Originally Posted By SJHYM The Orlando International Airport is booting out Disney's Magical Express Greeters begining 10/31. The Airport has gotten a lot of complaints from taxi and limo services who say that its unfair competition and hurting their business. From the Sentinel; "The change came about Wednesday after the airport's attorney sent a letter to Disney's attorney informing him that the greeters need to be removed by Oct. 31. The letter also clarified that Walt Disney World guests who had not pre-arranged a ride on Magical Express would not be able to access the service once they arrived at the airport." Here is the link: <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-express2205sep22" target="_blank">http://www.orlandosentinel.com /business/orl-express2205sep22</a>,0,5900540.story?coll=orl-business-headlines
Originally Posted By happyface Isn't that the way it has always worked? You can't just fly in and then decide to take the bus. You have to arrange it. If the cabs and limos were so worried about losing buisness over this, they should not have been charging an arm and a leg and then "long riding" the tourists. They soooo deserve this!
Originally Posted By Darkbeer I find this part of the article interesting... >>Of major concern is whether the pilot program is causing the airport to lose money because its other concessionaires may no longer pay as much in airport fees. Disney has spent $21 million on the program since May, about $2 million of that going to the airport through fees or improvements, according to documents from a private presentation Disney made to airport officials last month. Fuqua said one option might be to require Magical Express to operate out of both the A and B sides of the terminal like most concessionaires such as rental-car companies and other shuttle services. Currently Magical Express only operates out of the A terminal, and a change would significantly decrease the program's efficiency and result in an estimated increase of $15 million a year in Disney's operating costs, according to documents prepared by the company. But Fuqua said other providers of transportation are required to operate on both sides of the airport despite the increased expenses and decreased efficiency. "It costs more money for Hertz and the others to operate that way," Fuqua said. "We can't set our airport up to operate to Disney's pleasure."<<
Originally Posted By CTXRover I agree that Disney shouldn't have special access on the 3rd floor of the airport, even if it was part of the contract they signed with OIA and thereby were not breaking any rules set forth by OIA. I agree that it was unfair and it was certainly the right thing to do in booting them off that level. However, I don't think Disney should be forced to with-hold the service from guests who didn't sign up first. The Magical Express program is part of the whole package of staying at a WDW resort. It should be offered to all guests, no matter when they show interest. Its ironic that the limo and taxi companies are complaining that Disney is taking away their business when its becoming painfully obvious that Disney is solely responsible for providing most of their business to begin with. Beyond being a good corporate neighbor, there is no reason why Disney should have to bow to their crying.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <However, I don't think Disney should be forced to with-hold the service from guests who didn't sign up first. The Magical Express program is part of the whole package of staying at a WDW resort. It should be offered to all guests, no matter when they show interest. < I agree- this part is bunk..........and how many people get hounded by limo drivers durig the day -- yet at night when yo take a late flight-- amazingly they charge higher rates...supply and demand -- they just don't like the odds any more..
Originally Posted By Darkbeer ^ The agreement/contract Disney had with the Airport authority was that ONLY pre-arranged folks could use the service. And I think the Taxi/Shuttle folks want Disney to operate on a level playing field, such as having to operate in both terminals, and not allowing the special third floor access. Disney should NOT get special access, or not have to play by the rules that other companies have to abide by.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer From the article.... >>Larry Colleton, the attorney for the association, said Disney's greeters were soliciting passengers who had not already signed up for Magical Express, which is against the airport's solicitation rules.<<
Originally Posted By vbdad55 >>Larry Colleton, the attorney for the association, said Disney's greeters were soliciting passengers who had not already signed up for Magical Express, which is against the airport's solicitation rules.<< Then to keep the playing field level there better not be cabbies and limo companies soliciting either -- which would make it very unique for an airport --
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Here in San Diego.... Taxi Cabs, you must go to a marked spot (about 6 in the entire airport), and then you the first cab in line gets the fare, at a special price pre-set by the city. Our cabs have two fare schedules, the Airport fare, and then a second fare from anywhere else, that fare can be adjusted by the company. Shuttles, you go to a pre-marked area, where an Airport employee is there to dispatch, you state what part of the city you want to go, and if you want a particular company, you state that also, otherwise you get first in line. Transportation companies cannot solicit on property.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Then that would be fair - is that how it is in Orlando ? If so then all's level..... so if Disney set's up a huge pre determined spot somewhere outside of luggage pickup -- that works ? No different than a shuttle to any particular large hotel
Originally Posted By happyface If I make arrangements to use Magical Express, while I am in Texas, and I am told to look for the guys with the big white Mickey Gloves when I deplane, how is this different than when I book a limo to pick me up and I am told to look for the fella with the sign that has my name on it?
