How is ME working out?

[pamouselover]

Could someone give some good details as to how they made out using it.
I have only read a couple things so far about Magical express service on here.
I read about disney mailing tags for your luggage and one person who gave their break down of time slot. Sounds like they had no problems.
I thought by now a lot more people would have been giving there experiences with ME.

 

[dizluvr71]

We just got back and everything went well. We did not receive our ME packet so when we arrived at MCO we went and claimed our own baggage and then proceeded to the ME counter. We gave them our name and she confirmed our flight information for the trip home and gave us vouchers for the ME ride home and on the bus we went. We had two stops before ours, but all in all it only took about an hour and 15 minutes from the time we landed to arrive at our hotel. The morning before our departure date there was a letter on our hotel door with the time for ME shuttle to arrive and take us to the airport. It also explained about the participating airlines and airline check-in at the hotel. The next morning we checked our baggage at the airline check-in counter located in the lobby and received our boarding passes and then checked our carry-ons at the luggage counter and off to MK for a few must do's before going home and some last minute shopping. We then returned to the hotel and picked up our carry-ons and the ME bus arrived right on schedule to take us to MCO.
This was our first trip to WDW so I can't compare it to any other transporation, but I felt it went very well, especially since we did not receive our ME packet before we left.

 

[disney queen]

we had an excellent experience on the magic bus. we were on SWA and had no problem whatsoever. when we arrived MCO there were reps in the main lobby directing us to downstairs. (be sure to have your info sent available as they will need to stamp it for the return trip.) coming down stairs, we were met w/a large group of people waiting to board the bus, but we were directed to the check-in counter. this line moved quickly and again back to the large group. as it turns out, there were lanes for the resorts. we were staying at VWL and it was a short line. we waited perhaps 5 minutes before being instructed as to which bus to board. we stored our carry-on in the bus luggage hold and onto the bus we went. we checked in at VWL and lucky us our room was ready! and by the time we got to the room, we had our carry-on, my husband had stored those w/bell services, and not far behind that was our luggage. upon return to MCO, we were able to get on an earlier bus. we arrive MCO and are dropped off in the arriving area. we had to make our way upstairs. if we had had no luggage this would not have been bad, but since SWA is not yet participating, we had to check-in. all in all we found it to be a positive experience and would do it again. we visited may 14-18. hope this helps.

 

[GillieRose]

We had a wonderful and hassle free time using ME. We did recieve are ME tags before we left to go. We arrived on the 13th and went to check in at the welcome counter at 12 we where at the Hotel by 1:15 and are room was ready. We dropped some stuff off. We went to Epcot and when we got back are luggage was waiting for us. We left on the 19th. We checked are luggage in at the Hotel recieved are boarding passes. The bus picked us up at 1:15 we arrived at the airport by 2:05 ( are flight was at 3:45) we had no problems at all using the service. We would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[disney queen]

gillierose, what were the lines like at the time of the day? we went mid-morning and the lines were non-existent! and was the bus crowded? thanks

 

[BettyCv]

We used ME 5/15 and 5/21. We had a very good experience with it. We arrived at MCO around 2:50 p.m. and looked for the CMs with the Mickey hands. We thought they would be right where we got off the plane, but we actually walked all the way to the tram before we found one, and he wasn't that easy to spot because he wasn't waiving his hand in the air (ugh!). But, we got on the tram with no problem (folding strollers not necessary), made our way to the ME Welcome Center and walked right up to the counter - no line. We had received our luggage tags ahead of time, so it was only a matter of a couple minutes, if that, at the counter. We were directed to the line for the bus to POR. It was the longest line, but we all easily fit on the bus. We had no sooner reached the line, and I asked dh to take a picture of the welcome counter, when he said "No time - we're boarding."

The driver helped us with our strollers and carryon, and we were on our way. We stopped at OKW, Saratoga Springs, POFQ, and then arrived at Riverside. Each stop took only a couple of minutes.

The line for check-in was pretty long, but moved quickly. There were a lot of CMs working the counter. We put our things in our room, changed into the shorts we had brought in our carryon, and headed for MK. When we returned around 10 p.m., all of our luggage was in the room.

On the return, we received a notice on our door the day before stating what time our ME bus would leave (11:25 a.m., three hours before our flight). We called bell services to bring our bags to the resort check-in. They said 15 minutes, but it actually took him about a half our to get to our room. We planned on checking our bags, then having breakfast (to use up the last of our dining plan counter service meals). WRONG! The line for airline check-in didn't seem long (maybe 7-8 families ahead of us), but we waited in that line for OVER ONE HOUR!!! There was ONE person checking people in AND tagging all the luggage himself. He was working his tail off, but the process just takes time, and was too much for one person. We barely got through the line in time to get on the bus. We were crossing our fingerst that our luggage would make it home with us.

BTW, when we left POR, the line for airline check-in was TWICE as long as when we started. Those poor people must have waited over TWO hours to check in for the return trip!

We only stopped at POFQ on the return trip. Our bus was about 3/4 full. We stopped at terminal B first, and then continued on to terminal A (we flew Continental). We arrived well ahead of our flight time, and all of our luggage arrived back home with us.

