HORROR STORIES w/Magic Express

[CleveRocks]

Haven't used ME yet, couple questions for return trip to airport (AirTran)...

1) We'll be checking out & returning to parks, then will return to hotel for bus. Where do we leave our luggage.

You can bring your luggage down to Bell Services yourself, or you can have them come to pick it up. Either way, Bell Services (or "Luggage Assistance" at the value resorts) can store your luggage and carry-ons for you while you're out playing at the parks one last time.

2) Is there an actual ME desk @ resort to check in with prior to departure?

The quick answer is NO. Here's the long answer ....

For people like you who are NOT using a participating airline (you are flying Air Tran), you DON'T HAVE TO CHECK IN ANYWHERE for your return trip to MCO. I mean, you should certainly ask someone where exactly you should wait for the DME bus, but there's no one for you to check in with. The Resort Airline Check-In desk at each resort is NOT NOT NOT a "DME" desk, they are ONLY for luggage check-in and airline check-in for people flying one of the "participating" airlines.

You just have to know your scheduled bus time and be in the proper area to meet it. If Bell Services is storing your bags, make sure to give them at least 15 minutes to retrieve them for you before your scheduled bus time. If they are very very busy it'd be a shame for you to miss your bus because you don't have access to your luggage.

HAVE FUN!

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

I had no complaints about DME except for the fact that it took me back to the airport at the end of the trip.

 

[Tiinkerbelle]

We flew American (non-stop, arrived at 8:30pm, and returned at 4am!), we picked up our bags in baggage claim and took them down the elevator to the ME check in. There was no wait at all, only 7-8 people on the bus with us, they took our bags for us, loaded them onto the bus and brought them to our room about 10 minutes after we arrived. It was very easy, quick and I would recommend it again. We did however make stops at the Poly and Contemp but that took less then 10 minutes at each hotel.

 

[joshsmom]

We used DME last May and it was fabulous!!! We're looking forward to it again in 8 days!!!!

 

[the john]

Wow OP is so negetive.

 

[kimberh]

I have really been promoting this and I am soooo relieved to hear the positive responses here. The title to this Thread is terrible!

 

[bicker]

Well, given that the OP wasn't a registered guest (how did they get to post a message???) perhaps a moderator can fix the thread title, so other members aren't turned around by it.

 

[stemikger]

I used the ME last year and it couldn't have gone any smoother. My wife and I were amazed how effecient it was.

In the past we used Mears and usually waited for about 40 minutes until we boarded a bus, with ME we were on in about 10 minutes and it was much more magical then Mears. The little movie they show was timed perfectly, it ended just as we were arriving at the gates of my favoriate resort Pop Century.

On the way home it went just as smooth.

However, I'm not sure if this is the norm, but this was my experience.

 

[tkitty]

Used ME way back in 1999, worked smoothly. Ended with Disney Cruise, went off without a hitch. Using it again in Aug. I recommend it!

 

[CleveRocks]

Used ME way back in 1999, worked smoothly. Ended with Disney Cruise, went off without a hitch. Using it again in Aug. I recommend it!

DME started on May 5, 2005. There was no DME in 1999. They may have had some sort of special promotional transportation for your 1999 trip, but twasn't DME.

 

[seashoreCM]

DME started on May 5, 2005. There was no DME in 1999. They may have had some sort of special promotional transportation for your 1999 trip, but twasn't DME.

DME is Disney Cruise Line transportation expanded 100 fold. One reason DME worked so well on the first day (in May 2005) is that Disney had so much experience with the various parts of the service over the years.

Not everything in DCL transportation was included in DME. For example they don't carry the luggage down from your room.

The most critical part of DME is getting back to the airport.
1. You need a bus time in writing, get it at the front desk the day before checkout if it was not hung on your room door. Make sure everyone, including the kiddoes, is named.
2. Be punctual, they say 15 minutes before bus departure. We suggest aiming to be back at the resort an hour before.
3. In the rare event of a glitch or irregularity, go after resort staff immediately. Most important, be gone within 45 minutes no matter what it takes, if you need to complain at length, do it when you get home.

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

 

[metsfan11]

We are using DME for the first time in August and I have heard all good things about it.

 

[mistydoodles]

If it will make you feel any better, our experiece with DME last December was great! Probably 2 minutes waiting at the desk and no wait at boarding the bus. When we got to our room, we had been there about 15 minutes when our luggage arrived. It works great!

