New Express Transportation: $19/day or $29/week-SERVICE ENDING AUGUST 23RD 2017

[AngiTN]

Pfffftttt...you all can keep your imaginary gondolas to get around. I'm going to take the imaginary hyperloop train that I dreamed up in my head yesterday to replace the monorail -- it's much faster (or at least I imagine it is). Hypothetically, however, if I go get in line for the gondolas now, do we know if they'll be set up like the resort bus stops? It's gonna be a long wait and I don't want to lose my place in line if I sit for awhile on the benches.

Back to the topic at hand - the Express service has provided a unique transportation option that: (a) goes park-to-park; and (b) allows guests to save time by skipping security lines. There are numerous alternatives (free and pay, existing and planned) if you're only looking at the first part. It's the second part, however, that has made Express attractive for many people. Until there's an alternative that includes that part, it's an apples to oranges comparison with all these other services. Fingers still crossed that Express comes back (or a similar service) at peak times.

Oh, I'll join you on that hyperloop. Sounds a lot better than the monorail

And there's one more intangible feature that Express Bus gave. Which shouldn't be discounted. It made the guest feel special. You got a touch of VIP treatment, with a Plaid for an escort, going backstage with them, just a few other guests around. A few quiet moments in the otherwise chaos that is a Disney park. Yes, the Minnie Van does give you those things too.

I do think if they could replicate the backstage/security/gate skip feature of the Express Bus with the Minnie Van (or something similar) it would work. I'd consider it on an on demand/pay per use vs. weekly cost basis. Cost dependent of course. I won't be using the current Minnie Van instead of the Express Bus. If I'm having to walk out of the park I'll just go on to the bus or if I'm really in a hurry, I'll call regular Lyft since we don't need the car seat.

 

[Lesley Wake]

For those who sent a message to Guest Communications regarding the discontinuation of ET, how long was the time between when you sent the message, till you received a "personalized" response?

If you sent a message, but have not yet received a response, how long have you been waiting for a reply (other than the message stating that the inquiry is being forwarded to another department)?

Sent my email Aug 14 (Monday)
Got the forwarding email Aug 15 (Tues)
Got a call Thursday afternoon.

 

[shoreward]

Sent my email Aug 14 (Monday)
Got the forwarding email Aug 15 (Tues)
Got a call Thursday afternoon.

Thanks for info. So, it looks like 3 days for your personalized response.

 

[rteetz]

I don't mind them pushing Minnie vans IF THEY MAKE THEM AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE! I'm not wealthy enough to stay in one of the Boardwalk hotels, Disney!

They are rolling them out. Wilderness Lodge was added last week.

 

[AngiTN]

They are rolling them out. Wilderness Lodge was added last week.

Have there been many reports on length of wait on them?
I have only seen a few mention of folks who have used them. One person I saw mention they had a bit of a wait at Boardwalk. Made me wonder how it would be once it was property wide. Though maybe they aren't using the full fleet yet?

 

[shoreward]

A voice mail message was left, responding to my email lamenting the loss of the Express Transportation.

The gist of the voice mail was thanking me for sending the message and letting me know that my message, as well as others received about the Express service, will be passed on to leadership to help in future decision-making.

The CM then wished me a good upcoming visit. Well, it won't be nearly as good, without the Express Transportation!

 

[rteetz]

Have there been many reports on length of wait on them?
I have only seen a few mention of folks who have used them. One person I saw mention they had a bit of a wait at Boardwalk. Made me wonder how it would be once it was property wide. Though maybe they aren't using the full fleet yet?

I haven't heard much about the wait. I am sure the more vehicles they roll out the less wait it will be.

 

[LongTimeLurker]

They are rolling them out. Wilderness Lodge was added last week.

Thanks for the news! Hopefull they'll make them available everywhere by December, when I'll be there...

 

[AngiTN]

Lack of availability. This was a few weeks ago right after they began the Minnie Van service. It was still in the trial phase the first day of our stay, but even after that we weren't able to use it because they were just too busy. Disappointing.

I'm excited to learn that it's possibly being added to WL. We are staying there in November and hopefully can try it out then!

I haven't heard much about the wait. I am sure the more vehicles they roll out the less wait it will be.

I just happened to have found the above report regarding Minnie Vans on a different thread.
It's still in it's roll out I know but with only 3 resorts participating if they have all vans in service and already have to deny guests due to availability how will it be when more resorts participate. If they don't have all vans in service and they are denying guests due to availability makes one wonder, why aren't they getting more vans out so that doesn't happen?

 

[rteetz]

I just happened to have found the above report regarding Minnie Vans on a different thread.
It's still in it's roll out I know but with only 3 resorts participating if they have all vans in service and already have to deny guests due to availability how will it be when more resorts participate. If they don't have all vans in service and they are denying guests due to availability makes one wonder, why aren't they getting more vans out so that doesn't happen?

I can't see them having all the vans they plan to have in use currently with only 3 resorts. That first week they did their trial run and it was free for guests during that week. I also think they are gauging the popularity. If these early runs are successful they order more vans and train more drivers. If they aren't they wouldn't need that. That's why they are doing it one resort at a time at the moment.

