Bus: Magic express how does it work

[ang]

[Hi everyone,

I am planning a trip for August. We are a family of 4. We are debating on flyilng or driving. It really depends on the prices for airlines.
My ??? is. How does this work, the magic express? You get off the airlines and go to the disney hub?
You don't have pick up luggage?
YOu go to resort on bus...how long do you wait around at the airport for the bus?
What is the average wait for luggage?
Leaving the resort...How do they precheck your bags? I don't see anywhere on disney website explaining this...
Thanks for info...

 

[jennyh2829]

You have to sign up for ME. Disney send you luggage tags to put on your luggage. We checked our luggage at our departing airport and did not see it again until it was in our room. They only use certain airlines(we flew American, I also think Delta is one, I'm not sure of the rest) If you fly another carrier they will let you use ME but you will have to collect your own bags and bring them with you. When you get to MCO you go to like level one and there is usually some one there who can tell you where exactly to go check in (I can't remember the area's #) You check in and they direct you to the line up area for the buses. We have stayed at deluxe's both times and did not have to wait but maybe 5-10 minutes to load, and off we went. Not sure how long it took to get luggage. We checked in and our room was not ready so we headed off to a park after we checked our carry on luggage with the bell. When we returned to our room about 6ish our luggage was there.

Edited to add: When we left the resort we were told what time to be there to catch the bus and if you use one of the carriers you will be allowed to check your bags as long as it is so many hours before your flight. Guest services will be able to tell you how far in advance to check your bags.

We loved ME and had no problems coming or going
Hope this helps

 

[Wendy1953]

You are best off taking a carry on with anything you need for the rest of the day you arrive, as you will have no access to your luggage until it arrives in your room, which they state will be after 3:00 pm (which if you know is the actual time of check-in)

 

[pdmeroc]

ANG, I'm in the same boat as you. From Ohio and trying to figure out driving or flying.

We went last year and did Magical Express. Works great! Disney sends you luggage tags to be put on your luggage when you leave with your resort on them. These are very much like the standard airline tags put on your luggage when flying. These bags get moved to your room at your resort by Disney. I don't know how they do this, but it worked great for us. Just drop off the bags at the airport and poof!, they show up in your room.

Ours got to our room at POR several hours after we arrived. This can be a problem if you have not planned for this. We knew we were going to EPCOT on day of arrival, so we made sure we had our park gear (stroller, water bottles, backpack with snacks) and left. Our luggage did not get to our room until about 9:00 at night (9 hours after we got to the resort). Still, no big deal, and I think this was an exception.

When you arrive at Orlando's airport, we went to the Disney boarding location. It was kind of like a big rental car area and checked in with our ME tickets. The cast members were very helpful and directed us in the right way. There were lots of castmembers and they were all very helpful. There was a large area for lineing up to catch a bus to your resort. It is almost like getting in line for a ride. Wait in a roped off line with your family and the cast members let you on the bus. They count off the people getting on the bus and everyone gets on.

Most people had some sort of carry-on bad such as a diaper bag, stroller, computer bag, kids backpacks, etc.... You can still stow stuff below the bus so roominess on the bus in no problem. The ride to the resort is pleasant they show a short video explaining what is going on. The only drawback is that a lot of people get off the bus at the resort to check in at the same time. Have someone from your group go immmediately to the check in line while others gather the stuff from the bus (if any)! We did no do this and had to wait about 45 minutes in line to check in.

The day before you leave, we checked in with the resort castmember responsible for ME. They print out new tags to put on your luggage and take it from you in the morning when you arrive. They will also print ariline luggage tags. Just like arrival, your luggage disappears and shows up at your home airport...just great. Remember to plan ahead...if you are going to do anything the day you are leaving (swim, parks, etc...) keep whatever you will need in a carry on.

Trips to and from went very smoothly and we loved it. THe only better way for us was taking a limo to/from the airport, but the money is to much nowadays for this.

Have a great trip. If you do decide to fly, make sure the airline is affiliated with the ME program.

 

[Tissa]

check out the Transportation Board, they have several posts at the top with all the ME questions and answers.

 

[jwwi]

Magical Express worked well for us Nov 2006. As stated in the previous reply Disney sends you luggage tags, yellow in color, along with instructions in a cute booklet. You attach the tags to your checked bags at the airport. You do not need to put a yellow tag on your carry on bags. When you arrive in Orlando you go to the Magical Express area, near the Rental Car area. I do not think you have to be on certain airlines to have Disney transport your bag to the resort. We used Midwest Airlines. We also had a very short wait, we were staying at POFQ. On the bus ride there is a video that gives information about the WDW resort. I do know that there are only certain airlines that allow you to check in and check your bags at the resorts for your return flight. This can also be nice, you should be able to find the information on this website, look at transportation board. However I would not let resort airline checkin be your deciding factor on picking a flight, I usually look at schedule and price to help make my decision.

