Magic Express Question

[fflmaster]

I will be using Magic Express for the first time this summer.

If our plane arrives at 11:20am will we have time to stop and eat at the airport before getting on the shuttle to resorts?

Can we decide what time to head over? or no since they are picking up our luggage.

How long do you normally wait for luggage?

 

[eva]

I will be using Magic Express for the first time this summer.

If our plane arrives at 11:20am will we have time to stop and eat at the airport before getting on the shuttle to resorts?

Can we decide what time to head over? or no since they are picking up our luggage.

How long do you normally wait for luggage?

Not sure why you would want to eat at the airport When there are so many great places at WDW. But you can take ME pretty much any time you want until about 10:00 or 11:00 pm. They will hold your luggage at bell services until you receive your room.

 

[Kidanifan08]

You can stop and eat if you want. You do not have a reserved time to arrive for your DME ride. Once you get to the DME check-in, you will be put into a line for your designated resort. Your luggage is supposed to arrive about 3 hours after you arrive at the resort. If you need swimsuits or other small items before that timeframe, put them in a carry-on.

 

[fflmaster]

does anyone know about how long to get to resort after checking in with ME?

dinner reservation is at 5:45pm and i don't want to spoil dinner if i am not getting to resort at 1:30pm or 2pm then eating.

 

[SINK]

It depends which resort you are staying at. Baylake Towers/Contemporary is the last stop (for the Poly, Grand Floridian, VWL, and Contemporary bus), so it will take over 1 hour and 15 minutes.

If you are talking the Boardwalk/Beach Club bus, you will stop at Port Orleans, Boardwalk, and then Beach Club.

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Boards

 

[dmband]

can anyone give me an idea of ME Wait times?
I have ONLY used ME in the early evening (7ish) and the wait was less then 10 minutes
but i was told if you get there in the morning (like before noon) that you could wait like 90 minutes
i also see they have some nice long lines ropes for people to stand in

so my question really is 2 fold
1 - can i get estimated times for early in the day?
2 - is it worth spending the extra money on airfare to get there early on vs just showing up later?

i will be traveling with 4 kids ages 7, 5, 3, 1 too so standing in line for ever isn't on my things to do list

thanks in advance

 

[Alesia]

does anyone know about how long to get to resort after checking in with ME?

dinner reservation is at 5:45pm and i don't want to spoil dinner if i am not getting to resort at 1:30pm or 2pm then eating.

About 75 minutes. Maybe 90.

It depends which resort you are staying at. Baylake Towers/Contemporary is the last stop (for the Poly, Grand Floridian, VWL, and Contemporary bus), so it will take over 1 hour and 15 minutes.

If you are talking the Boardwalk/Beach Club bus, you will stop at Port Orleans, Boardwalk, and then Beach Club.

That isn't necessarily true. There is no set route for ME.

so my question really is 2 fold
1 - can i get estimated times for early in the day?
2 - is it worth spending the extra money on airfare to get there early on vs just showing up later?

1. It generally takes 70 to 90 minutes from the time you step off the plane until your arrive at your resort. It really doesn't vary much because of the time of day.
2. That's a personal decision. I would rather get there early, but it has nothing to do with DME. I just like to get started with my vacation as early as possible.

 

[dmband]

1. It generally takes 70 to 90 minutes from the time you step off the plane until your arrive at your resort. It really doesn't vary much because of the time of day.

thanks for the feedback

 

[goofy4tink]

Here are some time estimates....
From your gate to the DME checkin counter.....15-25 mins, depending on speed and how long you have to wait for the tram to arrive.

Wait at counter to checkin...anywhere from 1 min to 10 mins. Only one time did I wait more than 10 mins...huge number of people arriving and the wait was 25 mins. Line was all the way down to the car rental counters!!! Most likely will be less than 5 mins.

Wait in bus line....0-20 mins..again, depends on when the last bus for your resort left.

