Disney's Magical Express - anyone plan on using this?

[wisbucky]

I have read the information on this great deal but I am wondering if we will be left out since we fly Midwest. Or will we be able to still use the shuttle and maybe have to retrieve our luggage and bring it to a certain location to be loaded. Anyone possible know the answer to this?

 

[CherCrazy]

We tried to use Mears last month without advance res...thought in November it'd be no problem. Instead...the lines were horrible at the airport. An hour wait even for those who booked in advance. We took a cab and it cost us the same....

Then we used the Disney busses at SSR to get around. They were horrible. It was like Disney forgot to send the bus to our stop. Next time we'll go back to renting a car again. Ah, Freedom!!

 

[llp479]

Does anyone know if we can use the new Magical Express service offered by WDW while staying at DVC?

Sounds like an incredibly sweet deal! Check my bags at my home airport, walk straight onto a bus at MCO and my bags meet me in my room. Upon leaving, you check your bags at the resort, get your boarding pass and off you go! No more long lines at MCO. Service starts May 5. Select airlines are participating in the return service. All for free! Info available on WDW web site.

 

[athenna]

Yes, we eligible to use it!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

What's this all about? I have been away from the Boards for a while and haven't heard about this yet. Is there a thread here already to fill me in???

 

[LUVMICKEY]

We haven't heard about this either. Sounds great if it works well.

Michele

 

[athenna]

Yes, you can check out the details on the DIS homepage. I think it sounds like a great idea. I've never had a problem with the Mears shuttle, and now it sounds like it will be even more organized.

 

[elfbo]

What's this all about? I have been away from the Boards for a while and haven't heard about this yet. Is there a thread here already to fill me in???

Disneys Magical Express Thread Link

 

[SEC]

This is interesting, but it sounds too good to be true. The Mears shuttle would be free?, even for DVC members. That would save us $52 a trip! We could spend on more Food & Wine activities!

 

[SEC]

This sounds too good to be true, a free shuttle ride. This would save us $52 a trip! I hope it is available to DVC members, we always take the Mears shuttle from the airport.

 

[athenna]

SEC,
It is available to us DVC members. It is only unavailable to people staying at the Swan/Dolphin (I believe) and the resorts on Hotel Boulevard. I am for sure going to do it for my trip in Mov. (It won't be up and running for my next trip in Apr.) I too, have always taken the Mears, and never found it to be to long a drive. And know that there is an actual process in place, I think it will be quite organized.

 

[athenna]

And I'll be able to buy myself more Birthday presents!

 

[jmminarik]

Since we usually drive to WDW, this is not likely to be a useful 'perk' for us nor is it likely that we'd check luggage if we did fly....if it doesn't fit in carry-on it doesn't go.

However, no one ask asked the all important question. How much should you tip all of the people involved in your luggage delivery and transportation?

-Joe

 

[FLYNZ4]

Joe,

Like you, I pretty much always use only carry-on luggage. However... for some reason it does not seem to work when i travel with DW. When the 6 of us go to WDW in August... maybe we can do the carry-on thing... or maybe we check luggage, and use the Magical Express... and leave one of the kids to be the designated bus traveller while the rest of us rent the car and bypass the baggage claim area. My kids are fairly independent and would not mind traveling to the resorts alone.

With a normal sized load of about 5 bags... I will usually tip each person who touches our bags $5. So for example... when we checked out of VWL a couple weeks ago... I gave $5 to the guy who came up to the room... and another $5 to the guy who delivered our car from valet... and loaded the bags into the trunk.

I always give $2 or so when when my valet car is delivered... and sometimes give a similar tip when I drop off the car (but not always).

/Jim

 

[kpk89]

However, if Disney manages to set up a Gate 9 3/4 at MCO/OIA so that, when we walk through the gift shop wall, we see a huge, gleaming steam engine pulling "The Magcial Express", then I might reconsider....

I think I saw in the press release that they would use "state of the art motor coaches," so hopefully no cramming into a sweaty van with 20 strangers??

I would normally be the "I'll wait and see what others say about it first" category, but since we're traveling on MAY 6th I will take the plunge and be among the first to try this perk. I'll let you all know how it goes!

 

[Nanajo1]

I've said I'm anxious for this to work as it would save my family a lot. Hasn't Disney Cruise Lines been doing this for a long time? Hopefully the kinks have been worked out. I like the idea of a "designated bus rider".

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I've said I'm anxious for this to work as it would save my family a lot. Hasn't Disney Cruise Lines been doing this for a long time? Hopefully the kinks have been worked out. I like the idea of a "designated bus rider".

With DCL, the service has not been free. But the idea is the same. DCL passengers can check their bags at their home airport and not bother with them again until they get to their staterooms. The passengers ride in comfortable Disney-branded, Mears-operated motor coaches with video.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Re: the cruise line comparison.

First, that's much easier to manage; a "many-to-one" situation, where luggage - and people - come from all over but end up at the same location (the boat). The new ME is "many-to-many", where the luggage and people come from many airports, all meet at the airport, then have to be sorted out and delivered to nearly 20 WDW resorts.

Second, the one time we did take a cruise - Carnival - it took many hours after we arrived on board for our luggage to show up in our cabin. This is so common that many cruise advice books and boards - and Carnival itself - warned us to pack a carry-on with everything we'd need for the first evening!

Please don't get me wrong - I really hope that this works; and that when Disney starts to charge, it isn't too expensive. However, in another thread, I've stated my feelings about complexity: the more complex you make something, the more likely it is for problems to creep in.

IMHO - YMMV

 

[castleri]

Since Southwest isn't included it's a no go for us. I prefer to have a car but would have considered it for short stays or where various family members arrive on different days. I prefer my non stop flights at lower prices to the thought of riding a "free bus" once i'm there so will continue to support the rental car company that gives me the best deal.
Was also wondering if this is a way to make more use of the cruise line designated motorcoaches that only make a couple of trips a week especially since one ship will be on the west coast for part of that time period.