Magical Express Experiences???

[KyleRayner]

I'm leaving for WDW on Dec. 2 and using Magical Express for the 1st time and would appreciate everyone's experiences (good and bad). Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

It works just fine, but it takes time. I think it's worth that for free transport. I can't say how the luggage service works because I only bring carryons.

 

[Disney Dawg]

Our experience with the magical express was a positive one. We went down on Nov. 5 to SSR. Once you arrive at the airport, take the tram to Term. A.
Go down to the lower level and look for reps with the big Mickey hands. You'll go to the Magic Express check-in line to get your paperwork in order. Then to the line for your Resort and onto the bus. The bus dropped us off right in front of the lobby. They told us it could take up to 3 hours for our checked luggage to get to our room, but it was only about 2 and everthing was in great shape. The night before we left they slipped our paper work under the door for our return trip. We contacted bell services to pick us and our luggage up at our room. They were right on time and took us to the front of the lobby for pick-up. Hope you have the same good fortune we had and have a great time!

 

[beccasmom]

Our 2 experiences have been quite positive, although the process is much better streamlined now than it was in June. Check-in last week was quick and the reps direct you to the correct bus. We were headed to SSR and the first stop was OKW. The driver forgot about us and headed over to POR where everyone else departed, but it was a quick turnaround to head back to SSR. Luggage was delivered in 2 hours. Heading home was equally simple and painless.

 

[xterratri]

We've used it 3 times- end of May to OKW, July(just sis and I) to POR, and Columbus weekend to OKW. Each time has been a good experience although we only had checked luggage with the first one. We are booked to use the service again in 3 weeks for the X-mas trip. I think it actually took less time with the ME than the 2 times we used Mears in the past. Have a good trip!

 

[db78]

We have used Magical Express 3 times. It has been a pretty smooth and easy process. One caution, you can be picked up with a variety of buses; not just ones that say "Magical Express" on them. A Disney Cruise Line bus pulled up to our resort and we almost didn't get on it, thinking it was headed to the Port for the Cruise. But it was our bus going to the airport. We almost missed our flight!

 

[Hibernians]

We used the ME on Nov 6th arrival and Nov 11th departure. It went very smoothly. The wait at Orlando when we arrived was about 20 - 25 minutes for our bus to arrive. The luggage arrived at the hotel about 3 hours after we checked in (which in total, would have been close to 3.5 hours from when the plane landed in Orlando).
Departure was fine,; we checked out our luggage on the morning of departure around 8:00AM and they also gave us boarding passes right then. They also let us keep our carry-on luggage in storage since we weren't leaving until 6:00 PM. The bus leaving the hotel that night was about 20 minutes late arriving, however they gave us a huge 2 hour+ cushion so we still had plenty of time at the airport to eat dinner before departing. When we landed in Boston, our luggage was there !
I would use it again and next time bring some extra clothes and stuff on my carry-on.

 

[byoung]

In Oct we used ME, it worked out good. We where use to towncars, took maybe 25 minutes longer. But saved $100, not bad.

 

[LIFERBABE]

worked great for us too!

We normally have a rental car, but we stayed at PC after the Member Cruise and due to the H-Wilma we did not make it back to the Port to pick up our rental car. We decided that since DCL was providing us with free Transport back to WDW from Port Everglades and we could use ME to get back to MCO we would just rely on Disney transportation for our short stay.

So even though we had not made ME arrangements, it was very easy to call ME the evening before our departure and arrange for pickup.

At first I thought leaving 3 hours before flight time was too generous, but it was so relaxing over the way we normally do things, which is leave WDW 90 min. before and then rush to return the car and then rush to the gate, where we usually miss our flight and have to wait for the next one and then pray we get on the next one, while calling resorts to see if they have availability for one night just in case we don't make the last flight!

 

[loveswdw]

Count us in on the positives! We used ME in Oct. Took us about an hour from the airport to BCV (stops at CB, S&D, YC first). We were one of the few though who've had a LOONNNGGG luggage wait. We arrived and checked in around 10:15 AM. Got into our room at 3:30. Luggage didn't arrive until almost 7 PM! According to bell services, it was THEIR backup, not ME's.

Would definitely use it again if its still free.

 

[Mary Ellen]

Our neighbor used it when she came to WDW with us earlier this mo. I'm not too sure 'magical' is how she would describe it. Be aware that the resort check-in desks are only open 5am-1pm and you can only check-in 3 to 12 hrs before your flight. The computers were down so she couldn't check-in for her flight. Our flight was at 7am so the 'Magical Express' would have done us no good (we would have had to haul all luggage on the bus and still have to use the check-in counters at the airport.

IF your departure flight agrees with their desk hours (and the computers are working) it could be good.

 

[crisi]

Our ME experience was pretty good. We were able to check in to ME without more than a three minute wait (though that process needs to be speeded up a little - ours went very quickly because I was prepared and there was no line. There was a lot of other people who took ten minutes to check in.) We took carryons with swimsuits in them. We landed about 1:30 pm.

We were able to immediately board the bus, which was about half full. After about five minutes the bus pulled out and we were on our way.

BW was the last stop - which wasn't the greatest, would have been nice to be first - but the bus was comfortable and the Mickey Mouse cartoons kept the kids entertained.

Our luggage showed up within an hour and a half hour of our arrival - right into the room. One bag came about an hour later - one improvement I'd make is if they are dropping off part of a set to leave a note saying the remaining bags will probably be there in an hour, if they aren't, call. Since this is what bell services immediately told me (I suspect bags get split on trucks a lot).

Back we had to take our own luggage, as our airline doesn't have a checkthrough relationship. That worked fine as well - we left from AKL, and they picked up first, followed by a pickup at Pop Century. It took longer to get to the airport - lots of time driving around Disney property to get to and from Pop.

I would recommend paying attention to the luggage situation. If you arrive before mid-afternoon, there should be no problems getting your jammies and toothbrush - but you might want swimsuits anyway - pack a carryon if you think there is a chance you'll want a change of clothes or a swimsuit. When you pull into the airport at 8:00 at night, its completely reasonable to expect Bell Services to be knocking at your door at 11:00pm with your luggage. If that were me (I like to be sound asleep at 11:00) I'd handle my own luggage with even a late afternoon arrival.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We went down last month and it went well for us.

We were a party of 7 (6 using ME), 1 who has some mobility issues.

We arrived at 10:45 a.m. and after restroom breaks and a little confusion trying to find the ME desk once we got to the 1st level, A side, I got in line. While it looked quite long, it was only about 15 minutes. I had everything ready to go and we were put in our line for SSR and OKW.

Within 5-10 minutes we were loaded on a bus with the people from POFQ and POR. We were off within another 5-10 minutes. SSR was our first stop with no takers and then off to OKW where we got off.

DH had gone to pick up rental vehicle. He stayed with us until we found ME counter and then jumped on Thrifty shuttle. He beat us to the hotel by about 3 minutes. We had the best of both worlds, a rental car to get around and luggage assistance from ME.

The return trip was really awesome. We checked in at the desk, the bellman had our luggage. We got all our boarding passes, and got rid of the luggage. We were off to the MK for our Family Magic Tour. When we finished, we all took the minivan back to the airport (nothing but carryons to deal with), and ME took care of all the luggage.

Planning to use again in August with just a 1 day rental car to get groceries.