"Magic Express making airfare extremely high!

[NASTYFUZZ]

Hi everyone,

I just did some research on airfares on the 4 major airlines (near me) Continental, Delta, American and United, that will offer the Magic Express. The cheapest price I got from Philly to Orlando was extremely high - $310.00 per person! Is it me or is that ridiculous? Last year, I paid $160. per person. That is almost double! I can't see this new service being worth paying double the amount of airfare!

Southwest and Airtran are still the cheapest, the problem is, you have to wait until about 5-6 months before your scheduled date.

Did anyone else out there think the same thing?

 

[debster812]

Hi everyone,

I just did some research on airfares on the 4 major airlines (near me) Continental, Delta, American and United, that will offer the Magic Express. The cheapest price I got from Philly to Orlando was extremely high - $310.00 per person! Is it me or is that ridiculous?

You can take advantage of DME regardless of what airline you are flying. The arilines mentioned about have one extra perk, in that you can check your bags at your Disney resort, and not have to touch them again, until you get to your home airport. If you are on a different airline, you will just have to take your bags with you on the bus, and check them in at the airport.

 

[NASTYFUZZ]

What then, is the Magic Express? I thought it was that you didn't have to drag your bags around, they do it for you. But you said that the four will make sure that your bags are in your room. What else does Magic Express do for you? Also, if you are going on a cruise and the Cruise Line bus is picking you up from the airport, do they take it to the ship for you if you are on one of those 4 airlines?

 

[seashoreCM]

... What then, is the Magic Express? ...

It includes the "freeness" of the trip from the airport to Disney.

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

 

[debster812]

OK, let me try to be more clear (I re-read my post, and confused myself ).

On the way TO WDW, you will have luggage tags from Disney (they send them to you). When you check your bags at the airport, it's the last you'll see of them, until they 'magically' arrive in your room.

On the way HOME from WDW, if you are flying on a participating airline, you check your bags at your resort, and the next time you see them, they are going around and around the carousel at your home airport. If you are NOT on a participating airline, you take your bags with you on the bus, and check them with your airline upon arrival.

And, like seashoreCM said, it's all FREE!! (for now anyway).

Hope this helps.

 

[BeckWhy]

I haven't noticed a rise in ticket prices. Granted I'm not particularly flying anytime soon, but I do check out the prices every now and then. They are the same price they have been since the begining of the year. And the same prices they were last year (Buffalo, NY to Orlando).

 

[helenk]

I'm pretty sure that the Magical Express is not what is driving up the cost of the airline tickets. The cost of fuel has gone up quite a lot since last year and more people are flying again, so the airlines can charge more.

 

[Lewisc]

Fuel and increased traffic to Disney account for the fare increase. Fares may go down when the SW booking window opens.

ME from MCO may somewhat reduce the number of people willing to fly into TPA and put a little upward pressure on fares. People renting a car are willing to fly into TPA, trading off an hour or two of driving in exchange for lower fares.

 

[NASTYFUZZ]

Well, I researched some more today and found some lower prices through Cheaptickets. Each person roundtrip is still about $50.00 more than the best price I got from Southwest. I guess you have to weigh the matter like this: Is is worth $50.00 more per person for the convenience of Disney handling your luggage and the "free" ride from the airport to the hotel. In my case, there are 6 people, so the difference in price is about $300.00!

 

[Lewisc]

Well, I researched some more today and found some lower prices through Cheaptickets. Each person roundtrip is still about $50.00 more than the best price I got from Southwest. I guess you have to weigh the matter like this: Is is worth $50.00 more per person for the convenience of Disney handling your luggage and the "free" ride from the airport to the hotel. In my case, there are 6 people, so the difference in price is about $300.00!

You can use ANY AIRLINE going to MCO. Only certain airlines will let you check your luggage at your resort for your return flight.

I saw a recent post stating SW will be participating.

 

[CarolA]

As everyone has pointed out, the ride is free no matter which airline you use. So the real question is "Is $50 worth not having to load my luggage onto the bus and check it myself at the airport?" (For me, I would proably load my own luggage on the return and save the $50)

 

[Lewisc]

As everyone has pointed out, the ride is free no matter which airline you use. So the real question is "Is $50 worth not having to load my luggage onto the bus and check it myself at the airport?" (For me, I would proably load my own luggage on the return and save the $50)

ITA, particularly since there have been rumors that SW has already signed on and that other airlines will follow.

 

[safetymom]

Someone posted yesterday that SW is now a participating airline.

 

[localdriver]

Well, I researched some more today and found some lower prices through Cheaptickets. Each person roundtrip is still about $50.00 more than the best price I got from Southwest. I guess you have to weigh the matter like this: Is is worth $50.00 more per person for the convenience of Disney handling your luggage and the "free" ride from the airport to the hotel. In my case, there are 6 people, so the difference in price is about $300.00!

Here's a thought, fly SW. the worst that could happen is you will have to get your luggage to the bus and check it at the airport for your return home, IF SW doesn't join. You still benefit from no extra transportation expenses to/from Disney, and your luggage will be delivered to your room on your incoming trip.

 

[michpoit]

Can anyone use the free ride service that is staying on Disney Property - including DVC?

 

[NASTYFUZZ]

I think anyone can, as long as they are going to Disney World and staying in one of Disney's hotels, and that would certainly include a vacation club resort.

 

[NASTYFUZZ]

bump!

 

[Hippychickali]

Hmmm...what makes you think that Magical Express is bumping up the cost of airline tickets? This doesn't make sense to me because you can take advantage of Magical Express with any airline. The only part that you might not be able to is checking luggage at the hotel for the return trip. Did you read somewhere that ME is responsible for this price increase? It seems unlikely to me since most of the extra work is done by Disney not the airlines.

Ali

 

[dcgrumpy]

We're paying $128 rt from JFK in May and $108 rt from LGA in November, I haven't noticed any rise in prices

 

[Dopey & Grumpy]

I'm going with my daughter-in-law and two grandsons in May and we're staying at the ASMo resort and are flying Air Tran. When I called and told the CM at Disney the flight schedule and which airline we were flying on, she took down all the information and said they would be sending luggage tags and to make sure they were put on our bags. Seeing as Air Tran wasn't mentioned as one of the airlines, does that mean we have to pick up our bags before we get on the bus? Or is Air Tran now one of the airlines that's participating?

BTW - our tickets from Pittsburg non-stop was $182.60 per person, which I didn't feel was too high considering I was seeing $300 or more on other airlines so maybe they're not participating. Any one know?