We’ve all seen the pictures of the new stylish Chevy Traverses that have been wrapped in a custom design to look like Minnie Mouse’s dress. Some of us have even had the opportunity to ride in one of them since they’ve started their testing in July. But why would you want to use a flat rate service when you could utilize another service for a cheaper price? After all, that $20 flat rate isn’t exactly the best bargain you’ll find at Walt Disney World (though it sure is close). Below I’ll examine 6 reasons why I think you should use Disney’s new Minnie Van Transportation Service.
- Disney Cast Members Driving
Probably one of the most important parts of the Minnie Van Service is having an actual Disney Cast Member driving your vehicle. You can get some amazing levels of service that you might not be able to get through another third party service. By having a Disney Cast Member driving you know they will be knowledgeable about the products and locations they are taking you to. You can rest assured they will know the best route and will efficiently take you to your destination with a friendly and welcoming attitude.
- Point-to-Point Transportation
Once the Minnie Van system is fully operational, they will be able to pick you up anywhere on Walt Disney World property, and take you to any location on Disney property you’d like to go. This provides an excellent opportunity to travel between Walt Disney World Resorts. For example, if you are staying at All Star Movies Resort and have a dining reservation for breakfast at Cape May Café over at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, you can easily get to your reservation. In addition to using the service for dining reservations, you could even take a Minnie Van from a Disney theme park back to your resort. Which brings me to my next point.
- Drops off in Locations Uber/Lyft/Taxi Cannot
Minnie Vans are able to pick you up at any Disney Theme Park or Disney Resort, and because they are driven by Disney Cast Members they have access to locations regular vehicles would not. One such example is the drop off location for the Magic Kingdom. Minnie Vans will drop you off in the same location as the Magic Kingdom buses, instead of at the Ticket and Transportation Center where other services are required to drop you off. Minnie Vans can also take you directly to your building when staying at a Disney Resort. An example here would be dropping you off at building 6A at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort instead of dropping you off at the front of the resort where Uber and a Taxi would take you.
- Can Fit up to 6 Guests
Standard Minnie Vans are Chevy Traverse SUV’s, which mean they have the space and capacity to seat up to 6 people. This is really important for families that are traveling. Most Walt Disney World guest rooms will sleep up to 5 guests, but family suites can sleep up to 6 guests, meaning that one Minnie Van can fit an entire guest room of adults. Minnie Vans can even fit children.
- Comes with 2 Car Seats
Traveling with children can be a challenge in itself, and when you travel via car, a car seat is a must. Not only is it safer, but it’s the law. Florida state law requires any child under the age of 6 to use a car seat or booster seat and the American Automobile Association (AAA) recommends that any child under 4 feet 9 inches tall utilize a booster seat or child restraint system. Uber doesn’t always have a car seat available and often times when they do, there is only one car seat in the vehicle, which doesn’t work for families traveling with 2 young children. In addition to having 2 car seats, Minnie Vans are able to fit one folded wheelchair or ECV for guests who are able to transfer out of the wheelchair or ECV. If a guest is unable to transfer, there is a special vehicle which can accommodate one wheelchair or ECV; this will need to be requested through the app or with your driver when they arrive.
- No Tipping
Since Minnie Vans are driven by Disney Cast Members in a non-tipped role, tipping is not required for your trip. Often times Uber or Taxi drivers make most of their wages in tips, but with Minnie Vans, drivers are paid a base wage, meaning no tipping is required. Adding a tip to your Uber fare will increase your overall payment and could even cause it to be more than the fare of a Minnie Van. Often times a Minnie Van driver won’t even accept a tip, much like a resort concierge wouldn’t be able to accept it. This means that Minnie Van drivers are going to provide you with the same high level of service you’d expect from Disney regardless of your ability to tip them.
These are only a few of the reasons why Walt Disney World’s Minnie Van Service could be a huge asset to your family. As with all things at Walt Disney World, it’s important to do your research to make sure this is the best option for you and your party. Let me know what other reasons you would use a Minnie Van for in the comments below.
