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Upset Disney Fans Remember Popular Service That Ended for No Reason

A woman in a green dress helps a smiling girl in a pink cardigan try on a red polka dot cap in a colorful store. The shop displays various merchandise including polka-dotted clothing, toys, and decorative plants with customers browsing.
Credit: Disney

A Walt Disney World Resort vacation has always been expensive, but many guests felt the cost was justified because of the incredible perks that came with their stay. Unfortunately, since the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of things have changed, and most guests agree that the changes are not for the better.

In 2020, Disney World ended the popular Extra Magic Hours, which gave all Disney World hotel guests three extra hours in select parks on select nights. Then, in 2021, the company announced the end of the beloved Magical Express — the complimentary bus service that took guests from the Orlando International Airport right to their hotel. Finally, in 2022, Disney ended the free FastPass program and implemented Disney Genie+.

Magical Express

Credit: Disney

Disney is still facing backlash for those decisions. Now, another discontinued offering has come into the spotlight, and fans have remembered the good old days at Walt Disney World.

X (formerly Twitter) user WDW Bus Driver asked if anyone remembered when Disney World offered free package delivery from the theme parks to your Disney hotel. It was a time when guests could purchase merchandise anywhere in the parks, and the items would be delivered to their Disney Resort hotel gift shop the next day.

Remember when Walt Disney World offered merchandise pickup and delivery services if you purchased an item inside one of the parks, you could have it shipped to the front of the park to pick up before you left for the day or have it delivered back to your Disney Resorts hotel…

Related: Disney’s Magical Express Is Officially GONE. Here Are Your Options

The question ignited a flurry of conversation, with many guests upset that Disney continues to take things away from guests while charging more than ever.

One of the more irritating changes they’ve made lately IMO. It was such a nice perk to not have to carry stuff around. I realize this is a 1st world problem, but they’re charging you a premium for tickets and then offering fewer services.

Related: Guest Provides Sad Reminder of Everything Disney Has Taken From Us

Many people even admitted that they no longer buy as much merchandise as they used to. This is simply because they don’t want to carry it around all day.

Yes and that’s why I rarely buy anything anymore. I don’t want to lug stuff around so I’ve just stopped buying most merchandise.

Related: Disney Accused of “Bait and Switch” After Media Event Angers Guests

Now, one commenter believes that Disney might be considering bringing the service back, based on a survey they recently received from Disney.

Recently got a survey that had some questions about shopping and one of the answers to a question was not buying stuff bc you need to carry it. I feel like that’s a signal they might bring this back

What many found frustrating is that there is really no reason for Disney to continue to not offer the service. Package pickup was put on pause when Disney World reopened after the pandemic, which was understandable. However, nearly every pandemic-era regulation is no longer in place — except hotel package pickup.

Sadly, despite the complaints from guests and the drop in theme park attendance, Disney has not been inclined to bring back any of the much-missed offerings.

Do you think Disney should bring back the complimentary Resort Package Pickup? Did you use it when it was offered? Let us know in the comments!

About Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!

5 comments

  1. The package delivery service was the main reason to go shopping at Disney. Now, why buy stuff if you have to haul it around all day? That makes no sense. I hope it does cut into their bottom line. All the free perks were incentives to come there, spend more and enjoy. Now it is how can I afford it, period. I am looking for them to bring the package delivery service back, but charge you for it. It wouldn’t surprise me. Good Luck Disney, eventually, it will catch up with you. People will read these comments about what was free and think what the heck?

  2. They can’t get enough workers to handle the extra processing per some metric they probably have. We already know they are having staffing issues in general.

  3. This was a great perk that I really miss. When I would come to the Food and Wine Festival, I always bought several wine glasses and my daughter is a Figment fanatic, so anything with Figment was purchased. I no longer do that because I do not want to carry it around with me. They are losing a lot of money due to removing this perk.

  4. Disney top brass says – lets get rid of package delivery, magical express, fast pass, extra magic hours and raise prices, then charge them for what was free (fast pass and magical express) and they give a round of high-fives to each other for further inflating THEIR wallets. Y’all are crazy if you think they care about anything other than $$$$ for them.

  5. Yes, we used it – probably too much! LOL We are headed back in September and I will NOT be purchasing as much because I don’t want to be lugging around packages all day. It’s too easy to lay them down and leave them. It would be nice if they brought back 1 thing. Well, let me rephrase that – how about getting something back LIKE IT WAS? Fast Pass – you now pay for, Dining Plan – so many restrictions, Magic Express – well it’s no more but there are paid versions. Extra Hours – yes in the morning but night is only for the Deluxe. So, give us back the package delivery…please!