Magical Express for U.K. Guests

[chip&dale1]

Hi,Has anyone used the Magical Express when travelling from the UK?We have heard some bad remarks about the service and how long it takes to get bags to the rooms.We are planning to travel in Aug 2007.

 

[CleveRocks]

Hi,Has anyone used the Magical Express when travelling from the UK?We have heard some bad remarks about the service and how long it takes to get bags to the rooms.We are planning to travel in Aug 2007.

If Orlando is your initial arrival in the USA, you'll need to have your bags with you to clear customs. After that, you have the choice of bringing them to the DME Welcome Center and sending them off for delivery to your resort, but if it were me, I'd just take them to the bus at that point. From there you're just steps to the bus -- you brought the bags so far already, you might as well just hang onto them.

Disney says in all of its DME literature that luggage can take several hours to be delivered to rooms, and that peoiple should, accordingly, pack a carry-on with anything they'll immediately need. A lot of the complaints I've read here and elsewhere was from people who didn't know to expect this built-in delay and were upset about it. If you know it's coming, you can accommodate for it. To me, it was well worth it because I enjoyed the convenience of not carrying it around with me.

 

[chip&dale1]

Many thanks.This site is great i have just registered and had both questions answered in 5 minutes.A nice family photo.

 

[CleveRocks]

You're welcome, and thank you!

 

[Kies99]

I agree with CleveRocks. Our first time using ME will be this coming April. We fully understand it'll take awhile for our luggage to get to our rooms so we are each packing a carryon with items we would need immediately. We plan on hitting the pool when we get there so will pack accordingly in our carry-on.

I also agree as well that since you have to get your luggage anyway to go through customs, you might as well just carry them onto the bus (which is allowed) and take them with you.

 

[CleveRocks]

We plan on hitting the pool when we get there so will pack accordingly in our carry-on.

That's exactly what we did in May 2005. We got to CBR, got lunch at the food court, went back to our room to change into our bathing suits (which were in our carry-ons), and when we returned from the pool our bags were in our room.

 

[dudspizza]

That's exactly what we did in May 2005. We got to CBR, got lunch at the food court, went back to our room to change into our bathing suits (which were in our carry-ons), and when we returned from the pool our bags were in our room.

It really is a painless process. We arrived at 6pm and checked in at CBR. We went to our room, dropped off our carry ons and headed out for dinner at WL. When we retured about midnight, everything was there waiting for us.

I think the problems people have is when their expectation is that their luggage will be there immediately. As long as folks plan for the time, they won't be disappointed.

I agree with the bringing your luggage to the ME after customs. As CleveRocks stated, you brought it that far, you can take it out to the bus, stow it there and claim it at the resort... just make sure to tip the driver if they help you load or unload the bags. Tipping is taken care of if you let Disney deliver it to your room via ME.....

Duds

 

[Flossbolna]

I am not so sure that after clearing customs you will be close to the ME Check In.

I will be arriving at Orlando for the first time in 34 days banana: ) and put some research into the airport. From this "walkthrough" at the airport website
http://www.orlandoairports.net/goaa/arrive/arrive.htm the stops for international passengers are:

1. get off your plane (obviously) and into the "airside" building
2. get your passport checked at immigration
3. get your luggage
4. go through immigration
5. put your luggage on a luggage belt where it will dissappear (for the moment)
6. go through a security checkpoint
7. enter the hub of the airside building
8. take a train to the main terminal building
9. go to bagage claim (where you bags will reappear)
10. take you baggage to the ME desk, check in and get on the bus

So, the way for international passengers (who's first point of entry into the US is Orlando) obviously is: put those luggage tags on your bags after clearing customs and before giving it away again in the airside building. Then skip point 10 on the list above and reduce the hassle a bit! My guess would be that you are not allowed to take the luggage into the hub of the airside building and onto the train as there is a security check point in between. However, this is just a guess, perhaps someone else has info on this?

After I figured all of this out, we decided on a flight that will take us from Munich to Washington, DC and then change planes to Orlando. So I will not get to test whether my research was correct, but get to do the other option for international passengers arriving on a connecting flight. We will go through customs in Washington, attache the famous luggage tags, then recheck the bags and meet them again at AKL! I hope it works (we are planning to have hand luggage with everything to take us through the first 24 hours anyway!!)

Sorry, that this is so long, I think I am just getting excited about our trip!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am not so sure that after clearing customs you will be close to the ME Check In.

No, you probably won't - I can see how what's been posted above could be confusing.

What CleveRocks and Kies99 mean is that since you have to claim your luggage and go through Customs, then bring your luggage to the DME counter, you may as well just bring it to the bus with you. The bus is what's 'just steps from the Welcome Center'.

That's the point where international travelers have a choice: they can either hand their luggage over to the Cast Member at the counter, or, since they've transported it all the way from Customs to the DME Welcome Center anyway, they can just transport it a few more feet and have the driver stow it under the bus.