60 minute wait times reported for Magical Express

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by chmurf

Oh and by the way, something everybody here seems to have forgotten

DME is private ground transportation operated by MEARS ...

many assume that MEARS stand for M like Mickey, and EARS like ... ears ...

but MEARS is NOT owned by disney, and is not run by disney

they have a contract with disney and are the only cab company allowed on disney property, but they also pay for the right to operate between hotels and on disney property


so, when Magical Express, operated by MEARS doesn't operate like is acceptable ... it's a private company, owned by the MEARS family, that do not deliver ... not disney ... or a disney owned subcompany

if that makes a difference.

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Yeah, I forgot the DME was run by Mears.

Are the people who work at the entrance to the Magical Express area at MCO - the staff who check you in using your MagicBand - Disney staff or Mears staff? And what about the bus drivers?

I'm guessing the former are Disney employees whereas the latter are Mears employees?

[THOscar]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

I'm guessing the former are Disney employees whereas the latter are Mears employees?

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I believe that's the case.

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by dx4100

None of us really know though how much influence from the main parent Disney USA company comes down on the Disney UK arm but I would imagine there are very strong directions given to each of the international arms.

I have also worked for many multi nationals and they have all had influences placed upon them via the main parent company. Any idea that the UK arm will be doing as it pleases wouldn't stand up to scrutiny I am willing to guess.

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The UK company probably won't be doing "as it pleases" - there's always going to be some scrutiny - but it's going to be at the high level. I do get the impression that the UK gets a certain allocation of on-site rooms from Disney in the US (for example) because there's always going to be a limit to the number of rooms available and the UK can't have them all. But the lower-level day-to-day decisions regarding how to attract more customers, such as what deals are offered, are probably decided by the UK company itself.

Other travel agencies (like TUI and Thomas Cook) used to offer free dining separately to Disney's deal. I've seen them offer free dining when Disney doesn't have the offer on. Basically, they just included the dining plan in the cost of their packages and reduced the overall price accordingly so as to attract customers to them. And lots of ticket sites offer "14-days for the price of 7" on ticket prices even on the few months that Disney aren't offering it.

But, as you say, none of us really knows how much influence the main parent Disney company has on the USA and UK arms of their travel agency business.

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

I'm guessing the former are Disney employees whereas the latter are Mears employees?

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Originally Posted by THOscar

I believe that's the case.

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Then, back to an earlier question, is the problem due to the lack of check-in staff at the entrance to the DME or due to the number of buses run to ferry people between MCO and WDW?

If it's the former, then it's definitely Disney's problem. If it's the latter, then it may still be Disney's problem - they may not be paying Mears enough to provide sufficient buses - or it could be Mears is being greedy. I wouldn't expect Disney to be happy if Mears was being greedy and wasn't providing a good service. In reality I suspect it's a little more complicated than that.

[BarryL]

Has anyone been checking DME times to see if this has been a regular issue?
Or has this 14 page thread evolved out of a single day issue?

[Posiesmum]

Originally Posted by BarryL

Has anyone been checking DME times to see if this has been a regular issue?
Or has this 14 page thread evolved out of a single day issue?

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If you look back people have had delays - it happened to us twice.
Plus I’m not sure how you ‘check DME times’.

[BarryL]

Originally Posted by Posiesmum

If you look back people have had delays - it happened to us twice.
Plus I’m not sure how you ‘check DME times’.

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In the same way that this thread first started?
Social media posts...general blog outrage

Storm in a teacup

[dx4100]

Everyone stop discussing everything Barry thinks it's not important

[Posiesmum]

Originally Posted by BarryL

In the same way that this thread first started?
Social media posts...general blog outrage

Storm in a teacup

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Or you could just not read the thread and pass on by...

[bighal]

In a few years there will be no magical express as we know it from MCO. You will be getting on a train to be dropped dropped off at a station on or next to Disney property and then get buses to your resorts. The station at MCO is in the new terminal building being built.