How does Magical Express work?

[kjccr]

I understand how ME works (I think) once we arrive in Orlando, but not sure how it works for the return? We have a 11:00am flight leaving MCO. How do we check our luggage? When do we leave our resort? Do we need to make a reservation with someone? Thanks

 

[Bob P]

Here you go:

http://allearsnet.com/acc/mexpress.htm

 

[cvs2kids]

I'm assuming your resort knows about your return flight, so..

1) The day before you leave, you'll receive a note in your room stating when ME will pick you up.

2) If you're booked with a "participating Airline" (see sticky on top of this forum), you could get your boarding pass and check your luggage at the resort.

3) Otherwise, take your luggage to ME bus stop, the driver will load & unload it for you at MCO. You'll then need to check it yourself.

4) Cry becaue you need to leave the Magic once again

 

[goofy4tink]

For an 11:00 flight the DME bus will most likely pick you up around 8ish. If you are flying one of the 'participating' airlines, you can check your bags with them after 5 am. I would suggest getting to the baggage check-in desk as early as possible, get your bags checked through, get your boarding passes and head off to have breakfast before you leave for MCO. But, you have to be on one of the 'participating' airlines. Check out the thread with the current listings of those airlines.

 

[CleveRocks]

I understand how ME works (I think) once we arrive in Orlando, but not sure how it works for the return? We have a 11:00am flight leaving MCO. How do we check our luggage? When do we leave our resort? Do we need to make a reservation with someone? Thanks

DME requires advance reservations. I don't know the direct number, but I'm sure you can always call 407-WDISNEY and get the number, or do it directly with them.

The day before your departure from WDW, you'll get a packet of info hanging on your resort room door knob. In there will be your scheduled DME bus pick up time. It'll be about 2.75 - 3 hours before your flight departure, so in your case somewhere around 8 or 8:15 a.m. Whatever time you're assigned, you should be at the pick up spot about 15 minutes ahead of time.

The luggage question depends on whether or not you are flying an airline that "participates" with Resort Airline Check-In (RAC). If you ARE flying a participating airline, you get your luggage to the RAC desk (in the lobby), and at that point you check it in exactly as you would check it in if you were at your airline's ticket counter. After that point, you won't see your checked bags again until they're on your home airport's baggage claim carousel. The RAC desk opens at 5:00 a.m. I've read about long lines at RAC desks, so you're probably well-advised to get your luggage there significantly before you need to board the bus. You can do this very early, and then just use your carry-ons as needed. In case you run out of time, you can always take the luggage on the bus with you (the driver will load and unload it for you), and then check it in at the airport like you'd do any other time. If you did successfully use RAC, when you arrive at the airport you can just go right to security and then to your gate, since you're already checked in for your flight and you already have boarding passes.

If you're not flying a participating airline, then you don't get to check luggage in at your resort. You will have to check your luggage in at the airport with your airline, just like you did at home to start your vacation. You'll need to get yourself and your bags to the bus area. The driver will load your bags onto the bus; just like when you arrived, you may choose to take your carry-ons on the bus but ONLY if they fit under your seat or on the overhead shelf. If they don't, you'll have to have the driver stow them under the bus. Even if they do fit, you may choose to have the driver stow them under the bus. As you pull up to the bus' parking spot at MCO, the driver will instruct you to remain seated while he gets off the bus to unload the luggage. After he's done, you can then exit the bus and get all of your luggage. From there, you go to your airline's ticket counter (or get help from a skycap if available) just like you would at any other airport.

The "bus area" is simply the place where buses load and unload for departures/arrivals at your particular resort. If you don't remember where that is (the place where the DME bus dropped you off when you first arrived), any Bell Services CM will be (outwardly appearing to be) happy to direct you to the right spot.

The RAC desk is NOT a DME desk. If you're not checking luggage at the resort (see above), then you have no need for the RAC desk, it might as well not exist. There is NO PLACE for you to check in for a DME bus ride. That's because there is no checking in to do. You were assigned a bus time. You show up for your bus time with your vouchers in-hand, end of story.

Please post if you have any more questions. There are a lot of people here who can help answer your questions.