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

[connie254]

When you go to the place inside the park where you would get to the behind the scenes area to get to the express bus-do they hold you there and have you go back as a group or take you back as you arrive?

 

[shoreward]

When you go to the place inside the park where you would get to the behind the scenes area to get to the express bus-do they hold you there and have you go back as a group or take you back as you arrive?

You are escorted as a group, between 5 and 10 minutes prior to departure, unless there is a last-minute rider, who they accommodate and escort separately.

 

[jo-jo]

And that's the biggest bummer! I would happily pay twice the cost for this service (are you listening, Disney spies?) if it would run to and from every park from the time the first park started operating (EMH or not), through the time the last park closed (EMH or not), and if they found a way to continue operations in poor weather. That. Would. Rock!

They could always scan MBs for those buses headed to an EMH park. They could drop off guests to parks that aren't opened yet (say, if you wanted to EMH one ride at one park, then hit rope drop at a non-EMH park), or to parks that just closed, at the front gates. It's not an insurmountable problem. Nor is finding a way to operate during a thunderstorm. They would just have to make the effort...

Back among the bajillion posts , I posted how disappointed I was with park closure and rain issue.

4 out of 8 nights in dec, while we are staying at BLT, MK closes at 6pm. I wish they would drop off in front of the park if it's closed due to parties.

 

[AngiTN]

It is only credit card at the Express check-in locations, but all other types of payment at Guest Relations, official ticket windows, resort concierge, etc.

Can resort guests pay via Magic Band?

Where else besides the check-in locations can you purchase the service? Thank you.

The post you originally quoted gives you all the locations.

 

[AngiTN]

And that's the biggest bummer! I would happily pay twice the cost for this service (are you listening, Disney spies?) if it would run to and from every park from the time the first park started operating (EMH or not), through the time the last park closed (EMH or not), and if they found a way to continue operations in poor weather. That. Would. Rock!

They could always scan MBs for those buses headed to an EMH park. They could drop off guests to parks that aren't opened yet (say, if you wanted to EMH one ride at one park, then hit rope drop at a non-EMH park), or to parks that just closed, at the front gates. It's not an insurmountable problem. Nor is finding a way to operate during a thunderstorm. They would just have to make the effort...

As it's been mentioned many times these things you mention aren't likely ever going to happen with this service and it had nothing to do with their not trying or making an effort. It has to do with the targeted goal of the service, the business plan so to speak. At least the way they have started it. Maybe this will be features they add to it in the future but for now, this is outside the target use. It's not that they can't find ways around it, it's that they don't intend to because it's not the way they intend to operate the service. It's not for on site guests only, it's for anyone with an AP or hopper passes so that right there eliminates any EMH use. I assume they are not starting till 10:00 so they can dedicate more buses to getting people to parks but that's just me guessing. Otherwise, I'm not sure why they picked 10:00. Maybe we'll see them add in more morning times but I don't foresee them ever adding in EMH hours because they are not going to exclude off site guests from using it.

Your scenario of dropping guests at the front makes no sense as the point of the service is to skip the front (baring the last minute change due to weather)

They may try to find a way to allow it to operate in a thunderstorm. What that is I'm not sure, because of the need for an escort. It's not just a matter of effort. Just give it a bit of thought and you'd figure that out. There may well be no way to operate in a thunderstorm. It's not a cost thing. No amount of money would allow them to put a CM in there to walk guests back stage in the thunderstorm or allow guests to do it alone. This may well be an unsurmountable problem. But, maybe not. It would take some construction of safe areas back stage for certain.

 

[AngiTN]

4 out of 8 nights in dec, while we are staying at BLT, MK closes at 6pm. I wish they would drop off in front of the park if it's closed due to parties.

My mistake, it did start before the parties last year. Can't remember what they did. I know we took it to MK at about 6:00 but that's when it closed at 7:00

 

[maryj11]

They both close at 10.

