Disney's Magical Express shuttle service

[Jennasis]

When does this start? Where does it pick you up at the airport? How do you book it? IS it free or offered to resort guests? Do you have to book a package?

 

[edk35]

The commerial is on t.v. now advertising it. IT is free to resort guests...you just need a room reservation. If you fly certain airlines...your luggage is taken to the bus from baggage claim for you. IF you fly other airlines...then you claim it and take it to the area where they are. I think there is a link somewhere on here describing all the details.


Denise

 

[TrickyFish]

It starts at the beginning of May, to coincide with the 50th Celebration. As of now its free for those staying at a Disney resort hotel. There are rumors that it might be near $65pp in the future.

From what I have read, to take part, you call CR and make a booking for everyone in your party at least 10 days in advance. They then send you special luggage tags to designate your stuff. When you arrive at MCO, CM's will take you to the shuttle from your plane. An extra set of CM's will find your luggage and transport it to your hotel. Your luggage does not travel with you, but at this point they don't believe there will be a big disparity between when you arrive and your luggage does.

Oh, and ME is currenly only offered to those flying with participating airlines: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Song, United Airlines and Ted.

On your departure date you can check in your luggage and receive your boarding passes at your hotel. Then hop on the shuttle and be taken back to MCO for your flight.

 

[SarahAndMike]

EDITED: Looks like a better answer got in ahead of me

Well I don't know all the answers but I'll tell you what I know:
It begins in may... I've set it up for my May 20 trip. You get special luggage tags in the mail that allow you to avoid waiting around for checked luggage (it'll be waiting in the room for you). I had my travel agent and he booked it for me but I beleive you can just call CRO and have it added to your package. You must be a resort guest but I do not beleive you need any other packages. I can't wait!

 

[BostonRob]

I don't know. I've had enough experiences with shuttle busses from the airport to Disney to know that I'll either rent a car, or hire a car or cab from now on. I'll spend enough time on my disney vacation riding on busses with hordes of people, so for the beginning and end, I'll pay a bit more and ride in style.

 

[kutchyone]

Oh, and ME is currenly only offered to those flying with participating airlines: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Song, United Airlines and Ted.

On your departure date you can check in your luggage and receive your boarding passes at your hotel. Then hop on the shuttle and be taken back to MCO for your flight.

From what I understand, and I could be wrong so someone please confirm, you don't have to fly one of the participating airlines to use ME. On your flight into Orlando you will be treated like you have flown in on a participating airline. The difference will be on your departure, you will not be able to check in your luggage and receive your boarding passes at the hote. You can still use the ME transportation you will just have to have your luggage packed on the bus that you are being transported in and then check the luggage and get your boarding pass as you normally would at an airport.

 

[TrickyFish]

Hmm.. I could be wrong, I'm going on bits of info I've read here and there and piecing it together. I guess the best way to figure that out is to call CRO and ask!

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

From what I understand kutchyone you are correct it is like the way the cruise line handles luggage, on the way in you can be on any airline. Disney will have the information and have someone form luggage services meet the airplane and they will collect the luggage that has the tags. It is on the way home that depends on you taking the luggage or them. It works that way with DCL. Participating airlines are AT the cruise terminal (just like they have said they will be at the resorts) to check you in and take the luggage. If you are not flying a participating airline you can still use the shuttle for return, but you will have to take your own luggage back tot he airport and check in there.

Also just to clarify a comment that was made... CM's will not be meeting you AT your plane as security measures do not let them over to the terminal. You will disembark your flight, get on the shuttle from the terminal to the main bulding and once you are in the Main building the CM's will be right there, at the exit to the terminal shuttles (that is how DCL does this as they will not let them over to the main terminal.).

 

[eddieras]

i'm set up for this for our arrival on may 11 - my concern is that we'll have to wait around for the shuttle to fill.. is this a reasonable concern? we arrive on a wed at 1045am

any ideas?

 

[TrickyFish]

Also just to clarify a comment that was made... CM's will not be meeting you AT your plane as security measures do not let them over to the terminal. You will disembark your flight, get on the shuttle from the terminal to the main bulding and once you are in the Main building the CM's will be right there, at the exit to the terminal shuttles (that is how DCL does this as they will not let them over to the main terminal.).

Really? CRO told a co-worker that someone will be there when they get off the plane..

 

[Luv4Disney]

Hmm.. I could be wrong, I'm going on bits of info I've read here and there and piecing it together. I guess the best way to figure that out is to call CRO and ask!

I booked it with Spirit Airlines and had no problems.

I arrive May 11th. We'll see how it goes.

