Magical Express Hours

[marjamsmom]

Does Magical Express have specific hours?

 

[OKW Lover]

Yes, they are open 24 hours a day; 7 days a week.

 

[Laneychris]

good to know

 

[goofy4tink]

To elaborate a bit...DME, the bus transportation system, is a 24/7 deal. It may run a bit less frequently after 8:00 pm, but you will get to your resort. But, the RAC system (remote airline checkin) does not run 24/7. They open at 5am and close at 1pm (or thereabouts). You have to be completely checked in, no less than 3 hrs. before flight time. So, if you have an 8am flight departure, you can't use RAC. But, you can check in up to 12 hrs before flight departure time.
I mention this because many people confuse the two entities, and put them both under the auspices of DME. Then, someone wants to check their bags for their 7 am flight and are distressed to find they aren't able to use 'DME', but it's RAC they can't use!

 

[marjamsmom]

Thank You!!

 

[hakepb]

I also believe luggage delivery (different contract than the Mears people delievery) is not 24x7?

I've at least heard that later flights should not expect to receive luggage inroom until the following day. As with any airline travel luggage situation. Pack enough carry-on that you can function for 24 hours after you arrive.

 

[Kaylesaunt]

I'm not sure outbound (MCO to WDW) DME transportation is always available 24/7. There really isn't a need for it - there are generally no flights arriving between 1am-sh and 6, so I don't believe DME would invest in the overhead necessary to keep the busses running from the airport then. We've show up at the MCO DME check in desk around 6:30am several times (after arriving late the day before and staying overnight at an airport hotel) and from the behavior of the DME staff I've always gotten the sense we are the first bus run of the day.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm not sure outbound (MCO to WDW) DME transportation is always available 24/7. There really isn't a need for it - there are generally no flights arriving between 1am-sh and 6, so I don't believe DME would invest in the overhead necessary to keep the busses running from the airport then. We've show up at the MCO DME check in desk around 6:30am several times (after arriving late the day before and staying overnight at an airport hotel) and from the behavior of the DME staff I've always gotten the sense we are the first bus run of the day.

Yes, it is a 24/7 operation. But....there are fewer buses running after 11pm, up to 6:00ish in the morning. Luggage doesn't get moved quickly at that arrival time either. But, if DME knows you'll be arriving at 1 am, they will get you to your resort.

As for the luggage delivery, it is dependent on what resort you'll be at. The value resorts stop delivering luggage around midnight, a bit before. Add to that that they have the slowest luggage delivery to begin with and it can take ages to get your bags. But the deluxe resorts have Bell Services running all day, all night. So, if you want your bags that night, you can get them. Otherwise, tell Bell Services that you want your bags held until the next morning!

 

[aprince&princess]

We recently checked into SSR at 11:30pm and received our luggage at 12:45am. We were told by the bellhop that they would leave a silent message and we would have to call if we wanted our luggage brought, but at 12:45am we heard a soft knock on the door and luggage was brought in.

 

[Nicola2010]

We recently checked into SSR at 11:30pm and received our luggage at 12:45am. We were told by the bellhop that they would leave a silent message and we would have to call if we wanted our luggage brought, but at 12:45am we heard a soft knock on the door and luggage was brought in.

Lucky you...

We used the Magical Express for the first time and were not told that we might not get the luggage until the following day.

We checked in around 8pm and i stayed up until 11:45pm waiting for the luggage (bearing in mind we travelled from the UK and so 11:45pm US time was actually 4:45am UK time and we had been up since 4am the following day) needless to say i was very tired and ratty... i phoned the baggage handlers and they said our luggage was still at the airport!

They said they could bring it to me if i wanted to wait up but could say what time it would be... i was obviously way too tired to stay up anymore so i went to bed.

My DF got up early and went to reception with his dad around 6am and the luggage had just arrived! Good job i didnt wait up for it... i do think they could have got this to us sooner as the plane landed at 6:30pm so why it took almost 12 hours to load up some cases is beyond me but we got our luggage eventually (i just had nothing to sleep in lol)

Maybe next time i will pack some essentials in my hand luggage and then it wont matter but it's all trial and error i guess.

 

[MIannie]

Last month we landed at 4pm, and was at Port Orleans by 5:30pm. We did the pool (we knew to carry on our bathing suits), then went down to DTD for dinner. No luggage by 11:30pm. Bell services said it was because we checked in on a Saturday. Luggage arrived at 12:45. No tip for them. Our previous experinces with ME were much more reasonable.