Experiences With Magical Express

[xWishes]

The first time I used Magical Express was this past March. Our luggage didn't arrive for 7 hours...that's the short version of the story lol! And yet I'm using it again next month

I just wanted to know what you guys think of it and what stories you have.

 

[DisneyChristmas]

Just DH and myself - so claiming our own bags isn't a big deal. We used Magical Express once and let ME do the luggage handling. Sure it was free, but we didn't get our luggage until later in the day and had to rely on what we'd stashed in our carry-ons. The wait line at the airport was long, too.

For our next visit in December we are using our tried-and-true Mears Shuttle. It does have a fee, but it's better for us.

 

[Mickey's*Chickey]

Magical Express... Thats a long story for us too! lol

Well we arrived to our hotel at about 4 p.m. and headed to DTD expecting our luggage to be there when we got back. So when we arrived back at about 11 p.m. and still no luggage, we were a bit confused. My sister called the front desk (We stayed at Pop Century) and first we were told the luggage didnt make it on the same flight as us, and that they would call back. About a half an hour later and still no call, we decided to call back to the front desk, and now they said the luggage was there and we could go pick it up, or it would come up to our room as soon as possible, we were already ready for bed, so we thought heck, lets have them come here, finally at 2:30 a.m. here comes the luggage! Thats the short story too!! Well who knows.. But would we use Magical Express again? Yes, probably!

 

[AllyCatTapia]

Thats why I bought a towncar. Well, that and I figure if there are a bunch of ppl going to my resort at about the same time, maybe I'll beat them there and get my room that much earlier. . .I mean since they try to fill the bus & they make a couple of stops...

 

[matt&jakesmom]

We used the service last year with no problems. In fact shortly after we arrived at the resort and got situated in room, the luggage was being delivered. We are using it again next month.

 

[loafskier]

We had a great experience last November. We packed what we needed for 1/2 day in the parks in our carry-ons, checked into the WL at about 1:30pm, and were off to the parks. Actually, I had an extra carry-on bag with stuff we needed for the plane but not for the parks and I checked that with the bell hop when we arrived to lighten our load. Who knows when our luggage got there...we returned at 7:30pm and it was there. Unless you are arriving at night just go to the parks and enjoy yourself...unpacking can wait.

 

[jennyl772003]

I have used it twice. We carry on all of our "park gear". We check into our resort (around noon) and go to the parks. By the time we get back to our room, our luggage has always been there.

Since we do arrive early in the morning, it gives our luggage plenty of time to arrive. If I was checking in late at night, I would probably get my own luggage and use the ME bus.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've used DME 3 times now...the average time from deplaning to my resort has been about 70-80 minutes.
The only time I have beat that time using a towncar was the one time I had only carryon luggage with me. No checked bags to wait for. Even then, I had to wait for about 10 minutes while our driver went back outside to get the car and drive it around. That time it took 45-50 minutes from deplaning to resort. When I have had checked luggage, it took about 70 mins to get from the plane to my resort. Twice I have had to go looking for our driver. And then for our return to the airport, on one occasion, I had to go in search yet again for the illusive towncar driver. All three times the drivers were off smoking, even though we were right on time.

Has my luggage gotten to my resort/room quickly? No, but since I take the stuff I'm going to need for the rest of the day in my carryon bag, I don't worry about that.
If I can save over $100 by using DME then that's what I do. Now, if it's a special occasion or such, then I wouldn't hesitate to use a towncar.

 

[Wigit12]

We were pleasantly surprised how well it worked last September. My husband had to miss our flight because we left a suitcase at home
I stayed on our scheduled flight specifically because of Magical Express and I was worried it would all be screwed up if we didn't arrive when we were supposed to.
I kept pool attire in a carry on. Our suitcases were in our room within 2 hours after I arrived. The problem suitcase arrived in our room while we were at dinner after he arrived from the next flight.
Even with wrong flight info for my husband they handled it perfectly.

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

I only used it once when it was fairly new and no complaints!These bus drivers dont even work for Disney, but they showed up with chipper Disney attitudes and I loved it. I found it a major convenience, we were able to go right to the parks instead of having to wait around to check in and to get our luggage up to the rooms. By time we got back, we just had to go to the front desk and our luggage was already in our room. It was a breeze in my opinion. I have heard many stories to the contrary and since it is fairly new I think they need time to get themsleves together to make it an easy and enjoyable experience for everybody, not just some of us.

