Magical Express from airport or use car service?

[Pirates life for me]

We are arriving late afternoon end of September and I was wondering if the Magical Express takes a long time to get us and get to the resort?

I know some transportation companies will even stop at a grocery store is it worth it?

Thanks

 

[3_disprincesses]

It has taken us approximately 2 hours from our plane landing to getting IN TO Magic Kingdom using Magical Express. We go straight to the Magical Express loading area, check in our resort upon arrival, go directly to our room to put away our carry on items (well, throw them down!), freshen up and get on the bus to MK. That all takes us about 2 hours. Now, if you rent a car/service, won't you have to pick-up your own luggage? I don't know as I have never used either. But, if you need to stop and get groceries, then I would go ahead and hire the service. I absolutley Love ME. It is one of the reasons I am willing to spend the money and fly instead of just drive down. That and it's a good 14 hour drive.

 

[Debbie-TN]

We usually stay at Pop Century or the All Stars and it usually takes about 45 minutes. I don't know about the rest of the resorts. We love the ME.

 

[Cutekatcar1]

We have always used Tiffany Towncar Service (5 times). Have not been disappointed - and we do stop at grocery store.

For our upcoming trip (8/28), we were going to use ME to save money. My DH just told me last night that he doesn't want to (and neither do I). His main reason - we don't want to go BACK to the airport so early with ME. We'd rather wait for our luggage at the beginning of our trip than sit and wait in the airport after the trip is over.

Anna

 

[PAcpl]

It takes about 30 minutes to get from the airport to the Disney area. I dont know how much time a taxi will save you, a few minutes perhaps. It will be a slightly more comfortable ride though. I have considered doing this at the end our of trip but haven't yet. There is nothing like getting on the Magical Express at the beginning of your trip and heading out to your resort though. DW starts to cry every time the video on the bus starts.

 

[PAcpl]

We have always used Tiffany Towncar Service (5 times). Have not been disappointed - and we do stop at grocery store.

For our upcoming trip (8/28), we were going to use ME to save money. My DH just told me last night that he doesn't want to (and neither do I). His main reason - we don't want to go BACK to the airport so early with ME. We'd rather wait for our luggage at the beginning of our trip than sit and wait in the airport after the trip is over.

Anna

Just found our transportation to HHN. Thanks!

 

[DISKATER69]

Use the Magical Express. You can just take your voucher things that they send you and then you can just hop on the bus. Whether or not it leaves right away depends on how early you are to get on the bus. They play a video inside there on your way to your resort and it really helps pass by the time faster. The bus drivers are always friendly and the seats are comfortable. It doesn't take very long to get there anyway I don't think.

 

[geenerbell]

On our trip in March we landed at 9:30 and were in the check in line at POP by 10:30 and walking into DHS by noon. Smooth as silk. To top it all off, our luggage was waiting for us, in our room when we got back to POP. We would have made it to DHS earlier but after seeing our first room assignment we opted for a change. A bit of advice..... if your room is ready at check-in that's not always a blessing, especially if it's ready early in the morning. Check out the location and ask for a change if needed. Don't disturb anything in the room while checking it out.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDad]

Plan on it taking two to three hours. If it's less than that, then you'll feel blessed with extra time on your hands!

 

[PJAY]

We used a car service --*********** I think--and we were out of the airport and at our resort in less than an hour.We are considering using another one but not *********** this time. I was happy with the speed but the driver wasn't the friendliest.

 

[Princess Sleepy]

We used ME in January/February and thought it was the easiest thing ever. Not picking up your luggage is a big bonus. The luggage arrived in a timely fashion, as did we. We sat on the bus about 30 minutes after we got to the loading area, but it was a quick trip and would have taken us that long to collect our luggage and rent a car anyway. The Disney magic starts sooner this way: the CMs who work for ME all greeted my DDs (2 and 5 at the time) by calling them princess and welcoming them. The girls had the biggest smiles on their faces before we even left the airport.

 

[nhl66pens]

Not only do you not have to pick your luggage up when arriving, but even better you check your luggage at the resort so you don't have to lug it to the airport either. I used ME last December and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[CleveRocks]

Plan on it taking two to three hours. If it's less than that, then you'll feel blessed with extra time on your hands!