Wait on bus..varies. If you get on the bus when it first pulls up, you could be on the bus for as long as 15 mins. IF you are one of the last to board the bus, could be 2 mins.

Ride time to your resort....25-35 mins. Depends on which stop you are. If you are the first stop, time will be about 25 mins, if you are the last stop, it will be 35-40 mins.

So, average is going to be about 70 mins.
As far as what time to arrive...believe it or not, the best time to arrive, for quicker DME transport, is late morning/early afternoon. Yes, it is busier. But they have more buses on when it's busier. If you arrive at a less busy time, you may have longer wait times.

And bus routes??? They change all the time. I have had three different groupings when going to BWV in the past 4 years. Nothing is etched in stone as far as DME routes go.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Does the ME have internet?

 

[chartle]

..

 

[goofy4tink]

Does the ME have internet?

No...it's a bus. Why would you need internet on a 30 min bus ride?

 

[Redarrow5150]

You mean it's not an airplane? It's more than 30 minute bus ride and many coach busses now provide internet.

No...it's a bus. Why would you need internet on a 30 min bus ride?

 

[chartle]

You mean it's not an airplane? It's more than 30 minute bus ride and many coach busses now provide internet.

Some long haul coaches, much longer then 45 minutes, have internet.

I don't see why its needed on a shuttle bus.

 

[TDC Nala]

No internet. While it's sitting in the parking lot at the airport you may be able to pick up the airport's free wifi. But once you pull away, no internet.

 

[maxiesmom]

You mean it's not an airplane? It's more than 30 minute bus ride and many coach busses now provide internet.

The ME busses have a cute Disney video they show, welcoming you to Orlando.

 

[Redarrow5150]

It's a question if they had...not if it's needed.

Some long haul coaches, much longer then 45 minutes, have internet.

I don't see why its needed on a shuttle bus.

 

[Tink0812]

I was pretty lucky when my friend and I used ME. Our plane happened to land about 20 minutes before our bus to PO took off. Of course we didn't know it when we landed but were pleased to avoid a wait once we got to the ME area. We ate dinner before our takeoff in Indy so we didn't need to eat. The ride was about an hour and a half by the time we unloaded at Saratoga Springs. It seemed longer but it was worth the wait. We had no issues on our way there. But, coming back was the biggest problem/issue/annoyance. The only time scheduled for the bus to depart from POFQ that would put us back at the airport in time for our departure put as at the airport 5 HOURS before our flight. Our families had to depart from the hotel about an hour before the bus arrived (they drove). We spent an hour wandering around the hotel grounds as we had to check out of our room before then. Then we spent five hours roaming the airport, eating, and being bored out of our minds! While ME is a great conveinance, keep in mind that you don't really get to choose your time to go back to the airport when it's time to leave!

 

[goofy4tink]

I was pretty lucky when my friend and I used ME. Our plane happened to land about 20 minutes before our bus to PO took off. Of course we didn't know it when we landed but were pleased to avoid a wait once we got to the ME area. We ate dinner before our takeoff in Indy so we didn't need to eat. The ride was about an hour and a half by the time we unloaded at Saratoga Springs. It seemed longer but it was worth the wait. We had no issues on our way there. But, coming back was the biggest problem/issue/annoyance. The only time scheduled for the bus to depart from POFQ that would put us back at the airport in time for our departure put as at the airport 5 HOURS before our flight. Our families had to depart from the hotel about an hour before the bus arrived (they drove). We spent an hour wandering around the hotel grounds as we had to check out of our room before then. Then we spent five hours roaming the airport, eating, and being bored out of our minds! While ME is a great conveinance, keep in mind that you don't really get to choose your time to go back to the airport when it's time to leave!

Yikes.....90 mins on the bus??? That's really highly unusual. I have never been on the bus for more than 45 mins, and usually it's only about 30. My total average time from gate to resort is just about 70 mins.

I have to ask why you were told you had to leave 5 hours before your flight??? Were there some kind of extenuating circumstances in your case??? Even the international flights don't require a DME departure time like that!