 

[thinkerbell]

We just used it June 30th on the way in and everything went very smoothly. Our bags were in the room when we came back from the parks about 3 or 4 hours after we checked in.
The only problem we had, which wasn't really a problem, was when we were to be picked up this past Sunday to be taken back to the airport. We were expecting to be picked up by the big ME bus like we were last time. My husband and I and another lady were waiting in the lobby when a Mears van pulled up. The man got out and walked around a bit. We discussed whether it might be our ride and the lady went out to check. It was. You would think that if they weren't going to pick you up in something that says ME that they would make sure they let you know what they were doing. We got our luggage and gave it to him and got in the van. Another couple came out and sat on a bench in front of the lobby. The driver had already gotten into the van but got out again. I thought he was going to ask them if they were supposed to be on the ME. He just walked over to a clipboard , looked at it and then got back in and left. This was at 5:30am so people aren't just up and dressed for nothing. I wondered if maybe they were waiting for ME also. The driver was definitely a non-talker. The only other thing he asked us was what airlines we were flying with. I'm glad the lady asked him if he was our ride. If she hadn't we might not have gotten to our flight in time.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Even though we have had a few mishaps...we love DME. No, it is not foolproof, but it is complimentary, and it saves you from have to cart around all of your luggage. Plus, it lets you worry about the most important things like checking in to your resort or heading out to the parks, ADRs, etc. I find it very useful..although there have been mishaps, or inconvienences.
1) Trip Sept. '05: Arrived MCO 10pm, luggage did not come until 1am. We were told this is normal, and it takes awhile for all of the bags to get sorted and sent off to the proper resorts. Completely understandable.
2) Trip Dec. '05: Entered in flight info. to DME online. Two weeks before trip, no tags. I call and they told me they never rec'd. our reservation for DME. Due to the time constraint, they could not send us tags, but assured us that we would have no problem using the service. Arrived at counter at MCO, descibed our bags, and left. Bags arrived 4 or 5 hours later, again Guest Services said this is normal.
3) Trip March '06: DME sent us wrong tags for our bags. Again, we were assured we were fine. Everything arrived in a timely manner.

The rides on the bus were fun, and relaxing when we watched a DVD of the characters and such. Pick up to the airport was timely, as well. Except on the way back in March '06, a yellow Mear's bus picked us up instead of a DME one, and there was no DVD to watch. It is fine, but the magic was taken away a little bit.

Dispite the mishaps, we will use the service again!

 

[CleveRocks]

Thats why I bought a towncar. Well, that and I figure if there are a bunch of ppl going to my resort at about the same time, maybe I'll beat them there and get my room that much earlier. . .I mean since they try to fill the bus & they make a couple of stops...

Well, since you mentioned trying to get to the resort first ....

There's a little-known but very real perk of DME. When you check in at the DME Welcome Center, the computer automatically sends a message to your resort's computer that you've checked in, and if a room is available it is set aside for you and only you. Let me flesh this out with an example:

Let's say you reserved a preferred location room at CBR and requested to be on the first floor. Let's say that at the moment you check in at the DME Welcome Center there is exactly ONE room available that matches your reservation. That room is set aside for YOU, and you're still at the airport. Let's say that one minute later, someone else arrives at CBR by any way other than DME, and that person has the exact same reservation type as you. Even though that person is at the resort 45 minutes before you, that person is told that their room is not yet available, even though there is a clean one empty and ready; that clean and empty room was set aside for you. So it's possible that 45 minutes later when you arrive at CBR to check in, that other party may still be waiting for a room to open up, but when it's your turn in line you will get your room immediately, in this little scenario.

Just another nice perk of DME., sort of like a resort room FASTPASS. Now, I wouldn't use DME just because of this perk, but it's nice to know it's there.

 

[Trini]

How much do you tip the ME drivers? SInce there are no bags, is it tipped like a taxi?

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm sure if I was a DME driver I'd love it if everyone tipped me. However, if the driver doesn't provide any PERSONAL service to you (such as touching your bags) then, IMHO, a tip is not necessary. A taxi driver or a towncar driver is providing you with a personal service, a bus driver is not.

That's just my opinion. Then again, this is coming from a guy who once tipped a craps dealer for being very entertaining even though I wasn't actually playing craps, I was watching a friend who was playing. He really entertained me (and the other people at the table), he really made my night, actually, so I wanted to show my appreciation (and boy was he confused and surprised!).

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

How much do you tip the ME drivers? SInce there are no bags, is it tipped like a taxi?

