BRING BACK MAGICAL EXPRESS!

[han22735]

Even if they brought it back now I wouldn't start taking it again. After two trips experiencing how easy it was to grab a Lyft outside the airport, and how much quicker we got to the resort - I'd never go back

Us too.

 

[DisneyGuy]

Full Magical Express (with baggage handling) was great - although slow with multiple drop offs and waiting around for a bus.

I don’t mind getting/using a car service but would always use ME since it was included. The car service, even with waiting for luggage is probably still faster but of course, comes with an additional fee.

 

[Halle]

We starting using a car service a while back and really enjoy it. It’s so nice to just walk off the plane and drive away. No waiting at all! Well worth the extra cost in my opinion.

What car service do you use?

 

[mco65]

The couple times we took Magical Express, i certainly enjoyed it. I too felt the vacation started and we were in the bubble once we boarded ME.

What i don't miss was the ride back to the MCO via ME... of course, leaving day was never much fun..

 

[Genie+]

Technology reduced in bubble spending (rideshare, goods/food delivery). Also a shift in length/frequency of onsite visits. Look at people’s signatures listing WDW visits. More frequent yet shorter trips is very common. I’d guess that high margin bubble profits took a major hit, while average ME cost per guest per night increased. The goodwill angle was strong, just not valuable enough to continue Magical Express after financial advantages were slashed.

 

[holden]

What car service do you use?

Tiffany Towncar. I have used them a few times. They have always been on time and the drivers are nice.

 

[Halle]

Tiffany Towncar. I have used them a few times. They have always been on time and the drivers are nice.

Thanks for the information.

 

[_19disnA]

There are some older threads about that company who used to handle checking in your luggage at the various Disney hotels when departing. As I recall they went out of business and it doesn't seem like anyone else will take over doing that. It was more then just transporting luggage and required secure storage/transportation due to TSA regulations.

 

[sam_gordon]

There are some older threads about that company who used to handle checking in your luggage at the various Disney hotels when departing. As I recall they went out of business and it doesn't seem like anyone else will take over doing that. It was more then just transporting luggage and required secure storage/transportation due to TSA regulations.

I wonder how much it would cost to make that "worth it". $10/bag? $20? What would the break point be for a family that has 4-5 bags? Would you pay $100 to be able to check your bags at a hotel?

Sounds like it could be a good money maker... you have the Disney hotels, then add in Universal hotels, etc, etc.

 

[jo-jo]

I wonder how much it would cost to make that "worth it". $10/bag? $20? What would the break point be for a family that has 4-5 bags? Would you pay $100 to be able to check your bags at a hotel?

Sounds like it could be a good money maker... you have the Disney hotels, then add in Universal hotels, etc, etc.

Interesting question. The one time we did ME, without luggage service,was awful. Now we do car service. So not dragging bags all around airport, but still I’d like free ME with luggage service.

 

[McCrae]

I've done three separate trips post ME and have used Mears each time. With the exception of one return trip to the airport that was delayed, all other trips were less than a one minute wait to get on the bus and only a few minutes to be on my way. I guess I've been lucky and have arrived/left at less than the busiest times. All that being said, I would love for the ME to return. The magic began and ended at the airport rather than at the resort.

Very similar to our experience. Mears provided a very good service. Did they not have the contract for ME?

 

[Lewisc]

There are some older threads about that company who used to handle checking in your luggage at the various Disney hotels when departing. As I recall they went out of business and it doesn't seem like anyone else will take over doing that. It was more then just transporting luggage and required secure storage/transportation due to TSA regulations.

A myth
https://www.bagsinc.com/remote
They do remote check in for conventions, remote car rental facilities...

 

[shu24]

I am glad that people trust Lyft and Uber but I don't. I had a bad Lyft experience a few years back (not in WDW) that made me really question the safety of those ride shares. I don't like having to pay for what was once included in my trip, and I really miss the luggage handling services. I liked Magic Express well enough, like a previous poster said I had a couple crazy ME experiences. My experience with Mears was mixed on my November trip. The trip to the resort was not great- we waited about an hour in the bus line and another 30 minutes on the bus before we were on our way to the resort. Pickup from the resort was fine though.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't like having to pay for what was once included in my trip

Well, they're (Disney) actually going back in time. It only started in 2005, so was only around for 15(?) out of WDW's 50.

 

[Cheburashka]

Well, they're (Disney) actually going back in time. It only started in 2005, so was only around for 15(?) out of WDW's 50.

But the skyrocketing resort prices aren't going back to pre-2005, so @shu24 has a valid point.

 

[sam_gordon]

But the skyrocketing resort prices aren't going back to pre-2005, so @shu24 has a valid point.

And airlines used to you give you full meals on domestic flights. MY point was simply that ME hasn't really been around that long. Many of us remember a time (like it is now) when visitors had to figure out their own transportation between the airport and WDW.

 

[Cheburashka]

MY point was simply that ME hasn't really been around that long.

15 years is a long time. That, combined with the huge rate increases, way above inflation, for Disney resorts, leads to a reasonable concern about perks being taken away while prices continue to go up.

 

[sam_gordon]

15 years is a long time. That, combined with the huge rate increases, way above inflation, for Disney resorts, leads to a reasonable concern about perks being taken away while prices continue to go up.

I disagree that 15 years is a long time. And I've said for a while, that if Disney prices are too high, DON'T GO. The fact that a LOT of people are willing to pay the high rates means the prices are not "too high".

ME wasn't brought about out of the goodness of Disney's heart. They wanted to keep people "in the bubble" and spending money there. The amount they spent to accomplish that was apparently lower than the amount of money they brought in. As someone upthread said, the advent of ride share and delivered food (other than pizza) means guests started spending more money OUT of the bubble, and presumably made the cost paid for ME not worth it.

Why people keep thinking Disney owes them anything I really don't understand.

 

[Cheburashka]

Why people keep thinking Disney owes them anything I really don't understand.

Disney has a long history of providing stellar customer service and perks for resort guests, which has created both brand loyalty and high expectations. When major perks are taken away, in tandem with prices being raised, many customers are understandably displeased.

 

[StageTek]

I'm with you, Cheburashka.

I don't read into anyone's comments that they think Disney owes them something. Only that people miss this perk and would like to have it back.

We all know why Disney started this perk and why they dropped it. That doesn't mean we don't want it back. And wanting it back doesn't mean we think Disney owes us anything. Not too long ago a Disney World vacation was a unique one filled with perks that made the high prices worth it. Today a Disney World vacation is industry standard.

I don't belive Disney owes me anything. I just miss the specialness that was a trip to The World.