As Walt Disney World launches one high-end transportation alternative, it has decided to shutter another.
Disney's Express Transportation service will cease operations effective August 23, 2017.
The service debuted earlier this year as an add-on service for Walt Disney World guests. Its goal was to provide a more guest-friendly park-to-park transportation alternative. With pick-up locations inside each of the four Walt Disney World parks, reduced security screenings and scheduled departure times, it was designed to make park hopping more palatable for those willing to pay for the service.
Posted rates started at $19 per person, per day with a 7-day rate offered for just $29 per person. A summer pass was offered to Annual Pass holders for the rate of $59 each, providing service for the period of June 5 to August 10, 2017.
Low ridership numbers are reportedly to blame for the shut-down.
Pickup locations included the likes of Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom and Africa at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Participants are escorted through backstage areas to waiting buses, where they are driven to the destination park and allowed to enter through a similar private access point, bypassing the park gates and security screening altogether.
Walt Disney World continues to offer free property-wide transportation, including park-to-park routes, via its standard bus depots at every theme park and resort hotel.
Earlier this month Disney launched the "Minnie Van" service, an Uber-like solution which offers private transportation between any locations on Walt Disney World property for just $20 per trip. The service initially launced at Disney's BoardWalk Inn & Villas and Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, and is expected to expand its service area in the coming months.
