Airport to disney resort

[ducky100]

We are looking to become DVC members. We have been several times before but always via an agent so have never had to worry about transport from airport to Disney.

There is little value in us hiring a car as we tend to use the Disney transport between resorts and parks.

What is the best way of getting from the airport to the resort? I've seen ME mentioned but I'm not sure exactly what that is and if we could use it?

Any help appreciated!!

 

[seashoreCM]

Magical Express.

If you are arriving at / leaving from Orlando International Airport and staying at a Disney's resort then you are given complimentary airport transportation, which is Magical Express. It works somewhat like Super Shuttle and others serving hotels from airports in many major cities, although each bus/coach/van only makes three or four hotel stops. However you must make a reservation for this in advance of arrival into Orlando.

Your baggage can also be delivered from the airport to your resort room without your having to go to the carousels (arrivals before 10 PM). Provided you made the reservation far enough in advance (2 weeks) you will receive special yellow baggage tags for this purpose although delivery can still be done without the tags.
(The white baggage tags used by the airline must not be removed when the yellow ones are attached.)

The Magical Express staging area at the airport is not the most conveniently located; it's at one corner of the giant rectangular main terminal building (B side lowest level). If you imagine that the terminal is a football field, you get off the tram from your gate concourse and exit security at one goal post or the other. The Magical Express area would be under one grandstand at about the ten yard line. (If you did go down to the carousels and this was on the A side, you would have to come back up to the top level (level 3) to cross over.)

Going to your resort you can be early or tardy by a few hours, but going back to the airport you must be ready to meet your scheduled bus 15 minutes before its departure time. For longer vacations, different family members may arrive after check in day or go home before check out day via Magical Express, again with reservations made in advance of the day the ride is needed.

Magical Express reservation number: toll free 866-599-0951

 

[goofy4tink]

DME has worked out very well for me every time I've used it...many, many times to date.
So...you need to make a prior reservation for it. DVC members can book it right online, at the DVC official site. That's what I always do.
Then, as long as you booked at least 10-14 days prior to travel, you will get an info packet in the mail. This will contain directions to the DME area, info about the service, as well as vouchers for each person listed on the reservation, and one luggage tag pp. You would affix the yellow luggage tag to your checked luggage. If you find you need more than one pp, you can ask DME to send you more. Then, say goodbye to your checked bags.
When you arrive at MCO, head to Side B of the terminal, go down to level 1 and there you will find the DME area. Your voucher will be scanned, you will be directed to the appropriate bus line. Get on the bus and go to your resort. You can expect your checked bags to be in your room up to 3 hrs after RESORT checkin, not airport checkin.
I always recommend packing essentials in a carryon bag...perhaps a change of clothes, a swimsuit, your travel documents, small toiletries. All just in case your checked luggage is misdirected by the airlines.

The average time, from gate (note that is not time of landing!!) to resort is running about 75 mins..can be less, can be more.

You do need to be staying at a Disney owned resort in order to use DME and you do need to be listed on the resort reservation.

Upon departure......you can use the RAC (remote alrline checkin) service at your resort if you are flying on a participating airline. You can check your bags and get your boarding passes issued right at the resort!!! BUT...the RAC counter is open from 5am-1pm..and you need to be completely done with your checkin no less than 3 hrs prior to flight departure time. So....if you have a morning flight, that departs earlier than 8:30am, it's going to be hard to use RAC.
Then, you can take DME back to MCO at the specified time..usually about 3 hrs prior to your flight..give or take 15 mins either way. Or, you can travel back in some other fashion.

Any other questions..just ask!!

 

[NJRRK]

Magical Express.

Your baggage can also be delivered from the airport to your resort room without your having to go to the carousels (arrivals before 10 PM). Provided you made the reservation far enough in advance (2 weeks) you will receive special yellow baggage tags for this purpose although delivery can still be done without the tags.
(The white baggage tags used by the airline must not be removed when the yellow ones are attached.)

This only applies to domestic passengers, and those international passengers who clear customs in another airport, if you are flying international and clearing customs in MCO you need to grab your bags like everyone else. I think you can then send them via ME after clearing customs and not have to schelp the bags through the airport and onto to ME bus.

 

[seashoreCM]

The customs station is in the gate complex (satellite terminal; airside terminal), before you take the tram to the main terminal.

For those who must clear or re-clear customs when arriving in Orlando, generally there is the choice of putting the bags onto the other conveyor belt for delivery to your resort room (or to the main terminal carousels for passengers going elsewhere), or carrying the bags right out of the customs station yourself.

There has been occasional anecdotal evidence of passengers required to put their bags on the other conveyor belt and walking out of the customs station empty handed.

The bus driver appreciates tips for bags brought to the bus and put underneath. (Child booster seats are also put underneath; there are no belts to secure them to the bus seats).

In addition, Mears's shuttle is convenient to use to go to Disney because no reservation is needed. One Mears counter is near the Magical Express counter at the airport. (Reservation is needed back to the airport.) There is another company named Super Shuttle that has on line reservations. These companies and also the airport limos and towncars do not have baggage delivery sight unseen to your room; you must fetch all your bags and carry them to the shuttle or car.

 

[ducky100]

Ok thanks for all the info everyone. Feels like as we are travelling from UK might be worth as using this option!!

Out of interest if you just turn up at mears desk what is the cost per person?

Thanks again

 

[NJRRK]

I had a feeling you were from across the pond.

If you just walk up to Mears the cost per person is about $20(USD), or so it was the last time I checked.

But why would you do that when ME is free (included in the price you pay for accomodations). When you go to the Mears website and try to book the shuttle it tells you to book ME instead which kind of makes sense since Mears runs the ME.

 

[seashoreCM]

Ok thanks for all the info everyone. Feels like as we are travelling from UK might be worth as using this option!!

A reminder, for those from outside the U.S., when using Magical Express back to the airport, your bus from your resort should be scheduled about 4 hours before your flight time unless you are going to another vacation stop in the U.S.. A lesser time is a mistake by DME and can/should be corrected as soon as you get the confirmation sheet which should be morning of the day before the day you check out.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ok thanks for all the info everyone. Feels like as we are travelling from UK might be worth as using this option!!

Out of interest if you just turn up at mears desk what is the cost per person?

Thanks again

$19 pp, one way. And, there is no way of knowing how long it will take. You may be put on a DME bus in any case. But, you will now have paid for transport that others paid nothing for!!! And that seems a wee bit silly to me.
So...just book DME. The info packet will answer any questions you may have. I mean seriously here folks....we all know how many international travelers are using DME every day..and they all seem to be quite happy with it.
There is no way I would use Mears if DME was an option for me. And Super Shuttle??? I think we need to stop discussing them. They do NOT seem to be a viable solution when going to WDW!!

 

[CarolMN]

Ok thanks for all the info everyone. Feels like as we are travelling from UK might be worth as using this option!!

Out of interest if you just turn up at mears desk what is the cost per person?

Thanks again

If you haven't already, check out the DVC Board just fort UK members.

UK DC Discussion

ME does work a bit differently for passengers that do not originate from within the US. I'm sure the posters on the UK DVC Board will be glad to share their experiences with you.