Experience with "Magical Express"

[Timmay14]

Hi all

When i come to WDW in December i will be travelling from Australia. For anyone who has ever done this you will know it is a long way and leaves people very tired. I am undecided about using the Disney Magical Express. Will it just add to confusion at check in? What are everyones good and bad experiences with Magical Express?

Thanks

Tim

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Hi all

When i come to WDW in December i will be travelling from Australia. For anyone who has ever done this you will know it is a long way and leaves people very tired. I am undecided about using the Disney Magical Express. Will it just add to confusion at check in? What are everyones good and bad experiences with Magical Express?

It doesn't add confusion to the check-in at your home airport, at the airport, or at your Disney resort.

The process will be a little different for you than for most people on this board because you'll need to pass through US Customs and Border Protection at Orlando International Airport. The main difference is that you'll see and touch your bags at Orlando International Airport (in the US Customs and Border Protection area), before Disney takes control of them.

The major benefits of Disney's Magical Express are:

• Free, frequent, reliable, comfortable motorcoach transportation from the airport to your resort and back.
• Free inbound luggage transfers; your bags will arrive in your room around three hours after you check in at the resort (if your room is ready) -- with Disney paying the bellman tip (otherwise customarily $1-2 per bag in the U.S.)

Be sure to pack carry-ons with valuable items, anything you'll need the first few hours, fragile items, and anything that you'd want to have if the airline delays your luggage.

I'm one of may people here who think Disney's Magical Express is great. There have also been some complaints, especially from people who didn't pack any carry-ons (and who thought their bags would materialize instantly in their rooms).

 

[Timmay14]

Ahh, ok

I dont however see my bags at Orlando, We clear customs and immigration in LA or SFO.

If we end up arriving late at night, i.e. after 10pm, will it still be 3 hours on the bags?

Tim

 

[tribus121]

You can ask for your bags to be held till morning or have it deliverd when it arives Disney Magical Express is a great way to get from MCO to Disney and return we used it for the first time last september and loved it

 

[Edd]

It is unique that you asked that question. A previous thread involved discussion on the delivery of your luggage if you arrived after 11:00 pm. Some guests have been informed that they will not get there luggage until the next morning if they use the luggage delivery feature of DME. Some have said they have been told to bring their luggage to the DME to be transferred to Disney. I have not seen a definitive answer to the question, what happens to luggage after 11:00 pm.

I attended a meeting today to find out the answer from Disney officials who usually attend the meeting. Two identical meetings were scheduled and unfortunately the Disney people will probably be attending the other meeting on Monday. I posed the question to the Mears people and they were unaware the Disney people were shutting down the luggage delivery after 11:00 pm. They feel the information that was on the previous threads was not accurate. So if you are familiar with those particular threads you might check them out again or at least bring them back current so discussion can continue on the baggage delivery feature of the DME. I will follow up on this, hopefully attending the meeting Monday, so I can talk to the Disney people.

I did find out in the meeting that the double luggage pickup for international passengers will continue if you deplane at the current terminal. When the new terminal is built that will change. The new terminal, which will serve mostly international flights, is 5 - 7 years off.

 

[canwegosoon]

I have used Magical Express 4 times now(yeah I'm on the frequent flyer plan)...I have always had great experiences with it. From the point we arrive at MCO, go down stairs, check in, get on my bus line then boarding the bus has been 1/2 hour max. Perhaps we sit another 10 minutes waiting for a few more passangers...but we are relaxed. Then it is off to the hotel(3 stops max...and really it is not that bad). I always pack what I need for the first 6 hours+medications+toothbrushes/toothpaste. In your case I would pack pajamas and toiltries(and poss. a change of clothes for the morning-so you don't have to wait on the bags to get out), and ask for the luggage to be delivered later or the next morning(tell them when at check in).

Prior to ME I always used a town car...but you have to wait for your luggage to come down the belt, your driver is usually there, and then it is straight off to your hotel

Comparing the 2 a town car is quicker, by about 30 minutes-due to the extra hotel stops-YMMV(depending on how quick the luggage is and what hotel stop you are-once I have had the luggage take an hour to get off the belt), but ME is very easy to use-plus you don't have to transport the bags...and besides saving the bellservices tip, you also save the car service tip(and expense)-so for me the ME wins out!!!

If you are truly worried about this I would consider renting a car for 2 days(day of arrival and day before departure)...you could leave your bags in the car if you had to -exhausted-and poss. go to a market the next day)

Good Luck what ever you decide.

 

[Mick]

We will land at 5:00pm on a Saturday. Is it crazy busy on weekends?

 

[AussieDisneyFan]

As a fellow aussie I felt I had to respond. I used Magical Express in 2005 on a solo trip. The luggage tags didn't arrive in time, so I to collect my luggage at MCO.

It was no problem, it was good to have my luggage when I checked in I arrived late at night too. Same on the return flight no problems putting the luggage on the bus, plus I felt a little more comfortable checking the luggage in myself.

I would use ME without question

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another post)

For international and charter flights, suggest you get a bus time back to the airport 4 hours before flight time rather than 3. (Towncar users also need to allow extra time for customs.)

Once this is confirmed, you are not obliged to yield to another family who missed their 3 hour in advance bus.

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

 

[AussieDisneyFan]

The 4 hours may apply to international flights that leave from MCO, but to fly to Australia you have to fly to LA first to get the international flight.