Disney Magical Express

[mouseaider]

I've used ME at least five times and NEVER had any problem. We usually leave Rochester, NY early and arrive at MCO around noon to 1:00 PM. The last time we arrived at 1:20 and we were checked in, changed our clothes and and Epcot within an hour.

Bags get tagged at home before we head to the airport and we do not expect to see them until we return from the parks. But we do put a change of clothes, meds, and anything else we know we must have in a a carry on for the trip.

When we leave it is on the Delta 6:30 PM flight and our ME bus picks us up at around 3:30 and we've never had a problem with that.

But one problem I've had was on a flight to Las Vegas I walked out to catch a cab to the hotel and my wife asked me if I was going to take our bags..... that's when I realized I wasn't at Disney.

 

[EmmaKnight]

Had great experiences with Magic Express. But learned early on that I have the kids pack their bathing suits in the backpacks that they carry on the plane. That way we can check in, go to the room, change into bathsuits and head to the pool. By the time we get back to the room the bags are usually there.

Enjoy!

 

[MamaCrush]

What is the latest you can add DME to your reservation??? We may actually fly in two weeks instead of drive, but we don't know for sure yet. Want to make sure we can still catch DME! Thanks!

 

[twinklebug]

What is the latest you can add DME to your reservation??? We may actually fly in two weeks instead of drive, but we don't know for sure yet. Want to make sure we can still catch DME! Thanks!

I'd add it now so they can get your luggage tags out to you. It's easier to cancel the service than it is to add it on at the last second.

 

[MamaCrush]

I'd add it now so they can get your luggage tags out to you. It's easier to cancel the service than it is to add it on at the last second.

Good advice! Thanks so much...

 

[jpeka65844]

What is the latest you can add DME to your reservation??? We may actually fly in two weeks instead of drive, but we don't know for sure yet. Want to make sure we can still catch DME! Thanks!

I'm sure this was an extreme circumstance, but I added DME the day of back in January. The midwest got hit with severe weather that delayed flights into MCO and one person in our party would miss the towncar. I called the day-of while he was on the plane and she booked him right then and there! Couldn't have been better!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I wanted to add my ME compliment to this thread

Last December, I attended the DVC Condo Meeting at CR on the day I was supposed to fly out on the evening flight. I was staying at AKV and I was scheduled to catch ME from AKV.

The DVC Condo meeting ran very long and I waited in line to ask my question. I did not make it back to AKV for my pickup time. I called ME and told them I was still at CR and asked if there were any scheduled pick ups from CR I could catch and there was not. (not recommended but I was desperate) I was at the CR Bell Service desk, requesting a taxi to the airport when the dispatcher , called back to CR and requested to speak to me. She radioed a driver and requested he pick me up at CR and take me to MCO. It was an empty bus, that picked me up and I was the only rider!! The driver complimented for her actions, as did I.

It was truly magical and pixie dusted and totally unexpected and I will never forget or miss my pickup time again

 

[FindTheMickeys]

I wanted to add my ME compliment to this thread

I was at the CR Bell Service desk, requesting a taxi to the airport when the dispatcher , called back to CR and requested to speak to me. She radioed a driver and requested he pick me up at CR and take me to MCO. It was an empty bus, that picked me up and I was the only rider!! The driver complimented for her actions, as did I.

It was truly magical and pixie dusted and totally unexpected and I will never forget or miss my pickup time again

WOW, now that is Customer Service to the nth degree!!!! And ME is operated by Mears, contracted by Disney.. That is awesome and way beyond the call of duty

 

[Nancy]

What is the latest you can add DME to your reservation??? We may actually fly in two weeks instead of drive, but we don't know for sure yet. Want to make sure we can still catch DME! Thanks!

I added my daughter 1 week before. We did not get luggage tags or the vouchers before she left. I was told that in advance. She had 2 options: first was to not get her bags and give her baggage claim checks at the ME check in desk when she got there, or pick up her bags and take them on the bus herself. She chose the latter.

When she got to the desk, she just gave her name and she had no problems, she was in the system just didn't get her package.

This past trip 3 of us drove and my 2 kids came in on different flights..1st one got in around 10am and was at the resort by 11:00. 2nd one got in at 1:30 and got to the resort around 3.

 

[shpdem]

we are staying at csr in August but our first night we are staying at a hotel at the airport since we are getting in so late didn't see the point in paying so much to fall asleep. I was wanting to see what time dme starts running in the morning and if anybody knows how many other resorts are on csr's bus. Also if we get there early in the morning can we leave our bags at the resort while we go out and start our vacation in the parks

 

[CaskPeg]

I haven't used Magical Express myself, but I have booked it for guests joining us for vacationing with us. They are efficient in picking up at the airport and getting your luggage to you. They just guarantee items are to arrive some time that day. This depends on how much luggage they are picking up and the number of stops at the resorts. Then the resort...itself delivers to the various units. They place the luggage inside your unit...so its secure for you. On check-out day they will tell you when all the luggage for that specific flight for your return home needs to be at check-in to go to the airport . You will also get return-luggage tags and a time to be at Check-in for the return trip.

