Magic Express

[indy4192]

Okay I have booked my reservation at Pop Century via AAA, since I am staying at a Disney property can I take the disney shuttle from the airport to Pop Century? If so is there a cost? Do I just board or do you have to make reservation? I guess how does the system work?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Please read the "stickies" at the top of the DIS Transportation board.

 

[indy4192]

I read it and really am even more loss. I will be there in Oct, so I don't need reservation and will be carrying my own luggage, so do I just board the bus?

 

[Dis31]

Since you're staying at a disney hotel you can use Disney's Magical Express bus service to POP. This should be included in your resservation, did you include flight info when you booked? You can also call Magical Express directly (866) 599-0951. You will get a package in the mail with your Magical Express vouchers and you jsut bring them to the airport and go to the Magical express counter at MCO when you arrive. It's very easy.

http://allearsnet.com/acc/mexpress.htm

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I read it and really am even more loss. I will be there in Oct, so I don't need reservation and will be carrying my own luggage, so do I just board the bus?

Did you see the "sticky" called, Disney's Magical Express Update -- Reservations Required effective 11/1/05? (October 2006 is long after November 2005.)

Disney's Magical Express is free, but you need reservations.

When you wrote that you "will be carrying [your] own luggage," does that mean carry-ons only? If you have any checked luggage, the luggage transfers are the best part of Magical Express.

I'm not trying to pick on you. There's a wealth of good information in those "stickies" — with answers to questions that most first-time users of Disney's Magical Express haven't even thought of yet. I'm just trying to encourage you to familiarize yourself with that information.

Another good online resource about Disney's Magical Express is Express Experience at MousePlanet.

 

[indy4192]

I will only have carry on luggage and want to keep it with me. I booked my own air via Air Tran and have reserved the room via AAA. I am going to buy my 3 day pass at a local disney store in Indy, so outside of a sheet from AAA showing my reservation (one night already paid) I don't believe I will be getting any other paper work.

I apologize if this is causing a problem, I read the sticky and just wasn't real clear.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

so outside of a sheet from AAA showing my reservation (one night already paid) I don't believe I will be getting any other paper work.

As Dis31 wrote, call Magical Express Guest Services at 866-599-0951 with your resort reservation number and your flight information. You will then receive other paperwork — the Magical Express packet — about 2-3 weeks before your vacation.

I apologize if this is causing a problem, I read the sticky and just wasn't real clear.

There are three "stickies" about Disney's Magical Express, not just one.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm not sure what's not clear about this heading Disney's Magical Express Update -- Reservations Required effective 11/1/05 , or what's not clear about the first two sentences of the first post "Beginning November 1st, Disney's Magical Express will no longer be able to accept walk-ups. Reservations made prior to arriving at Orlando Int'l Airport will now be REQUIRED." The explanation was written and posted in 2005, and applies to EVERY person utilizing Disney's Magical Express on November 1, 2005 and EVERY day after that for the life of the service (currently five years).
Here's http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=936566 the link to the entire thread.

ETA: If all you have is carry on luggage (and keep in mind the airlines are strict about sizes and numbers), you MUST keep it with you, unless it's too big to fit under your seat on the bus or in the overhead bins (and I don't remember if they have doors or if they're just shelves); otherwise it will have to go in a compartment UNDER the bus.

 

[goofy4tink]

I read it and really am even more loss. I will be there in Oct, so I don't need reservation and will be carrying my own luggage, so do I just board the bus?

Call the number given for DME, and book with them. They will ask for your flight info, address, that sort of thing. THey will send you out a packet of info about a month before you travel. In it will be instructions as to how to find the DME checkin desk in the airport.
You will have some yellow luggage tags in this packet. If you are not checking any luggage at all, and just using carryon bags, then you can toss the luggage tags out. But, be sure you aren't checking bags...those yellow tags are what get all the checked luggage from the airport to the WDW resorts!
Okay, so you get to the desk, they check you in...give you a travel voucher. They send you off to the bus line area...the person there will direct you to the appropriate resort bus line. THen, you'll hop on the bus. If you have sizable carryons with you, you may be asked to stow them underneath the bus, otherwise it may go on the bus with you, but it has to be on the small side.
You make the drive to WDW....your resort will be one of three resorts that get stopped at. When you get to your resort stop, hop off the bus, grab your luggage (hopefully tipping the driver if he helped with any of your luggage) and into the resort to check in.

