How does Magical Express work?

[ammer0910]

We booked our flight for mid-April, our 1st trip as a family to WDW. Could someone please share what I need to do to arrange ME to shuttle us between the airport & our resort? Do I need to call my airline and make a request?

Thanks!

 

[brentalex]

You make the reservation for magical express through Disney, not through the airline. You can call the disney reservation number once you know your flight information. Once you register with them, they will send you some luggage tags and other information a few weeks before your flight. You will put these luggage tags on your bags before leaving for disney. Then when you arrive in Orlando, you can ignore your bags, they will get them for you. You will need to go downstairs in the main terminal and sign in at the disney desk. They will tell you what to do from there.
Have fun.

 

[jcb]

You might, if you haven't, read http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/magical-express.htm.

The buses are comfortable, have nice seats and show an introductory video on the way to (and from) WDW. Your family will enjoy it as it is a nice introduction to WDW. They will likely stop at more than one resort and drop off or pick up other passengers.

I've not had a problem with it but there are reports of checked luggage arriving later than desired so carry on any items you'll need immediately.

 

[elovell]

Do you have to have a magic your way package or do rooms only reservations qualify for the free shuttle?

 

[jcb]

DME can be done with rooms only. I did it.

 

[Millie12591]

We booked our flight for mid-April, our 1st trip as a family to WDW. Could someone please share what I need to do to arrange ME to shuttle us between the airport & our resort? Do I need to call my airline and make a request?

Thanks!

You just call the reservation number where you booked your rooms and tell them you would like to do the ME. We did it all together at once, so I'm not sure what you'll go through to get it done.
I just wanted to point out a few tips for those who will be using ME.
When we went last year in May, our flight was so late getting in I didn't put our tags on the suitcases and retrieved them ourselves before checking into ME.
I would recommend to anyone who uses ME that if your a stickler for your suitcases being handled on your own or your getting in late then don't use the ME tags ( the one's that look like the sticker kind that they put onto your suitcases at the Airport that says what city your going to, they mail them to you before you go) that identify them to be picked up by ME, if you do use them you'll have two kinds of stickers tags on your suitcase, one for ME and one for the city your going to.
Because we got in so late and we wanted to get to the parks early the next morning we didn't want to wait for the luggage to come to the room, (can take up to six hours to come to your room during normal business hours) I know that they will deliver them as late as midnight, but if your flight comes in late enough they can come as late as the next morning.
If you've got an early morning that would not be such a good thing, that is unless your bringing a carry on with enough stuff to get you through your evening and next day.
I was so greatful for ME! We loved knowing that we didn't have to worry about finding a shuttle or paying for one out of pocket when we got there, we were able to get off the plane, find the CM for ME, ask what we needed to do to get our luggage and then where to go once we had it.
The CM is very helpful, and once we had our luggage we went where the CM told us to go to check into ME, you make your way to the counter (exactly like checking into your flight at the airport) that reads your resort and then they check you in (make sure you have all your paper work for ME and your resort readily available), you take your luggage out to be loaded on the correct bus by the driver, you load the bus with your family and they take you to you to your correct resort.
We stayed at the POP so we didn't share a bus with any other resort, it was so nice getting on the bus to know that we would soon be at our hotel without having to read a map, or figure out where in the heck we were in Orlando! It's not a straight shot from the Airport to WDW, so I know we would have gotten lost for sure. LOL
Hope this loooong post helps those who may be using ME, it's worth it! Besides it's included into your money your spending to go to the resorts so you may as well use it and get your money out of what you've payed for.

 

[safetymom]

Moved to transportation

 

[goofy4tink]

In order to book your ride on DME you need to call whomever you booked your resort reservation with. It can be either room only or a package. Anyone staying at a Disney owned resort is entitled to ride the DME to and from the airport to their resort. You will need your room reservation number as well as flight info.
Then, about a month or so before you are to leave for WDW, you will recieve an informational packet from DME. It will include 2 yellow luggage tags for each person on the room reservation. You will tag any checked luggage you want DME to take care of. If, for some reason you do not want DME to transport your luggage, do not put the luggage tags on the bags.
Then, when you get off your plane, you will head to the DME checkin desk. If you did not tag your bags, you will have to stop in baggage claim and get your bags first. (baggage claim is on level 2, you arrived on level 3 and DME is located on level 1 of Side B). You will checkin at the DME desk, be directed to the appropriate resort bus line, get on the bus and off you'll go.
Your bags will be delivered to your resort room up to 3 hrs. after resort checkin......although it could be longer. Be sure to have anything you may need for the first 6 hrs. of your vacation with you, in a carryon bag.

