"Magical Express" - Day 1 (Long)

[idratherbeinwdw]

Thank you for informing us about your experience. I am sure that the service will improve -- at least I am hoping. My family don't want to try this service but if we did we would wait.

My mother and I only take a carry-on suitcase. If we check in it is only when I have trouble packing all of the things I bought.

We always take Mears. Now I am wondering if as a DVC member if I would be getting the discount coupons for Mears. I am sure Mears is going to lose a lot of money from this new service of Disney. The one thing I like is now maybe there will be less people waiting for a Mears bus taking them to Disney. So maybe we won't have so many stops.

I am curious why your family doesn't want to use ME. If you're willing to wait for Mears, stop at other resorts, not have a grocery stop, etc., and PAY for it, why not use Magcial Express for Free? What am I missing?

As for me, the more I hear about ME the less I like the idea. I had considered trying it for my trip in October but I doubt I will. I don't think it's worth it for me to save $100 on a towncar if it means I have to 1) wait for the bus to arrive to pick me up, get people loaded and leave 2) stop at other resorts on the way 3) wait for my luggage once I get to the resort. 4) Leave to return to the airport much earlier than I want to.

I'd rather spend the extra 100 bucks and have the convenience of being met at the airport, stopping at publix, going directly to BWV, having my luggage with me when I get there, and leaving for MCO when I want to. Saving $ is all well and good, but in the scheme of things I think the aggravation isn't worth it to me. I am NOT a patient person, I think I'd feel very frustrated using this service. Obviously others will feel differently, I am just speaking for myself.

 

[CarolA]

idratherbeinwdw,
You have some valid points. The grocery stop is not a big deal for me. I am actually leaning towards taking ME to the resort and renting a car from the Dolphin for my last day. I don't mind the front end, but I have NEVER left WDW more then 90 minutes before my flight and so far so good.....

 

[jghra]

Another Thank You.
We will be testing ME on May 20th.
We usually rent a car or do Happy Limo, so this will be a new experience!!Hoping it's a good one and we can do the same thing in December!!

That way there is more money to use at DTD

"G"

 

[paults]

use DME this morning FRi may 6 from (BWV to MCO). Last night got paper under door saying 1st bus leaves at 7:20 AM and every 30 min thereafter until I think 7 pm. Then there was a number to call for later times. OUR flight was at 10:10 am.Had to be at bus stop 3 hours before flight. Needed to turn this paper over to bus driver. Got to bus stop at 6 :45 am for 10:10am flight and another couple there was told to be there at 7 am for 9:30 am flight.

The bus was suppose to leave at 7:20 am but didn't get there till 7:20 am. I ask how the picks-up went. He said he went to the YC first ( 1 person)then the DOLPHIN second (0) then on to BWV (4)and then back to the Swan(0)
total pick-up 5 people. Then off to MCO. great bus ride, very cheap.
IMO if the buses are near full and lots of luggage, it could take some time.

I thought S&D were not included?

Will we use it again? YOU BET

 

[TDC Nala]

My problem with ME is that my friend got the documents - one set.

She lives 500 miles from me and is arriving on a different flight on a different day.

I'm going to have to go without any documents. All I'll have is an email with the resort confirmation on it, and no tags.

I'll be picking up the bag myself and hoping they let me onto a bus.

 

[RobDoc]

Bump, Bump-sounds like lots of initial bumps in this ME. We arrive tomorrow-still nothing. What I'm wondering-are people allowed to bring all their carryons on the bus with them? I'm bringing everything in (allowable size, not large)my 2 carryons-it's only a 3 day trip. And if it has to go separately and doesn't arrive until 4 hours later, well, we arrive at 7:30 pm, and 4 hours later I expect to be sleeping (or at least trying to) so I'm ready to get "up and at 'em" to see Mickey. Without my luggage/jammies, what would I sleep in?

Yes, carryons will go with you on the bus. They may have you place carry-on bags in the storage bays under the bus. Your checked bags will NOT be on the bus you ride on.

The DME info advises taking needed clothing (swimsuits, etc.), computers and medications in your carry-on bags and not have them in your checked luggage.

DME may be used with carryons alone and may be used in one direction if desired.

The problem right now is the bottleneck in the early afternoon- when most everyone arrives at once and without ME documents. That will be remedied soon I'm sure. This will get better and be a nice program.

 

[disneyfreak2127]

Doesn't anyone remember posts here about waiting in the Alamo line for at least an hour or more? I would say that for most people, they were at their resort beginning to enjoy their vacations in that amount of time.

I, too, will be trying out ME in on June 1. I truly believe that they are already working out the bugs in this system. I am just counting on the fact that i won't be dragging 3 suitcases and 2 children around MCO.

