magic express question

[lucaster]

I am leaving at 6:00 tomorrow morning and I just want to be sure of one thing.

Upon landing at Orlando Intl. do we have to get our own checked bags? or does the magical express get the checked luggage and bring it to our hotel?

The magical express booklet says that we have to get our "gate checked luggage" ourselves... I am assuming that this means "carry-on".

Some clarification/ressurance would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[kimis]

We used ME last Feb and loved it. It saves so much time and allows you to use your time for more fun things to do. We checked our bags in at the airport (they had the special tag that ME issues) and we didn't see them again until we an our after we got to our room. We checked into the resort and put our carry on items in our room and went to dinner. When we got back the bags were in the room, It was cool! Enjoy

 

[DisneyDreamingAubrey]

We used Magical Express last time as well, and it's just great. You should have gotten special tags to put on your luggage in the mail. Everything that has the special tags will go right to your room. You don't have to worry about a thing! It's like Disney Magic!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Any luggage to which you attach the yellow tags and which you check with the SkyCap or Counter Agent at the airport, not only do you not need to get, you won't be able to get it. ALL such luggage is pulled before anything's placed on the carousels, for delivery to your resort.
Any luggage you carry onto the plane (and remember, there are MANY restrictions regarding size and contents!), you will carry off the plane and to the DME bus; if it was too big to fit under your seat, the driver will unload it from a compartment under the bus at your resort.
Gate-checked luggage is stuff that may even be acceptable in the passenger compartment BUT due to a lack of space in the overhead bins, may need to be left in the jetway before you get on the plane. Some of that stuff - wheelchairs and strollers, for example, will be brought back up from the cargo area to the jetway at your destination airport. "Typical" luggage items MAY need to be picked up from the luggage carousel.
Pack smaller-than-allowed carry-ons; pack light; arrive early; board the plane as soon as you're permitted (based on each airline's loading procedures) and you shouldn't have a problem. I try to carry on only my purse and a large tote bag, both of which will fit under the seat in front of me, and whatever mobility assistance device/s I need to get on/off/around the plane.

 

[Erica]

I have another ME question.

We are coming in a couple days prior and going to that OTHER resort with a rental car. I was planning to pick up and drop off the car at the airport and just take ME at the start of our WDW resort stay. Does anyone see any problem with this?

-Erica

 

[flowrida]

Ericaif you are asking can you do the ME one way then the answer is yes, no problem.

 

[TiggerAllie]

How does ME work as far as going back? I assume you have to take all your luggage with you to the airport? Is the bus crowded then? Also, how long does it take to get from the airport to the hotels? How many stops does each bus make?

We have 1 person possibly arriving later than everyone else, and we thought she might be able to use ME to send her bag on to our hotel (AKL), then take a bus to GF or Poly or CR and meet us as MNSSHP. Anyone tried anything like that?

 

[goofy4tink]

To answer a few questions here...
Erica...yes, you can do that. You have to call them and make a reservation..they will ask you your resort info and your flight info. For your flight info, just give them the flight info of a flight that arrives at MCO close to the time you will be there returning your car. Then, take all your luggage to the DME checkin desk and get checked in.

TiggerAllie..Whether or not you have to take your luggage with you, on the DME bus back to the airport depends on the airline you are flying home on. There are what are called 'participating airlines'...these airlines will allow you to check your baggage at your resort and get your boarding passes. Then, your bags are taken away, not to be seen again until you arrive at your home airport. You keep your carryon, they will stow it in Bell Services, go about your day, return to the DME bus stop just before your scheduled departure time. If you do leave a bag(s) with bell services, be sure to leave about 20 minutes to retrieve it from them before heading to the bus.
For the trip from MCO to your resort, we are hearing that 70 minutes seems to be the average..depending on which stop you are. I don't believe they have more than 4 stops, more likely only 3, per run.
As far as someone sending their bag to one resort but they, themselves go to another area...no, that can't be done. You are taken to the resort where you have a reservation at. Sorry. But it shouldn't take your friend too long to hitch up with you.

 

[Lewisc]

I have another ME question.

We are coming in a couple days prior and going to that OTHER resort with a rental car. I was planning to pick up and drop off the car at the airport and just take ME at the start of our WDW resort stay. Does anyone see any problem with this?

-Erica

What you propose to do is allowed BUT it might be easier to see if you can just drop off your rental at WDW. You might also price out keeping your rental car.

 

[Erica]

What you propose to do is allowed BUT it might be easier to see if you can just drop off your rental at WDW. You might also price out keeping your rental car.

Yes, I was exploring that since that worked out well for me in the past; however I was going for a Priceline rental, they don't allow that. Booking directly with the rental agentcies it is about $40 a day. I also rented a car for an entire stay and it sat in the parking lot. I *love* disney transportation!

Thanks all for your input!

-Erica

 

[aterriq]

I have another ME question.

We are coming in a couple days prior and going to that OTHER resort with a rental car. I was planning to pick up and drop off the car at the airport and just take ME at the start of our WDW resort stay. Does anyone see any problem with this?

-Erica

You could drop off your car in WDW. There is a car rental but I'm not sure what rental companies are there. We are getting in a day early and staying at Doubletree at DTD. We plan to do some running around, buy groceries, head over to SOG to buy tickets, etc. I plan to drop off the car at the Hilton at WDW and then head over to DTD look around and then head over to BWV.

 

[paults]

We are coming in a couple days prior and going to that OTHER resort with a rental car. I was planning to pick up and drop off the car at the airport and just take ME at the start of our WDW resort stay. Does anyone see any problem with this?

let me get this straight, you want to return the car to MCO and then take
dme to your Disney resort. WHY?

Why not just take your bags to the Disney resort you will be staying at then return car to the CCC or S/D..What you are doing will waste a good part of the day that you do it.