This was what we were planning. So what time would the last bus be to get from and to these parks if they both close at 10:00? We planned on going from MK to AK right before AK EMH.

 

[AngiTN]

This was what we were planning. So what time would the last bus be to get from and to these parks if they both close at 10:00? We planned on going from MK to AK right before AK EMH.

It's possible it will be 10:20 but it's also equally as possible they will have the last one be 9:50. I would ask the CM working the day you plan to use it to confirm. This is what we did for late night use

 

[ThistleMae]

Would taking the bus from MK to Epcot be faster than using the monorail?

 

[Babsy]

Would taking the bus from MK to Epcot be faster than using the monorail?

yes

 

[kaytieeldr]

Agreeing with @Babsy.
Monorail: walk to exit, exit MK. Walk to monorail. Wait for monorail. Arrive at TTC. Change platforms to Epcot monorail. Wait for monorail. Arrive at Epcot. Approach bag check. Potentially wait in security line. Get bag checked. Enter park.
vs: Go to Tomorrowland. Get taken to bus. Board bus. Arrive at Epcot near Guest Services/Spaceship Earth. Enter apark.

 

[ThistleMae]

Agreeing with @Babsy.
Monorail: walk to exit, exit MK. Walk to monorail. Wait for monorail. Arrive at TTC. Change platforms to Epcot monorail. Wait for monorail. Arrive at Epcot. Approach bag check. Potentially wait in security line. Get bag checked. Enter park.
vs: Go to Tomorrowland. Get taken to bus. Board bus. Arrive at Epcot near Guest Services/Spaceship Earth. Enter apark.

Okay...seems like it would be faster. Has anyone actually timed the monorail to and from, with estimated bag check?

 

[AngiTN]

Okay...seems like it would be faster. Has anyone actually timed the monorail to and from, with estimated bag check?

Our Laughing Place has travel times but I don't know if they include bag check estimates or not. The biggest thing is just that, bag check. It can be no minutes or it can be 15 min. Huge difference that you won't know till you are there. The best thing about the Express Bus is the knowns. Monorail is full of unknowns

 

[ThistleMae]

Our Laughing Place has travel times but I don't know if they include bag check estimates or not. The biggest thing is just that, bag check. It can be no minutes or it can be 15 min. Huge difference that you won't know till you are there. The best thing about the Express Bus is the knowns. Monorail is full of unknowns

Yes, have to agree. Except if it's raining...LOL! I am going to try and talk my cousins into purchasing it, I think it will be worth it especially because of bag check. Initially we were going to go bagless but after thinking about how hot it's going to be, I want to bring a bag with sunscreen, a cooling water towel, rain jacket and umbrella...and a few pairs of dry socks. So I think it really will be the way to go for us.

 

[stinkpickle]

... Monorail is full of unknowns

Bingo! Especially IF it's actually running, or not.

 

[ThistleMae]

FYI - Just want to remind folks that the Express Stops Maps, have been posted in here on page 58.

 

[AngiTN]

FYI - Just want to remind folks that the Express Stops Maps, have been posted in here on page 58.

And they will give you one when you purchase the service

 

[ThistleMae]

Does anyone know if you can get to Pandora near the Express stop or do you have to walk all the way back to the beginning of the park?

 

[AngiTN]

Does anyone know if you can get to Pandora near the Express stop or do you have to walk all the way back to the beginning of the park?

They have had the entrance from Africa open after opening weekend. I guess if things in Pandora got really crowded and the lines for FoP got way out of hand they'd have to close it as an entrance again but that hasn't been the norm.
Even if they do close the Africa entrance the other entrance isn't at the front, at least not all the way to the front. It's just by Tiffins, so before you get to the Tree of Life, if you were to walk from the Express Stop.

 

[dclpluto]

At magic kingdom on June 4th they wouldn't let me pay for it at the checkin location. They sent me to guest services by the hall of presidents. Maybe the credit card system wasn't working that day at the checkin location. I don't know.