Disneys Magical Express - NEVER AGAIN

[JayCT]

First of all, the name is a complete lie. It is not "Disney", it is a Mears shuttle with a new name. There is nothing "Magical", it is a bus. It is also not an "express" since it stops at several resorts along the way and takes a long time.

I wish we had done more research on this so I would have booked a town car to get us back and forth to the airport. We got off the plane and had no idea where to go. There was no one to greet us (or others from our plane) and there were no signs. We went to baggage claim only to be told by a representative (with an accent that was very hard to understand) that we needed to go to the other side of the building. We get over there and then have to wait in a LONG line to register for the "express" and help them identify our luggage (they show you pictures and you pick which ones look like yours, very strange).

Then we have to wait in another line for a bus that stopped at two other resorts before ours. In total it took us over two hours to get from our plane to our resort. With a town car, it rarely takes more than an hour. We just barely made our dinner reservations after checking in.

After dinner, we get back to the room and there is still no luggage. This is four hours later, so I called down to the bell desk and they say they just arrived. Good thing we did not want to go swimming when we got there.

Returning isn't much better. They pick you up three hours before your flight (with a town car we leave about an hour and a half before our flight). I guess they really do not want you to miss your flight. We had to sit in the airport for two hours doing nothing. Like I said, never again. Jay

 

[MinnieM21]

Sorry you had such a bad experience.

The only complaint I have about Magical Express was the grouchy driver who snapped back at me because I didn't answer his question correctly. I didn't hear him correctly (it was 4:30am and I was sick that morning throwing up...so I wasn't that awake) and responded to what I thought he asked. But our other driver was wonderful and very friendly.

I'm glad we were picked up 3 hours early (our bus was about 15 minutes late I think). The line at the ticket counter was sooooooo long and it took forever. It was so busy that they let the people with 6am and 7am flights(that being us) go ahead of everyone else so they wouldn't miss their flights. It was a mess. I couldn't believe how busy the airport was! Then the line to get through security was huge and it took us a very long time to go through the line. Of course we had to stop to pick up some magazines before we went to the gate and use the restroom. By the time we got to our gate, we had a very short wait until it was time to board, about 30 minutes.

When we got off the plane, there was someone who greeted us and told us where to go. We never had to show the lady at the Magical Express counter what our luggage looked like. She was so nice and helpful, as was everyone else. It took us about 40 minutes to get to the Beach Club. In total, it took about an hour. We're using Magical Express again for our February trip. I just hope I don't get that grouchy driver though.

 

[DeterminedOne]

I've been wondering about Magical Express. I'm a real control freak. It would drive me nuts to have my luggage arrive even one hour later let alone four. I'd rather carry it myself than to deal with the hassle of not having it when I get to the room. I know it's meant to be a courtesy but I can see how it can be a real pain. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

[safetymom]

Disney was made to move their greeters to the bottom floor instead of outside security by the airport authority.

You should have received documents instructing you where to go so you didn't have to walk around the airport. Did you preregister and not receive your yellow tags?

DME is required to pick up 3 hours in advance. There are plenty of days at the airport you would be glad you had extra time because of the very long lines to get through security.

Anytime you travel you should have a carry on bag filled with things that you may need for the first day. Film, prescriptions, bathing suits, pj's, so if your luggage is lost or delayed you may function when you hit the hotel.

 

[imatoad]

When I'm on vacation I want as little hassle as possible. I've read a lot of positive reports about ME, but I still want to have as much control as I possibly can. I'll use a town car service, the fee is well spent on peace of mind.

 

[stemikger]

Wow, sorry it didn't work out for your. I was totally impressed with ME when I went. When I saw the line in the terminal I rolled my eyes expecting a long wait, but like Magic I was at the head of the line in 10 minutes. My wife thought I got off the line and I told no I'm done. We waited where the line for our resort was and we were on the bus in about 15 minutes.

My wife and I were saying it was amazing how smooth this thing went. Our luggage was in the room sooner then we anticipated and we actually changed plans because we got our luggage so fast. I hope it wasn't a fluke, but for us it was nothing but Magical.

On our way back it was just as good. We still talk about how cool it was to drop off our luggage and have it waiting for us.

Previously I used Mears and I never got on that fast. So if it is Mears they are operating much more efficiently then they did in the past.

 

[scanne]

We used DME in October and it was great for us. So sorry you had a different experience.

I was a bit surprised at the line to register for your bus to the resort, but it went smoothly and I wasn't shown a card with luggage to make a comparison. WE had the DME tags and had an "idea" of where to go - there were no greeters on the main concourse for us either.

When we got in line for our bus, I was a little surprised to see it was going to 3 resorts - WL, Polynesian AND the GF. We stayed at WL and were the first ones dropped off. Our luggage arrived within the hour. For our return flight, we were told to be there 3 hours early. The bus was a little late and then we stopped at the Poly and GF. WE got to the airport with plenty of time to check in and we wouldn't have had to wait too long for our flight - but it was delayed. So we sat in the airport for 2 hours, but more due to the airline not DME.