Come on, folks! Think positive ! You're going to Disney World!

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Doesn't anyone remember posts here about waiting in the Alamo line for at least an hour or more? I would say that for most people, they were at their resort beginning to enjoy their vacations in that amount of time.

I, too, will be trying out ME in on June 1. I truly believe that they are already working out the bugs in this system. I am just counting on the fact that i won't be dragging 3 suitcases and 2 children around MCO.

Come on, folks! Think positive ! You're going to Disney World!

I am thinking positive! I'm positive I want to be at WDW in as little time as possible with the least amount of aggravation possible. Since I don't have little kids (mine are two teenagers) and my limo driver meets me in baggage claim and helps with the luggage, the suitcase issue is non-existent for me. Hey I am NOT knocking anyone who wants to use this service. I personally don't find it suits my needs. As my friend Greenban so eloquently and often puts it YMMMV.

 

[Disney Doll]

We generally rent a car, so it probably wouldn't be a service we'd use, but for those folks who need it, it sounds like it could be good, once they get the bugs worked out.

They started the service on May 5th. It's now May 7th. Give them a little time folks. It's only been 2 days!!! If, for some folks, saving $100 on transportation lets them enjoy their WDW vacation a bit more, it'll be worthwhile for them.

Doc gave it a B on Day 2...that's not THAT bad!

 

[melkimmom]

The only way that your suitcase troubles would be non-existent would be not to bring them at all. Your driver, I am sure could not do anything about your suitcase being lost or delay. The only help he can give is wait for you to recognize your luggage and put it in a cart. Push the cart to the car and put the luggage in the car... Having small children was never a problem for me. If it would have been a problem I would have gone somewhere else to vacation.

None of us "need" this free service. If we did we would have not gone in the past.


It's a great service that Disney is offering. You have your own reasons not to do it. That it's just fine. I think that this threat is very helpful for those who intent to use the service.

 

[TDC Nala]

those of you who used this, do you have to be in the room when the luggage arrives? I plan to be at Pleasure Island.

 

[Ksp]

We're hoping to try this for our November trip -- keep posting any tips, and thanks for starting the thread, Doc.

 

[LeftCoaster]

those of you who used this, do you have to be in the room when the luggage arrives? I plan to be at Pleasure Island.

I haven't used it but, I have read a couple of reports where people stated that they were out for the evening and returned to find the luggage in their room.
I'll be using the service at the beginning of June and am somewhat optimistic about it. From the reports I've read so far, it seems like people have made it to their resort about 90 minutes from the time their plane landed at MCO. Not too bad in my opinion.

 

[DebºoºS]

We'll be trying ME in Nov. usually use Tiffany but the price is right on ME. The cruise portion of our trip I was told DCL doesn't have a pick-up at Grand Floridian so we'll use Tiffany from GF to the port & port to MCO.
ME is Mears, I just hope they prove to have better service than the old Mears.

 

[BCVOwner2002]

Thanks for posting. I'm sure they are still working out all of the bugs. Annmarie

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Thanks for the report Doc!!

 

[KarenB]

Thanks for the information. We will be usng ME late July to get to VWL and back to MCO. I was wondering how to get a grocery stop in there somewhere and never thought about grabbing a cab. I was going to fax an order but would much rather select my own stuff. Do you know a ball park figure that it would cost to get from VWL-grocery store-VWL?? Would I ask the cab to wait or get another for the retrun trip?

Karen

 

[qv09vvp]

18 days out from our weeklong trip to WDW...staying at the POR. I can hardly wait. still booked for DME but have no tags or anything....so, as usual, I'm starting to worry.... I would enjoy hearing any & all reports. thanks

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Here's some info about the service and some feedback from folks who have tried it:
http://www.mousesavers.com/magicalexpress.html

 

[paulh]

We are planning on using ME when we go in aug .We are staying for 3 weeks first 2 nights at the all-stars as saving on weekend points and as we are flying from uk long flight and we usaly don’t check in till about 7pm plus having to drive on wrong side of road after the long flight would prefer to get a desent room at DVC (have checked doc`s recent post) we do this most years. Usually we hire a care for our full stay which would cost us about $665.00 for the 3 weeks but as we are using ME we are picking our rental up 2nd day after going to water parks and having it for 2 weeks so that costs us $440.00 so we will save $225.00 using ME for that I don’t mind 4 hours for bags and after bad USAir trip always take first night and first days clothes in carry ons and us ME from SSR at end of our stay. What I think Disney are trying to do is stop people from thinking of going of property to places like universal ect and spend it all at Disney most of our savings on the car hire will be spent at Disney but when they start to charge it will be back to hire car for the full stay

Paulh