Current opinion on Magical Express

[amyjo]

My parents used it for their trip on Labor Day weekend. They arrived the Thursday before Labor Day and my mom said it took just a bit over an hour from the time they got off the plane until they were checking in at Wilderness Lodge. Coming back on Labor Day was just as easy. Their bus picking them up was five minutes late, but other than that, everything went smoothly.

 

[aubriee]

We recieved our room reservation confirmation in the mail... no M.E. Luggage tags, no mention of M.E. or anything... Should I contact Disney? Or will the tags be coming separately? Only 2 of us...

Thanks...

When I used it in May I didn't get my DME booklet until four days before I left. However alot of people during that time didn't even get their tags and still had no problems. For my trip Sept 17th-24th we got our tags at exactly 21 days out, which is when they say they are supposed to be mailed out. Your yellow luggage tags (2/person) will be in the booklet along with your travel vouchers for the return to MCO, which you will need to get stamped when you check in at the DME counter upon arrival.

I'm not sure how long it took in May, but my plane arrived around 9:20am. Checking in at the DME counter took just a minute or two, and I was in the line for POP just a few minutes. The bus was not even half full when it left MCO. There is no way a towncar could have been any faster. POP was the first stop and because they knew we were coming had every desk at the check in counter staffed, so check in went very quickly. My room was ready so I ran in and dropped off my carry on and checked the room out. I was in the MK for lunch.

I used a towncar this past January and had an excellent experience, but due to my experience with DME in May I'll be using DME for both my Sept and Dec trip. I can spend that $100.00 on more souveniers!

 

[Chuck-PA]

We used ME on Sat 8/27, we got off the plane at 9:05 am, our bus stopped at Caribbean Beach, then Coronodo Springs and then my hotel, All Star Movies. We were checked in by 10:30 am., room was ready. We dropped off our carryons and freshened up and off to MK for the day.

Return trip, 9/1, bus arrived at 1:35 (scheduled 1:45) we went to the airport, drop off Terminal B first, then Terminal A. Security checkpoint was the longest line. Took about 1 hr to go through. We waited at our gate to board I would say maybe 5 minutes.

When u get off the plane, follow signs for baggage claim, right before you reach the baggage claim area, there will be several people with blue tops and tan bottoms and white clipboards in their hands. They are the Disney people who will direct you to the Disney Magical Express desk for check in. After you check in there you will be directed to a person with a big white glove. This person will direct you to the proper line to wait for your bus. Another person will open that line when your bus arrives and then direct you to your bus. Sometimes you may have to wait a few minutes, other times you will just leave after everyone boards.

 

[Amberle3]

We used ME about a month ago, for the return portion only and it was fantastic. We were early enough at the stop that we actually got on the earlier bus. From what I could tell from the people around me they didn't seem to have any trouble with it at all.

Oh, except for the guy that got off the bus at POFQ and then realized afterward that he was supposed to be at POR, but the bus had already left. He was screaming at the staff that the driver should have known he wasn't supposed to get off at that stop, and how he had family members on the bus and why didn't they stop the driver from leaving and demanding that the bus be brought back to pick him up.

I was very glad to have the extra time at the airport, because it took us almost and hour and a half to get through the security lineup, and that doesn't count the time actually being scanned etc.

 

[tci1212]

The last time we used it we had no problems. We used it in May when it was only 3 weeks old. We had no delays and minimal waits.

 

[debster812]

DEAR STACY,
THE FACT IS, YOU PAID FOR THE "DME" WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT!!
THE FACT IS THE "DME" IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE MEARS CATTLE BUS!!
THE FACT IS THE DOT. LISCENSEING ON THE THE SIDE OF THE BUS TELLS
THE WHOLE TRUTH, MEARS DESTINATION MGMT!!
FRIENDS OF MINE ARE VERY AVID DISNEY SUPPORTERS, AND INVESTED TIME SHARE OWNERS OF DISNEY VACATION CLUB. THEY BUY THE SAME MEAL PROGRAM, BUY THE SAME PARK HOPPER TICKETTS, AND STAY AT THE SAME
TIME SHARE, EVERY YEAR! ONLY THIS TIME THEY USED THE MAGIC CARPET
RIDE, AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THEY PAID FAR MORE WITH THE FREE
TRANSPORTATION?? "HELLO!! THE PRICE IS INCLUDED FOR A $FEE$$ NOT FREE!!! THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS JUST CALL FLORIDA TOWNCAR, THEY
ARE HAVEING A PROMOTION OF THEIR OWN, CALLED "FTS.TRULEY EXPRESS"
THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER IS 800-525-7246, THEY PROMISE YOU AND YOUR
LUGGAGE WILL ARRIVE AT THE SAME TIME, AND THEY JUST DID THE UN-THINKABLE, THEY ROLLED BACK THEIR PRICES AT A TIME WHEN GAS IS AT ALL TIME HIGH$$ AND INSURANCE ALSO AT ALL TIME HIGH $$
GIVE THEM A SHOUT, GOOD LUCK, TRAVEL WORLD KING !!

