CastAStone
Math and business nerd. Not an insider.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2019
Mears says they will continue to provide transportation between the airport and WDW resorts:
Most of the resorts that are opened are the DVC side of properties that have to be opened. A good majority of the resort sides of DVC properties remain closed or are opening later this year. PO and the All Stars being closed are massive properties. The resorts that are open are most likely the resorts that will be open for 2021. I can’t see them opening anymore than what are announced.I don’t understand why they have opened up so many resorts if they’re all ghost towns as you say?
Not to mention Boardwalk, WL, Beach Club are all closed still as well.2 of the 3 All Stars are closed, both Port Orleans resorts are closed, the Poly is closed, they are allegedly renovating the main tower at the contemporary this summer. We are talking half a dozen resorts here.
There needs to be some way to discourage parking at the resorts though. Those parking lots aren't big enough for every guest to park a car.
I would like the over on that bet.The resorts that are open are most likely the resorts that will be open for 2021. I can’t see them opening anymore than what are announced.
They were fine pre-2005 and will still be fine after this. People will just use Uber or another bus service. I don’t foresee a large increase on amount of cars on property.I was just thinking the same thing. They can't make the parking lots bigger, for the most part. Where are all these cars going to go?
Don't they already charge non-DVC members who rent points?We already pay for parking with our MF. They can't charge you twice.
Though, I can see charging non-DVC members and would be for that.
I'm with you! Renting a car and the parking fee for a solo traveler makes staying on site considerably more expensive. I have been looking at off-site hotels and other option for a couple of years now, but always choose to stay in the bubble.Well this will price me out as I often travel solo due to being the only Disney fan among my family/friends, but I can't afford to pay for airport transportation/rent a car for one. So I guess if I don't get there in the next year I won't be going. Just so stupid.
They are making it less and less appealing to make the effort to go to Disney or stay on property.
Don't they already charge non-DVC members who rent points?
To be fair, carrying our bags to/from the airport wasn't the headache I expected it to be Thanksgiving week. Granted, DS x2 are 12 & 10, and can help. Plus, we aren't heavy packers. Two checked bags and a couple carry-ons for the week, plus an airplane backpack each for snacks and electronics.Oh I didn't realize that. Major bummer there. So I guess this change will affect us even if we go this year like planned anyway. Unless it comes back for a final run before DME goes away.
Exactly. For us, if we flew, the whole point of staying on site was so we didn't have to go through the hassle of booking transportation - be that renting a car, arranging shuttles etc... And it truly did just feel like part of the "bubble".
To be fair, carrying our bags to/from the airport wasn't the headache I expected it to be Thanksgiving week. Granted, DS x2 are 12 & 10, and can help. Plus, we aren't heavy packers. Two checked bags and a couple carry-ons for the week, plus an airplane backpack each for snacks and electronics.
I really don't think this change will drive a lot of people to rental cars, it just doesn't make sense to rent a car to sit at the resort and pay for the parking fee to do so. A lot of people who used DME will likely now move to using other paid services or taxis or Uber/Lyft.I was just thinking the same thing. They can't make the parking lots bigger, for the most part. Where are all these cars going to go?
I don't think that's what it was saying. I take it to mean that the last day DME operates will be New Year's Eve of 2021. That'll be interesting for people that have reservations that straddle the New Year.“We will continue to operate the service for new and existing reservations made at Disney Resort hotels for arrivals throughout 2021”
That is going to be interesting.
My current plan is to activate my previously purchased AP in November and use it throughout 2022. So I'll book my three 2022 trips this year. It seems I'll still be able to use DME even in Nov of '22.
I’ve seen this out there on the internet so just want to clarify: BAGS, Inc. (the company that provided luggage delivery and resort airline check in) has not gone out of business. They’re still servicing a number of major Orlando hotels and have even expanded service since the pandemic. While I’m sure they’re hurting like everyone in Orlando, the removal of luggage delivery from DME seems like it was Disney’s decision (and now Mears has confirmed that today’s news was also Disney’s decision).The service was through Mears. Disney was paying that contact. The airport bills Mears. What was the cost increase to them and what was being passed to Disney? Also the bags service was another company that went out of business (Covid related?) now given Mears is handling more bags, are they pressing for an increase on the contract to pinch Disney, who is just walking away and leaving them out threes?
Since Disney contracts Mears to operate DME as a third party, I have to wonder if Mears will take a (reduced) fleet of the DME busses (which they own), rebrand them as some non-Disney name (like just Magical Express or Magical Shuttle or something) and pay Disney to be the “official” airport shuttle provider for WDW. Much like they do for Alamo rental cars, Walt Disney Travel could even sell this as part of their packages. This way, Disney goes from paying Mears to Mears paying Disney.And will Mears come to the rescue and provide the service. Almost seems to easy for them to continue and you book directly through them but wonder at what cost?