Experiences w/Magical Express?

[hopeis]

We had exactly the same experience flying on on 5/31. We were stopped by a CM at a podium at the entrance to the DME Welcome Center queue and sent directly to the bus queues. I've posted that in a couple of threads, but no one has reported a similar experience until now. On all of our previous trips via DME we've had to check in at the actual counter, so this may be a new procedure or something they are trying out.

What is this DME book I'm hearing about??
If it means bypassing a line up I'm all over that!

 

[CleveRocks]

What is this DME book I'm hearing about??
If it means bypassing a line up I'm all over that!

If you have a DME reservation, about 3-6 weeks before your trip you'll receive a DME mailing (separate from any other mailings from Disney). Included in the mailing will be your DME booklet, which includes instructions, but more importantly includes your bus vouchers.

Apparently, on occasion there's been a set-up allowing people with their proper paperwork (i.e., the DME booklet) to by-pass the regular line and go with some expedited system.

 

[seashoreCM]

Did the roving CM sending guests directly to the bus lines use a hand held scanner for anything

It would speed up the counter line when guests not needing anything special were culled and sent to the bus lines.

 

[Mel6197]

Last year was the worst Iver seen,

Got off the plane and hit a WALL of people, they made the lines longer there were so many of us.. Waited 40 min to check in, then to the line with the bus was 40 min..

Luggage didnt arrive till 11pm...10 hours after I landed..

And am I doing it again.. You bet!

I still got my trip, had a good time..
Its disney.. I try not to sweat the small things..

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

Just arrived this morning... (It is HOT!)
Here is our first time experience using ME. Flight arrived at 6:05 AM (yes AM!) We were off the plane and on the B side, 1st floor about 6:30 AM. We walked straight to the bus after the took our luggage information and how many bags to claim. The bus only had two people on it so I thought we would be waiting a while. Well we got on (party of 3) another party of two and then a party of 4 and we were off! We were at our resort before 7:30 AM and we were the third stop. The bus went to CBR first, Animal Kingdom second and then Kadani Village at Animal Kingdom third - our stop. Painless and quick. Our room was not available so we ventured out and when the room was ready we received a phone call from Disney. Arriving in the room and the luggage was waiting for us.. I am pleased with the service at this time..

 

[tinkerbell313]

Did the roving CM sending guests directly to the bus lines use a hand held scanner for anything

It would speed up the counter line when guests not needing anything special were culled and sent to the bus lines.

If I remember correctly (isn't it sad...that we arrived their on June 2nd and I cant remember ), the CM ripped out a page of our book and just directed us to go into lane number 6 (or what ever lane # for your resort). Ther was one family at the counter, but as I said...we never stopped at the counter. We completely by passed it.

And, for our route...it was Pop, CBR and then AKL. That's all.

 

[aubriee]

Did the roving CM sending guests directly to the bus lines use a hand held scanner for anything

It would speed up the counter line when guests not needing anything special were culled and sent to the bus lines.

I go to WDW 4-5 times a year and have been using DME since the very first week it was in existence. (Yes, I was one of the original guinea pigs). I've always had to stop at the counter to tell them how many bags I 'd checked, until this past May. As we came down toward the DME counter there was a couple of CMs telling us that if we had our DME booklet that we didn't have to go to the counter and instead to get into two lines just before the bus queus. There were two little podiums with two CMS with hand scanners that scanned the boarding pass page of the DME booklet and then entered how many bags you had checked. They then directed you into the proper bus line. I asked the lady scanning mine, why the process had changed and she said they were doing a trial during the month of May to see if it speeded things up. She also said that even though it had only been used a few days by that time, that it seemed to be working very well and if so then they were probably going to use the new system from now on. The only people that had to go to the counter were people that for some reason didn't have their DME booklets with them, had not tagged their checked bags with the yellow luggage tags (and still wanted DME to pick up their bags), and people whose return flight info was wrong.

To OP: again I've used DME several times a year since the first week it started. I am usually at my resort about 60 minutes after the plane lands at MCO. We love the service. In fact I'll be using it for my upcoming Sept/Oct trip and again for my Dec trip. I've never rented a car and will never do the town car pickups again either.

 

[Tozzie]

We're seeing more and more of this happening. I think it's becoming commonplace. I wonder how they decide who gets to skip the line and who doesn't.

