Magical Express, arrival time, luggage, AoA, and bell services

[rentayenta]

I'm trying to book our arrival flight into MCO and the flight with the best price has us landing at 9 pm. I'm guessing that will put us at our resort about 10:30 pm. Will bell services still deliver our luggage or will we have to grab it off the ME bus? Will the food court be open that late? I'm guessing the pool won't?


Of course we're staying at the AoA, which hasn't opened yet, so I can't call. We move to the THV the next day.

 

[maxiesmom]

As long as you land before 10pm, Disney will still handle your bags for you. However, the delivery window for getting those bags is within 3 hours of check in, so you could get them pretty late. Your luggage won't be on the same bus as your family, so the only way to grab it is to not put the yellow ME tags on it, and to grab it at the airport yourselves.

If you do decide to put the yellow tags on it, it would be wise to pack your stuff or the first night in your carry-on bag. That way, you can swim or get ready for bed without having to wait for your bags.

Disney doesn't really shut the pools totally down, though that may change at AoA. Usually, as long as you are quiet, they will let you keep swimming.

 

[rentayenta]

As long as you land before 10pm, Disney will still handle your bags for you. However, the delivery window for getting those bags is within 3 hours of check in, so you could get them pretty late. Your luggage won't be on the same bus as your family, so the only way to grab it is to not put the yellow ME tags on it, and to grab it at the airport yourselves.

If you do decide to put the yellow tags on it, it would be wise to pack your stuff or the first night in your carry-on bag. That way, you can swim or get ready for bed without having to wait for your bags.

Disney doesn't really shut the pools totally down, though that may change at AoA. Usually, as long as you are quiet, they will let you keep swimming.

Thank you! That's exactly what I wanted to know. I'm not planning on unpacking at all but good idea to have swim suits, pjs, and at least tbrushes and toothpaste with us in a carry on.

Will ME wait for us if we decide to grab our own bags? Do we just lug them on the bus with us or will our bus have a place to put them?

Thanks for the pool info too. I'm not sure they'll want to swim but just in case.






Any idea on the food issue? I chose the AoA for one night because I wanted to check it out and try the food court but landing at 9 pm doesn't give us much time for anything. Maybe I should suck it up and spend the $75 more pp to arrive at 4:30? But we've got 6 people.

 

[maxiesmom]

The Magical Express buses run round the clock from the airport to the resorts. You are not assigned to a specific bus going to the resort, as you are when you are leaving WDW. You just get on the next one available for your resort.

If you pick up your luggage at the airport, the bus driver will store it under the bus in the luggage compartment. It is customary to tip a dollar or two per bag when he gets it back out for you at your resort.

As far as the food goes, the resorts typically have something available until midnight. Not a huge selection of food, but you won't go hungry. I'm not sure how late the fast food places in the airport are open, but that may be an option too. Grabbing something to eat at the airport before heading over to your bus.

 

[rentayenta]

The Magical Express buses run round the clock from the airport to the resorts. You are not assigned to a specific bus going to the resort, as you are when you are leaving WDW. You just get on the next one available for your resort.

If you pick up your luggage at the airport, the bus driver will store it under the bus in the luggage compartment. It is customary to tip a dollar or two per bag when he gets it back out for you at your resort.

As far as the food goes, the resorts typically have something available until midnight. Not a huge selection of food, but you won't go hungry. I'm not sure how late the fast food places in the airport are open, but that may be an option too. Grabbing something to eat at the airport before heading over to your bus.

I called and the CM told me what you did as far as ME. We'll definitely grab our own luggage and since we're flying United home and have to pay for our bags, I'm allowing only one per child.

With regard to food she said, after checking another Value resort: the other food court says dinner is served from 4- midnight so obvi the Art of Animation would be the same. Obvi! Sounds like my teenager on her Facebook. She was very sweet, I just found the abbreviation funny.


I really wanted to check out the resort too. Maybe an earlier breakfast will be needed. The Nemo area looks so fun!

 

[Fire14]

My personal experience has been food courts are open until 11p. or 12 a. most of hot food stations close appox 30 min prior. You should be able to get to AOA and get some chow before place closes but you won't have much time to check out room first. I'd do online check in or send 1 adult to check in and others to food court to get idea of what they want while waiting for check in adult to get there.

 

[maxiesmom]

With regard to food she said, after checking another Value resort: the other food court says dinner is served from 4- midnight so obvi the Art of Animation would be the same. Obvi! Sounds like my teenager on her Facebook. She was very sweet, I just found the abbreviation funny.

That is too funny! Did you say "Thanks for the amazeballs advi!"?

 

[rentayenta]

My personal experience has been food courts are open until 11p. or 12 a. most of hot food stations close appox 30 min prior. You should be able to get to AOA and get some chow before place closes but you won't have much time to check out room first. I'd do online check in or send 1 adult to check in and others to food court to get idea of what they want while waiting for check in adult to get there.

Good ideas. Thank you. I always forget about online check in. At that hour, I'm hoping we get the pool view I requested. Not that it matters.

That is too funny! Did you say "Thanks for the amazeballs advi!"?

I should have! It took me back. Then I started to laugh.




I am getting more and more excited to see AoA in person.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

I agree with getting your own luggage. Last time we landed at 7:30 pm. We didn't have our luggage from Magical Express until after midnight. So even if we had pajamas in our carry ons, we felt like we couldn't really go to bed because someone would be knocking at our door. We were exhausted.

The driver will be glad to store them under the bus for you.

