Disney's Magical Express ?

[caroline1851]

Overall, how do you rate this service? I've heard a lot of complaints about it-taking hours to get to your resort, etc.

What has your experience been like?

Thanks!

 

[karrit2000]

I think 1 1/2 hours is the average time from airport arrival to hotel check-in. often it is sooner. The ME Buses usually make stops at 3 different resorts when they get to WDW. It's great for those who get dropped off first but can be tiresome for everyone else still on the bus.

 

[Jestocost]

I think 1 1/2 hours is the average time from airport arrival to hotel check-in. often it is sooner. The ME Buses usually make stops at 3 different resorts when they get to WDW. It's great for those who get dropped off first but can be tiresome for everyone else still on the bus.

Actually, the reported average is around 70 minutes from when you exit the plane until you arrive at your resort, with the typical range from first to last stops being approximately 60-90 minutes. Those times are for guests using the DME luggage transfer service, which allows you to skip the wait at baggage claim and head straight to your resort.

Realistically, the time savings you gain from using a cab, town car or rental car vs. DME on the actual travel to your resort is effectively offset by the time you spend at baggage claim. So, net-net, you are likely to get to your resort in about the same amount of time if you use DME or if you use some other option. Certainly there are times when snafus at DME will cause the time to be longer, but there are times when snafus at baggage claim (I've personally waited more than 90 minutes for bags to arrive in one extreme case) or elsewhere can foul things up if you use another transport option.

My personal experience with DME has been nothing but positive and it's offered at no additional charge to guests. It's not for everyone's taste and some people prefer a different kind of experience that they are willing to pay for, which is perfectly fine. IMO, it comes down more to your preferences than a timing issue.

 

[KSBelle]

I've used DME several times and at all different hours of the day.
I haven't had one bad experience with it. I had used towncar service prior to DME and will NEVER go back to that!

 

[justplaingoofy]

My last experience in January was not too great...

Plane touched down at 9:20am, and did not arrive at W.L. until noon! I know this is not the norm, but I was not too happy

 

[goofy4tink]

As with anything else, most people will post about bad, or less than wonderful experiences.
With that in mind, the vast majority of guests using DME have been happy. Is it magical? Is it express? Perhaps not but considering you aren't paying anything out of pocket, it's pretty darn good.
I have used DME about 5 times now...to POP (3), BCV (1), BW (1). More times than not, it has taken me about an hour from deplaning to my resort checkin. The only time it took more than 65 mins was the one time POP was the last of three stops, and there was an inordinant amount of luggage to be unstowed at the previous two resorts.
I have been number three stop before (after YC, BC) at BW. That time it took me 65 mins from the plane to BW! When heading to POP the other two times, it was less than an hour because it was the first stop.

Generally speaking...it takes about 10 mins to get from the gate to the DME checkin line. Then, it can be anywhere from 5-25 mins at the checkin counter..depending on how many are in line ahead of you. I have gotten to the line with about 40 or so in front of me and it took 8 mins to get to the counter.
Then, it's a 30 sec walk to the bus lines. There, you may be able to get right on your bus, or you may have a 20 min wait...depends on your timing, the bus may have just left or just be arriving. Once on the bus, it could be a 15 min wait or you could pull right out.
Then, it's 30 mins to WDW. You may be lucky and be the first resort, or you could be the third.

Worst case scenario, it would take just about 90 mins to get to the resort. But, usually it's much closer to an hour.

 

[sharond150]

I have averaged about 50 minutes from walking off the plane to the resort. How long it takes YOU to get through the airport will greatly effect your total trip time. Dilly-dallying in shops and restrooms and rounding up kiddies can make a big difference. The 50 minutes is me walking straight off the plane to the the DME desk, waiting on the bus a few minutes and going to the resort. The lines at the check-in at the resort shouldn't factor into your total time because DME has no control over that.

 

[tjmw2727]

I have had over a dozen great trips with DME over the past few years. I will agree with the average time posted about of @70 minutes. Considering the drive from the airport to WDW is 35-40 minutes I think that's pretty good.

I will also say that my last two DME trips were quicker than my last two towncar trips (when staying at the Dolphin) mostly due to the luggage delivery feature of DME.

I usually travel as the solo adult with two kids and IMHO skipping baggage claim, checking in with DME, boarding the bus and relaxing on the way to the resort is great. We check in to the resort, relax at the pool or head to a theme park for the afternoon while the luggage is delivered to the room, it's great!

I have read some complaints about the luggage delivery feature but it's usally from folks who though the bags would be delivered with them. All the literature says to allow 3 or so hours after you check in for your bags to arrive. We have yet to be in the room when they arrived so I can't say first hand how long its taken.

