Experiences with Disney Magical Express

[njflounder]

To all,

Can people share their experiences with Disney Magical Express. My family usually takes a taxi from the airport but this time we are trying the bus. Also, we are checking our luggage at Newark Airport and it is supposed to show up at our room something after we arrive using Magical Express. Does the luggage get lost often or is Magical Express reliable in this aspect.

Thanks

 

[helenk]

You will probably get more responses on the Transportation Board, but I have used ME for my last 5 trips and each time it worked great.
Make sure the yellow tags you receive are placed on each piece of luggage that your are checking with the airline. You will be given luggage reciepts when you check in at the airport.
Once you get to MCO, go to the ME counter check in, and then they will direct you to the line for the bus to your resort. When you get to your resort check in, if your room is not ready have bell services hold your carry on luggage and go have fun. In a few hours your luggage will be delivered to your room.
Make sure you hold on to your luggage receipts, so that if for some reason you do not get your luggage it can be tracked. If the airline lost your luggage then ME would not assume liability.

 

[grumpyemt]

we have done it twice in a year. had no problems. went from plane to ground transportation got on me. luggage was at our room around 3 hours after check in. it also will save you the taxi fare. on your return to the airport you can check luggage in at most resorts and have get the bus back to the airport 3 hours before your departure time. we love it. i hope this helps.have a good time.

 

[sue1013]

I've used ME 5 times now. We love it. We fly out of Newark also. Drop our bags and checkin at curbside don't see it until it's in our room. When we leave we checkin with RAC and don't see the luggage until the we're waiting at baggage claim in Newark. I've read on these boards a lot of people pack and carry on a bag for the day. We never have we usually get to the resort check in then head out somewhere a park or downtown then when we return the luggage is there.

 

[DizzDoll]

This will be our third time using ME (and we're leaving out of Newark Airport, too!!) - and we have never had a problem with anything. Its a very efficient service Disney developed, and as long as you put those yellow stickie thingies on your check-in luggage everything is smooth sailing. You will definitely arrive at your resort before your luggage so be sure to pack a complete change of clothing as well as a swim suit (if you desire) in your carry-on. Absolutely no liquids of any kind in your carry on. Your luggage will be delivered to your room within 3-4 hours of your arrival safe and sound.

 

[mr.mike]

I hate being without a car at Disney. i really really hate it

That said, I love Magical Express!! Whenever we have used it there was always a bus waiting at the airport and when we got online they immediately sent us outside to the bus. The tv on the bus gets you in the right mood and not having to wait for your luggage is wonderful!!

I haven't rented a car since they started.

 

[safetymom]

Moving to transportation

 

[2moms]

I have to agree with the others opinions of ME, it's great!

Despite hearing horrible accounts of ME...long lines, not getting bags until 8+ hours later, etc....we decided to try it anyway.

We also flew out of Newark, checked our bags without problems, arrived at MCO to no lines, (I think there were a total of 10 people on our bus including us!), and our bags arrived about 1 hour after we did! That being said, we traveled in early March when the crowds were low, so that may have been the reason for our great success. In any case, we're using it again for our trip in May.

Good luck!

 

[goofy4tink]

I've used DME about 5 times now....my average time from plane to resort checkin line is about 70 mins. Shortest time was at POP..got there in under an hour. Longest time was 85 mins...again, at POP. But that time we were the last rather than the first stop. 70 mins is a good average.
The line at the DME counter is fast moving..so even if it looks lengthy, it isn't. And only one person per group has to be in the line. The bus line wait can be very short but can also be closer to 20 mins. Depends on when the bus leaves. If you get there just as your resort bus pulls away, you could have a 20 min wait. But I've been one of the last on the bus and then the bus pulls away.
Luggage is to be expected in your resort room up to 3 hrs after resort checkin. I have two personal experiences....at BWV, I checked in at about 1:00 pm, was able to get into my villa at 4:10 pm, and my luggage was at the villa door at 4:25. But, at POP in January ('08) I checked in at 11:00 am, got into my room at 11:15. I didn't expect my luggage to arrive until 2ish. But it didn't get to the room until just past 4 pm! There is a long story here, I won't go into it. I usually just checkin and drop my carryon in the room and then head to a park. Didn't do that this time...paid the price so to speak.

So, this brings up another point...be sure to pack a carryon bag with anything you may need for the first 6 hrs. of your trip. Luggage can get held up....see my above experience. And yes, sometimes it can be misdirected..usually by the airlines, not DME. DME does a terrific job of getting our luggage to us in a timely fashion. But sometimes 'stuff' happens. It's a good thing to have some small toiletries, a swim suit, change of clothes, and park passes in a carryon bag..just to be safe.