 

[nkereina]

Just wanted to point out that depending on which terminal your flight lands on, it's possible you'll have to go down to baggage claim, get your bags, go up a floor, cross the airport, then go back down to where ME is. Our flight landed on the opposite side of where ME is last time. We opted to get our own bags and it ended up being more of a hassle than we thought. Crowded airport, lots of inconsiderate people, heavy bags, etc etc. You could always rent a cart too.

 

[rentayenta]

I agree with getting your own luggage. Last time we landed at 7:30 pm. We didn't have our luggage from Magical Express until after midnight. So even if we had pajamas in our carry ons, we felt like we couldn't really go to bed because someone would be knocking at our door. We were exhausted.

The driver will be glad to store them under the bus for you.

I didnt even think of that. Plus, with us all so close together, it will be easier to just shove them away vs trying to finagle after everyone is settled. Im not planning on unpacking.

I'm all about grabbing our own bags. In 2007 we landed about 7:00 but stayed at the POR during free dining. Our bags didn't arrive until well after midnight.

Just wanted to point out that depending on which terminal your flight lands on, it's possible you'll have to go down to baggage claim, get your bags, go up a floor, cross the airport, then go back down to where ME is. Our flight landed on the opposite side of where ME is last time. We opted to get our own bags and it ended up being more of a hassle than we thought. Crowded airport, lots of inconsiderate people, heavy bags, etc etc. You could always rent a cart too.

Renting a car that fits 6 really puts a damper on that whole free aspect of ME. I thought about renting a car during the trip but just can't justify the cost. With 6 of us, we need an SUV or van of some sort. Plus we love being able to have a drink stress free without the worry of driving.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

I think the person suggested renting a cart to help you cart the luggage around the airport a bit easier.

 

[maxiesmom]

I didnt even think of that. Plus, with us all so close together, it will be easier to just shove them away vs trying to finagle after everyone is settled. Im not planning on unpacking.

I'm all about grabbing our own bags. In 2007 we landed about 7:00 but stayed at the POR during free dining. Our bags didn't arrive until well after midnight.

Two things: First off, if you arrive late, and sent your bags thru DME, you can always have them held until the next day. Just tell the front desk when you check in to hold you bags, and as added insurance put the Privacy Please card on your door. They will hold your bags until you call for them the next day.

Second, the luggage delivery clock starts ticking from when you check in, it does not start when your plane lands. Disney aims to get your bags to your room within 3 hours of checking in to the resort. Four hours during peak seasons. So if you need your luggage quickly, it is always best to get it yourself, and not put the yellow DME tags on it.

 

[rentayenta]

I think the person suggested renting a cart to help you cart the luggage around the airport a bit easier.

Good idea. Our kids are older, see soggy and their luggage has rollers, I think they can manage but with the carry ons, this might be needed.

Two things: First off, if you arrive late, and sent your bags thru DME, you can always have them held until the next day. Just tell the front desk when you check in to hold you bags, and as added insurance put the Privacy Please card on your door. They will hold your bags until you call for them the next day.

Second, the luggage delivery clock starts ticking from when you check in, it does not start when your plane lands. Disney aims to get your bags to your room within 3 hours of checking in to the resort. Four hours during peak seasons. So if you need your luggage quickly, it is always best to get it yourself, and not put the yellow DME tags on it.

They'll hold them even if we're checking into a new resort? We're only at AoA overnight and then head to the THV. I could kick myself right now anyway. I didn't book that great fare andi ow it's gonet. It disappeared last night as I kept getting an error message. Seriously, I new I should have booked it. The points are now 4,000 more pp for the same flight. The flight arriving at 4:50 is outrageous. Back to kayak and their daily alerts.

Good to know about when the clock starts ticking. That explains why it took what seemed like forever to get our bags when using ME and staying at POR.

 

[maxiesmom]

Good to know about when the clock starts ticking. That explains why it took what seemed like forever to get our bags when using ME and staying at POR.

One time when I was on the DME bus there was a man just pitching a fit, because the driver announced it would be the full 3 hours, and maybe 4 hours, before we would get our bags. This was over the 4th of July, so I wasn't surprised. This guy though was just going crazy! I don't think his wife/girlfriend whoever had told him that they wouldn't get their bags right away. I felt bad for the driver. And then his wife/girlfriend/whatever was trying to make ADRs over their cell phone, and not having much luck with that either.

 

[Patrickprincess]

One time when I was on the DME bus there was a man just pitching a fit, because the driver announced it would be the full 3 hours, and maybe 4 hours, before we would get our bags. This was over the 4th of July, so I wasn't surprised. This guy though was just going crazy! I don't think his wife/girlfriend whoever had told him that they wouldn't get their bags right away. I felt bad for the driver. And then his wife/girlfriend/whatever was trying to make ADRs over their cell phone, and not having much luck with that either.

I'm so glad that i will be arrving around 9 am and after checking into the resort i'm headding out to disney stuidos so it dosen't matter what time my suitecase gets there. Also i will have everything that i need for a while

 

[rentayenta]

One time when I was on the DME bus there was a man just pitching a fit, because the driver announced it would be the full 3 hours, and maybe 4 hours, before we would get our bags. This was over the 4th of July, so I wasn't surprised. This guy though was just going crazy! I don't think his wife/girlfriend whoever had told him that they wouldn't get their bags right away. I felt bad for the driver. And then his wife/girlfriend/whatever was trying to make ADRs over their cell phone, and not having much luck with that either.

Not surprising over a holiday weekend! I'm going to shred those little yellow tags when they arrive as not to forget. And ADRs on the cell upon arrival? Amateurs!*



On our arrival night, the latest park is open until 10 which won't do us any good as far as food.


Now that I missed that flight, I'm hoping for an earlier one. I want to check out the AoA!!!







*I'm teasing. I've cancelled and made ADRs while at WDW too.