Now, if you don't call DME and prearrange a ride, you can still do it at the airport. BUT....it will cost you. You can go to the Mears desk, they will charge you around $18 one way, per person (not sure of the amount here), then in all probability they will then send you over to the DME bus area, where you will get in the appropriate bus line for your resort.

Much better to just call DME now and make reservations!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I'm not sure what's not clear about this heading Disney's Magical Express Update -- Reservations Required effective 11/1/05

My guess is that indy4192 focused on the month, and didn't notice that the announcement is from last year — especially because the sticky, at first glance, appears to be an announcement of something that will be effective in the future.

Perhaps it would be better if the the sticky were reworded.

I hope that indy4192 does not feel beaten up by some of the responses (including mine).

 

[indy4192]

My guess is that indy4192 focused on the month, and didn't notice that the announcement is from last year — especially because the sticky, at first glance, appears to be an announcement of something that will be effective in the future.

Perhaps it would be better if the the sticky were reworded.

I hope that indy4192 does not feel beaten up by some of the responses (including mine).

I read it but was not clear on how to make the reservation or whom to call. Once the number was posted I called (wow 20 minutes on hold) and found out you can not make a reservation till you are within 60 days of your trip, so I will call back in mid August and reserve my spots.

 

[CleveRocks]

I read it but was not clear on how to make the reservation or whom to call. Once the number was posted I called (wow 20 minutes on hold) and found out you can not make a reservation till you are within 60 days of your trip, so I will call back in mid August and reserve my spots.

I'm sure that's what the DME CM told you. However, what they told you was not the entire truth. What they meant (whether they realized it or not) was that THEY, the DME CMs, cannot make a reservation more than 60 days out.

But the Central Reservations Office (CRO) can. Call 407-WDISNEY and they can make a DME reservation for you. Trust me on this one. In April, I booked my trip for November, so that was 7 months in advance. I already have a DME reservation. It's listed on my paperwork. So it can be done. By CRO. DME's computer/database apparently is limited to only 60 days into the future. CRO's computer/database doesn't have that same limitation.

So what I'm saying is, if you'd feel more confident NOT waiting, go call CRO, then please let us know how it went. But if you trust your memory and organizational skills that you'll definitely make the reservation some time after you reach the 60 day mark, then go ahead and just wait.

 

[tjmw2727]

I'm not sure what's not clear about this heading Disney's Magical Express Update -- Reservations Required effective 11/1/05 , or what's not clear about the first two sentences of the first post "Beginning November 1st, Disney's Magical Express will no longer be able to accept walk-ups. Reservations made prior to arriving at Orlando Int'l Airport will now be REQUIRED." The explanation was written and posted in 2005, and applies to EVERY person utilizing Disney's Magical Express on November 1, 2005 and EVERY day after that for the life of the service (currently five years).
Here's http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=936566 the link to the entire thread.

ETA: If all you have is carry on luggage (and keep in mind the airlines are strict about sizes and numbers), you MUST keep it with you, unless it's too big to fit under your seat on the bus or in the overhead bins (and I don't remember if they have doors or if they're just shelves); otherwise it will have to go in a compartment UNDER the bus.

Wow - why the need to scream at a person asking a legimate question with 18 posts?

I traveled via DME with carry on luggage only and the driver was more than happy to store it under the bus for me. (Yes I tipped.)

back to the OP -

You can make your dme reservation now - I am sorry you got a CM who gave you bad informaton. Please try again with the DME number or CRO.

You can also bring your carry on or checked luggage on the bus with you.

From your post it seems like you will have carry on only in which case you discard the luggage tags you will receive but bring your DME package with you to the DME check in and welcome center. They will then direct you to the DME bus line and you will soon board the bus to your resort.

If I read your post wrong and you are checking luggage but wish to carry it on the bus you may. Just get it from the carosel and then bring your luggage and your DME package to the DME check in and welcome center.

OTOH if you wish to use the full DME service you can attach the DME yellow luggage tags to your luggage, check it as checked baggage on your flight and DME will transport it to your WDW resort room for you. It can take 2-6 hours for your luggage to arrive but you don't have to be in the room to receive it. As always its a good idea to pack enough for 24 hours incase of airline delays or luggage snaffus. If your arrving in the am bring enough to visit the parks or pool until your luggage arrives.

HTH
TJ