Disney Magical Express - Excessive Transport Time

[ruadisneyfan2]

Don't forget, part of the time that you're just standing in line waiting for a DME bus, feeling impatient to get your vacation started, you would otherwise be standing at baggage claim & hurling your bags off the conveyor. We've done both and it's usually around the same amount of time but somehow going to baggage claim feels more productive; whereas standing in line feels like you're wasting time.
Paying for a private transfer simply removes the time wasted stopping at other resorts.

 

[jmkjr72]

Hey just curious to see what other's experiences were.

Last May my family and I took a trip and stayed at BLT. Literally we waited 45 minutes just to board a bus, then took another 1 1/2 hours to get to our resort. Basically, the bus stopped at 3 separate resorts before finally getting to ours.

What I'm trying to ask, is this typical? Do other's just take a taxi and use magical express for luggage delivery? How long did it take you?

First off if you read through the stuff you have to use dme for them To take your luggage from the airport.

Our last trip in may at blt was the odity of our dme experience
We got in line just as the bus left and there was another full bus in line ahead of us
Yes we were the third stop but we were also the last ones on the bus

 

[beccasmom]

We've used DME exclusively since it first began. We have experienced lines on occasion, but most times they were of relatively short duration. I do remember once in mid-November the lines were quite long and slow moving, but the time passed quickly chatting with others in line.

We normally stay @OKW, our home resort. Though there are at least 2 or 3 other stops, we've lucked out by being first most of the time. It's not the quickest means of getting to WDW, but the price is right and it usually runs pretty smoothly.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We have been using DME since it started, and I have never had a long wait to get on the bus and to the resort until this past trip in November. I arrived before 10:30am and the DME area was packed and I didn't get on the DME bus for about 45 minutes and then there were 4 stops, and my resort (POR) was the last stop. This trip was particularly more busy than I've seen in November in the past. We still love DME, and it has become part of the experience for us so we will continue to use it.

 

[Gracie09]

The only issue we had was our last flight into Orlando. There were tons of storms and we were diverted to Jacksonville for a couple hours and then finally landed several hours late. We waited 45 minutes in the airport to be put on a bus. We were actually considering a cab at that point. Then they put us on a bus with random resorts (we were at okw and the bus included us, Saratoga, grand Floridian and pop). After we get on some family starts yelling at the bus driver to wait because their father just landed and wanted to be on the bus with them. And he did. Then he played the worlds loudest music and kept wooing every five minutes. Every time one of my girls would fall asleep he would wake them. Of course we are the last stop. We did not get to our hotel room until midnight. Then we discovered we were missing sheets for the pull out bed so we called housekeeping (yeah that worked) and eventually just took some of the sheets off the master bed and used them as the bottom sheet on the pull out just so the girls could sleep. The sheets never showed up. The next morning dh went to the front desk and got everything sorted - sheets luggage food delivery

 

[goofy4tink]

The two times that I had longer than expected times with DME were easily explained.
1. I was going to Pop....got to the DME area about 10 mins after landing. There was a fairly short bus line but that was because the bus had just left! So, I waited about 20 mins for the next bus. Got on board, the bus was half full when I boarded. We waited there for about 15 mins. When we left, we went to AKL first. Now, I have taken DME to Pop four times at this point..and Pop had always been the first stop! So, who knows. At the AKL stop, we had to sit and wait while the driver took out copious amounts of luggage. Probably about 15 pieces. Then he allowed people off the bus...yes, that was back when they could hold us 'hostage' while unloading bags. So, close to 10 mins at that stop. Then to CSR...another 8 mins, again for unloading bags. Finally to Pop. I was first off the bus!!!! That time it was about 85 mins, gate to resort.

2. Then there was the time my friend and I were heading to BWV..it was early Dec., and an early afternoon Sat arrival. When we got down to the DME area, the line for the bus checkin area was back to the rental car counters!!!! This was back when you had to go to the counter to check in before heading to the bus area. My friend got into that line, to check us in, while I found a pole to lean against while sitting down. It took her only about 20 mins to get through the line..that really surprised me. We went right to our resort line and boarded the bus. It would seem that we were one of the last to board because we got under way about 5 mins after boarding. Then we were the third stop, after YC/BC. That time it took us about 80-85 mins. Oh, the reason it took so long at the counter? It was the Sat when the Pop Warner families were arriving...great choice of arrival days on our part.

Usually it takes between 60 and 80 mins, but closer to the 70 mark.

