Magical Express for flights from UK

[Andrew Bichard]

I will soon be going to WDW from the United Kingdom and staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge Concierge.

I have just been told by concierge that " I cannot utilize Disney's Magical Express as it is for guests on domestic flights only"

I believe they are wrong, but I don't want to tell them so until I am absolutely sure of my facts.

My understanding is that the procedure for arrivals is a little different because of the need to go through customs and that check-in for the return flight at the resort is not available.

With these exceptions, I understand that can use Magical Express.

Can anyone confirm this for me? Has anyone from the UK used Magical Express recently?

Andrew

 

[gilld]

You certainly can use it, my son did just that a few weeks back.

 

[natalielongstaff]

we hope to use it in 3 weeks time

 

[Claire4dpins]

Yes, you certianly can use it - if you booked direct through Disney. I booked on the phone with CRO in the USA on 20th August - my Magical Express luggage tags arrived yesterday afternoon, via FedEx. The booklet that comes with them even describes the procedure for international guests.
I was quite impressed that we got them so quickly - I didn't think they would send them at all!!

As it turns out, sadly, we won't be using them, because we decided to get a very cheap last minute flight into Sanford instead of MCO, as we had planned - so it is a first time charter experience for us after many trips into MCO.

If you booked through a UK tour operator - I think it is much harder to use Magical Express. It seems to me, a personal opinion, only based on reading others posts on the boards, that the UK tour operators don't give the relivant info to Disney (or to their customers) because they want people to pay for their transfers or their expensive car insurance for car hire.

Anyway Andrew, here is the phone number for Magical Express - as given in the booklet I got yesterday: 866-599-0951 - so perhaps you can call that to ask direct - hope this is helpful.
Claire

Edited to add: I just looked at our countdowns - see you at POP Natalie!!

 

[disney13]

Hi,

You can most certainly use Disney's Magical Express. Just go to the Disney personnel with your booking reference or voucher and they will let you know what to do. We used it a couple of weeks ago and found it to be very, very easy.

Andy

 

[**Laura**]

We used it in April with no problems!

 

[natalielongstaff]

Edited to add: I just looked at our countdowns - see you at POP Natalie!!

yay maybe we will see you around !! i am soooo excited its untrue
keep an eye out for my kids in their leicester shirts !

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

I used it in July with no problems at all. The whole thing was very smooth and hassle-free.

You do have to reclaim your luggage at the 1st conveyor for customs, but after you give them back on the 2nd conveyor thingy, you just make your way to the terminal as usual and the ME system kicks into gear as for all other guests.

The only part of the scheme we can't use is the resort check in when you leave. Not a problem, suitcases are just put in the space under the bus on the way back to the airport.

Louise

 

[Lewisc]

DME picks you up around 3 hours before your flight, you'll get to MCO 1.5-2 hours before your flight.

If that's not enough time then request an earlier pickup. You can do that when you get to WDW.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Thank you all.

DME is now booked.

Andrew

 

[paulh]

as long as you fly to MCO and are staying onsite you are entitled to ME just turn up at the ME desk at MCO and give them your reservation details and they will give you your vouchers for the bus bags can take up to 4 hours to get to you if you have the yellow tags if you have no yellow tags pick up lugage and take to bus with you
Paulh

 

[Miffy2003]

We had no yellow tags and the luggage got to us just fine

We had to describe the bags (they had photos of all bag types so you just pointed out the ones like yours) and of course they had the flight number so no problem at all.

Took about 2 - 3 hours for our luggage to get to our room.

I cannot speak highly enough about this service. No hassle with bags and it meant we could have a drink on the plane and relax fully. I really recommend it for onsite guests travelling into MCO.