All this being said...I love DME, I love the ride to the resort, I love not having to worry about my luggage. I love that it's free, sort of.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Make sure you hold on to your luggage receipts, so that if for some reason you do not get your luggage it can be tracked. If the airline lost your luggage then ME would not assume liability.

I agree that it's always a good idea to hold onto the luggage receipts that you get when you check your bags.

To clarify the comment about Magical Express and liability for lost luggage... According to the Terms and Conditions in the Magical Express booklet that's mailed several weeks before travel, Disney provides exactly the same liability for loss as the airlines. In fact, the paragraph even starts off, "Consistent with airline baggage policies, Disney's liability for loss or damage..."

In other words, if luggage is lost or damaged, the Magical Express passenger files a claim with Disney, not with the airline. Disney takes care of it from there.

 

[njflounder]

I thank you all for the responses. My mind is at ease now. I am travelling in May on at 8:00 am flight to Orlando landing at 11:00 am. I have had bad experiences with luggage, Continental airlines that is. Hoping that my luggage arrives at least around 3:00 pm.

 

[tmatthews]

anyone ever get your own luggage and then get on me?

 

[localdriver]

anyone ever get your own luggage and then get on me?

Some do, but it's a relatively small percentage.

 

[Kaler131]

We LOVED M.E. as well. We really liked the fact that we didn't have to lug our own bags around everywhere!

 

[wdwgypsy]

ME was great, only downfall was our flight was in a lull and we had to wait a little about 45 minutes for other flights to arrive and the bus to fill up. I didn't really expect them to leave with just 6 on board. After our long flight I leaned back in my seat and napped for the time we waited . The driver and staff were courteous if not a little corney with those large white Mickey gloves.

No tolls, no traffic, no bags, no worries

 

[CleveRocks]

ME was great, only downfall was our flight was in a lull and we had to wait a little about 45 minutes for other flights to arrive and the bus to fill up. I didn't really expect them to leave with just 6 on board. After our long flight I leaned back in my seat and napped for the time we waited . The driver and staff were courteous if not a little corney with those large white Mickey gloves.

No tolls, no traffic, no bags, no worries

The driver (or dispatcher) broke the set procedure ... the policy is for the bus to leave no later than 15 minutes after the first guest boards the bus.

One time around 10:00 p.m., our bus left with exactly 12 people on it. We waited around for 15 minutes and off we went, 13 of us including the driver.

 

[localdriver]

The driver (or dispatcher) broke the set procedure ... the policy is for the bus to leave no later than 15 minutes after the first guest boards the bus.

One time around 10:00 p.m., our bus left with exactly 12 people on it. We waited around for 15 minutes and off we went, 13 of us including the driver.

The set procedure is 30 mins. The DRIVER has no say in the matter, (or it would be 15 min or less). It is my understanding, no bus is to be held longer than 30 min (after first boarding) without DISNEY staff's blessing. So goes the standard.

The drivers HATE THIS practice. BUT it happens all the time especially after 5PM. AND DISNEY allows it to go on.

 

[CleveRocks]

The set procedure is 30 mins. The DRIVER has no say in the matter, (or it would be 15 min or less). It is my understanding, no bus is to be held longer than 30 min (after first boarding) without DISNEY staff's blessing. So goes the standard.

The drivers HATE THIS practice. BUT it happens all the time especially after 5PM. AND DISNEY allows it to go on.

Is this relatively new? 15 minutes had been reported in the past by a former colleague of yours.

 

[localdriver]

Is this relatively new? 15 minutes had been reported in the past by a former colleague of yours.

It's been 30 for as long as I can remember. And it's been a problem after 5 or so just as long. I recently had a discussion with a Mears mgnt person about this issue. 30 min is the # I got. Disney staff must approve longer.

In any case, the driver has nothing to do with it and has no say in the matter.

 

[Edd]

I saw 15 minutes come up in a few threads. I really didn't feel that was the right answer, but had no reason to dispute it. I have been told by drivers while at the airport they hate waiting because they are losing tip money, but don't have anything to do with it. I think time depends on how they can keep the six commercial bus slots at the airport full up. If there are no busses in the airport than the time the bus holds waiting for passengers in the commercial lane get a little longer. This is the feeling I have developed talking to drivers and watching the busses in and out of the commercial lane, so it is not official.