Magic Express - How does it actually work?

[baylie666]

Basically what the title says. I know you get a dedicated coach but have a few questions.

- Is it a coach just destined for your hotel/hotel complex? or is it for all of WDW?

- Do you have to lug your bags to your room yourself or do the take them for you? (webiste says they take them but heard conflicting info)

- If they do take them for you do you have to take your bags from the coach to somewhere in the lobby for them to then take them to your room?

- How long does it take to get from orlando into to WDW?

- Are the coaches comfortable? air conditioned?

- Is it easy to find at orlando airport?

- Are they easy access for someone with a mobility problem?

If these things have been asked before i apologise. I also apologise for the stupid questins.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Basically what the title says. I know you get a dedicated coach but have a few questions.

- Is it a coach just destined for your hotel/hotel complex? or is it for all of WDW?
There are usually 3-5 resorts per bus, they will drop off in no particular order

- Do you have to lug your bags to your room yourself or do the take them for you? (webiste says they take them but heard conflicting info)

If you arrive prior to 10:30 pm, ME will get your bags for you, as long as they have the yellow tags on them, and deliver them to your room...usually within 3 hours of your arrival. I recommend having a carry on with essentials with you. You also have the option of grabbing your bags yourself and bringing them on your bus, but then you will have to them to your room.
- If they do take them for you do you have to take your bags from the coach to somewhere in the lobby for them to then take them to your room?

See above
- How long does it take to get from orlando into to WDW? About 25 minutes

- Are the coaches comfortable? air conditioned?Yes, comfortable and you get to watch a video that gets you super excited for your vacation!!

- Is it easy to find at orlando airport? there are signs everywhere

- Are they easy access for someone with a mobility problem? No experience personally, but WDW appears to be very accommodating for disabilities

If these things have been asked before i apologise. I also apologise for the stupid questins.

No stupid questions! See my answers above.

We love Magical Express!

 

[Jestocost]

Basically what the title says. I know you get a dedicated coach but have a few questions.

- Is it a coach just destined for your hotel/hotel complex? or is it for all of WDW?

- Do you have to lug your bags to your room yourself or do the take them for you? (webiste says they take them but heard conflicting info)

- If they do take them for you do you have to take your bags from the coach to somewhere in the lobby for them to then take them to your room?

- How long does it take to get from orlando into to WDW?

- Are the coaches comfortable? air conditioned?

- Is it easy to find at orlando airport?

- Are they easy access for someone with a mobility problem?

If these things have been asked before i apologise. I also apologise for the stupid questins.

Typically the motorcoach you are placed on will serve 3-4 resorts. The coaches are comfortable as buses go, with air conditioning and in most cases a bathroom (recommended for emergencies only). Usually it will be a colofully painted DME bus, but sometimes you will be on a generic, yellow Mears bus.

If you use the DME luggage transfer service and tag your bags with the DME tags before checking them at your home airport, you will skip baggage claim in Orlando and go straight to the DME check-in area and your bus. Your bags will arrive separately and be delivered to your room. If you arrive after 10 p.m. or choose not to use the luggage transfer service, you will need to go to baggage claim and collect your bags to take them on the bus with you (well, under you). In that case they will be unloaded when you get to the resort and you will need to take them to your room or have bell services take them up for you.

The time it takes to go from getting off the plane to arriving at your resort generally is about 60-90 minutes if you use the luggage transfer service or have only carry-on bags. If you collect your own bags, add at least another 20 minutes to that.

The DME Welcome Center is all the way at one end of level one of the 'B' side of the terminal. There are signs to help you and you should get a map and instructions with your DME package in advance.

 

[baylie666]

No stupid questions! See my answers above.

We love Magical Express!

I'm so excited to be going again after so long, but last time we went it was just a normal coach that you had to drag your bags about yourself with. ME seems to be much better. Also remeber the coach we took last time took about an hour as we were last drop offs

 

[baylie666]

Typically the motorcoach you are placed on will serve 3-4 resorts. The coaches are comfortable as buses go, with air conditioning and in most cases a bathroom (recommended for emergencies only). Usually it will be a colofully painted DME bus, but sometimes you will be on a generic, yellow Mears bus.

