Magical Express Experience at Saratoga Springs Resort

[jimmyc0000]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has used the Magical Express at Saratoga Springs returning to the Airport ? How was your luggage handled and how soon do you have to catch the bus ? Any help would be great !

 

[brendasol]

I LOVE magical express and have used it at SSR twice. The first time in May with no problems, perfect service. We used it in mid November and it was awful. They wouldn't check our luggage and wouldn't even print our boarding passes for us. They were not friendly about it, and the others boarding with us also had to check their luggage at the airport, and argued with them for awhile.

As our bus pulled up, they mentioned that you can print your boarding passes at the concierge desk. It was too late for that, but a good piece of info to know.

I have travelled to Disney for years, 4 times this past year, and I was very frustrated with those working the magical express at SSR. They are not Disney employees, but airport employees.

I'm curious, have you heard others having issues there?

 

[OKW Lover]

I LOVE magical express and have used it at SSR twice. The first time in May with no problems, perfect service. We used it in mid November and it was awful. They wouldn't check our luggage and wouldn't even print our boarding passes for us. They were not friendly about it, and the others boarding with us also had to check their luggage at the airport, and argued with them for awhile.

Did they explain why they couldn't check your luggage? Was it because you weren't flying on a participating airline? Were you too close to flight time? Some other reason?

 

[MKFan-PR]

Remember, the Resort Airline Check-in (RAC), although advertised with ME, is a separate service. One you can use even if you don't ride the ME bus.

There are a few reasons why your luggage might not be checked at the resort, even if you are on a participating airline: you may have been selected for extra security check, there might be an issue with your luggage fees (the company that handles RAC does not collect the fees at the counter; they have to be pre-paid), or it may be something else.

That said, it is inexcusable if you don't get at least an explanation as to why they cannot take your luggage. You are being inconvenienced, and you have the right to at least know the reason for it!

As to the question of how soon you have to catch the bus: if you reserve ME for your trip back to the airport, you will get a confirmation sheet outside your door the day before your departure with your pickup time, which will usually be at least 3 hours before your flight. You should be at the ME bus stop at least 15 minutes prior to your pickup time.

 

[goofy4tink]

Just used DME at SSR in early Dec. My pick up time was 11:00 for a 2:00 flight. I checked my bag with RAC at 8ish..then got a bite to eat. Went back to the room, packed my carryon bag, and headed back to the DME bus area around 10:00...I like to just sit and people watch! A bus came and went....then a bus came from the airport, dropped off guests and left..people seemed annoyed that they weren't allowed to board that bus back to the airport, but who knows where he was headed next! My bus came, right on time, at 10:55. We left SSR by 11 and headed to the airport! We were the last stop.
No problems whatsoever.

 

[brendasol]

Did they explain why they couldn't check your luggage? Was it because you weren't flying on a participating airline? Were you too close to flight time? Some other reason?

We flew on Southwest airlines. Southwest airlines was in the middle of merging with AirTran causing them some problems, that was the reason they gave us.

However, when we boarded ME, the passengers on board (previously picked up from OKW) were asking why some many guests were boarding WITH luggage. When I gave them the explanation we were given, they said it couldn't be true because these groups were also flying SW air and had NO problems at OKW checking luggage and getting a boarding pass.

 

[helenk]

I used ME from SSR last year and had no problems, I checked my bags at the RAC counter in the early am and had bell services hold my check in luggage while I went to the MK.
The bus was on time, and we had an uneventful trip back to the airport. As other posters indicated you get a notice from ME the day before your departure, and you are given your pick up time, 3 hours prior to your flight time.
I've used ME numerous times and I've only had one bad experience. I was staying at OKW, I think our driver was new perhaps as she got lost after leaving OKW. We got to the airport okay, but it took about an hour after leaving OKW, we still had time go through security etc but it was stressful.

 

[goofy4tink]

We flew on Southwest airlines. Southwest airlines was in the middle of merging with AirTran causing them some problems, that was the reason they gave us.

However, when we boarded ME, the passengers on board (previously picked up from OKW) were asking why some many guests were boarding WITH luggage. When I gave them the explanation we were given, they said it couldn't be true because these groups were also flying SW air and had NO problems at OKW checking luggage and getting a boarding pass.

Many, many people flying SW/AT had this exact same issue. It is beyond confusing how to figure out whether or not you can check luggage at the resort in this instance!! It's not a RAC or DME issue..it's an issue with SW/AT. The thing I don't get is that both airlines are 'participating' airlines, so why the heck is it so hard to use RAC? This merge has just got to get done and tweaked sooner rather than later. I refuse to fly either airline until that happens!!!