Does Magic Express work?

[slbeaute]

We are trying to plan our trip for June and will be staying at POFQ. Since we're trying to stay on a budget, we were going to use Disney's Magical Express since it's free transportation. We have a 3 year old so the part about not having to handle the luggage sounds even better to us since we'll be coming in early in the morning and won't really be able to check in right away. I keep reading horror stories about luggage not getting to rooms for hours or not even there at night. So, any success stories with it? Or would you recommend another way to get to the hotel?

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

There are threads on this on the transportation board.
Although we have not used the service, it seems the vast majority of people love it. Go over there to get some ideas on how people feel.
ps.....You can check into your Disney resort as early as you like. They will process you and give you all your paperwork. You might get lucky and get a room immediately. We almost always get a room no matter how early we check in. If a room is not available just head over to a theme park until later in the day. Keep a small bag with anything you might need for a few hours in case your room is not ready.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've used DME 3 times now and love it. I have had them deliver my bags to my room once and it worked great. My bags got to my room about 30 minutes after I did. I couldn't get into my room until 2:30 (BWV's) but my bags got there at 3.
My suggestions for using DME?? Be sure to have a carry-on (for each person in your party) with essentials. This could be a change of clothes (at least a tee-shirt since it can be much warmer when you arrive), a bathing suit for swimming if it's warm enough..this is a great way to relax while waiting for your room, toiletries, a book, your passes. Anything you might possibly need for up to several hours.
I love using DME and will be using it again in the future. If you check in early, they will just hold your bags until your room is ready. The other option you have is packing one large bag to be checked but not putting on the yellow DME tag. Then, you can go to baggage claim, grab that one bag, while your other tagged bags go directly to DME transfer, take that one bag on the bus with you and you will have anything you might need for a longer time. You would have only the one bag to worry about vs many more..all the while juggling the toddler.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you are really the anxious type, confirm ahead of time a homebound trip 3-1/2 hours ahead of your flight instead of the normal 2-3/4.

You can get a bite to eat at the airport if you have extra time, although if you get to the airport less than 2 hours befor your flight it is better to buy food after security, in the rotunda near your gate.

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

 

[Julylady]

Just confirming the advice in the previous post. We have used ME twice with great success. Dropping off your bags in your home airport and then having them "magically" appear in your room is terrific! Both times we received our luggage within an hour of getting there ourselves. Just remember to pack anything you think you might need right away in your carryon.

The hard part for me is waiting on the ME bus for additional guests. Both times we waited less than 15 minutes, but it was just killing me. I needed to remind myself that I am on VACATION and another few minutes wasn't going to ruin my trip. Once we got on the road, I actually enjoyed the stops at the other resorts to drop off guests. It gave me a look at some places I hadn't seen before.

We did have a small issue with the movie they show on the bus. My 4 year old thinks that Mickey, Minnie and all the princesses LIVE at Disney World. She was confused about why they were shown taking a vacation there. In her world they take vacations to Disneyland, on the Disney Cruise, and to our city for the Disney Ice Show.

One last thing....we had always rented a car and made a grocery stop. I don't mind paying the higher prices at the resort stores (well, just a little), but I wish they offered a wider variety of food products.

Donna

 

[justlikeeyore]

Just got back DME was gr8 my bag arrived at my room 40mins after I did.

 

[Lewisc]

Just got back. Plane got to the gate at 9:30a, we got to the DME desk at 9:45 (we were in the back half of the plane) and DME dropped us off at CSR at 10:25. The first stop was at POP, 10:15a CSR had a room for us. Luggage was in our room when we got back from lunch.

If you need soda or water the cheapest solution is to take a DTD bus, get off at the Pleasure Island stop. Walk across the street to the Hess station, there is a crosswalk and a light.

 

[slbeaute]

Thanks for all the advice! I feel much better about using the service. We will already be hauling a car seat and my daughter's bag of must have items plus a carry on, so the convenience will be nice. Plus, my husband doesn't like to drive on vacation. I am so excited to hear good things about it!

