Walt Disney World is eliminating two long-standing benefits for people staying at resort hotels – a move that, travel experts say, could save the company a lot of money.
From 2022, Disney DIS,
will no longer offer the “Magic Express” – a free shuttle that takes guests from Walt Disney World hotels to and from Orlando International Airport.
As part of the service, guests can even stop waiting for their luggage at the baggage claim by placing special tags on their bags. Disney picked up belongings and took them directly to people’s hotels. The baggage-related part of the service was suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.
“As consumers’ needs and preferences change, we will no longer offer Disney’s Magical Express service from 2022 arrivals,” said a spokeswoman for Walt Disney World. “At the same time, we are introducing new ways for guests to enjoy their visits, including early entry to the theme park for guests at Disney Resort hotels.”
In a blog post, Disney noted that the change was made due to the growing popularity of ride-sharing services from companies like Uber UBER,
and Lyft LYFT,
The blog posted noted that these services “save time and offer more flexibility” to resort guests. Disney will continue to offer transportation within its Walt Disney World complex, including the monorail, bus and Skyliner gondola service.
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Disney was bearing the full cost of taking people from the airport to the hotel, without getting as many benefits as before.
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In addition, Brightline, a long-distance rail system in Florida, has announced plans to expand service to Orlando, including stops at the airport and Disney Springs, a shopping center located at the Walt Disney World resort. When completed, the Brightline train service can serve as another option for guests to arrive at the Disney property.
However, the choice to remove the “Magical Express” service was surprising to travel experts. After Disney launched the free shuttle and baggage claim service in 2005, travel experts noted that it served as a way to keep guests at Disney property, instead of having them rent cars and travel to other parks. nearby themes, like Universal Studios CMCSA,
and SeaWorld SEAS,
In fact, the company has even apparently reinforced this benefit in recent years, starting to charge hotel guests for parking.
“This was a very effective gap that, when introduced, should keep people in the ‘Disney bubble’,” said Len Testa, co-author of “The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World” and president of the travel website Touring Plans. “The rise of ride-sharing apps made it easier and cheaper for people to go outside when they wanted to (instead of renting a car or calling a taxi), so Disney was paying the full cost of taking people from the airport to the hotel, without getting as many benefits as before. “
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Disney did not operate the “Magic Express” service; was subcontracted by Mears Transportation, an Orlando-based company. As a result, Testa said the move was “absolutely a cost-cutting measure”. Mears Transportation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Separately, Disney confirmed that another popular privilege suspended amid the pandemic will not return. Called “Extra Magic Hours”, this feature allowed guests staying at Disney hotels to enter theme parks earlier than other visitors or stay at them later, sometimes adding an hour or more to their stay at the park.
Starting this year, Disney will allow guests at its hotels to enter theme parks before the general public, but nightly overtime for hotel guests will not return. This new privilege will allow visitors with a valid hotel reservation to enter any of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks 30 minutes before their stay.
“The new benefit of early entry to the theme park helps us spread visitation better across all four theme parks, while providing additional flexibility by giving guests extra early time in the park each day of their vacation and in the park. your choice, ”Disney said in its blog post.
In addition, early entry to the theme park should help reduce the morning crowds at the theme park in light of pandemic-related entry protocols, including temperature scans. During the early entry period, people without proof of hotel reservation will not be able to enter the parks until normal opening hours.
It remains to be seen whether the elimination of shuttle service and overtime parking will lead travelers to stay at other hotels instead of those operated by Disney.
“Fans are understandably surprised by the news, but it is difficult to say whether two shared rides and the inconvenience of carrying your own luggage will make or break your entire vacation budget,” said Carlye Wisel, freelance theme park journalist.
With the other changes that Disney implemented due to the pandemic – including the elimination of the ability to reserve a “FastPass” to reduce queue on popular rides – the experience at Walt Disney World will be very different.
“Only time will tell if the changes in Extra Magic Hours and Disney’s Magical Express have permanently affected the Disney hotel business, but along with some other changes from the pandemic era, like the current Park Hopping system and pause in the company’s FastPass + program Disney, it remains very clear that the hotel stay at Disney World of the future will be different from one in the past, ”said Wisel. (Park Hopping is the ability to visit multiple theme parks in one day without paying separate admission. Park Hopping was restricted after the parks reopened due to coronavirus capacity limits.)
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It is difficult to say whether two shared trips and the inconvenience of carrying your own luggage will make or break your entire vacation budget.
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The coronavirus pandemic forced Walt Disney World to reshape its operations. Theme parks remained closed for many months when COVID-19 cases first exploded in the United States, with parks reopening in July.
The number of people allowed in the parks remains low, although the capacity limit has been relaxed since the parks reopened. Guests inside the parks must wear masks at all times when eating or drinking. Certain attractions and experiences, such as encounters with characters, are on a hiatus due to the pandemic.
Most Disney theme parks around the world have reopened, but Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California, remain closed due to the state’s most stringent pandemic protocols.