We were very satisfied with the service (other than the resort check-in!), and would use it again.

Betty

 

[lpberg]

DH, my FIL and DD5 all took ME from MCO on Wednesday, 5/18. We landed at about 2:00 pm and they arrived at CBR by 3:30 (checked in, room ready, and calling me from there to say they were in the room and about to go down to the pool). Oh - and our tags arrived the Friday before we left via Fed Ex.

We rented a car anyway which I, my DS and my MIL picked up and stopped to get groceries as well. We didn't get to CBR until 4:00.

ME didn't make any other stops on the 18th according to DH. They went straight to CBR. DD was mesmerized by the video on board and DH had a hard time getting her off the ME bus!!!

We were a little bit worried about our luggage as it didn't show up as quickly as we had hoped (by 5:30, we were still waiting - which, based upon others' experiences, we shouldn't have been surprised). I called the valet just to double check on it, since the bus driver didn't ask DH or FIL for their bag tags from the airline. The girl on the phone informed me that "your bags will end up here eventually" and then proceeded to double check with someone else on her comment..... not a warm fuzzy feeling from her but kept the faith and went to dinner (departed for Olivia's at 6:00 pm).

When we got back around 8:45 pm, our bags had all arrived safe and sound. They put my FIL/MIL's bag with ours in our room but that was the only snafu - and not a big one considering that DH and FIL have the same name so we half expected that to happen.

We did not use ME to go back to the airport since we had the rental car and I wanted to maximize our time with our last day in the parks.

All in all, a good service and would definitely plan to use it again in the future. I would pack a little differently (ie, toothbrush, change of clothes in a small carryon) but definitely convenient.

One thing that we were wondering, though, is whether or not Disney/Mears is holding luggage when it arrives at the resort and making trips once/twice an hour or day to drop it all off. It just seemed a little odd that if bags made it on the bus with DH that they weren't delivered before the evening.

Good luck to everyone else on your trips!

Lynne

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

One thing that we were wondering, though, is whether or not Disney/Mears is holding luggage when it arrives at the resort and making trips once/twice an hour or day to drop it all off. It just seemed a little odd that if bags made it on the bus with DH that they weren't delivered before the evening.

The bags don't travel with you on the motorcoach. They get pulled backstage, and sent on a separate cargo truck. Once they arrive at the resort, they do not go in storage. Rather, they get processed and sent immedietly up to the rooms.

 

[lpberg]

Tyler -

Thanks so much for the clarification! We weren't sure *how* that worked.... It probably didn't help, then, that the driver didn't ask for our luggage claim check from the airline, and that my DH didn't have a clue that he was supposed to "hand it over." I had asked the CM at the Welcome Desk and she indicated that she didn't need it. I guess that's what happens when *I* do all the planning/scheduling and DH just goes along "for the ride" (literally!).

Lynne

 

[seashoreCM]

The line for airline check-in didn't seem long (maybe 7-8 families ahead of us), but we waited in that line for OVER ONE HOUR!!! There was ONE person checking people in AND tagging all the luggage himself. He was working his tail off, but the process just takes time, and was too much for one person. We barely got through the line in time to get on the bus.

BTW, when we left POR, the line for airline check-in was TWICE as long as when we started. Those poor people must have waited over TWO hours to check in for the return trip!

I suggest getting out of the line and heading to the bus with your baggage if it gets close to your bus departure time. Then check in normally at the airport, as guests on "non-participating" airlines must do.

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

 

[disneyxmas05]

Can someone explain the difference in the process if you fly with a nonparticipating airline? I'm flying NWA, which I believe is not participating at this time. We are going to Disney in December. Thanks.

 

[BettyCv]

I suggest getting out of the line and heading to the bus with your baggage if it gets close to your bus departure time. Then check in normally at the airport, as guests on "non-participating" airlines must do.

With three kids, two strollers, and five pieces of luggage, I don't think we could have physically handled checking in at the airport! LOL! Actually, even though the wait was so long, we were glad we got it over with at the hotel because the line at the airport was really long, too (although I bet it was moving faster than at the hotel).

Betty

 

[pamouselover]

Thanks,
Sounds like it is working out pretty good. I did read some bad stories on allears webs site about lost luggage which scared me a bit. Seems like it is a good idea to pack a take on bag just in case. I also think it if you are arriving later in the day or night to expect not to have your luggage till late that night.
Pack some PJ's!!
I plan on taking a early flight and arrving by the afternoon.
Did anyone head to the parks after arrving by ME?
We usally rent a carso I am wondering how long from the time the plane lands till we get to the resort would it be?We like to head to AK our first day and do Epcot at night.
I am a planner to the T!
Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Can someone explain the difference in the process if you fly with a nonparticipating airline? I'm flying NWA, which I believe is not participating at this time. We are going to Disney in December. Thanks.

The *ONLY* difference is upon your return journey. As a non-participating airline, you cannot take advantage of the resort check in. Instead, for your return journey only, you will take your luggage onto the bus, and check it at the airport as one normally would.