*Chocolate and Pixie Dust* - An August 2008 TR- 8/29 pg 6: Sort of an update

[SwansLoveDisney]

I've been thinking about Magical Express the past couple of days.
We used ME in January and LOVED it. Our flight arrived at around 6 pm on a Wednesday. We got our own luggage (we didn't want to wait until late for our suitcases), checked in for ME quickly, and walked right on the bus. After one quick stop at Fort Wilderness, we arrived at the Poly in well under an hour

We're using ME again, but this time we're going to attach the yellow luggage tags. Our flight is arriving at around noon on August 9th, so I figure our bags will be in our rooms by the time we're done with dinner. Or will they?

I'm nervous about Magical Express being not so magical in the crowded summer months. What has been your experience with ME? How long did it take to get your bags?

Good question! I am wondering the same things!

 

[scottny]

I've been thinking about Magical Express the past couple of days.
We used ME in January and LOVED it. Our flight arrived at around 6 pm on a Wednesday. We got our own luggage (we didn't want to wait until late for our suitcases), checked in for ME quickly, and walked right on the bus. After one quick stop at Fort Wilderness, we arrived at the Poly in well under an hour

We're using ME again, but this time we're going to attach the yellow luggage tags. Our flight is arriving at around noon on August 9th, so I figure our bags will be in our rooms by the time we're done with dinner. Or will they?

I'm nervous about Magical Express being not so magical in the crowded summer months. What has been your experience with ME? How long did it take to get your bags?

January it took them 2 hours to put them in our room. July was about 3.

 

[carrieannie]

Hi,,I had 5 pages to catch up on!!

 

[rentayenta]

Our ME experience was less than perfect. Mind you it was during free dining last September but still.....................we arrived around 6 pm or so and I didn't have my bags until after mid-night. I think it was mainly a POR issue but I am still not sure what the hold-up was. Having said that, we'll use ME again.

 

[TarzansKat]

Alright, I don't mean to sound all posh here, but in my family this is one of the things we splurge on.

We don't use magical express. We use Bill. I'll use his real name, because to us, he's Bill.

I don't even remember how many years we've known him, but we've used his service for so long that he seems like a member of the family, and it just wouldn't be a trip to Disney if he didn't pick us up at the airport and bring us to the hotel, and drive us back on our last day. We think he's well worth it. Depending on the size of our party, he'll bring either his Caddie or his SUV, and while we're driving down, we'll talk about what's new, what's going on in our lives, etc. Can I emphasize how much we love Bill?

So I'm sort of biased. And I'll probably never use ME. As long as Bill's driving, we're with him.

 

[jordanyosh]

Jenn, it was 4 hours from the time I arrive til I got my bags.....not bad. That was February.

In June, I don't know how long it was because I was in the parks all day. The bags were there when I got back.........

 

[SingingMom]

Alright, I don't mean to sound all posh here, but in my family this is one of the things we splurge on.

We don't use magical express. We use Bill. I'll use his real name, because to us, he's Bill.

I don't even remember how many years we've known him, but we've used his service for so long that he seems like a member of the family, and it just wouldn't be a trip to Disney if he didn't pick us up at the airport and bring us to the hotel, and drive us back on our last day. We think he's well worth it. Depending on the size of our party, he'll bring either his Caddie or his SUV, and while we're driving down, we'll talk about what's new, what's going on in our lives, etc. Can I emphasize how much we love Bill?

So I'm sort of biased. And I'll probably never use ME. As long as Bill's driving, we're with him.

I'm with you. (although, it's not "Bill". lol) We prefer a town car service. I like it to be just us in the car and door to door service, our bags with us. Once they treated us to a stretch limo on the way home, which made going home just a tiny bit more bearable. lol

 

[hlrababy]

Hey, just wanted to check in and say hello!

 

[Native NYer]

I just realized that you had started a pre trip report. I can't believe I missed out all this time. I am on board now.

We used magical express in Feb. We landed at 10:40am and we were at MK for 2:00. I don't know what time our bags arrived but they were there when we got back from MK.

Oh Good Morning.

Glad you came on over!

That's pretty good timing on ME.

About ME...aftering working in tourism my whole life I have a theory that service is actually better in some ways when things have been busy...everyone is trained...staffing levels should be high....they have the "system" worked out. That isn't to say that nothing will go wrong but I think you'll have your bags before dinner. We've used the service twice and haven't had any problems.

That makes me feel better. I don't trust people when it comes to luggage. I worry that the airline will misplace my bags and now I'm worrying that ME will misplace them.

Good question! I am wondering the same things!

Are you as worried about your bags too?

January it took them 2 hours to put them in our room. July was about 3.

That's not bad at all.

Hi,,I had 5 pages to catch up on!!

Hi

Things move fast here

Our ME experience was less than perfect. Mind you it was during free dining last September but still.....................we arrived around 6 pm or so and I didn't have my bags until after mid-night. I think it was mainly a POR issue but I am still not sure what the hold-up was. Having said that, we'll use ME again.

That's what I feared in January and didn't put the tags on our bags. We also landed at 6 pm and I had nightmares about my nephew not having his pjs and toothbrush.

Alright, I don't mean to sound all posh here, but in my family this is one of the things we splurge on.

We don't use magical express. We use Bill. I'll use his real name, because to us, he's Bill.