 

[FinnsMom7]

I do think if they could replicate the backstage/security/gate skip feature of the Express Bus with the Minnie Van (or something similar) it would work. I'd consider it on an on demand/pay per use vs. weekly cost basis. Cost dependent of course. I won't be using the current Minnie Van instead of the Express Bus. If I'm having to walk out of the park I'll just go on to the bus or if I'm really in a hurry, I'll call regular Lyft since we don't need the car seat.

Totally agree here, my main hope was the skip second security line while hopping and also the extra walk out to the main bus area. If I am walking that far I would rather hop in a Uber/Lyft for cheaper rate at the press of a button - the Minnie vans are cute but the price for me on a one use basis is not, I travel just me and the DH $10 a piece for one trip is not worth it.

 

[sherlockmiles]

Totally agree here, my main hope was the skip second security line while hopping and also the extra walk out to the main bus area. If I am walking that far I would rather hop in a Uber/Lyft for cheaper rate at the press of a button - the Minnie vans are cute but the price for me on a one use basis is not, I travel just me and the DH $10 a piece for one trip is not worth it.

Unless the price drops drastically, we wont do it.

I'm hopping on the hyperspeed monorail.

 

[Gehrig1B]

My first thoughts were, why did they not promote the Express Transportation the way they are promoting the Minnie Vans? I still contend the express service, which we almost 100% agree was unique and great value, can succeed with the proper marketing and infrastructure tweaks.

We have used uberX in Orlando (and elsewhere) and I can't imagine us choosing a $20 ride in a cutely themed vehicle over the cost of an uberX or Lyft. I do see that with a group of 5 or 6 with little ones who need a car seat the Minnie Van service could be worth it.

 

[AngiTN]

Unless the price drops drastically, we wont do it.

I'm hopping on the hyperspeed monorail.

Our hyperspeed monorail is gonna get crowded

 

[Lesley Wake]

My first thoughts were, why did they not promote the Express Transportation the way they are promoting the Minnie Vans? I still contend the express service, which we almost 100% agree was unique and great value, can succeed with the proper marketing and infrastructure tweaks.

We have used uberX in Orlando (and elsewhere) and I can't imagine us choosing a $20 ride in a cutely themed vehicle over the cost of an uberX or Lyft. I do see that with a group of 5 or 6 with little ones who need a car seat the Minnie Van service could be worth it.

Agreed. Someone previously mentioned a video that was promoted on the website and social media platforms and I think that would have been an excellent marketing tool. They are doing that weird promo/challenge thing for the family doing 30 stays in 30 days. You could easily see them doing a challenge of hitting all coasters in one day utilizing the express bus (or something similar). I think people just didn't know about it. And they didn't give it enough time. Yes it got 3 seasons, but not the fall. I wonder if it would be been more utilized with Food & Wine and Halloween. Also, they did start it at the end of December, but I'm sure not many people traveling for the holidays would have known about it; maybe then it would have worked better. Ugh!

 

[sherlockmiles]

My travel agent had never even heard of it! They did not market/advertise/promote it any where near what they could/should have

 

[shoreward]

Agreed. Someone previously mentioned a video that was promoted on the website and social media platforms and I think that would have been an excellent marketing tool.

That was my suggestion, which I also mentioned in my email to Disney.

Other than raising the price a few months ago, and only very recently displaying the departure times at the kiosks, how did Disney even try to modify the service to make it sustainable? I keep thinking about all those Disney surveys I receive and wonder why I never received one for the Express Transportation.

 

[Ydnameht]

I got another call from Gary this morning about my email last night where I pointed out everything wrong with the generic email response they've been sending out about this.

Basically he told me he really enjoyed my email, that I'd made a lot of logical points, and that he agreed with pretty much everything I said and had forwarded it on.

Then he asked about my upcoming trip (Not for a few months still) and offered some anytime FP as a good will gesture. Which was very nice, almost as nice as my email writing skills getting praised!

 

[shoreward]

I got another call from Gary this morning about my email last night where I pointed out everything wrong with the generic email response they've been sending out about this.

Basically he told me he really enjoyed my email, that I'd made a lot of logical points, and that he agreed with pretty much everything I said and had forwarded it on.

Then he asked about my upcoming trip (Not for a few months still) and offered some anytime FP as a good will gesture. Which was very nice, almost as nice as my email writing skills getting praised!

It's nice that you got the extra FPs. However, I don't know how excited you should get over the praise of your comments. Though you probably did make some very good suggestions, it appears as though they are telling almost everyone the same thing. I think they are told to appease the guest by praising the email and telling them their comments are being passed along. That's Disney's customer service M.O. to make the guest feel important.

 

[Ydnameht]

It's nice that you got the extra FPs. However, I don't know how excited you should get over the praise of your comments. Though you probably did make some very good suggestions, it appears as though they are telling almost everyone the same thing. I think they are told to appease the guest by praising the email and telling them their comments are being passed along. That's Disney's customer service M.O. to make the guest feel important.

Hey now, no need to go bringing logic into this to spoil my fun!

Nah, I get that. Although I've never gotten "I really enjoyed reading this it was really well written" before. I've gotten "thanks for the email we'll pass it along."