Magic Express?

[dtripli]

Im hoping to get some feedback on Magic Express Experiences. Would you recommend it or should we just cab it? Biggest concern is being stuck in long line at airport waiting to board bus, and then taking forever to get to our resort (staying at the poly)....Please give us some advice!!!!

 

[Stepharia]

We just used ME the first week of Oct. When we arrived at the airport there was only one family in the line for our resort (ASMu). They actually put everyone going to POP and all of the All Star resorts on the same bus and it still was not full. We got to our hotel very quickly and we were the 3rd stop.

 

[magicaldisney]

We were there Oct 20 - Oct 30. ME was nice, however, if I had to pay for it, depending on the charge (which I hear they will be doing in the future), I would choose to cab it.

BUT, seeing that it was included in our package it was ok. Boarding the bus wasn't as much a problem for time as much as stopping at a number of resorts to drop everyone off. If your lucky you'll be the first stop. We happened to be the last of 4 resorts that the bus stopped at. In that case if you are concerned about time, cab or private car is definately faster. If you don't mind the time, it is very relaxing.

Going back to the airport was even more time consuming. We were the first of 4 resorts and it took us over an 1 1/2 hours to get to the airport.

 

[clkelley]

I LOVED Magical Express. Walked right up to the counter, no one in line. Walked straight onto the bus, and we pulled away immediately. I was the first one dropped off at Pop Century about an hour from landing at the airport.

On departure day, the bus arrived right on time and went straight to the airport. Had lots of time to kill at the airport, but I've also almost missed my flight before, and don't like the stress of that either.

Carol

 

[Sandi]

Like Carol, we also had a great experience with Magical Express for our July visit. We are planning to use it again in February. There was no wait at the counter for check in and we were quickly escorted through the line to get on the bus for our resort. We had Pop Century and Coronado Springs and one other resort on our bus. We stopped first at PC, then CSR. When we checked in at CSR, our bags were already in our room. And I think it was only about 90 minutes from getting off the plane to checking in at CSR. Very good experience.

Return trip was similarly smooth.

 

[hockeygirl]

I thought magical express was great. I had my doubts before my trip a few weeks ago, but the process was so easy and very convenient. When I arrived, the line at the counter was pretty long, but it moved so quickly. I loved not having to go to baggage claim to get my bags, it was great.

 

[CleveRocks]

On May 8, the 4th day of DME operations, it was 53 minutes from the time I got into the DME line until I was dropped off at CBR. Remember that with DME you don't have to spend time waiting for your luggage at Baggage Claim, so you save some time there.

-- Eric

 

[jackmac]

I used ME on 10/26 to go to POR. We got off of the plane at 7 PM and we were at POR by 8 PM. There were lines at the ME pick up place and there was a crowd at check-in due to the numbers of people being dropped off. If we had to pick up our own bags it would have been a hassel going from the B side to the A side. I was not happy with the length of time that it took the bags to arrive at the room. We received our bags at Midnight. I called bell services at 11 to find out where the bags were and was told that it takes 3-4 hours from the time the bags arrive at the resort to be delivered. It was my impression that it took 3-4 hours from arrival at the airport.

Going from Beach Club to MCO was no problem. We dropped off our bags in the morning, the bus was on time and took us to the airport. The bus did take a while, stopping at Boardwalk and CBR, but it was OK to be waiting on the bus as opposed to waiting at the airport. The trip back was very smooth.

If I had to pay for it, I would take a cab from the airport to the resort, I find this to be faster and you keep your luggage with you. Going to the Airport I would pay for the resort check-in ME.

 

[Kae]

My family loved it. just remember to have some items in a carry-on,which most people do anyway.

Kae

 

[maine_jennifer]

All depends on the type of person you are. I don't want to take the chance of having to wait for anything whether it be in line to check in, for a bus, on the bus, or for my luggage. That being said, I've also found a great car service that I'm extremely pleased with and hey - if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Feel free to read my latest review that I posted on my website with my trip report.

http://www.queenofthefreakinuniverse.com/Transportation_Review.htm

Cheers!

