Magic express or limo

[jeffbear]

Yeah ... I just did the ME to AKL Jambo thing about two months ago. I'd say it was an average ME experience and we got to the check in desk at the hotel right at one hour after we got off the plane. We waited about 10 minutes for the call to load on the bus and had only one stop ahead of ours once we left MCO. Again, having taken ME about 4 or 5 times previously that felt pretty much in line with prior experiences. With some many more variables in play, there's got to be about a 15 to 30 minute buffer zone in your planning. The wait to board a bus could be a little longer, you might get stuck on the 3rd or 4th stop on your bus, rush hour traffic ... etc.

One two occasions in the past I have chosen to go the Town Car route instead and both times it took right at an hour from the plane to the check in desk at the Poly. The biggest difference being that we actually had our checked bags when we got there. Other than traffic and bag claim, there really are no variable so long as your service does its job correctly and has somebody waiting for you.

It all depends on what you value more ... shaving 15 to 30 minutes off of the commute and/or having your bags with you at check in or free. Honestly, free is hard to turn down. Free tends to be worth at least an hour of my time.

 

[ErinsMommy]

If your booked on MDE and decide the line or wait is too long, or your just standing there for what seems like an endless amount of time, can you instead get off the line and ask Mears then and there for a towncar? Or that's a separate taxi line?

 

[J'aime Paris]

We've always taken a town car in the past, and utilized the grocery stop. This trip I've been considering taking ME. Our flight doesn't land until 8:50pm, and we are doing carryon baggage.
Could/will ME be busy at that hour????

 

[nkereina]

We have others n party that will ride ME. so we can check bags though all the way! Thinking limo as we'll. just wondered if ak was first stop or not.

The route to DME from the airport to AK can be different every time. It solely depends on the needs that time of day that will determine which stops the bus has to make and in what order.

As far as the bags go, it's to my knowledge that technically speaking you are NOT supposed to send your bags through DME when you are not physically riding. Since you won't be riding DME, your band won't be scanned when checking into DME and therefore if there's an issue getting your bag, it could become problematic. However, I think people do this all the time and I don't think I've ever read about an issue.

 

[amg35]

Yeah ... I just did the ME to AKL Jambo thing about two months ago. I'd say it was an average ME experience and we got to the check in desk at the hotel right at one hour after we got off the plane. We waited about 10 minutes for the call to load on the bus and had only one stop ahead of ours once we left MCO. Again, having taken ME about 4 or 5 times previously that felt pretty much in line with prior experiences. With some many more variables in play, there's got to be about a 15 to 30 minute buffer zone in your planning. The wait to board a bus could be a little longer, you might get stuck on the 3rd or 4th stop on your bus, rush hour traffic ... etc.

One two occasions in the past I have chosen to go the Town Car route instead and both times it took right at an hour from the plane to the check in desk at the Poly. The biggest difference being that we actually had our checked bags when we got there. Other than traffic and bag claim, there really are no variable so long as your service does its job correctly and has somebody waiting for you.

It all depends on what you value more ... shaving 15 to 30 minutes off of the commute and/or having your bags with you at check in or free. Honestly, free is hard to turn down. Free tends to be worth at least an hour of my time.

That's how we feel.

We've never used ME before. Last time took a town car. It was fine. I was also only there 4 nights, so wanted every second of park time.

This time we are arriving 10:45 am (knock wood) and going to Beach Club for 9 nights. We have no real plans until dinner at 7:45. We will have some lunch and relax, then head over to Epcot.
So with no need to rush and get straight into a park, we are going the free route! And I'm excited to try it out. We did decide to grab our own luggage though, but that's no big deal.

 

[jeffbear]

If your booked on MDE and decide the line or wait is too long, or your just standing there for what seems like an endless amount of time, can you instead get off the line and ask Mears then and there for a towncar? Or that's a separate taxi line?

Sure ... you can bail on the line at any time if you choose. At that point though, I think you'd be best served getting in the taxi line. It typically isn't that long at major airports.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Sure ... you can bail on the line at any time if you choose. At that point though, I think you'd be best served getting in the taxi line. It typically isn't that long at major airports.

Thank you.

 

[sgfgrover15]

We always use a car service too! It's nice to walk off the airplane, go down the escalator and see someone there with a sign with your name on it. And in about 30 minutes, you're at your resort and checking in.

