Magic express or dropped off? Nov. 10 th to AoA

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Transportation board.

 

[wdwfan22]

Renting a car and driving up from Miami on Nov. 10th. Had planned on returning car at airport and walking over to the magic express to get to AoA. However I have read online it can take an hour and ahalf or more to actually get to the hotel. Think this is true?

Are we better off just being dropped off by my husband at the hotel from miami so we can get settled then he takes a cab or Magic exp. back alone? He doesn't mind. The trip is short, we might not get to the airport til 5pm that day, we leave Thursday. Two park days one hotel/Ohana day.

If you are just staying at Disney 2 days, I would keep the car and drive yourselves to the airport on departure day. Way less hassle and time than dealing with droping off car and getting back to disney. ME picks you up 3 hours before your departure time. Driving let's you stay another hour in the parks.

 

[goofy4tink]

Renting a car and driving up from Miami on Nov. 10th. Had planned on returning car at airport and walking over to the magic express to get to AoA. However I have read online it can take an hour and ahalf or more to actually get to the hotel. Think this is true?

Are we better off just being dropped off by my husband at the hotel from miami so we can get settled then he takes a cab or Magic exp. back alone? He doesn't mind. The trip is short, we might not get to the airport til 5pm that day, we leave Thursday. Two park days one hotel/Ohana day.

Figure it this way...it takes at least 30 mins to get from MCO to the first resort. Add to that the possible wait times....it would take a few minutes to return the car, then over to the DME area, get into the appropriate bus line, possible wait there for anywhere from 1-20 mins, then onto a bus, again possible wait of 1-20 mins, then the drive to the first resort...30 mins. You could get lucky and be able to just walk onto the bus when you get to the bus line, and then have the bus depart as soon as you board. That's happened to me twice in the over 15 times I've used DME. So, it's always best to plan on 90 mins and be thrilled when it's only an hour!!!

Agree, I believe ME is for guests arriving at by plane. May want to call on that one.

You can arrive by yak and DME won't care. As long as you have a prior reservation to ride the bus, you're good to go.

If you are just staying at Disney 2 days, I would keep the car and drive yourselves to the airport on departure day. Way less hassle and time than dealing with droping off car and getting back to disney. ME picks you up 3 hours before your departure time. Driving let's you stay another hour in the parks.

That's what I would do as well. Coming from Miami you will be driving right past WDW to get to MCO!!! I would keep the car, and return it at the end of your stay. Avoiding DME completely!!

 

[sam_gordon]

That's what I would do as well. Coming from Miami you will be driving right past WDW to get to MCO!!! I would keep the car, and return it at the end of your stay. Avoiding DME completely!!

What highways do you use? Granted, I'm not up on my Florida transportation, but coming from Miami, isn't WDW one direction on 417 and MCO the other direction?

I agree with either keeping the car or returning it at/near Disney.

 

[pfalcioni]

Well, you don't drive right by it, but you come to a split in the highway - WDW is to the left, MCO is to the right, I think about equal distances apart. Makes much more sense to just drive to WDW unless the OP has some specific reason for going to MCO other than just taking Magical Express.

 

[goofy4tink]

What highways do you use? Granted, I'm not up on my Florida transportation, but coming from Miami, isn't WDW one direction on 417 and MCO the other direction?

I agree with either keeping the car or returning it at/near Disney.

I don't remember exactly but we left WDW towards the south, maybe close to Celebration..may have been 192 and headed to the Fl Turnpike and headed south. If I were coming from the south I would imagine that it's easier to go to WDW vs to MCO, but I could be mistaken.

 

[sam_gordon]

Well, you don't drive right by it, but you come to a split in the highway - WDW is to the left, MCO is to the right, I think about equal distances apart. Makes much more sense to just drive to WDW unless the OP has some specific reason for going to MCO other than just taking Magical Express.

I agree with that. I was questioning goofy4tink regarding "Coming from Miami you will be driving right past WDW to get to MCO!!!"

 

[ammag]

Hey Guysthanks for All of the responses. I was without access to the dis for awhile (eek) the thing is I think keeping the car would cost too Much. This is kind of a bonus trip we are adding onto the Miami tripmyinlaws are paying for. Money is tight we plan on renting for a one way drop off and that's it. Would prefer to drive but not likely, prices last fall for rentals were pretty high esp a one way. Excellent advice to try for a car center or dtd drop off neither occurred to me!!! Of course if my husband get as job he is up for I will keep the car .