I don't even remember how many years we've known him, but we've used his service for so long that he seems like a member of the family, and it just wouldn't be a trip to Disney if he didn't pick us up at the airport and bring us to the hotel, and drive us back on our last day. We think he's well worth it. Depending on the size of our party, he'll bring either his Caddie or his SUV, and while we're driving down, we'll talk about what's new, what's going on in our lives, etc. Can I emphasize how much we love Bill?

So I'm sort of biased. And I'll probably never use ME. As long as Bill's driving, we're with him.

I have to admit I do like the idea of using a town car service. I hate waiting

Jenn, it was 4 hours from the time I arrive til I got my bags.....not bad. That was February.

In June, I don't know how long it was because I was in the parks all day. The bags were there when I got back.........

That's not bad. I just would like my bags by the time I'm done with dinner.

I'm with you. (although, it's not "Bill". lol) We prefer a town car service. I like it to be just us in the car and door to door service, our bags with us. Once they treated us to a stretch limo on the way home, which made going home just a tiny bit more bearable. lol

A limo is tempting. I would book one

Hey, just wanted to check in and say hello!

Hi How are you?

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

I am SO worried about my bags!

My bags were temporarily lost when I went home for Christmas this year...and one of the bags was full of quilts I had made for people for Christmas gifts. I just about had a nervous breakdown until they found the bags!

I am very protective of my luggage since then!

 

[Native NYer]

I am SO worried about my bags!

My bags were temporarily lost when I went home for Christmas this year...and one of the bags was full of quilts I had made for people for Christmas gifts. I just about had a nervous breakdown until they found the bags!

I am very protective of my luggage since then!

I am protective of my luggage because of horror stories like yours. You're lucky that you got your bag back, but I always worry that I won't get it back. Then I start to panic. And pretty soon, it's not pleasant for anyone. I guess I just want a guarantee that my luggage will be in my room at some point that day. But I know I'll have stomach pains until it gets there.

 

[swwake]

Jen - look what I found! Sounds like someone just like us!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=24525689#post24525689

 

[scottny]

I am protective of my luggage because of horror stories like yours. You're lucky that you got your bag back, but I always worry that I won't get it back. Then I start to panic. And pretty soon, it's not pleasant for anyone. I guess I just want a guarantee that my luggage will be in my room at some point that day. But I know I'll have stomach pains until it gets there.

not me. it is only clothes as Biff says. every thing important is in our carry ons and if need be we can go shop for new ones if they get lost. I hope that never happens but I think I am prepared if it does.

 

[Native NYer]

Jen - look what I found! Sounds like someone just like us!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=24525689#post24525689

not me. it is only clothes as Biff says. every thing important is in our carry ons and if need be we can go shop for new ones if they get lost. I hope that never happens but I think I am prepared if it does.

You have a point TGS Maybe I should pack a carry on with one outfit just in case.

People handling my luggage stresses me out

 

[MomofCKJ]

I haven't used ME. We use a town car service that the DIS won't let me name, the horror. We love them and have used them twice and will be using them again in January. I like making a grocery stop, I like getting off a crowded plane and getting help with my bags and getting into my own set of wheels and I like having my luggage right away. Most of all I like not getting picked up 3 hours before my return flight. Every last hour in the magic counts for me baby! And at $82 r/t plus tip I find it a worthwhile expense.

Allyson

 

[Native NYer]

I haven't used ME. We use a town car service that the DIS won't let me name, the horror. We love them and have used them twice and will be using them again in January. I like making a grocery stop, I like getting off a crowded plane and getting help with my bags and getting into my own set of wheels and I like having my luggage right away. Most of all I like not getting picked up 3 hours before my return flight. Every last hour in the magic counts for me baby! And at $82 r/t plus tip I find it a worthwhile expense.

Allyson

That's a great price. Why won't the DIS let you name the company?

I'm still tossing around the idea of a town car company.

 

[MRYPPNS]

not me. it is only clothes as Biff says. every thing important is in our carry ons and if need be we can go shop for new ones if they get lost. I hope that never happens but I think I am prepared if it does.

Scott you have the right attitude about luggage!

I always pack a change of clothes in my carry on plus anything that I wouldn't or couldn't replace at the mall.

 

[Native NYer]

I'm still stressing over ME vs. a town car company. I'm scared that Disney will lose my luggage or it will arrive so late that I'll have to sleep in the same clothes I wore on the plane

The wait at the airport also makes me slightly apprehensive. I like to get off the plane, grab my bags, and head straight to the resort. The thought of stopping at resorts and delaying my fun doesn't sound appealing.

While I had a great experience in January, I fear the summer crowds

 

[MRYPPNS]

I'm still stressing over ME vs. a town car company. I'm scared that Disney will lose my luggage or it will arrive so late that I'll have to sleep in the same clothes I wore on the plane

The wait at the airport also makes me slightly apprehensive. I like to get off the plane, grab my bags, and head straight to the resort. The thought of stopping at resorts and delaying my fun doesn't sound appealing.

While I had a great experience in January, I fear the summer crowds

If it's that big of a deal then just throw money at the problem and take a towncar....the stress is not worth the $100+ it will cost. I took a towncar prior to ME being offered and it was fun to have someone waiting with a sign with my name on it.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I know nothing about ME or flying into Orlando . I am no help whatsoever!