Current magical express experience

[ballonewb]

Looking for anyone that has had a current magical Express experience. Within the last couple of weeks

Leaving in a couple of weeks and I’m still up in the air what transportation to use. I have a reservation with a private car service that will make a grocery stop, I have a rental car, or just use magical express. Advantage of car or private service would be the grocery stop for drinks and snacks for the room

thanks in advance

 

[Bjkandma]

We used Magical Express to resort August 18th and to airport on August 29th. Every other row on the bus was left empty for social distancing. When we were trying to get to the resort, we checked in at the desk. Cast member told us wait could be up to 60 minutes. We actually were the only ones waiting (about noon on a Tuesday). They immediately had us board a bus. Thought we would be waiting up to 60 minutes. We were on our way in less than 5 minutes. We were the only two on the bus!

Coming back to the airport, the bus arrived on time at 11:55. There were guests from other resorts We boarded and were on our way to the airport. No waiting at all.

You are now responsible for picking y p your own luggage at baggage claim and taking it to the bus. When leaving resort, same you check your luggage in at the airport.

Staying at POP, we did our airline check in and prepaid our luggage fees (flew Delts). At the resort in the lobby near the ATM, in a back corner, we were able to print out boarding passes. That was a surprise.

We ordered groceries \snacks from Garden Grover. They charge a $14 delivery fee. Garden Grocer left out things with Bell Services and our cold items were refrigerated.

 

[BillFromCT]

I took the Magical Express last Sunday to CBR. Came in on Southwest at 9:00 am, so picked my luggage up on side A. The baggage was coming out when I got down there. Back up and over to ME on side B. There was a sign saying 45 minutes, as well as a 45 minute comment by the cast member checking me in. I waited maybe 10 minutes before boarding the bus. They show you on a bus diagram where to sit. Every other row. The rest of the bus loaded fairly quickly, which amounted to 20 or so people. There was room for a few more. We were on our way by 9:40 am. Announced stops at Pop, CBR, Riviera, and Kidani. I received by room assignment from CBR while on the bus, and was in my CBR room by 10:15. Overall a pretty seamless experience.

 

[Spartan86]

We ordered groceries \snacks from Garden Grover. They charge a $14 delivery fee. Garden Grocer left out things with Bell Services and our cold items were refrigerated.

I thought it was $7? Did you have more than one delivery?

 

[Bjkandma]

No, only one delivery. It was $14. Orders over $200, there is no delivery charge

 

[Starwind]

I thought it was $7? Did you have more than one delivery?

Two separate fees.

The $14 is Garden Grocer's service fee if your order is <$200.

The hotel charges a fee of $6 if Bell Services delivers your grocery order to your room; the charge is applied to your room account. They do not charge a fee to simply receive a grocery order at Bell Services.

SW

 

[Spartan86]

Two separate fees.

The $14 is Garden Grocer's service fee if your order is <$200.

The hotel charges a fee of $6 if Bell Services delivers your grocery order to your room; the charge is applied to your room account. They do not charge a fee to simply receive a grocery order at Bell Services.

SW

No, only one delivery. It was $14. Orders over $200, there is no delivery charge

Ok. Thanks. I have Seen the $6 delivery fee and that’s what I was thinking about.

 

[Dug720]

I took the Magical Express last Sunday to CBR. Came in on Southwest at 9:00 am, so picked my luggage up on side A. The baggage was coming out when I got down there. Back up and over to ME on side B. There was a sign saying 45 minutes, as well as a 45 minute comment by the cast member checking me in. I waited maybe 10 minutes before boarding the bus. They show you on a bus diagram where to sit. Every other row. The rest of the bus loaded fairly quickly, which amounted to 20 or so people. There was room for a few more. We were on our way by 9:40 am. Announced stops at Pop, CBR, Riviera, and Kidani. I received by room assignment from CBR while on the bus, and was in my CBR room by 10:15. Overall a pretty seamless experience.

Personally I'd rather them overestimate the time and be pleasantly surprised when it takes less time than say "10 minutes" and it be 45.

 

[MinnieMSue]

We arrived at MCO Saturday 9/5 at 8:30am and quickly picked up luggage and were at ME before 9. We stood a couple minutes at the head of the pop line and they boarded us first on the next bus. We were assigned seats at the very back. They filled the bus within 10-15 min and we were on our way (by filled the bus I mean they left empty rows between families) 4 hotels on bus. I remember Pop CBR and AK - forget the 4th. They stopped at pop first and we were the only 2 dropped off there. Return was supposed to be 8:25. Pop was the last stop returning to airport and the bus came about 10 min early. It did wait until 8:24 to leave - one other person got on at Pop and I believe the driver was waiting for him before we left pop. We had a perfect ME experience - I am guessing mostly by luck

 

[IluvMGM]

Leaving the airport they assigned us seats to go to the hotel. On the way to the airport from the hotel it was a free for all. People sat wherever they wanted, no social distancing. Then the driver counted heads and said there were 3 too many people and asked for a group of 3 that would be willing to get off the bus and wait for the next one. Made no sense to me. If you counted everyone and assigned them seats as they boarded, you would know how many people were on there to begin with.

 

[ironz]

Leaving the airport they assigned us seats to go to the hotel. On the way to the airport from the hotel it was a free for all. People sat wherever they wanted, no social distancing. Then the driver counted heads and said there were 3 too many people and asked for a group of 3 that would be willing to get off the bus and wait for the next one. Made no sense to me. If you counted everyone and assigned them seats as they boarded, you would know how many people were on there to begin with.

Similar experience here this past week. Assigned seats/rows going from MCO to the resorts-- bus was filled from the back forward, with empty rows between groups. This allowed for some spacing front to back, as well as sort of staggered people comparing the right and left sides. (A couple would have an empty row in front and behind-- a group of 4 would sit in 2 consecutive rows on the same side, with an empty row in front and behind).

Going from the resort to MCO-- I heard the driver tell the first couple of families boarding to board from the rear to the front, but he didn't repeat that info to subsequent families. Most of us did board in a similar manner to how we were seated on our arrival trip. One family decided that they would take up more than the necessary number of rows, and on 2 sides of the bus. Then we made another resort stop and the family in the front realized they needed to tighten up their travel group for us to be in compliance with spacing, so that was good. Then the family that boarded at the 2nd resort-- 3 people-- sat themselves down in 3 separate rows, 2 on one side of the bus and 1 on the other (directly in front of me). Her seat was stuck in the 'recline' position, so not only was there not an empty row in front of us, but her head was about 2 feet from mine. I finally had to tell her I was just not comfortable with the seating arrangement. She went and sat with her traveling partner on the other row, which is how they should have been arranged in the first place.

I did get a guest survey today and reported this. Other than the plane flying out, this was one of my most uncomfortable moments on the trip.