 

[lovin'fl]

I can count how many times we've used DME (since DH prefers to drive...from MD ). Six times. First time was Xmas time of 2011 and it was smooth and easy and not that long, about 80 minutes. I have noticed, since then, that they stop at more stops and there are long lines to get on the buses and then you sit on the bus forever, waiting for it to fill up. It went from taking about 80 minutes to taking 120. Our last few times have been about 2 hours. It takes about 20 minutes to get off plane, use restroom and then make your way down to ME. Then another 30-ish minutes waiting in line and waiting on bus. Then 70-ish minutes on the bus. I always estimate and allow for 2 hours and once in a while it's less than that (maybe 20 minutes less).

Not sure how it could EVER take 60 minutes when it takes, at least, 15 to get down to ME and then 45 just to drive from airport to WDW. You'd have to sprint down and get directly on bus that then directly leaves and goes right to your resort.

 

[alliecat523]

What does that usually run each way? Do they provide car/booster seats?

Most car service companies will provide booster seats for a small fee.

If you're in a hurry, then I would book a car service. Yes, it's hard to sit and wait for DME sometimes, but it's part of what you are paying for when you stay onsite. Why not use it?

 

[goofy4tink]

I can count how many times we've used DME (since DH prefers to drive...from MD ). Six times. First time was Xmas time of 2011 and it was smooth and easy and not that long, about 80 minutes. I have noticed, since then, that they stop at more stops and there are long lines to get on the buses and then you sit on the bus forever, waiting for it to fill up. It went from taking about 80 minutes to taking 120. Our last few times have been about 2 hours. It takes about 20 minutes to get off plane, use restroom and then make your way down to ME. Then another 30-ish minutes waiting in line and waiting on bus. Then 70-ish minutes on the bus. I always estimate and allow for 2 hours and once in a while it's less than that (maybe 20 minutes less).

Not sure how it could EVER take 60 minutes when it takes, at least, 15 to get down to ME and then 45 just to drive from airport to WDW. You'd have to sprint down and get directly on bus that then directly leaves and goes right to your resort.

I've had it take just 60-65 mins twice. Off the plane within 10 mins of landing....however we don't start timing from landing. It's from the gate. It takes me about 4 mins to get yo the tram. A total of 8-10 mins waiting then riding the tram. 4-5 mins to DME area. Then, yes, I got lucky. I was one of the last to board the bus, so no wait in line or on the bus. It was 35 mins to my resort....second stop.
I just took DME in late Jan. Had to go to Side A baggage to get our bags.....arrived at 8 and wanted my bags with me. There was an issue with the folks in front of me when checking in at the podium, but I whizzed through. Right onto the bus, waited about 10 mins, then off to WDW. We were the second stop. We arrived at BWV at about 9:15. Not bad after landing at 8:05!
Pretty much the same experience other times. In May it took us about 80 mins due to an error in our resort!!

I just haven't heard of a lot of guests having times of more than 90 mins. It just isn't hugely common.

 

[srferson]

I can count how many times we've used DME (since DH prefers to drive...from MD ). Six times. First time was Xmas time of 2011 and it was smooth and easy and not that long, about 80 minutes. I have noticed, since then, that they stop at more stops and there are long lines to get on the buses and then you sit on the bus forever, waiting for it to fill up. It went from taking about 80 minutes to taking 120. Our last few times have been about 2 hours. It takes about 20 minutes to get off plane, use restroom and then make your way down to ME. Then another 30-ish minutes waiting in line and waiting on bus. Then 70-ish minutes on the bus. I always estimate and allow for 2 hours and once in a while it's less than that (maybe 20 minutes less).

Not sure how it could EVER take 60 minutes when it takes, at least, 15 to get down to ME and then 45 just to drive from airport to WDW. You'd have to sprint down and get directly on bus that then directly leaves and goes right to your resort.

Well, I think part of that is that most people do not count waiting to deplane and post-flight bathroom breaks when determining how long ME takes. Those aren't part of the ME experience, they are part of the flight experience and won't change regardless of what transportation you are taking to your resort.

We haven't been in a while so don't have recent experiences to share. I've read that the parks are more crowded recently. I wonder if there might be more people using ME? Or maybe they're sending fewer buses as another way to cut costs?

 

[lovin'fl]

From gate straight to ME, without stopping, is a 15 minutes walk (for us coming in on Southwest or Jetblue). From airport to WDW is a 45 minute drive (usually more cause they drive slow and I4 has traffic and there's construction). 35 minuets drive to get to second stop (goofy4tink posted above)...don't see that being possible. And my last ME experience, Oct 2015, stopped at 4 resorts. Used to be 3 max, now it's 4. We used to also walk right up and get on ME...no line. Now the lines look like you're waiting in stand by for Toy Story Mania (yes, I exaggerate a little, but there are lines). In Oct 2013, we had an almost perfect ME experience. No lines and no long wait on bus and second stop (BLT) and it took 75 minutes from gate (with a 2 minute potty stop). I just think it's always wise to count on, for planning purposes, 120 minutes but it's usually 90 (could be less but, IMO, that's a rarity).