Same with us

 

[LoKiHB]

Personally, I prefer ME. It just kind of adds to the whole experience. With two kids, and a lot of extra stuff we have to take, it's also nice to not have to worry about our bags when we get off the plane or when we head back.

There's just something about walking out of MCO into the hot Florida air, the smell of the ME, and sitting back closing your eyes, and hearing the video start up as the bus pulls out.

That being said, we usually take a 6 am flight out of NY and land by 8:30. We're usually at the resort before 10, so there's really no pressure to get anywhere quick. I spend my whole life "quick". I don't mind a little laid back at Disney

 

[catra121]

I guess I feel like I am in the minority here with preferring the ME. It's just so convenient and hassle free...or at least it always has been for me. Once I get into the line for ME...I feel like my Disney vacation has already started and the excitement begins to really build. It's just part of the whole Disney experience for me and I really appreciate having Disney take me everywhere when I am on vacation...and the fact that all of this is free (or at least built into the cost I am paying anyway for the resort) then that's just so much the better.

 

[AeroKU]

We did ME once and it took forever to get on the bus, then we sat there for another 20 mins, then an hour later we finally got to the resort. We've been using Happy Limo since then and it's great, much faster, and they do the grocery stop as well. Highly recommend Happy Limo. It really is a great way to start your vacation.

 

[DaisyNY]

We prefer Magic Express as well...love not having to claim checked luggage or dealing with checking luggage when heading home! Hubby loves the convenience and cost

 

[Disney_Princess83]

God bless you.

Thank you! It's a LONG trek and that's only from take off to touch down. We live just under an hour from the airport, have to check in 3 hours before. It's a long trip but worth it

 

[lampshadehead]

Maybe I am in the minority here, but I love the ME. Even the little attraction information videos they show adds to the excitement. The ME is just one of the (smaller) reasons that I love Disney.

 

[OfTheWind]

Limo? No. A town car or taxi, yes.

 

[Figaro972]

We have used Tiffany in the past as well. now DH wants to rent a car. You can do everything on their website plus they used to have a coupon on there.

 

[cavesrus]

ME told me as long as one person in party is riding ME your bags are ok. My inlaws are coming as well. We r coming from Kc and they are coming from SLC later n day SO...... we can still check bags though ME. We only need one way travel after dinsey we are headed to Gulf beach for a4 more days. so im renting a car.

I will look at tiffany i have looked at happy. store stop i could careless about due to we get from Garden groc. delivered.

I just remember kids going crazy waiting in line after plane.

 

[Lewisc]

BTW, Disney does not staff or operate DME.
The service is provided by Mears Transportation.

Mears also runs various car van and limo services in Orlando.

I was under the impression the CM at MCO who decides when buses get dispatched is a Disney employee. Regardless Mears operates, the bus part of DME, per Disney policies. Mears isn't allowed to hold a bus for an hour until it fills.

Car service arriving. ME departing. Every time.

Of course, we go to Universal first, so ME on arrival isn't an option for us. But even if we skipped Universal, we'd still do the car service. I want my luggage as soon as possible.

I'd probably do the reverse.

Waiting for luggage at MCO kills most of the time advantage of a car service. I'd have a different opinion if I needed a grocery stop, didn't have any checked luggage or was arriving after 10p.

Going home a car service gives you extra time at your resort or park. A car service doesn't care where they pick you up. A resort where you have you "final meal", a theme park or a resort near a theme park. A guest who used RAC to check their bags and has a BP which indicates TSA pre-check doesn't need to be at MCO 2-2.5 hours before their flight.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Until last year when I started renting a car, I preferred using a town car service over ME. The last time I used ME I had to wait a long time for a bus and then on the ride back to the airport there was a sick family vomiting on the bus and since we were the first resort they picked up at it was a long while before we actually go to the airport. So the 3 hour in advance pick up got us to the airport just in time. I prefer the town car service pick up 2 hours in advance and more time in the airport.

Last summer I rented a car for the first time since all the kids are out of car seats and we've been so often that we want to see other non Disney sites as well. We LOVED the convenience of having a car.

We prefer Magic Express as well...love not having to claim checked luggage or dealing with checking luggage when heading home! Hubby loves the convenience and cost

Anyone can check luggage going back to MCO. You don't have to use ME to do that.