When we stayed at the Poly in summer 05, we didn't use DME. But the DME bus that loaded at the airport at the same time we were going to our towncar ended up pulling in to the Poly just as we did and I got stuck in a LONG check in line.

So I'm just sharing my experiences so that others will see that it is a business and a service and like ALL businesses and services there will be plusses and minuses. Just my .02.

 

[goofy4tink]

Didn't you get your packet from DME with the luggage tags in it and instructions as to where to go in order to use DME? If not, then I would think that there are plenty of threads here that have given advice about DME to make up for no packet.
As far as how long it takes.....it has yet to take me more than an hour 10 minutes from touchdown at the airport to my resort checkin line. I've used DME three times now, and to different resorts each time. I have actually gotten to my resort faster using DME than one time using a towncar (had to go in search of the driver, had to claim my own luggage). Yes, it's just a bus, but it's a nice, new comfy bus.
I don't know what towncar service you use, but every time I have used a towncar service they have picked me up 2 hrs. 30 minutes before my flight. They tell me that they want to get me to the airport 2 hrs. before my flight time, as suggested by the airlines. So, I'm leaving 15 minute earlier with DME.
As far as when you get your luggage in your room.....I have had carryon luggage with me twice, so that wasn't an issue. But the one time I had checked luggage...I checked in at 1 p.m., was able to get into our room at 2:30 and my luggage was delivered to the room at 2:50. I don't think that's too bad.

I don' mean to come across as 'harsh' but most of us have been on the boards so know what to expect and what to do when we get to MCO...even if we didn't get the info packet. I think it's a great service and the $150 that it saves me goes to some pretty good food in WDW.

 

[dcgrumpy]

You didn't receive your packet before you left? How far in advance did you book it?

The packet I received clearly stated that there would no longer be greeters on level 3 and to go directly to side A Ground Transportation.

 

[CleveRocks]

First of all, the name is a complete lie. It is not "Disney", it is a Mears shuttle with a new name. There is nothing "Magical", it is a bus. It is also not an "express" since it stops at several resorts along the way and takes a long time.

I wish we had done more research on this so I would have booked a town car to get us back and forth to the airport. We got off the plane and had no idea where to go. There was no one to greet us (or others from our plane) and there were no signs. We went to baggage claim only to be told by a representative (with an accent that was very hard to understand) that we needed to go to the other side of the building. We get over there and then have to wait in a LONG line to register for the "express" and help them identify our luggage (they show you pictures and you pick which ones look like yours, very strange).

Then we have to wait in another line for a bus that stopped at two other resorts before ours. In total it took us over two hours to get from our plane to our resort. With a town car, it rarely takes more than an hour. We just barely made our dinner reservations after checking in.

After dinner, we get back to the room and there is still no luggage. This is four hours later, so I called down to the bell desk and they say they just arrived. Good thing we did not want to go swimming when we got there.

Returning isn't much better. They pick you up three hours before your flight (with a town car we leave about an hour and a half before our flight). I guess they really do not want you to miss your flight. We had to sit in the airport for two hours doing nothing. Like I said, never again. Jay

Sorry you were unhappy with your experience. I was thrilled with my DME experience. What was the difference between yours and mine. Very little, really. I got to my resort quicker than you got to yours, but otherwise our experiences were quite similar. So why were you so unhappy and I was so satisfied. Well, I think you touched on it. RESEARCH. To put it another way, EXPECTATIONS. I used DME on its 4th day of operations, but even then I knew what to expect, what types of time frames there were going to be, etc. For instance, I knew to put my yellow DME tags on my bags (so that I wouldn't have to describe my bags to the CMs), I knew to avoid baggage claim, etc.

If you'd known what to expect, you'd either have chosen NOT to use DME, or would have been satisfied that DME's services met your expectations and were satisfactory.

Also, it's incorrect to say that DME is a Mears shuttle with a new name. Yes, Mears is the subcontractor for the driving, but it is run and dispatched very differently than Mears was. It is.

When you said "Good thing we didn't want to go swimming when we got there," again that's a matter of knowledge and expectations. I knew what to expect. When my luggage magically arrived in my room, I was at the pool with my kids. We prepared for not having our suitcases for a few hours. In fact, EVERY time I fly anywhere I prepare for the possibility of the airline delaying my luggage, so I pack for the first 24 hours in my carry-on.

I hope your trip was otherwise magical!

-- Eric

 

[seashoreCM]

There was no one to greet us (or others from our plane) and there were no signs. We went to baggage claim only to be told by a representative (with an accent that was very hard to understand) that we needed to go to the other side of the building.