There was great apprehension and skepticism before DME started, and for some reason it persists despite the overall great track record. I can't figure out why that is

Because of posts like the one I quoted right above yours. It seems like many of the towncar services don't like DME (of course) and many of them engaged in a big time smear campaign when DME was first launched. They seem to have died down, but every once in a while......

 

[Redbudlover]

I booked the beginning of August for our trip Sept 27th and have been inundated with stuff from Disney. got our luggage tags last week and our DME tags yesterday. Plus confirmation stuff a long time ago. I would check with them right away if I were you.
Redbudlover

 

[jrogers345]

We used ME on Sat 8/27, we got off the plane at 9:05 am, our bus stopped at Caribbean Beach, then Coronodo Springs and then my hotel, All Star Movies. We were checked in by 10:30 am., room was ready. We dropped off our carryons and freshened up and off to MK for the day.

Return trip, 9/1, bus arrived at 1:35 (scheduled 1:45) we went to the airport, drop off Terminal B first, then Terminal A. Security checkpoint was the longest line. Took about 1 hr to go through. We waited at our gate to board I would say maybe 5 minutes.

When u get off the plane, follow signs for baggage claim, right before you reach the baggage claim area, there will be several people with blue tops and tan bottoms and white clipboards in their hands. They are the Disney people who will direct you to the Disney Magical Express desk for check in. After you check in there you will be directed to a person with a big white glove. This person will direct you to the proper line to wait for your bus. Another person will open that line when your bus arrives and then direct you to your bus. Sometimes you may have to wait a few minutes, other times you will just leave after everyone boards.

Can anybody tell me what's the earliest that you can check your baggage and get your boarding pass at the resort the day your departing? I'd like to be able to get that done early in the morning so that we have a few hours to spend in the parks before waiting for the bus to MCO.

 

[Chuck-PA]

Can anybody tell me what's the earliest that you can check your baggage and get your boarding pass at the resort the day your departing? I'd like to be able to get that done early in the morning so that we have a few hours to spend in the parks before waiting for the bus to MCO.

As long as your airline is participating (american airlines, continental, delta,song,united/ted) you may check in up to 12 hrs prior to your flighter departure, but no later than 3 hours prior, you will need photo id, and your room key card and all members must be present. Airline check-in is open from 6:00 am until 2:00 pm.

If your airline is not participating, you will have to check your bags with bell services and retrieve it prior to your bus arriving and do your check-in at the airport upon arrival at MCO

 

[MKCP5]

wonderful--do it again in a heartbeat!!

 

[jrogers345]

As long as your airline is participating (american airlines, continental, delta,song,united/ted) you may check in up to 12 hrs prior to your flighter departure, but no later than 3 hours prior, you will need photo id, and your room key card and all members must be present. Airline check-in is open from 6:00 am until 2:00 pm.

If your airline is not participating, you will have to check your bags with bell services and retrieve it prior to your bus arriving and do your check-in at the airport upon arrival at MCO

Thanks! Our airline - Jet Blue - participates. Looks like we can check-in early, have an early breakfast at MK and then spend quite a few hours at park before having to get back to resort for bus pickup.

 

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by travel world king
THE FACT IS, YOU PAID FOR THE "DME" WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT!!
THE FACT IS THE "DME" IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE MEARS CATTLE BUS!!
THE FACT IS THE DOT. LISCENSEING ON THE THE SIDE OF THE BUS TELLS
THE WHOLE TRUTH, MEARS DESTINATION MGMT!!
FRIENDS OF MINE ARE VERY AVID DISNEY SUPPORTERS, AND INVESTED TIME SHARE OWNERS OF DISNEY VACATION CLUB. THEY BUY THE SAME MEAL PROGRAM, BUY THE SAME PARK HOPPER TICKETTS, AND STAY AT THE SAME
TIME SHARE, EVERY YEAR! ONLY THIS TIME THEY USED THE MAGIC CARPET
RIDE, AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THEY PAID FAR MORE WITH THE FREE
TRANSPORTATION?? "HELLO!! THE PRICE IS INCLUDED FOR A $FEE$$ NOT FREE!!!

Just to set the record straight, here was my experience. We went to WDW May 8 -14. DME began on May 5. We were unsure which week we'd be traveling, so we also priced out the week two weeks before, as well, when DME was not yet offered. SAME PRICE. I don't know if things have changed since them, but WDTC didn't up their prices when DME started, so that told me it was ACTUALLY free.

And as for the yahoo above who wrote that quote, it seems to be I pay more this year than I did last year for products and services at Wal-Mart, Sports Authority, and my local carpet cleaning service. And they didn't add DME to their list of services. HOW COULD THAT BE? In other words, who expects prices to remain constant from year to year??? Duh!

-- Eric

 

[Redbudlover]

I had exactly the same experience you did. I priced two weeks before as well - same price two weeks later with the dining thrown in for free!!! booked immediately.

Redbudlover

 

[DISLOVE]

The early problems were due to a shortage of buses and delays with the luggage tags. The tag problem has been solved and Mears ordered additional buses and is using Mears and DCL buses as needed.

I hate to say it but there are still problems with tags. I am leaving in 2 days and don't have my tags!

Hoping everything goes okay...