magical express help

[Primetime11]

Hey there! I am traveling to Disney in November. My family is flying out early but because of my work schedule I will not be flying out until late at night. I am wondering if anyone has experience with the Magical Express around 1am? I am heading to All Star Music...any reviews or input on how that trip went or if you think I would be better off taking a cab would be more than appreciated!!!

 

[wdwrich]

Magical Express runs 24/7, so there's no reason to pay for a cab. You will have to get your luggage at MCO baggage claim when you arrive and bring it with you on the DME bus.

 

[maxiesmom]

Hey there! I am traveling to Disney in November. My family is flying out early but because of my work schedule I will not be flying out until late at night. I am wondering if anyone has experience with the Magical Express around 1am? I am heading to All Star Music...any reviews or input on how that trip went or if you think I would be better off taking a cab would be more than appreciated!!!

I would honestly pay for the cab or a for a town car. My one late night DME experience was pretty horrible--2 1/2 hours from landing to standing at my resort's check in desk.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I would honestly pay for the cab or a for a town car. My one late night DME experience was pretty horrible--2 1/2 hours from landing to standing at my resort's check in desk.

Ditto this. On on last trip we took the DME late at night and it was awful. We waited FOREVER and then they filled the bus with a bunch of screaming teenagers that kept up the screaming all the way to their resort, which was the first stop (of course) so then we had to wait for all 75,000 of them to get off the bus and get their luggage.

ETA: I think we were in our room 2 1/2 hours after landing, so maybe our experience was marginally better than maxiesmom because at least we were in our rooms and not just arriving at the resort.

 

[disnut8]

Magical Express runs 24/7, so there's no reason to pay for a cab. You will have to get your luggage at MCO baggage claim when you arrive and bring it with you on the DME bus.

You could just take a carry on with you on the plane so no need to think about the luggage (I'm sure the family will be able to handle it at the airport )- it will already be in the room when you get there.

I would, even with the other two stories of arriving late and not getting out of the airport in a timely manner, sign up for Magical Express. The booth is in the same area where you can, if it's taking too long, just go out and get a cab. Judge for yourself once you land.

 

[hskaggs11]

I ditto what disnut8 said. Go ahead and book a ME pickup for yourself. You can send your main suitcase with your family that morning (if you don't have to pay extra for it--most airlines allow at least 1 per person, sometimes 2) and just bring a small carry-on for your flight. Keep in mind, that your bag you send with your family would have the ME tag on it, so your wife doesn't have to mess with it at all really, just in getting the bag to the check-in desk at your home airport. Then you can skip baggage claim when you get to MCO (I heard that takes FOREVER). Then check-in with ME, ask how long they think it will take, and if it's taking too long, just grab a cab (they are just a little ways down the hall from ME) or book an Uber cab.

 

[dansdad]

I have only had 2 experiences with ME and getting in that late. Both were great experiences. Both times we walked right on our bus and it was backing out as soon as our butts hit the seats. Come to think of it, the second time we were the only people on the bus. The driver made us feel special, like he was just waiting for us.

 

[juliebee70]

on our last trip we arrived around 5pm and it still took us 2+hours to get from the Magical Express line to the resort.

 

[subtchr]

You can send your main suitcase with your family that morning (if you don't have to pay extra for it--most airlines allow at least 1 per person, sometimes 2) and just bring a small carry-on for your flight... and if it's taking too long, just grab a cab (they are just a little ways down the hall from ME) or book an Uber cab.

Just a couple notes on this...

The only airline I know of that does not charge for checked bags any more is Southwest. For all others, a bag is at least $25, and the second one significantly more. So unless the OP can combine with his wife into one bag, sending his checked bag with her may not be cheap.

Uber drivers are not permitted to pick up riders at MCO. They can go all over WDW property, and they can drop off at MCO, just not pick up.

 

[goofy4tink]

Won't be an issue. Depending on how much 'stuff' you need to bring with you.....pack as much stuff as you can into a family members bag...or split your stuff between all their bags. Anything that doesn't fit, put into your carry on bag. You can probably fit a lot of your stuff in your carry on...just send toiletries with someone else. Then, you only have to worry about that one carry on bag!
As for using DME? It could be fast, it could be slow. If it were me? I would probably book a car service. That would get you to your resort within about 45 mins of deplaning vs who knows how long with DME.

 

[supradupafast]

I've never had a problem with MCO Airport (baggage claim) or MDE at that time.
Nobody / travellers at the airport making it so easy to get your luggage and proceed to MDE. Everytime I went, the MDE was outside waiting and you're at your resort in no time.
Why pay for a Cab when you really don't have to.
Or, do as some others have mentioned. Just bring a carry-on and leave the luggage to the family that are going during the day. This way when you arrive at the room, everything is already put away and hung in the closet
Happy travels