I had used Magical Express on a prior visit 9/2005, it was very new and definately not as efficient as the visit in 11/2006. Our luggage was delivered to our room while we were out at ESPN club watching Sunday football, so I am not sure how long it took. I always bring warm weather clothes with me in my carry on, along with a bathing suit. That way you can start to enjoy your vacation as soon as you arrive in Sunny FL.

 

[betterlatethannever]

You have to sign up for ME. Disney send you luggage tags to put on your luggage. We checked our luggage at our departing airport and did not see it again until it was in our room. They only use certain airlines(we flew American, I also think Delta is one, I'm not sure of the rest) If you fly another carrier they will let you use ME but you will have to collect your own bags and bring them with you. When you get to MCO you go to like level one and there is usually some one there who can tell you where exactly to go check in (I can't remember the area's #) You check in and they direct you to the line up area for the buses. We have stayed at deluxe's both times and did not have to wait but maybe 5-10 minutes to load, and off we went. Not sure how long it took to get luggage. We checked in and our room was not ready so we headed off to a park after we checked our carry on luggage with the bell. When we returned to our room about 6ish our luggage was there.

Hope this helps

Close but not totally correct.

You can fly ANY airline and use ME. When you sign up for ME with Disney, they send you the luggage tags. Put them on your suitcases. At MCO there are people behind the scenes looking for these tags FOR EVERY ARRIVING FLIGHT. They take the suitcases and send them to your resort on a truck.

The ME desk is on the "B" side of the terminal on the first floor. Walk all the way down the first floor corridor past the car rental desks. FYI, the two sides are connected only on the third level.

The restriction on airlines is for checking your luggage at your resort FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT HOME. AND FYI, IF THE AIRLINE IS PART OF THIS SERVICE, YOU CAN CHECK YOUR BAGS AT THE RESORT EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT USING ME.

For ME, on the return to the airport, you take your luggage to the ME bus and store it under the bus.

Ed

 

[ang]

Thanks for the info .... how far in advance do you check with the resort when you are leaving..staying at POP century....to in check in your luggages to return home...going to wdw i understand now....how about coming home?

I love the info....thanks so much

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for the info .... how far in advance do you check with the resort when you are leaving..staying at POP century....to in check in your luggages to return home...going to wdw i understand now....how about coming home?

I love the info....thanks so much

Depends on the time of your flight. Let's say your flight is departing at 1:00 pm. DME will, most likely, be giving you a pick up time of about 10-10:30. The desk where you would check your bags and get boarding passes for those participating airlines, opens at about 5 am. You will need about 30 mins to get done there....depending on the time of day you get there. Get there very early, and you'll be done in about 8 mins. Wait until after 8:00 am and you'll be in a long line.
I like to be rid of my bags as soon as is humanly possible. So, we all get to the desk at about 7ish. We get our boarding passes and then go eat breakfast. You can leave your carryon bag with Bell Services. Just be sure to allow time to retrieve them so you don't miss your bus. And be aware...everyone in your party has to be there to checkin. You can not checkin for someone else....grandma and little Joey have to get out of bed and be there....it's the exact same thing as checking in at the airport...everyone has to be there, with ID's in hand.

And again, as just noted....anyone, flying on any airline, into MCO is able to use DME to their resort. The only resorts that are not included at SoG, Swan and Dolphin. All others are.
It is only for the return to the airport that the airline you are flying on will make a difference. Anyone, on any airline, can ride back to MCO on DME. It is only those who want to checkin, for their flights, at the resort, and get boarding passes printed out and their luggage taken away, that have to be on a 'participating airline'...this service really has nothing to do with DME. If you are on one of those airlines, you could check your bags, get boarding passes and use a rental car, or a towncar service back to the airport.
Hope this helps clear it all up.

 

[ang]

Thanks goofy4tink,

Now, I understanding, thanks so much for the info I greatly appreciate it and everyone.

 

[CleveRocks]

You have to sign up for ME. Disney send you luggage tags to put on your luggage. We checked our luggage at our departing airport and did not see it again until it was in our room. They only use certain airlines(we flew American, I also think Delta is one, I'm not sure of the rest) If you fly another carrier they will let you use ME but you will have to collect your own bags and bring them with you.

The statement in bold is incorrect. When you arrive at MCO, everyone on every airline gets the automatic luggage delivery. No one has to get their own luggage. PERIOD.