Happy Magical Stay!

Good Luck

 

[CaskPeg]

You need to contact Disney to see if ME picks up at "other hotels" to take into resorts for later check in. They will tell you and let you know cost if you are non-owners. If ME does not pick up at your specific hotel....you can use Mears service to go from your hotel to WDW as they do that all over Orlando. They too will quote you a price for their services. If you can not check in/ room not ready at arrival....you can check your luggage in with the Concierge at Check-in...in that same area. They tag your suitcases with the reservation and once its ready...I believe they will deliver them to your room--and inside the unit for you. Thus you can begin the Magic once check-in is completed.

Good luck and have a "MAGICAL TIME"!

 

[flyingcat2003]

Hi everyone, we are booked for the Christmas Cruise aboard the Dream. We are planning on arriving in Orlando on 12/22 (Saturday) and spend the night at AKL (we are DVC members). Our cruise leaves on 12/23 and returns on 12/28. My question is.....since we are DVC members, staying on Disney property, can we use Magical Express to the port and back? Is it free? How can we leave our car parked in the Disney lot while we are cruising? Please let me know if anyone has done this before. Thanks!!!

 

[edk35]

We will taking our 1st DVC trip in October to SSR. We will using Magical Express for the 1st time also. Has anyone had any problems with the service? Have most experiences been good. How long does it take for the luggage to arrive at your room?

Any other suggestions to make sure it runs smoothly for us would be appreciated.

Thanks.

We are not fans of the ME. We have tried it three times. We have always hired a car service and wanted to try the FREE service. Our first time was Jan. 2011 and it was not bad at all. We lucked out with being the first drop off. Then we used it twice this Jan. and the last time we waited foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrr to get on a bus. People were getting very mad. They ended up getting vans to take people in. Then when they got a bus for the rest of us, it was not even a ME bus. I guess I am spoiled with a car service because they are waiting on you and they take you straight to the resort or you can even get a stop at the grocery store on the way. This last time our luggage took forever to get there. We got in around 8:00 p.m. and our luggage didn't come until like 1:00 a.m. There are pros and cons to using it, but for us...we are going back to paying the bucks for car service.

 

[DVC Sue]

We've used ME twice now and it's been great.

Has anyone added ME to a reservation through the website?

 

[dzorn]

Hi everyone, we are booked for the Christmas Cruise aboard the Dream. We are planning on arriving in Orlando on 12/22 (Saturday) and spend the night at AKL (we are DVC members). Our cruise leaves on 12/23 and returns on 12/28. My question is.....since we are DVC members, staying on Disney property, can we use Magical Express to the port and back? Is it free? How can we leave our car parked in the Disney lot while we are cruising? Please let me know if anyone has done this before. Thanks!!!

ME runs from MCO to a disney resort it does not go to the port. If you are renting a car either park at port or do a one way car rental and drop off near the port. If you are not renting a car you can take me to the AKL and either pay for cruise transfers, paid car service or a one way rental.


If you have your own car pay for parking at the port would be cheaper than paying for transfers.

Oh and we love ME and the luggage service.

Denise in MI

 

[twinklebug]

We've used ME twice now and it's been great.

Has anyone added ME to a reservation through the website?

We've used ME on a number of trips, I like it. It's nice not to have to deal with luggage and the buses are nice when not overly packed with people. I don't like waiting on the bus at MCO for a small eternity while they fill it though.

I added Magical Express once through the website, but it was a bit unsettling: It's basically an email being sent off. The site neither gives you a copy of what you wrote, nor gives you confirmation of what's been set up once it's done. I had to call to confirm anyway.

Speaking of which... I need to set ours up for August

 

[SMP]

We had mixed results. Fly JetBlue and have experienced on several occasions where ME would not allow us to do resort check in and have ME take our bags? We had to take them ourselves to airport. ME says it is JetBlue; airline said no issue. First time ME blamed it on club level checking us in on flight and getting our boarding pass prior to going down to ME check in. Anyone else experience?

 

[kendzee94]

We had mixed results. Fly JetBlue and have experienced on several occasions where ME would not allow us to do resort check in and have ME take our bags? We had to take them ourselves to airport. ME says it is JetBlue; airline said no issue. First time ME blamed it on club level checking us in on flight and getting our boarding pass prior to going down to ME check in. Anyone else experience?

Only one time were we not able to check in our bags and it was when Jet Blue was doing their computer updates-2 years ago. Other than that, no issues and we fly with them for our DVC vactions 2-3 times per year. We have received our boarding passes via the envelope on the door 3 x now, and were able to check our bags at the resort airline check in. Fluke for you, maybe?

 

[fmer55]

We had mixed results. Fly JetBlue and have experienced on several occasions where ME would not allow us to do resort check in and have ME take our bags? We had to take them ourselves to airport. ME says it is JetBlue; airline said no issue. First time ME blamed it on club level checking us in on flight and getting our boarding pass prior to going down to ME check in. Anyone else experience?

i could be wrong, but, i think youo need your boarding pass to check your luggage