I don't think the people skipping the line should be skipping the line, I always get my voucher back after I check in at the DME counter. The Cast Memebers at the Rope loading area may not know that they didn't check in. The bad part of not checking in is that DME will not be looking for your luggage should it not show up at MCO.

 

[jodifla]

I normally get a car, but am reconsidering with all the really high rental fees.

What's the latest you can book a reservation on Magical Express. We're DVC, staying at AKV.

 

[TDC Nala]

Out of more than 20 rides -

Best - just under an hour. Has happened a couple of times, usually when going from MCO to Pop Century.

Worst - Two and a half hours between MCO and Port Orleans Riverside. This occurred in May 2006. Have not exerienced that kind of delay any other time.

If you are DVC, you need to call Member Services to have your DME added to your reservation - or if it is too late to do that, you can call DME directly up to 24 hours in advance.

 

[Lewisc]

I normally get a car, but am reconsidering with all the really high rental fees.

What's the latest you can book a reservation on Magical Express. We're DVC, staying at AKV.

Something like 10-14 days notice is required to get out vouchers and luggage tags. That said some people have gotten them with less notice. It's not an issue if you let the DME desk print your voucher and you're willing to either grab your own bags or give the CM a description of your bags. I think you're OK as long as you make your reservatin before you arrive at MCO. BUT

Just make a DME reservation NOW. There isn't a penalty if you don't use it. Even if you get a good rental rate DME gives you back up if your rental agency doesn't have an available car and you don't feel like waiting for car.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't think the people skipping the line should be skipping the line, I always get my voucher back after I check in at the DME counter. The Cast Memebers at the Rope loading area may not know that they didn't check in. The bad part of not checking in is that DME will not be looking for your luggage should it not show up at MCO.

But they are 'skipping' the line because a DME CM told them to. My voucher gets stamped at the counter and off I go. But, I would imagine that if you don't have to stand in line, you don't need to worry about the voucher being stamped because they're scanning the voucher at the bus line entrances. Everyone is checked in...just not standing in that line.
The other thing to remember is that although the CMs tell everyone that only one person per group needs to be in line, for some reason entire families que up!! That makes the line seem even longer than it is.

I normally get a car, but am reconsidering with all the really high rental fees.

What's the latest you can book a reservation on Magical Express. We're DVC, staying at AKV.

Technically, you can book the day before you are due to arrive. But you won't get your info packet with the luggage tags if you wait that long. I believe they have said that they need 10 days to get out that packet.

 

[SnowandMittens]

We've used DME a few times before hand and we adore it... as long as you realize that this is a mass transportation service that is FREE, there is no reason to be worried.

That said, after 2 times of using ME, we're finally renting a limo on the way down! Yay!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Something like 10-14 days notice is required to get out vouchers and luggage tags. That said some people have gotten them with less notice. It's not an issue if you let the DME desk print your voucher and you're willing to either grab your own bags or give the CM a description of your bags. I think you're OK as long as you make your reservatin before you arrive at MCO. BUT

Just make a DME reservation NOW. There isn't a penalty if you don't use it. Even if you get a good rental rate DME gives you back up if your rental agency doesn't have an available car and you don't feel like waiting for car.

You can add the Magical Express service ANYTIME prior to arrival. If you have a late flight, you can call the morning of the day you're leaving and add it. You wouldn't get your documentation - but as long as you have luggage claim tags issued by the airline at your home airport, you can still use the entire service. You would just have to stop at the counter to get your vouchers to board the bus and give them the luggage claim tags for luggage delivery.

Hope that helps!

 

[brekin67]

We will continue to use ME. but our waiting times have been 2-3 hours from deplaning to resort. We always go during free dining and there are very large numbers of people waiting in rows to get on the buses. I am deciding whether or not we can make it to Fantasmic on time if we land at 2:30pm.

 

[jodifla]

You can add the Magical Express service ANYTIME prior to arrival. If you have a late flight, you can call the morning of the day you're leaving and add it. You wouldn't get your documentation - but as long as you have luggage claim tags issued by the airline at your home airport, you can still use the entire service. You would just have to stop at the counter to get your vouchers to board the bus and give them the luggage claim tags for luggage delivery.

Hope that helps!

Thanks everyone!