Magical Express - Is it worth it??????

[jump00]

Hello everyone!!

We are thinking of using the Magical Express bus to get from the airport to our resort (either AKL or Beach club). How long does it typically take to these resorts? (August) We usually use Tiffany Town cars and love their service. So my question is does it take more than 45 minutes to get to either of these resorts? Is it worth it?

Thanks,
Jump00

 

[Julie711]

We always use ME, and love it! Wouldn't go any other way. We have stayed at AKL last Feb & other resorts and have had no longer then a 30-35 min ride. It's a nice relaxing ride, they play a movie about the parks & checking into your hotel, just gets us excited ( even though we've seen it a handful of times)!

 

[goofy4tink]

Worth it?? Worth what? The zero dollars you're paying for it??? Just kidding.
I love using a car service, but in all reality? You pay over $100 and you save, maybe, 30 mins total. It normally takes me about an hour, gate to resort, using a car service with checked bags. When using DME, it has taken me up to 85 mins, but most times it's around 70 mins, gate to resort.
The actual ride, from MCO to WDW resorts is about 30 mins. Which stop you are will determine if you spend another 10 mins or so on the bus...could be up to 15. Only you can determine what those extra minutes are worth to you...monetarily.

 

[bdklein]

Hello everyone!!

We are thinking of using the Magical Express bus to get from the airport to our resort (either AKL or Beach club). How long does it typically take to these resorts? (August) We usually use Tiffany Town cars and love their service. So my question is does it take more than 45 minutes to get to either of these resorts? Is it worth it?

Thanks,
Jump00

Reminder it is free, so not sure if 'worth it" is relevant.

 

[danceintherain]

Hello everyone!!

We are thinking of using the Magical Express bus to get from the airport to our resort (either AKL or Beach club). How long does it typically take to these resorts? (August) We usually use Tiffany Town cars and love their service. So my question is does it take more than 45 minutes to get to either of these resorts? Is it worth it?

Thanks,
Jump00

Yes, it will likely take more than 45 minutes. The way ME works is that you go to the check in area where you're sorted into lines by resort. When a bus arrives, people going to around 3 resorts are loaded on it. Each bus "waits" for around 30 minutes to fill up before it leaves. This is fine if you're one of the last people to board, but if you're one of the first, you will sit for a while.

Then you head to Disney, which about a 25 minute ride.

If you are the last to board the bus, and the first resort to be dropped off, the trip could take as little as 30 minutes. If you're the first to board a bus, and the last to be dropped off, it can take close to 90 minutes.

If speed is important to you, then ME is probably not the best choice.

We love it, because it's so easy, and it's free. We just hop on the bus, and get dropped off without having to worry about pointing our bags out to anyone. And they play a movie as you go, which gets us hyped up.

 

[meggimouse]

i've never thought about not using the magical express.
we've never had to wait more than 10 minutes for it to arrive at the airport and don't even notice the time between MCO and our resort.
the movie passes the time even if i've seen it a million times but it still gets us excited to get into disney!

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's a breakdown of time it takes me to get to various points...

gate to DME checkin area ...15 mins
in line for the bus....0-20 mins
on bus, waiting to leave....0-20 mins
ride to resort....25-40 mins, depending on which stop we are

You might only wait in the bus line for 5 mins, but then once on the bus, wait for 20 mins...so it probably balances out in the long run. I have never, ever had the longest possible waits at all points.

using a car service...
gate to baggage claim (if there are checked bags)...10-15 mins
wait for bags to appear....10-20 mins
out to car....5 mins
ride to resort....25-30 mins, depending on location

 

[Chuckers]

I *love* DME and don't see any reason not to use it... why?

Well,

1. It's free.
2. I don't have to worry about my luggage.. coming or going to the airport.
3. It's comfortable.
4. IT'S FREE.

 

[herb102211]

We love DME and always use them when going to Disney. Sure, you could probably get there a little quicker by taking a cab as it would be a direct trip to your resort, but why spend the extra money if you don't have to. We are usually to our resort within an hour or so. It depends on how many stops are ahead of you and how many people are unloading from your bus.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

To know the ME is to love the ME I can't imagine doing anything else now. It's a great perk for staying at WDW I will use to the last bus standing!

 

[networktek]

we love using magical express it just gets you in the Disney feeling especially when you have been siting in a plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you are in a hurry to get to your resort and you would get overly frustrated with having to stop at up to three resorts before yours, then you will probably be much happier with privately arranged transportation. I have no problems with DME and it is not worth it to me to expend an extra $50-100 to get there a few minutes earlier, but I understand it could possibly be most frustrating if I was in a hurry.

Most likely it will take more than 45 minutes.

 

[BringingUpDisney]

I both love and dread ME. I love it on the way to Disney where the whole bus seems to heave a sigh of collective relief -we are on our way to the magic!!!

I only dread it when I have to leave, which is a quieter ride with the sadness of leaving the magic behind.

Personally, I can't think of any reason to arrive any other way. My DD loves the movie and I love to just relax and let the pixies deal with my luggage.

 

[Chuckers]

Most likely it will take more than 45 minutes.

I like to plan on 90 minutes from plane door to resort front desk

 

[daizieduck]

I love the convenience of not having to pick up our checked bags at baggage claim when we arrive at MCO. The bags are almost always delivered to our room well within the 3 hour window they say to allow. Only once I think, was it longer than 3 hours. And on the way home it's nice to have the option of checking our bags at the ME resort desk if we want to, and not have to worry about them again until we land at our home airport. The ME buses are nice. Clean and comfortable. Never have had a problem. Although my friend went about four years ago and the bus broke down not far from the resort. They had to wait for another bus to come and pick them up and take them the rest of the way. Once she got to the resort they comped her a microwave for her room (she stayed at All Star Movies I believe) for the inconvenience. I estimate 60-90 min from getting off the plane at MCO to arriving at the resort.

 

[visitingapril09]

This is our first on site stay and one of the things we are excited about is finally getting to use the ME!!

 

[MARDUN]

We use Magical Express Service unless we drive to the world. We have used other services for says at Universal or offsite hotels. The limos are slightly more convenient but the to us the difference is not worth the price. Rather spend the money on other areas of the vacation.

It could take you longer than 45 minutes in travel time and plus a small wait inside the terminal. Our last trip (pop century, October) we where at the resort inside of an hour. Bags generally show up in your room a few hours after you arrive. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We even use ME if we do flydrive! We just say to our vacation company we will pick up rental car next day. So much nicer to get the ME to resort with jet lag than worry about driving! ( we come from the UK )

 

[geckodani]

ME is one of the major perks of staying on site to me. I get so danged excited to put those yellow tags on my luggage, check it and forget it!

I'd count on at least an hour, possibly more from MCO to your resort. It really depends on how many stops your bus is making. I've been on one that only made 3, and we were at our resort in 45 minutes, and I've been on one that made 5 stops and it took almost 90 minutes. I didn't care; just sit back, watch the cartoons and away you go!

If time is of the essence, and an extra 30 min or so each way is worth the cost of hiring a car, then go for it. Totally a personal preference.

 

[Couchy]

I don't like it. I am too impatient. We waited in line for like 30 mins for a bus then had to wait for the bus to fill up and then we were the last stop. It took almost 2 hours. On the way home you have to be ready for the bus 3 hours in advance

Last time we put the luggage tags on our bags( was told by DME this was fine ) and took a towncar. From gate to resort it was 30 mins. We then get picked up 1 hour 45 min before our flight on the way home.

I love town car services