On our way back to the airport, the drivers were the ones who had to put our luggage in the bottom of the bus to transfer them back to the airport with us. I felt bad cuz she was a tiny little female and seemed like she was having a hard time. Some nice gentlemen gave her a hand...but they do actually handle the luggage, so we ofcourse tipped. But even on the ride from the airport to the resort we tipped cuz the driver was a lovely person and she got us there safely.

 

[cdndislvr]

The first time I used Magical Express was this past March. Our luggage didn't arrive for 7 hours...that's the short version of the story lol! And yet I'm using it again next month

I just wanted to know what you guys think of it and what stories you have.

We've never used Magical Express but did end up with someone's luggage in our room that had used Magical Express. We came back to our room after a long day at the park and found four suitcases sitting there. We called the front desk and they came and retrieved them - but I did look at the baggage tags and the people had been on an early flight that day so I would imagine they were wondering "where did our luggage go?" I was a little surprised that someone would drop off luggage in a room that was obviously already occupied with other suitcases. I can understand mistakes are made but if this was my luggage I wouldn't have been happy knowing they were left in an occupied room. For me, I won't be using Magical Express.

 

[Disneylovers]

We used DME last month for the first time ever. I made the reservations online, and during a call to MS for an unrelated matter, confirmed they had the reservations. When it got to be one week before our trip, and no ME tags, I called and found out our reservations had been entered into the computer for July, instead of June. I was told not to worry, we could still use ME. Two days later, our ME tags arrived, with the incorrect month, so I called MS just to be certain and they assured me we could use the tags so we did!

When we arrived at MCO, we checked in without hassles. We did have to wait for the bus, since one of our party was in an airport wheel chair (she broke her foot the week before our trip), so they put us off to the side (not in the resort line), but when the next bus arrived, they had "reserved" the front seats for us. It was a cruise line bus, with a really nice driver. We got to the resort, and in our room by 1:00, but our luggage didn't show up until after 7:00 (I know this since I had run back to the resort to accept our GardenGrocer delivery - which was delayed also - and the luggage wasn't there yet). A storm had blown up around 1:30, and when I called the front desk to check on the status of our luggage, they told me things were delayed because of the storm (?). We had packed our carry on bags with all the stuff we needed to go to the park, so it wasn't an issue - I just wanted to change my shoes!!!

Coming back, we had an ME bus, but the driver wasn't very friendly. Even after telling him which airline we were flying on (Southwest) he dropped us at the opposite end of the terminal, so we had to deal with luggage, and the broken foot person (not to mention her two kids). And the one thing that really irked me, the driver stood at the door of the bus as we got off, with a wad of bills in his hand, it struck me that he was "hinting" for a tip. Oh well!

We would use ME again, I'm hoping we get a chance to soon!

 

[lyzziesmom]

I've used ME twice and it was great both times, I LOVED it! Not only did it save me the expense and hassle of renting a car, but it was super-easy and convenient. Both times there was little to no line at the ME counter, we got right onto the bus and went directly to our resort. Well OK at ASMo we did stop at the other All-Stars first, but it was neat to be able to get a peek at the other hotels. That time, our luggage came to the room 5 minutes after we checked in! The next time it was there by the time we checked out the gift shop and moseyed on to our room, about 15 minutes later the bags arrived. I was very impressed and highly recommend it, and will be using it again in September. For all of those who don't feel it is for you, that's ok too. Shorter lines & more room for me & mine on the bus!

 

[kaytieeldr]

For our next visit in December we are using our tried-and-true Mears Shuttle. It does have a fee, but it's better for us.

You know this means you're going to PAY Mears and probably be placed on a DME bus, right?

Thats why I bought a towncar. Well, that and I figure if there are a bunch of ppl going to my resort at about the same time, maybe I'll beat them there and get my room that much earlier. . .I mean since they try to fill the bus & they make a couple of stops...

"All those people" are going to be checking into DME and possibly boarding buses while you're still waiting for your luggage. Then you have to wait for your town car driver to run and get the car. And checking in for DME lets the various Disney resorts know that specific Guests are on their way; rooms are blocked for them, so if say there's one room ready at the Contemporary, and a Guest for that hotel registers at DME at 12:16 PM and you get to the front desk at 12:17 PM, you don't get that room.

We've never used Magical Express but did end up with someone's luggage in our room that had used Magical Express. We came back to our room after a long day at the park and found four suitcases sitting there.

You realize that was a mistake made by your resort's Bell Services department and NOT by Magical Express, right? I mean, unless the bags were tagged for an entirely different resort, which you didn't state...