Disney's Magical Express

[skiqt323]

Does anyone know exactly how this service works? How do you get the luggage tags and when you get off the airplane, where do you go? Is there a different shuttle for each hotel?

 

[cappygirl]

When you make your reservations they will send you luggage tags along with a booklet full of information on how it works.
When your flight lands you follow the directions in the booklet and you'll find yourself at the Magical Express counter. Check in with them (give them your booklet) and they'll send you to the bus for your resort.
A few hours later your luggage will be delivered to your room.

 

[padisneyfour]

the luggage tags should arrive in mail before you leave. there are different shuttles for hotels but they will direct to which bus to get on. each bus does make several stops. Your luggage will arrive later and they will notify you when it arrives. hotel staff brought it to our rooms. Magical express runs 24 hours a day. I was in panic once when our flight was delayed over and over again because I didn't know that the first time and was worried it wouldn't be running when we finally arrived. We were suppose to arrive at & pm and didn't arrive until 3 am and it was wonderful not having to worry about driving at that hour. we like it! Have used it numerous times without a problem. goodluck.

 

[disneydreamgirl05]

Is there a fee for using Magical Express??

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

Is there a fee for using Magical Express??

No Magical Express if free but you can only use it if you are staying in a Disney resort.

 

[SarahInMN]

Is there a different shuttle for each hotel?

We stayed at the Grand Floridian and our bus, I believe, had both GF and Polynesian resort guests.

As any FYI, the yellow luggage tags will arrive about 4 weeks before your arrival date. We had provided our flight info months before our planning session trip and - since I was a Disney novice at that point - was all worried that we hadn't received them sooner.

Also, don't dilly-dally around the airport. Land, get off the plane, and go straight to the check in point for the DME. We did this and hopped on the shuttle right away. My mother decided to be leisurely and sat down for a diet coke before heading to the DME checkpoint. She missed the shuttle she was supposed to be on and had to wait for the next one to arrive.

 

[alissa2008]

I have a dilemma about this as well --

For starters, our plane lands around 10AM, but we cannot check in to AKL until 3PM. MIL is staying off property at a time share, and she cannot check in until 4PM. She is renting a car (we are not).

SIL will already have been there for a few days, so our plans were to collect our luggage, grab MILs rental and head to SILs to kill some time before check in.

Now, with Magical Express, since we're the only ones staying on property -- do you think they will take our luggage to AKL without us so we can run errands with MIL... (I feel like it would be safer to just lug it around with us...) or, if we take the shuttle, will we have to sit around the lobby for 5 hours?? Has anyone ever been able to check in several hours early?

 

[twiu]

I have a dilemma about this as well --

For starters, our plane lands around 10AM, but we cannot check in to AKL until 3PM. MIL is staying off property at a time share, and she cannot check in until 4PM. She is renting a car (we are not).

SIL will already have been there for a few days, so our plans were to collect our luggage, grab MILs rental and head to SILs to kill some time before check in.

Now, with Magical Express, since we're the only ones staying on property -- do you think they will take our luggage to AKL without us so we can run errands with MIL... (I feel like it would be safer to just lug it around with us...) or, if we take the shuttle, will we have to sit around the lobby for 5 hours?? Has anyone ever been able to check in several hours early?

I would not worry too much. With Magical Express, they'll take care of your bags for you. If you get to AKL early, you never know! You might be able to check in. I would try that first. Most of the time they let you check in as long as there is a room available. I travel all the time and I think in my travels only once did I have to wait until check in time to actually check in. Also, when you do Magical Express, your bags don't go in the same shuttle as you - that's why they give themselves 3 hours to deliver your bags. You get on the shuttle, your bags get there somehow (I think it's pixie dust ) - so you will be able to hang out and run errands with your MIL. Trust the system... it works. That's why it's magical You just get in, check in, and go have fun. Disney wants you not to worry and you are... so stop worrying!!!

 

[SarahInMN]

if we take the shuttle, will we have to sit around the lobby for 5 hours??

Nope, you don't have to wait around for several hours. Our checked luggage arrived at the GF after us. We arrived there around 130. We checked in but weren't assigned a room. So, we left our carryons with the concierge and went to Magic Kingdom and rode a few rides. By the time we got back, our room was ready.

do you think they will take our luggage to AKL without us so we can run errands with MIL

It's my understanding that both guests and luggage are supposed to use the DME, but I'm not certain they match luggage tags to people who checked in and rode the DME.

 

[skiqt323]

thanks for all the great information, what a great service!

 

[InstImpres]

We stayed at the Grand Floridian and our bus, I believe, had both GF and Polynesian resort guests.


My mother decided to be leisurely and sat down for a diet coke before heading to the DME checkpoint. She missed the shuttle she was supposed to be on and had to wait for the next one to arrive.

Just FYI, the shuttle routes vary based on who is signed up & checks in for various times. We were GF, Poly & WL.

As for "missing the bus" that is luck or unluck of the draw. With most flights being early or late there is not a carved in stone schedule for the outbound ME (the return ME is extremely scheduled). They try to have a min. number of people or a max wait time before sending a bus.

 

[dmslush]

I have a dilemma about this as well --

For starters, our plane lands around 10AM, but we cannot check in to AKL until 3PM. MIL is staying off property at a time share, and she cannot check in until 4PM. She is renting a car (we are not).

SIL will already have been there for a few days, so our plans were to collect our luggage, grab MILs rental and head to SILs to kill some time before check in.

Now, with Magical Express, since we're the only ones staying on property -- do you think they will take our luggage to AKL without us so we can run errands with MIL... (I feel like it would be safer to just lug it around with us...) or, if we take the shuttle, will we have to sit around the lobby for 5 hours?? Has anyone ever been able to check in several hours early?

When you arrive in Orlando they scan a ticket before they let you on to the ME bus. My understanding is if you haven't rode the bus to the parks, they don't pick up your luggage and take it for you.

You CAN check in at anytime at disney, but your room may not be ready until 3pm. In all of our trips to disney, this has only happened to us one time. We have checked in from 9am-11pm and only one time had to wait a few hours for a room.

 

[alissa2008]

thanks for all the great advice!! Sounds like we might take ME to AKL and see if we can check it -- would be easier than lugging out crap around... then MIL can pick us up and we can go play. THANKS!!