They pick you up three hours before your flight (with a town car we leave about an hour and a half before our flight). I guess they really do not want you to miss your flight. We had to sit in the airport for two hours doing nothing.

Blame the airport which mandated that Disney not have people greeting you as you exited security which Disney used to have.

Bring what you need on the bus when you get to Orlando. You can even omit the yellow tag from one or more checked suitcases and get them yourself from the carousels. Most of the time guests go directly to the park after resort check in so they don't need most of their baggage right away.

There have been enough horror stories from folks who arranged a town car pickup 1-1/2 hours before their flight home and something went wrong and they were running to make their flight.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

 

[Alexander]

We used Mears exactly once in our 20+ trips to WDW. I don't care if they paint Disney on the side of the bus and have Mickey himself drive, it is still Mears. But since it's free, I guess it's hard to complain too loudly.

When DS and I travel alone, we take a towncar, and when DH travels with us, we rent a car. The cost is nothing in comparison to the stress level Mears can cause.

 

[n2mm]

To the OP...I thought for a minute this was my daughter posting. She absolutely hated DME in December. She landed at 5:30PM and didn't get to the AKL until 8:45PM. She said NEVER again. Her luggage actually arrived before she did. So as I am booking her/ours April/May trip I asked her if she wanted to take DME again and she said no way. Since we arrive before her and always rent a car, she doesn't really need one...still, she said she would gladly pay for a rental. But, in September I had another daughter use DME successfully. She arrived at the airport at 8:00AM-ish and was at Pop Century by 9:00AM--she carried her one bag on, so luggage wasn't a problem. So DME is running at a 50% success rate in our family.

 

[Selket]

We used DME last summer and it turned out our plane got VERY delayed on the way down and we were literally walking around the airport at 3am trying to figure out what to do as we had planned on using DME to get to the hotel. This is with a 3 and 7 yr old too! Of course there was absolutely no one at the airport except cleaning crews. We got our luggage (had been tagged for the resort but someone let my husband into a room where they had put it and he got it out). I called the DME number and thank goodness (!!!!) someone answered. I guess they staff it 24 hours.

She told us exactly what to do - which was basically catch a cab - apparently the cabs/vans are also (many of them?) run by Mears. She called them and authorized our trip payment so we didn't have to pay the cab driver except tip. He waited quite awhile while my husband fished out our luggage and he was a great help since we were all so frazzled. We got to the resort by 4am and checked in and in bed by 5 a.m. (believe me - you do NOT want to check into the CSR at 4 a.m. - no one was there to help us find the room and it was rather annoying!).

Anyway....I guess that is a "worst case" DME scenario that worked out. I had never thought we'd arrive so very late and was impressed that someone was there on the phone at least to help us out. The return trip to the airport was flawless.

 

[annie1995]

We had a great experence with ME in September. We got off our plane, found right away where we were supposed to go. They had us checked in right away, we never had to look at pictures of luggage. And we were put right on our bus. We never waited in any lines at all. And to top it off, my son left his homework folder in the seat pouch on the plane, and mentioned this to one of the ME attendants, and she said she would look into it. Later that night, there sitting on our bed was his homework. She went way above and beyond what I ever expected her to do! The kids loved the videos on the bus to and from the airport. If it's still offered next time we go, we will definately be using it!

 

[goalie5hole]

We had no problems in Oct.They mailed out our bag tags,we got on the bus and were brought to the resort.It's not rocket science.

 

[rtphokie]

We were disappointed in Magical Express. It really doesn't offer anything special. It's basically combining services offered by Mears, luggage handling and storage offered by bell services in any hotel (Disney or not), and curbside check in moved to the resorts. The result isn't better than the sum of the parts. The luggage isn't well cared for in our experience either.

Arriving MCO (Magical express? Has anyone seen Magical Express?)
Finding the "welcome center" was not as simple as it sounded. The
signage was non-existent. The only Magical Express sign was on the wall
behind the desk of the check in desk on the A side of the terminal. We
saw plenty of signs directing passengers to Mears and individual rental
car companies, but nothing for Magical Express.

Once we found the Magical Express desk, it was a 25 minute wait in line
for check in. This was a complete waste of time. Check in consisted of
verifying our hotel information, flight information, and opening the
magical express booklet to the transfer voucher page. Once we made it
through the check-in line, we had another 15 minute wait for a bus. Hard
not to compare this experience to Tiffany Town car where I don't think we
stopped walking from the jet way to baggage claim to the van.

MCO to the resort (the grand tour)
My wife and I have visited WDW about every 2 years for the 13 years we've
been married and have tried every major way to get from the airport to
the fun. We've used Mears, Tiffany Towncar, and rented a car. Next time
I think we'll be going back to Tiffany, even if Magical Express is still
"free". It's got all the bad parts of Mears and then some.