When in December did you go? We went on December 10th and it was awful. My husband must have been in line for over an hour before we were then able to get in the very long line for the bus. We waited another 30 minutes or more to get on the bus. Finally feeling relieved that we were heading to the hotel, the air conditioner gave out on the bus and the heat turned on. It was just awful. We all wished that we had just paid the $100 and gotten a town car to take us to the hotel.

It was not Magical at all for us.

 

[MOMMIEW/2BOYS]

I just back on Sunday May 14th.

We used DME and had no problem. They had people through out the airport to show us which way to go. I stood in line for about 5 mins to get to the counter, then only stood in line for the buses for maybe 15mins.

I didnt get my luggage till about 11:30 that night but I blame that on the air line not DME.

Going home they were 5 mins late but since we werent in a hurry to leave and still had 3 hrs till our plane left it wasnt a big deal. (ended up our flight got delayed 4 hrs any ways)

So I think over all we had a great experience with the DME.

 

[Hope73]

We loved it in Jan we were at our resort within an half hour in Jan. Just know that your luggage will take up to 3 hours to follow you. We knew what we wore on the plane was what we would wear the first day at tthe parks. Maybe put a pair of shorts in your carry on bag to change into when you get to the hotel.

 

[MagicMe]

We had the DCL experience back in 2000 and loved the fact that we never touched are luggage (there they even picked it up from your room the morning we left for the cruise)! Having done that, we were looking forward to using ME last September for the first time!

It didn't take us long to check in (5 minutes - maybe) and we stood in line for our bus for about 10-15 minutes (believe me - I've waited longer for other transportation in past years!). We did have a little glitch - we were going to OKW and there were only about 10 people in our line (we were six of them) and they decided (at least the CM's inside) to put us on a bus to POR (makes sense - they're close to each other). Well, they forgot to tell the bus driver they put us on the bus!! We drove right by OKW thinking okay maybe we were last? Stopped at POFQ, then over to POR, then off to Fort Wilderness. Okay - very strange but we'll be patient. Get to Fort Wilderness - those people get off and the bus driver gets back on the bus and looks at us somewhat confused. He can't figure out why he still has passengers after his last drop . After we told him where we were staying, it was a quick turnaround to OKW. As I said - a little glitch but nothing big and we had an unusual amusing story from our trip!!!

Can't wait to use ME again this year!!!

 

[onelumiere]

We used the magic express for the first time in february and let me tell you, you can't beat it. We arrived via southwest airlines from new orleans, walked down (escalator) to the first floor where we went straight to the magic express desk, checked in, walked straight to our resort line (there are lines for the different hotels) and waited no more than 2 - 5 minutes before they loaded us on our bus. There was only around 10 people on our bus, it took us straight to the lobby entrance and dropped us off. The best thing about all of it, you do not have to deal with your luggage. When we got off the plane, we didn't have to pick up our luggage. They do it for you and deliver it TO YOUR ROOM!!!! No carrying luggage around, no waiting for it to come off the plane in baggage. It was so easy!!!!!! Especially when you have children like we do, trying to carry around 5 or more pieces of luggage is difficult. Also, when we use to go, we would end up spending around 75 dollars for a taxi. With the magic express, your disney trip starts the moment you get off the plane. I am sure others might say different, but as I said before. my experience was GREAT and HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bushdianee]

We used ME over Spring Brreak. We had no waiting at the desk and we arrived around noon. We waited maybe 5 minutes for a bus to POP. Our luggage arrived without any problem within an hour of our arrival at POP. The return tip went as smoothly as the arrival.

 

[penguin087]

I went last May just a few days after DME started and opted not to use it. I still may not use it on my next trip. I am terrified they are going to lose my luggage. I'm amazed enough when the airline doesn't lose it. It seems to be tempting fate. Am I stressing over nothing? Anyone? Has DME lost your luggage?

 

[all4disney98]

We used DME a couple of weeks ago and it was wonderful! We waited in line at the ME desk for about 5 minutes then literally walked on the bus and off we went. It couldn't have gone any smoother!

I agree that the name of the thread needs to be changed, haven't read of any true horror stories, just maybe a few bumps here and there. (But I think that is with anything in life. )