? Magical Express and Time

[kidzmom3]

magical express and saving time
About how much time do you think I would save if I booked a van versus using the Magical Express.

We are landing about 7pm at night and going to POR.

The brochure states ME should take between 90 minutes to 2 hours to get you to your hotel.

How long would a towncar/van take?

Would it be more worth it on the way home only. Our flight leaves MCO at 920pm. They said ME will probably pick us up at 6pm.

Any thoughts?
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[uva185]

Well, the drive is about 35 minutes plus the time it takes to get your luggage. I always get my luggage quickly at MCO but it is tagged Priority so I'm not sure how long it potentially could take. It will take less time to unload all the bags from smaller planes (737, 319, RJs, etc)

I go from plane to resort in under an hour with a towncar / limo.

 

[Jestocost]

If you use the DME luggage transfer service, then, on average, the time from deboarding the plane to arriving at your resort probably is going to be about the same. What time you lose in the DME line, possibly waiting for a bus to load and depart and possibly stopping at a few other resorts before yours is made up for by the time you don't have to spend waiting at baggage claim. The most quoted length for average time from deboarding to resort on DME when using their baggage transfer service is 70 minutes.

If baggage claim works like a charm, then you probably will wind up saving time with a van service. I've waited more than 1.5 hours at baggage claim before, however, and no van in the world could have beat DME times on that night.

On your return trip, you'll still want the van to pick you up about 2 hours before the flight time. DME will schedule you at about 3 hours in advance, give or take a few minutes.

Then again, a van will cost you around $125 (plus tip) round trip and DME will cost you nothing more.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Unless you need to make a stop ( with Limo services that do that) then you really save no time at all.

We did a Half went on DM and half went and got a rental no bags for either (sent them all on ME) and pulled up to the resort about that same time with-in a few minutes.

I think the getting your bags would negate any time saved by not waiting and doing a few stops.

We like ME so much now we just do our rentals at the DTD locations or on-sight.

 

[goofy4tink]

MY experience, for what it's worth....
using a hired towncar service, with only carryon bags..45 mins to POP.
Towncar service with checked bags that had to be claimed....about 60 mins.
DME...average time 70 mins...some times closer to 55-60 mins, one time 85 mins (last of three stops, much luggage to be taken out from under the bus at each stop).

Heading back to MCO....you should be there 2 hrs before your flight. DME picks up about 3 hrs before the flight..you may have an extra 30 mins to kill at the airport.

 

[Camster0307]

I like using DME when I arrive; hate it for departures! Pick up three hours before my flight - no thanks! I like to milk every last second of my time at WDW; I'd rather pay OOP for a towncar and get picked up 2 hours before flight. To me and my girls, it's worth it!