 

[DisneyFans4]

This may sound great for some people but I still prefer getting my luggage only for fear that they all made it! How does the person know that is getting it know how many pieces there are? I just feel better knowing that I have my luggage.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I have that same concern. How do they know how many bags each family has? I won't even know how many bags we have until the night before we leave!

I also want to know how long we will be sitting at the airport waiting to go to the resort, and I want to know how long we will be on that bus waiting to reach our resort. I also want to know what sort of a video they are showing while you wait. Is it selling something?

Luckily there are PLENTY of you guys going before we do, so you can let us know how it works!

 

[DisneyFans4]

Personally, I can't stand the Mears shuttle. You won't leave the airport until it fills up and then hope it's not real crowded and you don't make a bus because then you have to wait for the next one and then it makes all kinds of stops. I remember when we stayed at the Poly it was the last stop before 3 other hotels. It's worth the extra to have a car waiting just for us and it brings us right to the hotel. That's what we have done our last 2 trips and it was wonderful. Our driver was waiting for us in baggage claim with a sign and when we got our luggage he brought it right outside to his car and off we went.

 

[Daxx]

Daxx's Wife here. I just booked this ... I kid you not! Just got off the phone w/Disney CRO not but a minute ago.

Here's what Leonardo, the great man who helped me told me ...

It is a complimentary service that starts on May 5th (the day we booked to arrive, so we get to test run it!). It doesn't matter what airline you're on, according to Leonardo. CRO only needs your arrival and departure times, the airline and flight number (I think on flight #).

According to Leo, when you get off the plane, you take the shuttle to the main building where a CM will meet you. They do not meet you at the gate when you come off the airplane.

However, this service is not entirely complimentary. As I stated, there is no gratuity for the bellhop who takes your luggage to your room ... however, when you're leaving, if you call a bell hop, gratuity is NOT included. Not that that's a big deal. But, I don't want anyone to think that bellhop departure gratuity is included!

Your bus leaves 2 1/2 hours before your departure time. No ifs, ands or buts. Even if you think you only need 1 hour for airport time, they don't care. If you're not on that shuttle, you best be calling MEARS! While you head to the airport, they show a movie on the bus. The Disney folks will check your luggage in for you and you have no worries. Hakuna Matata, man!

I only booked hotel and was allowed to have the ME. As long as you are on property, it looks like it's available.

It's about time Disney came up w/something like this. Hey, if this "trial run" (which we think is exactly what this is -- in time, they'll charge for it), cool. Why should MEARS make all the $$ that Disney is losing out on b/c they're not running shuttles!??! However, if they're not competetive $$ wise w/MEARS, it won't work. I mean, honestly, I can schlep my own luggage ... if I have to pay a lot more than MEARS, I'll just use MEARS.

 

[twojo21]

on waltdisneyworld.com (disney.go) it states disneys magic express service must be reserved 10 days prior to arrival for arrival&departure from wdw, with requests starting january 2nd 2005 for travel on/after may 5th 2005 through the 18 month happiest celebration on earth 50th anniversary.

it can be booked through disneyworld.com, disney reservation center 1-407-w-disney or your travel agent. disney has partnered with a few shuttle servies (including mears) and will be offering this free service with their myw packages to onsite guests to & from the orlando mco airport to their respective wdw resorts.

as for bypassing baggage claim that depends on your airlines. currently american airlines, song, delta, united, ted and the site said more carriers will probably be added, will have their luggage picked up/dropped off by disney cms on seperate transport to be at your wdw resort upon check in & then delivered back on your departure to the airline/airport. however if you're not using one of these participating airlines you simply collect your own baggage & meet at the wdw kiosk on the orlando mco ground floor for shuttle transportation.

i think this a great addition to wdw services, but only time will tell how smoothe a transition or program this will be.

 

[sleepycor]

I made ressies with the ME a few weeks ago,

when will they send me the tags? and how many do they send?

have anyone received theirs yet?

 

[Joyciemc]

I still have to call CRO, but I have a unique situation... as I always seem to! Two of us are flying in from Boston on Song, and meeting the third of our party at MCO (he's flying in from Chicago on Ted and gets in an hour earlier than us)... I'm thinking he'll just collect his bags himslef, and wait for us so we'll all travel to WDW together.... the ressie is in my name, so I doubt his bags could go ahead of mine. I'm curious what CRO will say and I hope I don't confuse the heck out of them! Anyone else have such strange travel plans?

 

[kccmommy]

Didn't they say that the the "person" that will pick you up will be costumed. Do you think that means a Disney uniform or a Character. I know I'm 36, but the idea of a character waiting for us in the airport excited me.

 

[eddieras]

anyone have any idea of how frequent the shuttle runs are? i'd hate to hang around the airport waiting for more passengers!