If you use the DME luggage transfer service and tag your bags with the DME tags before checking them at your home airport, you will skip baggage claim in Orlando and go straight to the DME check-in area and your bus. Your bags will arrive separately and be delivered to your room. If you arrive after 10 p.m. or choose not to use the luggage transfer service, you will need to go to baggage claim and collect your bags to take them on the bus with you (well, under you). In that case they will be unloaded when you get to the resort and you will need to take them to your room or have bell services take them up for you.

The time it takes to go from getting off the plane to arriving at your resort generally is about 60-90 minutes if you use the luggage transfer service or have only carry-on bags. If you collect your own bags, add at least another 20 minutes to that.

The DME Welcome Center is all the way at one end of level one of the 'B' side of the terminal. There are signs to help you and you should get a map and instructions with your DME package in advance.

I didn't realise we got to skip baggage claim at orlando too......that's very exciting because I hate that part.

 

[lanejudy]

- Are they easy access for someone with a mobility problem?

DME does have accessible buses...but I'm going to ask what level of "mobility problem" do you have? If using a wheelchair or ECV that you are bringing from home, you will need to mention this when reserving DME so they can plan to have the right bus at your arrival time. If you are using a cane or walker or similar device, you will need to climb the stairs - the stairs into the bus are very steep but there is a railing.

There is more information on the disABILITIES forum in the sticky at the top of the page.

Have a great vacation!

 

[jlh512]

Make sure you bring all the paper work that Disney sends to you before you leave. Last year there was a huge line at the ME counter that we got to avoid because we had our ME passes with us.

 

[brinkley07]

My husband and I used Disney transportation when we went last year right after he had knee surgery. It was an unexpected surgery from an injury overseas, so we weren't able to tell them in advance. He was able to hobble up the stairs of the ME with a little help. We did have a w/c for him at the resort, and the buses to/from the parks were amazing. He didn't want to have any special attention, but once we got there he was grateful for how easy Disney was with a w/c since he never would have been able to walk around.

 

[babowman57]

We usually would rent a car but last time we went, someone told us about it. And we tthought we would give it a try. It was absolutely wonderful! Don't have to get luggage out of luggage pickup. Get off plane, right to Magical Express Bus and onto resort. By time we registered, went to roon and was starting to go over to Magic Kingdom, here came our luggage. Will never rent a car again! Too much stress!

 

[hfuellgraf]

Yep-Skip baggage claim, we stay at AS movies and go right to our resort, about 30-40 minutes-check in, have lunch and our bags are in our room. If you need swimsuits, change of clothes etc. immediately, take a carry on. On the way home you take your bags to the lobby to be loaded there. The bus is a big, very nice and comfortable tour bus. They usually play a short movie about Disney which gets you all geared up for the parks!

 

[momof2cutegirls]

ME busses only go to resorts & not to any parks, correct? My brother-in-law is coming a day late so we will already have all of his luggage. He may have a small carry-on but thought he could just bring that along & meet us at the park.

 

[loveshak22]

There are lines at the airport and you go in the line based on what resort you are staying in and there are usually 3-4 reorts per bus. The first couple of times I used ME we had no probs but when I went last September it seemed like it took forever. I think I was expecting the line to go quick since I've heard the end of Sept is the low season so maybe it just seemed like forever because of my expectations. Even with the wait though I won't complain. I love that they pick up my bags from baggage check for me and then bring them to my room. The same thing with check-out. Put your tags on your bags and drop them off and they show up at your baggage claim wherever home is for you.

My dad uses a wheelchair in the airport because he had a stroke and can't walk long distances. He can walk though and I remember he stayed in the wheelchair provided by Southwest until it was time for us to get on the bus. I don't remember if the CM asked for the people in the first row of seats to move of if they saw my dad was handicapped and graciously got up and let him have the first row but I do remember it was nice that he only had to walk up the steps and not fight to get to seats further down the bus.

As someone else posted, WDW is amazingly handicap friendly!

 

[loveshak22]

ME busses only go to resorts & not to any parks, correct? My brother-in-law is coming a day late so we will already have all of his luggage. He may have a small carry-on but thought he could just bring that along & meet us at the park.

Yes - just the resorts. He can catch a bus to the parks from a resort though.

 

[tupperware509]

if you know what park, have him switch buses to the hotel closest to that park. that way he can either do a short walk or ride to the park. if your not sure what hotel is close just post where you are going.

ME busses only go to resorts & not to any parks, correct? My brother-in-law is coming a day late so we will already have all of his luggage. He may have a small carry-on but thought he could just bring that along & meet us at the park.