 

[CleveRocks]

We are trying to plan our trip for June and will be staying at POFQ. Since we're trying to stay on a budget, we were going to use Disney's Magical Express since it's free transportation. We have a 3 year old so the part about not having to handle the luggage sounds even better to us since we'll be coming in early in the morning and won't really be able to check in right away. I keep reading horror stories about luggage not getting to rooms for hours or not even there at night. So, any success stories with it? Or would you recommend another way to get to the hotel?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. On these boards, I've read of literally only 3 or 4 poor experiences with DME, and all the other first-hand experiences written about herre are positive ones. But I see LOTS AND LOTS of posts like yours, people saying they've read all kinds of bad things and thus are nervous about using it. So I think the idea that DME is a risky or iffy venture has become something of an urban legend around here. I guess people recall the posts about FEELING nervous about the prospect of using it, but don't remember all the positive experiences people have posted about.

My experience: I used DME on May 8, it's 4th day of operations. People here have talked about DME in its early days needing to work the kinks out, but I had nothing but great experiences. My party of 6 (including a 5 year old and 3 year old) was at CBR 53 minutes after getting into the line at the DME counter. Our luggage arrived 3 hours after we did, but we didn't care because we packed well in our carry-ons, and were enjoying the pool when our luggage magically arrived in our room. Our return trip to MCO was also flawless.

Enjoy your trip, and leave everything to DME, it'll be great!

-- Eric

 

[CharityLynn]

Another with a good DME experience. Not sure how long it took our bags since we left right away for the Halloween party but the bags were in our room when we got back that night.

 

[buzzmom3]

I am so glad to find this thread. I just saw a post reporting major problems, that all nothing specific, with DME. We will be using it next year and I was really looking forward to it, not having to get my luggage and wrangle a 4 year old sounded great. Sounds like it will be great!

 

[KathyFP]

What airlines? The only downside was on the return trip. The stop for DME was pretty far from the ticket counter (USAirways). We struggled with dragging our bags through the A terminal - USAirways is the last terminal.

Despite this we will use it again. Next time we will be better prepared for the hike.

 

[rlduvall]

I am one of the rare ones who was not thrilled with ME for arrival at MCO. The welcome line was long, as well as the line to wait for the bus. The welcome line moved very quickly (15 minute wait), but we waited about 35 minutes for our bus to arrive. I am a very Type A person, and I thought I would go nuts. ( was cursing myself for not going with the great rate of $70. I found at National Rental Car.)

The ME bus was very comfortable and pleasant and the drive uneventful. From arrival at the airport to arrival at POFQ it took about an 1 1/2 hours. Some people may find this acceptable . . . I needed valium by the time I got there . . . We were able to check in and went on to the parks, with our luggage in our room when we got back. Oh, BTW, this was for arrival on the morning of December 10th, a Saturday. I suspect Saturday arrivals might be the most hectic.

Return was much better; absolutely no problems. Picked us up right on time. I am just too much of a control freak and from now on I am going with a rental car. I certainly got my $$ worth!!!!

 

[IlovePiglet]

What airlines? The only downside was on the return trip. The stop for DME was pretty far from the ticket counter (USAirways). We struggled with dragging our bags through the A terminal - USAirways is the last terminal.

Despite this we will use it again. Next time we will be better prepared for the hike.

Buses are supposed to stop at both terminals. If the bus you are on does not drop you off at the correct terminal (you can find this out by going to the airport website, or the overhead signs as you enter airport property) insist you be taken to the proper terminal and get a name or vehicle number and contact DME.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

DME buses will drop off at both terminal A and B upon return to the airport. However, because of how the airport was designed, parking spaces to drop off in are severely limited. Drivers typically will take the first available space they can find, rather than risk trying to find a good space, only to have it be occupied, and not have a place to drop off. Unfortunetly, because of this, it can cause a small walk for some airlines.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm curious why the OP is bringing the car seat. If you plan to use it on the plane, or take taxi/limo transportation anywhere while you're in Orlando, fine. But you won't be able to use the car seat on the DME bus or on other Disney transportation - no seat belts. I'm NOT trying to talk you out of bringing it, but you might want to rethink whether you'll even need it. Less to haul around the airport

 

[DisnyMama]

I thought ME was GREAT!! Our arriving flight to MCO got in on 12/15 at 7:30 a.m. and there was a total of only my son and I and another couple on the bus. We dropped the couple off at PoP Century and then us at AS Sports by 9:00. Our return to the airport we had to leave at 4:00 a.m. for a 7:00 a.m. flight. The bus picked us up probably 2nd or third stop and then we did one more pick up at Carribean Beach Resort and then off to the Airport. The bus was only half full-if that. They were on time-to the minute and great service. You cannot beat it for FREE!!!