 

[Hopefully]

We used DME on October 16th and I was very pleased. There were lines, which moved very quickly, at check-in. We also just missed the bus to our resort, and we had to wait for the next one. All that said, we were walking, after having checked in at the Beach Club Villas, into Epcot in less than 90 minutes from arriving at the gate at MCO. I don't think you can beat that!!!
When we first went to our room at 3 PM our bags were already there. Great service.
We flew Song by Delta, so we checked in, checked our baggage and received our Boarding Passes in the Beach Club with no wait at all. We did have extra time at the airport before leaving, but we just got a sandwich and read a book.
I would use DME again, and we have used Town Cars many times in the past, even if I had to pay for it.

 

[Dani&Pao'sMom]

I'm glad I found this thread, I've wanted to share our experience. We were at WDW from Oct 21st to Oct 30th.
At the arrival we were at the hotel less than an hour after we landed, pretty smooth process. We flew Guatemala-Miami-Orlando with American Airlines. When we did check in at the airport in Guatemala they hide the ME tags with the airline tags "because the scanners get confused" even with the tags hidden, the ME people got them! We had to gate check in a third bag at Miami airport, we had put the ME tag but the airline people removed it later!!!!! we didn't get it at the resort with the others... (how could they know if it didn't have a tag!!!!) but they were great, they asked us for a description of the bag and what we had in the bag, the more specific the best. We got it the next morning before we left for the park.
The return trip was a nightmare from the begining. Our flight was scheduled at 10am, the bus at 7:15... it got there at 7:45 we did 4 more stops at ASMu, ***, Pop and another one that I don't remember.... got at the airport at 9am, HAD TO HAVE check in at the airport because it was an international flight.... a lot of people in line and we checked in at 9:30 when the flight was already boarding.... it was very stressful. In all the hassle because we were so late we didn't notice that a bag (the same bag that we didn't get at the arrival) was missing.... my husband ran to the ME counter, filled out a baggage claim but we were very pessimistic. We hadn't put a name tag yet.... (I know I know.... had I never taken a flight before???? don't I know to put ids on the bags???? well... yes I knew but we were running like crazy people and just forgot!).
Well.... we were the last ones to board and when we arrived in Guatemala (after so many other delays....) ANOTHER bag was missing, this time it was the airline.... filled another claim.
We called ME when we got home and they already had the bag and wanted to mail it. Since it would be an international mailing that wasn't practical at all so they told me they were checking with American Airlines if it was possible to send the bag with them. Next morning we got a call from ME informing us that the bag would arrive that afternoon (same flights we took the day before) and it did.... We also got the other bag... so it all had a happy ending

Overall ***** 5 stars for baggage handling and arrival trip, * 1 star for the return trip... too late, too stressful and too slow! however, I would certainly use the service again and just would make sure they know we cannot check in at the resort because it is international destination so they can plan to pick us up earlier or something like that.

 

[seashoreCM]

. When we did check in at the airport in Guatemala they hide the ME tags with the airline tags "because the scanners get confused" even with the tags hidden, the ME people got them! ... The return trip was a nightmare from the begining. Our flight was scheduled at 10am, the bus at 7:15... it got there at 7:45 we did 4 more stops at ASMu, ***, Pop and another one that I don't remember.... got at the airport at 9am, HAD TO HAVE check in at the airport because it was an international flight.... a lot of people in line and we checked in at 9:30 when the flight was already boarding.... it was very stressful.
that.

Going to Disney it has been suggested that you do not put the yellow ME tags on your baggage until after you clear U.S. customs.

Somewhere I read that international travel needs a homebound ME bus reserved 4 hours instead of 3 hours before flight time. You can alwasy ask for and get an earlier departure from the resort (ask at least a day before checkout).

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Dani&Pao'sMom]

Going to Disney it has been suggested that you do not put the yellow ME tags on your baggage until after you clear U.S. customs.

Somewhere I read that international travel needs a homebound ME bus reserved 4 hours instead of 3 hours before flight time. You can alwasy ask for and get an earlier departure from the resort (ask at least a day before checkout).

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Had I known that! It would've saved us a lot of stress!!!!! I never read that in all the threads I checked about ME.... well... Next time I'll make sure to do it properly.... anyway, even with the stress we certainly would use it again! very convenient.