I'd hoped that the increased traffic would eliminate what I like to call
the "Mears Grand Tour". It shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to get
from MCO to your resort. It took us 1:15 to get to Port Orleans French
Quarter with stops at Saratoga Springs and Old Key West. This was
slightly shorter than we've experienced with Mears, though only slightly.

We were put on a Disney Cruise Line bus instead of a Magical Express one
for some reason. The TV's were on but I'm guessing they didn't have the
right DVD for Magical Express. This is frustrating for a bus load of
kids. I lost count of how many times I heard "when are they going to
start the movie?" before we even left MCO.

resort to MCO (visit our food court, stay a few hours)
The check in process in the French Quarter lobby was smooth and quick,
even with several families checking in at once. We got our boarding
passes, filed them in our carry-on luggage and stashed that at bell
services. It sure would be nice if checking luggage for the flight and
storing carry-on luggage could be a single step, or at least located next
to each other.

Our bus to the airport showed up right on time and got us to the airport
in plenty of time. Too early in fact. I'm guessing MCO likes this
program since it's getting people to the airport with lots of time to
kill. It's got to be increasing business at the food court and other
airport shops.

I've got to wonder what happens to those bags between checking them in at
the resort and delivering them to the airport. Bags get rained on
during the transfer process, that happens. Our luggage was soaked
through when we pulled it off the carousel at our home airport.

Our flight was on a CRJ which required walking out on the tarmac both in
MCO and our home airport. I saw how well our bags were protected at both
airports and how hard it was raining (not very) when they were being
transferred to/from the luggage tugs. Based on that, it's hard not to
assume that our luggage sat out in the rain while under the care of
Magical Express. Damage was minimal, mostly wet clothes, but some
cardboard boxes containing wrapped items and cardboard backing on
souvenirs in blister packs were soggy and falling off.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, first of all, Magical Express IS Disney. As at least one person stated above, Disney runs it with Mears as the subcontractor.
Yes, you probably should/could have done more research - there's plenty of information about DME right here Disboards, including two threads stuck at the top of each page. In addition, it seems to me that at least one in ten threads is about Magical Express.
Several of the general threads state the changes that have been made, per airport regulations, to the DME procedure. Again, as stated above, Greeters are no longer permitted on the arrival level, and Disney is not permitted to install signs directing passengers to the check-in counter.
However, your DME packet should have directed you how to get to the DME counter; in addition, you could have simply asked any airport employee.
DME only uses the pictures to identify luggage ONLY when the Guest did not attach the yellow DME tags to his or her luggage. Did you not get a DME packet? If not, did you attempt to determine why not before you left home? That might have alleviated some of your issues.
Yes, the line can be long, but to the best of my knowledge, the counter is extremely well-staffed and the line moves quickly.
It sounds like you were under the mistaken impression that, I don't know - each resort has its own bus? A bit of research here would have shown that each bus could stop at as many as four resorts. So the service is more 'express' for some Guests than others - the buses stop at each resort based on its distance from the airport.
As for your luggage, it's ALWAYS advisable to pack in carry-on luggage all documents, medications, and any items one might need for the first few hours, or even the first night, after arrival. Frankly, it's just common sense - airlines do lose luggage, and then where would you be?
You stated you 'barely made your dinner reservations'? Just me, but I would never cut things so close. If your flight had been delayed, you could have also barely made, or even missed, your dinner reservation. In addition, with few exceptions, Advanced Dinner Reservations in Disney-speak simply means the Guest is seated at the next available table for their size party at or after the ADR time. It's not an actual reservation, so most of the time if one is late, well, one is late.
For your return trip to the airport - well, first, one of your issues on the arrival ride is that the bus wasn't express, that it stopped at two other resorts first. Most of the time, the bus to the airport also stops at more than one resort to pick up departing Guests. Figure this could add an additional half hour to the return ride, then a half hour to the airport. This gets passengers to the airport approximately two hours in advance exactly as suggested by the airport. It can take as long as an hour just to get through security. Add to this checking in, checking luggage and getting to the gate. Would you prefer to miss your flight?
Sure, DME isn't for everyone. But as stated at the beginning of the original post, a little more research would have determined that it wasn't for you.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, it's obvious that those of us who had good experiences with DME have turned into DME fanatics...just like those who have their favorite airline, towncar service, resort, park attraction!!!! We sure do get all defensive and huffy don't we??!!!
So, for those of you who didn't have such a terrific experience, it's a good thing there are alternatives for you. I have used the different towncar services (Tiffany and FL Tours) and had some terrific experiences and some not so great ones. I will most likely use them again in the future. But, for now...DME is getting it done for me. We'll see what happens if they start charging for it in '07...then there will be decisions to make!!!

Hey....where did the new smilies come from??? They weren't here this morning. I love them...now I have one for my screen name........
4

 

[goofy4tink]

Oh, never mind...I'm a bit loopy this morning.