How long to get to AKL using ME?

[FredS]

Just curious as to how long it has been taking folks to get from the airport to Animal Kingdom Lodge who have used Magical Express.

What was your experience?

 

[byoung]

45 minutes to 90 minutes.

 

[FredS]

So you've taken 45 minutes one trip, then 90 on another? Or more than two trips? Do you recall the order of hotels on any trips?

Thanks.

Anyone else who has made this trip and can recall how long it took?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

It could be potentially 45 minutes if you hit everything just right, and 90 minutes if you hit everything just wrong.

AKL has an equal chance of being first stop, or last stop.

During peak daytime hours, there are typically no more than 3 resorts per bus. Night time, no more than 4 resorts per bus.

Stops are very brief... 1-2 mins is the typical norm.

 

[FredS]

Our flight arrives at 6:00 pm. Most places that is the end of rush hour, but it seems that Orlando roadways are pretty consistently busy and I haven't noticed much difference at all in the amount of time it takes to travel between Disney and the airport, no matter what time of day. I was thinking that the # and order of resorts might be more of a factor, but if that is completely variable, hmmmm. . .

The two times I used MS were TO the airport only, and the order of resorts were identical. Sounds like that has changed!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Sounds like that has changed!

Nothing has changed... but 2 trips out of the hundreds that happen every day isn't much of a statistic to go by. Besides, pickups are much more structured.

It's hard to predict who's going to be arriving at the Welcome Center at any exact moment. Who arrives, and where they are going, and the drivers particular mood all influence the order of stops inbound.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

When we took ME to AKL it stopped at Pop Century, then Caribbean Beach and finally AKL. We landed at 10am and were walking in the door of AKL at 11:15. We seemed to wait a very long time to get on the bus. We were the only people on the bus going to AKL so maybe they were waiting for more AKL people before putting us on?

 

[FredS]

Thanks, PrincessJasmine. So it seemed that your delay was waiting to get on a bus, not in the line at the Welcome Center? As I said, I've never taken ME from MCO to the resorts, but have noticed that the line looked very long on a couple of occasions when we went by that area. It must move quickly.

And C&D Express, I only mentioned my two trips and the identical order of stops, because I do believe that in the beginning the ME trips were not as random as they sound like they are now, and found that change interesting and pertinent to my question. I didn't think my 2 experiences were some sort of absolute pattern!

 

[goofy4tink]

I've taken DME to POP several times now. The first time it took me about 65 mins. from deplaning to resort checkin, but that time POP was the first resort, and there was a short line at the Welcome desk. In May, POP was the last stop, and AKL was the first stop. The bus was pretty full, the wait at the airport was about 20 minutes total....in line at DME checkin and then in bus line....but it took a total of about 65 mins to get to AKL, since it was first in the line. It took me close to 90 mins to get to POP, first was AKL, then CBR, then us at POP.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Trip one: Plane to Pop Century, 59 minutes (don't know what other resorts were on the bus, but there were two).
Trip two: Arrived at DME counter, there were more Cast Members behind the counter than Guests waiting to check in. Checked in 5:38. Escorted to bus by CM. Bus departed @ 5:55 (going to Pop, CBR, AKL and one party for All Stars). Driver traveled (Tyler, close your eyes) average speed of 62 MPH. Bus approached Disney World Entrance Archway EXACTLY as video was welcoming us to WDW!