Magical Express - is there a rush to get to it?

[cbellasmomma]

My travel agent asked us for our flight reservation information for Magical Express. Does that mean they are "expecting you" kind of like all inclusive resorts. Do they wait for passengers or are there just a fleet of them waiting and if you miss them you have to wait for the next one? Obviously a first timer here.

I'm asking because flying out with DD I would like to just relax and not fight to get off the plane with everyone making connections, etc. If not, will we be first off the plane just to be sitting on the ME waiting for other people anyway? I hate the stand up and wait in the aisle thing people do when a plane lands. Thanks!

 

[kristenrice]

When you ARRIVE, you are not assigned to a bus. You just head down to the DME area and the CM there will confirm your reservation and direct you into one of five lines. Then you board the bus when it arrives. Sometimes, you may sit for 20 minutes, waiting for the bus to fill. I think I read somewhere that Disney imposed a time limit on Mears, saying that they need to depart no more than 30 minutes after the first party boards the bus. I think that back when DME was just starting, buses would wait until they were nearly full before they left, which meant some people sat for an hour or more. I cannot confirm this so don't hold me to it. There is no reason to rush to the DME pickup area. We always make a bathroom stop and sometimes grab a little food. There is no reason to hurry up and wait.

The RETURN to MCO is entirely different. You will be assigned to a bus and that is the one you must take. If you miss it, they may or may not be able to accommodate you. They may be able to squeeze you on to the next bus, but there is no telling when that next bus may be coming along, or if there will be any seats available. If there are no departures scheduled, there won't be a bus. You will receive a tag on your door the day before you leave which shows your scheduled pick up time. That is the time your bus is scheduled to DEPART from your resort. You should be at the stop 10-15 minutes BEFORE that scheduled time. Your pickup should be about 3 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart, 4 for international flights.

 

[OKW Lover]

Does that mean they are "expecting you" kind of like all inclusive resorts. Do they wait for passengers or are there just a fleet of them waiting and if you miss them you have to wait for the next one?

Its a fleet of busses just waiting to be filled. You aren't expected to be on a particular bus. Feel free to take your time getting to the ME location.

 

[goofy4tink]

No rush. You could take all day and you would still get on a bus! You can stop, do some shopping, eat...whatever. And then head down to dme. You will get checked in at the bus podium. Then directed to the appropriate resort bus line. You could get in a bus right then, wait 20+ mins, or something in-between. Same for once in the bus....1-20 mins. Then off to the resorts.
So, you are not assigned to a specific bus. Just show up when you want.
As already mentioned....for your return to MCO, you are given a specific bus to be on!

 

[supersnoop]

My travel agent asked us for our flight reservation information for Magical Express. Does that mean they are "expecting you" kind of like all inclusive resorts. Do they wait for passengers or are there just a fleet of them waiting and if you miss them you have to wait for the next one? Obviously a first timer here.

I'm asking because flying out with DD I would like to just relax and not fight to get off the plane with everyone making connections, etc. If not, will we be first off the plane just to be sitting on the ME waiting for other people anyway? I hate the stand up and wait in the aisle thing people do when a plane lands. Thanks!

They just want flight information in case there are lots of delays. They don't want to leave anyone behind.

 

[Pmlocke]

I asked that very question with a representative from Mears last year and he told me the information gives them an idea as to how many people could be arriving at any given time. The information helps them to judge how many buses may be required based on incoming passenger arrivals.

 

[cbellasmomma]

Awesome! Thank you all.

 

[buzz2400]

Does each bus make a lot of stops at the resorts or do they try and limit each bus to a few stops. We are staying at all stars if that makes any difference in the answer. I am just curious since I will be renting a car with the luggage and son and girlfriend will be taking ME. Just wanted to know if I will be waiting a long time for them to arrive.

 

[karly05]

Does each bus make a lot of stops at the resorts or do they try and limit each bus to a few stops. We are staying at all stars if that makes any difference in the answer. I am just curious since I will be renting a car with the luggage and son and girlfriend will be taking ME. Just wanted to know if I will be waiting a long time for them to arrive.

Each bus will go to about 4 resorts I think. The combinations and order can vary, but I think they try to combine efficiently. No going to GF then POP then POR. Hopefully someone who has stayed at the All-Stars will post their experience, but I can say for three trips in a row my bus has gone to OKW then Saratoga then POFQ.

 

[alievans719]

I've taken the bus to the All Stars two times, and I believe It went Coronado and then All Stars. I might be missing one in between, but they took the same route both times.

 

[MagentaMulan]

Each bus will go to about 4 resorts I think. The combinations and order can vary, but I think they try to combine efficiently. No going to GF then POP then POR. Hopefully someone who has stayed at the All-Stars will post their experience, but I can say for three trips in a row my bus has gone to OKW then Saratoga then POFQ.

That's lucky. On my last trip the route was to the Contemporary to GF to POFQ then to POR. It may have just been because it was a January and we arrived in the early evening. There were a total of about 10 passengers.