Magical Express at FTW?

[drewc]

Anyone have any experience using Magical Express during their visit to FT. Wilderness? Our ever evolving plans for a trip to Ft. Wilderness changed again last week when Southwest lowered their fares to $49. So, now instead of a 20 hour drive for a 3-night long tenting trip, we are flying for a six night tent trip.

In order to keep our costs down, we are planning to use Magical Express, and now I have a whole new list of logistics to work out (getting our tents and equipment down there by plane). Our tent has its own carrier, and I just picked up a golf club carrier (on wheels) to carry our larger screen house and other stuff. Now we'll just need to get our air mattresses, bedding, clothes, food and miscellaneous equipment safely to our site. I figure we can probably manage this in full size suitcases, as I'm a bit wary of trying to send storage totes (I'm worried that the DME folks will overlook them).

A person I spoke with at the front desk told me that the FTW staff will deliver all the stuff to our site once DME drops it off at the check-in area. Does that jibe with your experience? Our flight gets in at around 4pm, and I'm worried that our stuff might not show up until dusk, leaving me to set up tents in the dark.

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that DME can really pull this off, or if I would be better off getting a shuttle and transporting all our baggage ourselves. Should I be more trusting of Disney?

 

[clkelley]

I am planning on doing this in December. I am arriving later than you are about 9:15pm, (will probably be at Ft. Wilderness by 10pm). Setting up in the dark is a pain, but I would rather set up by lantern light than be sweating bullets dripping wet from setting up in the heat of the day.

I fly and tent camp every December at Ft. Wilderness. Since there are two of you, you should have no problem with luggage allowance. (SW allows three 50lb checked bags per person.)

If you are worried about the luggage delivery portion, you should NOT put your ME tags on your bags and claim them yourself and get a porter or a couple of carts to take them down to the ME bus. You don't HAVE to use the luggage portion.

I will be by myself and also transporting an ECV (electric scooter), so I'm going to let the Magical Express folks take my stuff and just set up late at night by lantern light. It will be cooler, and I really don't have anything planned the next morning so I can sleep late.

I usually use a Footlocker type plastic bin, a LARGE duffle bag, a rollon suitcase, and a backpack. In the footlocker and duffle bag is my dining fly, my tent, my chair, and anything else that is large, but doesn't weigh much. (Linens, pillow, electric blanket, some clothing) Things that have weight to them, but aren't that big go in my carryon roller bag and my daypack. (Lanterns, batteries, air mattress pump, air mattress, flashlights, tent stakes, electronics for my electric blanket, small fan, digital camera, laptop, extension cords, power strip, quarter rolls, laundry detergent) My ECV is exempt from luggage allowance.

I hope this helps.

Carol

 

[clkelley]

FYI - If a group hasn't made arrangements to rent them during your stay, you can rent cots from FtW for $4 a night.

Carol