Magical Express Lift Busses

[toocherie]

Hi everyone (and especially Sue): does anyone know how many lift busses Magical Express has in their service? Our introduction to WDW was marred by a poor experience upon arrival in Orlando--we did not leave for over an hour and twenty minutes after being checked in because a lift bus was not available and did not arrive for 40 minutes, then they waited to load additional passengers (it was a slow time of day) and then they tried to make us stop 4 of their route after all that. (I objected strenuously at that point and the driver changed us to first.) I posted in response to someone else's general experience on the Transportation board and we are all curious as to how many lift-busses are available (my Mom was on her personal scooter). I also want to say I called and confirmed our arrival time and the need for a lift bus three times and was assured that one would be available--in my opinion having to wait 40 minutes for it to arrive and then another 40 minutes to leave the airport was unreasonable. Am I wrong? Especially since another SSR bus left with non-disabled passengers before the lift bus even arrived.

We did not arrive to the resort until approximately 7:45 p.m. after checking in to ME at 6 p.m. (and if he had kept to his original schedule the driver had estimated between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. if I had not objected).

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't know the answer to your question.
I guess we have been lucky because we have never waited that long. We've usually arrived at our resort within 1 and 1/2 hour after checking in at DME at the airport. I'd have to check with DH, but I think we were to the resort within an hour on our recent trip.

 

[Nanajo1]

On our last trip we arrived at MCO around 1pm. There was another family that had been waiting over an hour for a lift bus to OKW. One came but the lift was broken. They were getting very frustrated as they had two little children who were hungry and ready to get out of the airport. I'm not sure but I think they divided the family so the DGP went ahead to the resort. I got the feeling the guest in the w/c went by van. I had to wait about 30 min for a BWV lift bus. Even though I indicate I need a lift bus everyone seems surprised when I roll up.
I have never had a problem leaving. A lift bus has always showed up.

 

[toocherie]

On our last trip we arrived at MCO around 1pm. There was another family that had been waiting over an hour for a lift bus to OKW. One came but the lift was broken. They were getting very frustrated as they had two little children who were hungry and ready to get out of the airport. I'm not sure but I think they divided the family so the DGP went ahead to the resort. I got the feeling the guest in the w/c went by van. I had to wait about 30 min for a BWV lift bus. Even though I indicate I need a lift bus everyone seems surprised when I roll up.
I have never had a problem leaving. A lift bus has always showed up.

Nanajo--what is the usual wait time for you for a lift bus to arrive?

Everyone: is a 40-minutes or one hour wait to get a lift bus unreasonable in your opinion?

Nanajo: that was what surprised me too--that it didn't appear that anyone at the desk was aware that a lift bus would be required even thought I had called Magical Express three times to confirm. What's the point of even telling them if one isn't going to be called out until you get there anyway?

 

[mechurchlady]

toocherie asked: is a 40-minutes or one hour wait to get a lift bus unreasonable in your opinion?

I stayed out as I have experience but not with this company, yet.
I have never done Magical Express. I did call for a van to take me to the airport. They called me before arriving to give me an updated and better time then showed up at the hour promised.

They only have so many lift busses and cover many many many miles of resorts. Therefore if I was running Magical Express I would have a dispatcher on them busses to make sure that they were used efficiently and not keep customers waiting. What is the wait for guests that do not need a lift? That is when I would be upset. It is standard business practice and within reason the busses should be on time. Orlando has many van companies that will haul Magical Express passengers. How hard is for them to keep track of out of commision lift busses?

I say 15 minutes unless they are really nice and explain that there was a problem like traffic or a sick guest. All I wanted to do after my San Antonio trip was get out the blazing heat, get my car, figure how it worked, get to the hotel and rest. For me the flight was stressful and long even for a place half as far as Orlando. A person not using a lift could easily take a cab or shuttle to the parks and most would not wait 40 minutes for a bus.

 

[toocherie]

toocherie asked: is a 40-minutes or one hour wait to get a lift bus unreasonable in your opinion?

I stayed out as I have experience but not with this company, yet.
I have never done Magical Express. I did call for a van to take me to the airport. They called me before arriving to give me an updated and better time then showed up at the hour promised.

They only have so many lift busses and cover many many many miles of resorts. Therefore if I was running Magical Express I would have a dispatcher on them busses to make sure that they were used efficiently and not keep customers waiting. What is the wait for guests that do not need a lift? That is when I would be upset. It is standard business practice and within reason the busses should be on time. Orlando has many van companies that will haul Magical Express passengers. How hard is for them to keep track of out of commision lift busses?

I say 15 minutes unless they are really nice and explain that there was a problem like traffic or a sick guest. All I wanted to do after my San Antonio trip was get out the blazing heat, get my car, figure how it worked, get to the hotel and rest. For me the flight was stressful and long even for a place half as far as Orlando. A person not using a lift could easily take a cab or shuttle to the parks and most would not wait 40 minutes for a bus.

mechurchlady--that is why I was upset. A bus for our resort did leave while we were waiting. I don't expect "special" service--just the service that I believe was promised and to have my Mom be treated like any other user of the product.

 

[RNMOM]

I don't know it I think 40 min. is excessive or not. I was treated very well and put on board a bus as soon as it came in then had to wait for others to board. We were not first off either. We didn't have to wait long, just enough time for me to get a quick bathroom break, then loaded. I just consulted DH and he thinks it took us just over an hour. If you put your 40 min. wait and 40 min. travel time....it is very close to our own time.