For your return to the airport, the day before you leave, you will be given a time to be at the DME bus stop. You have two choices, depending on what airline you are flying home on. If you are on Alaske, Airtran, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest or United, you will be able to check your bags at your resort and get your boarding passes. This must be done no later than 3 hrs before flight departure, so if you have a 6 am flight out, you won't be able to do it. The RAC (Remote Airline Checkin) desk opens at 5 am, in your resort lobby. If your bus time is imminent, then have a seat and wait for the bus. Be sure to be at the bus stop about 15 mins before the time you were given..that time is the time the bus pulls out, so don't be late.
If you are not on one of those airlines, just bring your bags to the bus with you and they will be stowed underneath your bus, and taken out for you when you get to MCO.
Hope this helps a bit. Any other questions? Just ask.

 

[ammer0910]

Thanks to all who posted, you have been very helpful! I'll try calling tomorrow to get ME on my reservation.

Is it too short of a time frame for Disney to send my info packet & luggage tags? We leave 4/13.

Thanks again!

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks to all who posted, you have been very helpful! I'll try calling tomorrow to get ME on my reservation.

Is it too short of a time frame for Disney to send my info packet & luggage tags? We leave 4/13.

Thanks again!

You can actually call DME the day before you leave...but obviously won't get the info packet. You may very well be able to get the info packet, with luggage tags if you call in the next day or so. That would give you 3 weeks or so to get them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I feel I must politely refute some of what is being advised here:

I would recommend to anyone who uses ME that if your a stickler for your suitcases being handled on your own This does not appear to be a valid issue, given the combination of the airlines' propensity to misdirect luggage (over three million bags each year) and their refusal to let passengers handle their checked luggage on their on between check-in and the luggage carousel or your getting in late Arriving late seems to be one of the BEST times to let DME handle your luggage - you get to the resort that much faster, and they take care of your bags then don't use the ME tags ( the one's that look like the sticker kind that they put onto your suitcases at the Airport that says what city your going to, they mail them to you before you go) that identify them to be picked up by ME, if you do use them you'll have two kinds of stickers tags on your suitcase, one for ME and one for the city your going to.
Because we got in so late and we wanted to get to the parks early the next morning we didn't want to wait for the luggage to come to the room, (can take up to six hours to come to your room during normal business hours) According to the documentation provided with the DME packet, it will take up to THREE (not six) hours after you check in to your resort for your luggage to be delivered to your room. This delivery time is, for the most part, supported by numerous DISers' experience (carry-ons full of flip-flops excepted ).I know that they will deliver them as late as midnight, but if your flight comes in late enough they can come as late as the next morning. Now, granted, if Guests arrive REALLY late at a Value resort, Luggage Assistance is not available to move luggage between either ten or midnight, and about 6 AM. It's one of the drawbacks of staying at a lower-priced resort.
If you've got an early morning that would not be such a good thing, that is unless your bringing a carry on with enough stuff to get you through your evening and next day. It is always always always always advisable to pack a carry-on with medications, valuables, travel documents, and whatever items you will need for the first twenty-four hours at your destination, no matter WHAT time you arrive or what your plans are (see "airlines misdirect" number, above)

However, Guests who DO choose to not take advantage of this absolutely wonderful feature of Magical Express do need to remember to tip any/every employee who handles their luggage - $1 to $2 per bag, but not less than $2, and yes, this most definitely includes the DME driver. The person it does NOT include is the CM who brings your Magical Express-TRUCK-delivered luggage to your room. DME takes care of that tip; Guests transporting their own luggage have to pay that tip out of pocket as well.

 

[goofy4tink]

Not my fault dd had to bring all those darn flip-flops in the carryon rather than a swim suit or change of clothes...idiot kid.

Anyway.....I'm arriving at MCO at 9:30 pm in Sept...figure I'll arrive at POP by 10:30 or so....I'm doing just carryon bags, one for each of us. I just don't want to wait until the next morning to have to unpack. Only there for 2 1/2 days..not wasting that time.
Also, POP, as with the other value resorts, can take longer to get your bags to you (I waited 5 hrs for ours...the whole flip-flop fiasco), and they shut down their luggage service by midnight..so even if my bags got to the resort within 3 hrs of checkin at POP, that would make it about 1 am...won't be delivering any bags at that time.