Of the approximately 10 million people who've used DME since it started 4 years ago, thee are very VERY few people who've experienced a 2-to-3 hour trip from airplane to resort. It's misleading to suggest that it typically takes that long.

The average time from airplane exit to resort drop-off is 70 minutes.

 

[CleveRocks]

We are arriving late afternoon end of September and I was wondering if the Magical Express takes a long time to get us and get to the resort?

I know some transportation companies will even stop at a grocery store is it worth it?

Thanks

I've taken DME 3 times, and I've timed it each time, from airplane exit to resort drop-off ... my times were 63 minutes, 56 minutes and 57 minutes. I can't imagine that a car service (along with waiting at baggage claim for your luggage) can get you to your resort much faster than I got to mine each time.

As far as groceries ... there are 3 local options for grocery delivery to your resort. Think about it this way: if you use a car service and make a grocery stop, you delay your own arrival at your resort by about 30 minutes. If you arrange a grocery delivery, this takes no time away from your vacation at all.

A car service is good if you want personalized service or if you want a private ride ... but if all you're looking for is timely and efficient transportation to your resort, then take DME for free.

 

[dotcomguy]

We arrive MCO at 10:30pm and are not checking bags. First trip without the girls (4, 2 1/2, and 1) and my wife wants to make Rope Drop at MK the next morning. We always use ME but this time I've reserved a towncar. Even if we only save 30 mins it will be worth it but we may save even more time.

 

[goofy4tink]

My shortest trip, from deplaning to resort checkin, was 45 mins. That was with a towncar service and only carryon luggage. The longest was 85 mins, using DME and being the last of three stops with huge amounts of luggage to be disbursed at the first two stops.
My average time, 5 trips at least with DME, is about 70 mins.
Here is a breakdown, as best as I can remember, of the different times I have had...
1. DME....50-85 mins, most around 65 mins
2. Towncar...no checked luggage, only carryon, 45 mins
3. Towncar...with checked bags, 55-70 mins, depending on time at baggage claim.
4. Mears shuttle...last Sept, so not the 'old' Mears shuttle...75 mins.

Just so that everyone is on the same page.....being able to check your luggage at your resort, for your return trip, and get your boarding passes, has nothing to do with DME. It is RAC...remote airline checkin...and is available to anyone who is flying home on an airline that participates in the RAC program at WDW. You could take the DME bus back to MCO, or you could go back in a towncar, or in a rental car...you can still use RAC if you are on the right airline.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

We have always used Tiffany Towncar Service (5 times). Have not been disappointed - and we do stop at grocery store.

For our upcoming trip (8/28), we were going to use ME to save money. My DH just told me last night that he doesn't want to (and neither do I). His main reason - we don't want to go BACK to the airport so early with ME. We'd rather wait for our luggage at the beginning of our trip than sit and wait in the airport after the trip is over.

Anna

Remember that if you want to still save some money, you can use ME to get to your resort and a service to get back to the airport. You don't have to use ME both ways. This is what we plan to do since I don't like having to leave so early for the airport either.

 

[haleofafamily]

Remember that if you want to still save some money, you can use ME to get to your resort and a service to get back to the airport. You don't have to use ME both ways. This is what we plan to do since I don't like having to leave so early for the airport either.

That's exactly what I was going to say. We are using ME for our arrival, but a car service for our return.

 

[mjkacmom]

We have always used Tiffany Towncar Service (5 times). Have not been disappointed - and we do stop at grocery store.

For our upcoming trip (8/28), we were going to use ME to save money. My DH just told me last night that he doesn't want to (and neither do I). His main reason - we don't want to go BACK to the airport so early with ME. We'd rather wait for our luggage at the beginning of our trip than sit and wait in the airport after the trip is over.

Anna

Why not take ME to the resort, and hire a car to take you back to the airport? We loved ME - so easy! However, we then took a crusie, so didn't take it back to the airport - I agree, too early.

 

[geenerbell]

I agree about having to leave the resort too early to go back to the airport for your return trip. Here's another problem with the return trip. They drop you off at the main level and you have to schlep your baggage through the main ticket counter chaos. Another service would drop you at curbside check-in. It's one level below at MCO. So you can take a another service back or take the elevator down to curbside check in to avoid the huge line at the ticket counter.