Originally Posted By Darkbeer >>If I make arrangements to use Magical Express, while I am in Texas, and I am told to look for the guys with the big white Mickey Gloves when I deplane, how is this different than when I book a limo to pick me up and I am told to look for the fella with the sign that has my name on it?<< The Disney folks were located in the "security area" just as you got off the plane, plus they were trying to find "new" folks to add to the list. The Limo Drivers had to stay on the first floor, at the baggage claim area. That is the issue, and why Disney had to remove its staff from the third floor. The Disney folks will be able to stand in the same area as the Limo drivers with reserved passengers. Both will not be allowed to solicit additional passengers, making the playing field level.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I am glad the airport is having them removed from the 3rd level... Everytime I come hom I cringe everytime I see those old timers waving Mickey gloves at me. It's like... "gimme a break! I *live* here, and am not a freaking tourist!!!" Good riddance. If now they pulled the plug on the whole operation which I find to be a security hazard in regards to mishandled luggage.
Originally Posted By LadyandtheTramp "The Disney folks were located in the "security area" just as you got off the plane". Uh, I don't believe that is correct. They were in the main terminal building on the "can't go in" side of the TSA security screening - at least, that's the only place I've ever seen them (and I've been up there a significant number of times since this has started). This is the third floor - not where you get off the plane, but where you get off the shuttle, pass by security, and before you go down the escalator to baggage claim. Which, to me, seems logical: since they have your luggage, they should be before you get there. As to solicitation - please. Every time you go down the escalator, you get accosted by a number of folks asking "Need a taxi?". Happens all the time (the last time was yesterday as I'm trying to get to the parking garage).
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Disney could have provided a valuable service to its resort guests AND still have been a good neighbor by offering resort guests a voucher for travel to WDW via an existing shuttle service. WDW could have negotiated a volume rate with the shuttle services and paid the services based on the number of vouchers used. It probably wouldn't have cost Disney much more than running their own program, and it wouldn't have taken business away from existing services.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Disney could have provided a valuable service to its resort guests AND still have been a good neighbor by offering resort guests a voucher for travel to WDW via an existing shuttle service.>> Didn't they used to do at least do something partially like this? I recall getting discount coupons for Mears. You still had to pay, but Disney obviously had some arrangment with Mears (or vise-versa.)
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Trippy -- as a business model for a for-profit organization , this makes perfect sense in that all companies want to control their customers decisions as much as they can. Also since I am sure there were business decisions that had to be made before they entered this venture ( and spent their own capital) - I am relatively certain there would also have had to be alternatives that would have included realtionships with existing vendors for this purpose. By the end decision I would assume that this was the most profitable. As a stockholder I want to know why this would not be the right thing to do then? You can bet the house that if Universal / Sea World etc had the financial resources/ gumption they would be doing the same thing...they are fighting for the complete vacation dollar of the visitors. I also am sure these people along with the business owners from around the Convention Center are lending more than moral support to fighting this and making Disney cease and desist. It is not like they are getting an unfair advantage from local politicians in order to carry this out -- it costs them $ also. No one regulated for all the years the high cost of trips to and from the airport -- but suddenly those crying foul are saying it is for the good of the people -- Also unless I am mistaken ( and if I am please correct me)- you tend to be one of the Wal Mart supporters here ( over and above the ability to wear native outfits) - and there is no more benchmark for predatory practices than them. Yet, here we want Disney to be a good neighbor and give away potential profitable revenue ? Just not sure I follow why...
Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-ed23205sep23" target="_blank">http://www.orlandosentinel.com /news/opinion/orl-ed23205sep23</a>,0,1517563.story?coll=orl-opinion-headlines >>Orlando International Airport executives properly erred on the side of fairness, changing the terms of an ill-conceived agreement this week that gave Walt Disney World a leg up on providing transportation to visitors. In May, Disney started offering free bus service to guests. Certainly, that's its prerogative. But airport officials gave Disney an unfair competitive advantage over other transportation providers by allowing Disney workers to greet passengers on the main floor of the airport. Other transportation providers were relegated to the baggage-claim area or to rental-car and taxicab kiosks on the floors below. Airport Executive Director Bill Jennings says that Disney was permitted on the third floor only to corral passengers who had pre-booked the free bus service. But it became readily apparent, he and other airport transportation providers said, that Disney greeters also were offering the service to other passengers, in violation of the airport's no-solicitation policy. Disney denies those charges. But for the time being -- at least until the airport develops a new policy that will apply to all transportation providers -- the Disney greeters will be consigned to baggage-claim areas, alongside other private-transportation providers. From the standpoint of fairness, that's the only equitable solution. Plus, it eliminates security concerns posed by Disney customers who gathered just outside security checkpoints, compromising surveillance activities. Providing equal opportunities for all airport vendors is the right path for airport officials to pursue.<<
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I have no problem with fairness -- as long as they are all allowed to hakw their wares equally - whether itbe upstairs or down, then that is fine...the original story was skewed more towards other companies being upset because was seeking others who hadn;t booked yet and since the service is free ................( free to the customers, not to Disney )
