lot of people would feel inconvenienced by Disney ending the Magical Express. I was wrong. Most people are responding and telling me it is no big deal, easy to get a ride share, and easy to arrange your own transportation to get to Disney. Multiple people have reminded me this is the way it was for 34 years. I get it. Apparently, I am part of a minority of Disney travelers who feel it's a problem to not have the Magical Express available.
I had thought everyone loved the convenience of the Magical Express. I made the mistake in thinking that because I have loved it so much. I have enjoyed getting my kids excited for their Disney trip by telling them to put on their MagicBands to scan at the shuttle pick up, and I loved how much my kids enjoy the Disney shorts that play on the way to our resort. To me, it was a great service, and I'm disappointed it is ending. I had thought most other travelers would be disappointed, inconvenienced, or stressed that Disney was canceling it. I had thought it was a big mistake by Disney. I can tell from the overwhelming responses I'm getting that most people disagree. So, clearly I was wrong.
You are not wrong and I would put you in the majority of sane people. Who didn't like exactly what you described? My kids were so excited when they entered that bus - to them it was then "official". It was a great service and I am still not convinced that Disney is going to take it away or that Mears will be charging anything near ride share prices. I did see that they are surveying guests and that one of the questions has to do with the removal of DME and I would think a vast majority of people polled would say that it should not be taken away. Disney has whittled down the "on site" perks so much that it isn't really much of an incentive to stay on property.OK. Got it. I thought a lot of people would feel inconvenienced by Disney ending the Magical Express. I was wrong. Most people are responding and telling me it is no big deal, easy to get a ride share, and easy to arrange your own transportation to get to Disney. Multiple people have reminded me this is the way it was for 34 years. I get it. Apparently, I am part of a minority of Disney travelers who feel it's a problem to not have the Magical Express available.
I had thought everyone loved the convenience of the Magical Express. I made the mistake in thinking that because I have loved it so much. I have enjoyed getting my kids excited for their Disney trip by telling them to put on their MagicBands to scan at the shuttle pick up, and I loved how much my kids enjoy the Disney shorts that play on the way to our resort. To me, it was a great service, and I'm disappointed it is ending. I had thought most other travelers would be disappointed, inconvenienced, or stressed that Disney was canceling it. I had thought it was a big mistake by Disney. I can tell from the overwhelming responses I'm getting that most people disagree. So, clearly I was wrong.
That's the point - the "perks" are going away FAST! and yet the prices continue to climb...You are correct, but Disney will not be reducing the resorts costs when they take these perks away.
I also agree with you....yes Ive been to WDW before the Magical Express....but have now been using it for years and its an inconvenience to be losing it.OK. Got it. I thought a lot of people would feel inconvenienced by Disney ending the Magical Express. I was wrong. Most people are responding and telling me it is no big deal, easy to get a ride share, and easy to arrange your own transportation to get to Disney. Multiple people have reminded me this is the way it was for 34 years. I get it. Apparently, I am part of a minority of Disney travelers who feel it's a problem to not have the Magical Express available.
I had thought everyone loved the convenience of the Magical Express. I made the mistake in thinking that because I have loved it so much. I have enjoyed getting my kids excited for their Disney trip by telling them to put on their MagicBands to scan at the shuttle pick up, and I loved how much my kids enjoy the Disney shorts that play on the way to our resort. To me, it was a great service, and I'm disappointed it is ending. I had thought most other travelers would be disappointed, inconvenienced, or stressed that Disney was canceling it. I had thought it was a big mistake by Disney. I can tell from the overwhelming responses I'm getting that most people disagree. So, clearly I was wrong.