Has the magical express always been this long?

[Happy2BMommy0812]

Back from our spring break trip, we took an afternoon flight, which is unusual for us - we usually arrive early morning or later in the evening. Pre COVID we would basically walk right onto the magical express, maybe waiting 5 minutes in line and waiting on the bus for a while. This time we got in line and the wait to get on a bus was posted as 60-90 minutes. People were sitting on the ground in line eating full lunches because the lines were not moving. We ended up leaving the line and grabbing a Lyft for $60. Is this the typical experience these days with ME? I guess it’s a moot point as they are ending service, but we are hoping to go on mid December again this year, so I’m debating just renting a car or just planning on grabbing a Lyft right away.

 

[Marionnette]

Back from our spring break trip, we took an afternoon flight, which is unusual for us - we usually arrive early morning or later in the evening. Pre COVID we would basically walk right onto the magical express, maybe waiting 5 minutes in line and waiting on the bus for a while. This time we got in line and the wait to get on a bus was posted as 60-90 minutes. People were sitting on the ground in line eating full lunches because the lines were not moving. We ended up leaving the line and grabbing a Lyft for $60. Is this the typical experience these days with ME? I guess it’s a moot point as they are ending service, but we are hoping to go on mid December again this year, so I’m debating just renting a car or just planning on grabbing a Lyft right away.

There's a part of me that feels that the long waits are because the contract with Disney wasn't renewed and there's a "who gives a crap" attitude on the part of Mears. I'm sure that they reduced their staff and the number of buses they are running in response to the downturn in tourism. There were reports that buses going from the resorts to MCO were packed full and no social distancing or mask enforcement was done. Lots of complaints about excessive waits. Some got reimbursed by Disney for their taxi cab rides or rideshare costs.

 

[brockash]

Back from our spring break trip, we took an afternoon flight, which is unusual for us - we usually arrive early morning or later in the evening. Pre COVID we would basically walk right onto the magical express, maybe waiting 5 minutes in line and waiting on the bus for a while. This time we got in line and the wait to get on a bus was posted as 60-90 minutes. People were sitting on the ground in line eating full lunches because the lines were not moving. We ended up leaving the line and grabbing a Lyft for $60. Is this the typical experience these days with ME? I guess it’s a moot point as they are ending service, but we are hoping to go on mid December again this year, so I’m debating just renting a car or just planning on grabbing a Lyft right away.

Only since reopening. We've been 3 times since reopening and each time had a long line which took 15-20 mins to get through. Prior to that we had used me more yimes than I can count and never had a wait to checkin - get into the line for your resort etc.

 

[brockash]

There's a part of me that feels that the long waits are because the contract with Disney wasn't renewed and there's a "who gives a crap" attitude on the part of Mears. I'm sure that they reduced their staff and the number of buses they are running in response to the downturn in tourism. There were reports that buses going from the resorts to MCO were packed full and no social distancing or mask enforcement was done. Lots of complaints about excessive waits. Some got reimbursed by Disney for their taxi cab rides or rideshare costs.

I agree with the who gives a crap attitude, but I get it more from Disney...aren't the ppl that work me (not drivers, but those who check you in and direct you to the bus) actually disney cms?

Either way I agree I think it's pretty low on the priority list.

 

[momtwoboys]

yes! We are using a Town car service in a few days for our april trip after our Fall trip we experienced a not so great DME.

 

[Bullseye]

The wonderful days of ME and RAC are probably over in the way they existed before.

 

[seashoreCM]

Even before Covid there have been isolated reports (in trip reports) of very long waits for Magical Express to Disney and long lines stretching down the hallway in the airport terminal.

Mears is planning a replacement shuttle service (Mears Connect) to start when DME ends. There will be a chicken and egg problem when the changeover happens, and it does not make business sense for Mears to not put a good foot forward at all times including now (mid 2021), leading up to 2022..

 

[KristaZ]

I think it's just hit or miss. I've been down on 7 different trips now since re-opening. Used ME every time and haven't waited more than 10 minutes for a bus - we've arrived anywhere from 8:30am up to midnight.

 

[mhf]

Here now. Landed 1015. Got bags and got in DME line at 1115. Line stretches full length of B concourse to check in. Guessing at least an hour. Big thunderstorms in area. Seeing very few buses too.
Update...in resort bus line at 1155 so 40 minutes for 1st line. On bus at 12. At Poly at 1250, GF at 1, WL at 110, BLT at 120.

 

[Cheburashka]

This time we got in line and the wait to get on a bus was posted as 60-90 minutes. People were sitting on the ground in line eating full lunches because the lines were not moving. We ended up leaving the line and grabbing a Lyft for $60. Is this the typical experience these days with ME? I

No, you had bad luck. I used ME both ways a few weeks ago, and only waited 20-30 minutes for departure from the airport (and it seemed that I'd just barely missed the prior bus, as well), and it was a very efficient ride on the way back, too.