TJ

 

[esdras]

So, far - we have only used it once, but it was fine. We were the second stop, but I think that's all the bus made, we arrived mid afternoon the day after Labour Day, so things were pretty slow. We were at ASMo, and the bus stopped first at ASMu then Movies. My guess is that it would have stopped at Sports first had anyone arrived around our time and were staying there.

I would think - although if others have witnessed different, please correct me - that the "three stop" system would generally mean that the All-Stars often have a bus for that location, and won't stop at a non-All-Star resort unless it's incredibly slow and might then go to AKL or CSR too.

Anyway, we're using it again this year - I can't imagine (barring some unforseen screw-up) that DME will take much longer than any other method of transportation. Our biggest reasons for using it again - first, it's free. Second, we don't have to carry our luggage. Third, related to the second point - being able to tell our 4 yo and 8 yo as we get off the plane that, "now, we just have to go get the bus that will take us to Disney" is FAR better than standing around the luggage claim... waiting... and listening to them ask continuously about "when are we going to BE at Disney?" Avoiding that last situation is what makes DME "Magical" for my wife and I.

 

[pooch]

love DME. but we don't jump right off the plane, run thru the airport etc. Once I hit MCO, I'm on vacation. We let (almost) everyone else deplane, stop for a restroom break, take our first Disney ride (the tram!!) to the terminal and walk at a leisurely pace to the DME counter. First trip (WL) took just about 1 1/2 hrs, last year we landed at 10:15 and checked in at noon, a little longer but WE WEREN'T RUSHING!!! Although I understand Disney's real purpose in providing this service is to keep you on property, I find it a true convenience for me and I'm glad they have it!!

 

[roxmic]

I have used ME a few times and never had a bad experience. You should plan on about 90 min. from touchdown to check-in.

 

[CleveRocks]

I've heard a lot of complaints about it-taking hours to get to your resort, etc.

The funny thing is that in the more than 3 years DME has been around, I haven't read lots of complaints about it taking hours to get to resorts. WHat we've read a lot of, however, is people saying they've heard it takes hours, and so on. It's like an urban legend that has a life of its own.

In fact, there have been very very few "lengthy" experiences where it took people hours (plural) to get to their resorts, at least as reported here on the DIS and other message boards.

The other thing to keep in mond is that almost no one will start a thread that says "DME took a reasonable amount of time to get me to my resort." In the same manner, we've all read threads started to complain about bad housekeeping at a resort, but we'll never read a thread started by someone saying, "The Mousekeeping at my resort was adequate during the week I was there." When things go normally, no one starts threads to address is ... but when things go badly, it's human nature to complain and to warn others.

Hopefully, the amount of good reviews in response to your question should help you feel good and and feel reasonably confident about using DME for your trip.

My personal experiences? I timed it both times. From walking off the airplane to walking off the bus at my resort it was 63 minutes one time and 56 minutes another time. Both times were efficient, comfy, and fun for the kids.

Our next trip is a quasi-celebration of my wife's birthday and I thought of splurging on a car service ride to add a special touch to the beginning of the trip. I talked to my kids about it (they're 8 and almost 6), and they both complained that they didn't want to ride in a car or SUV, but instead wanted the "cool bus" with the welcome video and big comfy seats. I'm a little disappointed that I can't surprise my wife with Edd greeting us at baggage claim and ushering us towards his big SUV, but DME has always been good to us, so I'm certainly happy to be doing that again, anyway.

 

[caroline1851]

Thanks everyone! I'm feeling much better about it now!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I absolutely loved using Magical Express. I loved the idea of not having to wait on my luggage at the airport. I loved the idea of being taken to my resort. I loved the idea of having my luggage delivered to my room.

When we went in March, we landed at MCO around 5:30 PM and were checking in to our resort at 6:30 PM. We attended the Pirate and Princess Party that evening and when we got back to our room after 11:30 PM, our luggage was already there waiting for us.

I have not used DME back to the airport so I can't make any comments on that.

 

[simzac]

Have used it twice. Love the service. Will continue to use it as long as it is offered. Hard to beat free.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Overall, how do you rate this service? I've heard a lot of complaints about it-taking hours to get to your resort, etc.

Respectfully, could you please try to put a number on "a lot of complaints"? Fifty? Five hundred? Five thousand?

I ask because, as CleveRocks points out, Magical Express has been in existence for over three years. Specifically, it's been three years, three months, one week, and two days. If we don't count today (figuring most DME-using internet forum users who rode it today are too busy to post right now), that's 1,196 days. Not all that long ago, Disney released usage estimates - between 5,000 and 10,000 Guests per day use Magical Express. That means between 5,980,000 and 11,960,000 riders. Even 10,000 complaints over the lifespan of Magical Express results in less than 2/10 of one percent of all users.