This is a free service and when we got there on a Sat. late morning, it was very busy with a large number of people waiting. We esentially went ahead of everyone and it still took over an hour. 60 min/ 80 min. Not much difference IMHO.

 

[toocherie]

I don't know it I think 40 min. is excessive or not. I was treated very well and put on board a bus as soon as it came in then had to wait for others to board. We were not first off either. We didn't have to wait long, just enough time for me to get a quick bathroom break, then loaded. I just consulted DH and he thinks it took us just over an hour. If you put your 40 min. wait and 40 min. travel time....it is very close to our own time.

This is a free service and when we got there on a Sat. late morning, it was very busy with a large number of people waiting. We esentially went ahead of everyone and it still took over an hour. 60 min/ 80 min. Not much difference IMHO.

just clarifying--was it an hour to get to leave the airport or an hour to get to your resort? for us it was 80 minutes just to leave the aiport. Forty minutes for the lift bus to arrive; forty minutes for them to load additional passengers and get routing figured out. It took another 25 minutes or so to get to the resort (since we were re-routed to first stop. If we had not been re-routed it would have been another hour and fifteen minutes to hour and a half to get to the resort). And as I mentioned elsewhere--this is not a "free" service--you can bet it is being figured into the price of hotel rooms (or in my case the maintenance fees I pay for DVC).

 

[pugdog]

About 2/3's of the buses are suppose to have a lift. Now how many are broke is a good question.

We have never waited more then 30 minutes to get on a bus at MCO.

And yes every time we get to the bus stop they are surprised that we are using a wheelchair too, even after calling and "confirming" a need for the lift. It does seem like that part never gets passed on. The last 2 times they did not send a lift bus for us and ended up sending a van because there was not a bus near us to get us to the airport in time. Maybe some of the drivers on the lift buses are not trained in the lifts so they can't send them?

 

[toocherie]

Yes, this seems to be a pervasive problem--I think a letter to Disney (rather than Mears) is in order--why even bother noting on the "reservation" that a lift bus is required if they aren't going to order one until you arrive anyway?

 

[Nanajo1]

About 2/3's of the buses are suppose to have a lift. Now how many are broke is a good question.

Maybe some of the drivers on the lift buses are not trained in the lifts so they can't send them?

I have used lift ME busses for 8 trips. DH says we should get credit for continuing education as only one driver actually knew how to operate the lift and how to tie down my ECV. Maybe by our nest trip we will have met the majority of drivers! I must add all the drivers are very gracious and accommodating.

 

[mechurchlady]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQDMEPage#s6

Q. How long is the travel time from the Orlando International Airport to my Resort hotel?

A. The approximate travel time is 45-75 minutes. The motor coaches may make up to three (3) stops before arriving at your Resort hotel.

I rarely speak on this matter as I never used it. Personally I rather hire a van or rent a car as it never seemed that speedy. Are you alone in complaining? Nope. Other issues being brought up is the location of the busses and booth in the airport, luggage arriving late or next day, and the confusion of the whole system that shuts down at night. God forbid you are arriving later in the evening as shown in the following thread.
http://www.wheelerstransportation.com/ref.html

http://www.passporterboards.com/for...sneys-magical-express-arrival-procedures.html
Definitely more evidence that there needs a complete overhaul of the system. Abled bodied guests are arriving at 1:30 pm and do not get luggage for 12 hours. Some guests do not know that they can leave the yellow tags off, go get their bags and take them with them on the bus. The advertising even implies you will get your bags quickly. I have been planning to go back to WDW for too long and never would think of using their services. That is because I have hard about how their drivers drive.

 

[toocherie]

Well, because I didn't want to be seen as a complainer, I didn't mention the bag that went missing for two days--even though it was properly yellow tagged and checked. ME's response--"well, we have no record of it having been checked in so YOU have to call your airline yourself." They didn't even give me the phone number. (It turned out that for whatever reason it did not make it on the plane the day we left--it was sent out the next day and I got it the following morning (i.e, the third day)).

Not so much blaming ME for the lost luggage, but I think they should have followed up with the airline since I had followed their "system" to the "t" and they apparently have arrangements with Delta, among others. They had as much info as I had (i.e., description, check number, etc.)

 

[scottsod]

we have used me 3 times in last 3 years

we have had no real problems my ds 9 uses a wc

we were taken to a bench near the windows infront of the line to wait
on 1st trip bus was there right away 2nd trip was about 40 min wait
3rd trip about 25 min wait all trips the driver knew how to use the lift and were verry nice to my son they told him he was proud to give him his 1st ride at wdw the lift to the bus!

all 3 times the return bus showed up with a lift without me asking i did ask that am but was told its already noted and it was

only lost our bags 1 time and turns out they were in the bell hop room at the resort and they found them this time i did have 1 damaged bag and me checked and it was noted on there form when they picked it up from contental that it was damaged so the airline did it

scott

 

[mrsksomeday]

We have used ME 6 times in 2 1/2 years. My DBF is in a power wheelchair. It has taken up to an hour to get an accessible shuttle before, but it is a free service and we are extremely happy with it. Our luggage has ever been lost, the bus drivers knew how to work the lift, and were very polite.

OP I am sorry you had a bad experience, we will continue to use ME every time we are going to WDW.