Magical Express? Like it or Don't like it?

[rachy710310]

I have read nurmerous discussion threads on the magical express. Questions, comments, and concerns and I have also read some negative expierences and positive expierence so I set up a poll to see what the general consenus is.

 

[PatsMom]

We love ME. It probably takes a little longer to get to and from WDW than renting a car but with the money we save, we can splurge on nicer meals or souvenirs. The only thing we miss is having a car to go to the grocery store - we own DVC so we have a full kitchen. We have used WeGoShop for our groceries with great luck so it really isn't an issue. But using a shoppping service does use up some of the cost savings from DME.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ah, but $15 (or so) plus tip is a LOT more cost-effective than $100 plus tip for a livery service
Note that the groceries would cost about the same whether one stops to shop on one's way to the resort, or allows a shopping service to do that. In fact, a shopping service is cheaper - no 'impulse purchases'. Boy, that just made up MY mind!

 

[helenk]

I've used DME several times and I love it.
At first I though the 3 hours prior to your flight pick up time would kind of put a crimp in my last park day. Now that I've done it though it really is nice to get to the airport without racing, and really I only lose about an hour in the parks. I then have time to eat a sit down meal in the airport and take my time getting to the gate.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Two trips with two great ME experiences and we plan to use for our trip in Aug. We like everything about it from the festive looking buses to the FREE service. One of the best Disney ideas yet!

 

[sue1013]

We too love DME. Our favorite part is not having to deal with our luggage. We do curbside checkin then don't see it again until we get in our room. Check our luggage at the resort and don't see it again until we are back in Newark.

 

[CleveRocks]

I have read nurmerous discussion threads on the magical express. Questions, comments, and concerns and I have also read some negative expierences and positive expierence so I set up a poll to see what the general consenus is.

Most (but certainly not all) of the negative experiences I've read have been the result of guests not knowing what DME promises and what it doesn't ... call it unrealistic expectations. And I mean people who haven't read the DME booklet Disney sends them ... I'm not talking about info that you need to study DISboards to find.

Like someone not realizing that they won't have immediate access to their luggage, and they packed important medication and all of baby's diapers and formula in there.

Or the guy angry that his luggage wasn't in his room when he arrived, and was mad that it arrived at the resort 90 minutes after he did (which was actually 90 minutes EARLIER than the promised time of about 3 hours after resort arrival).

Or someone not realizing that their bus might stop at other resorts first.

Or someone who was absolutely livid that on her way home her luggage wasn't automatically taken from her room by Bell Services and automatically checked through to her home airport.

Or the guy who got on a soapbox saying how bad DME is because when he entered his new room there was "old" luggage lined up inside the room, which he blamed DME for, thinking that DME "left" the luggage there and the owner will be so unhappy to not receive the luggage at the home airport [for the record, there is no such thing as automatic luggage handling or checking FROM your room directly TO your home airport at the end of your stay].

Or the people who thought the DME driver so very very rude for not dropping them off directly at their airline (not realizing that the bus makes 2 stops at the airport for drop-offs, one on the A side and one on the B side, and that individuals are not dropped off at their specific individual airlines).

And so on and so on ....

Have there been any legitimate complaints? I'm sure there've been MANY of them. Any system that handles roughly 2 MILLION people a year is going to make some bonehead moves from time to time that righteously anger and inconvenience people ... but as I predict you'll see in your poll, those instances are in the very small minority.

By the way, I like DME very much.

 

[clkelley]

We LOVE DME!! We have enough to deal with at the airport with the ECV, C-Pap Machine, and hubby's extra screening. Being able to bypass luggage claim is wonderful!!! Also since we generally arrive late, we get to bed that much sooner, because if I had my luggage with me, I would insist on unpacking it right then. Now, all we unpack the first night is our clothes for the next morning. I can do our major unpacking the next afternoon when our luggage does arrive!!

 

[goofy4tink]

I've posted these times before, but I'll do it again for those who may not have seen 'em.

These are my time to resort from deplaning, using various modes of transportation.

Mears Shuttle to POR (DxL, that's how long ago it was!!)...2 1/2 hrs....never again.

Towncar service (various ones)...50 mins to POP, with carryon bags only.
To Dolphin, CR, BW,.....more like 65 or so minutes...had to wait for our luggage, then wait for the car to be brought around.

DME...to BW, BC....65 mins, both times. POP....55 mins one time, we were the first stop, 90 mins the last time, we were the third stop and had to wait for much luggage to be taken off the bus at each of the first two stops.

I can't say for a rental car situation....I would imagine that if there are more than two adults, it can be pretty quick...one adult gets the car, the other(s) hang and wait for the bags to come, then load 'em up and off you go.

I have not had a bad experience to date with DME. I have had a situation where, by my mistake, I had no vouchers for my return to the airport. Bell Services at POR took care of that for me very nicely...hardly laughed at me at all. Do I think the bus picks you up to soon to return to the airport? NO, no really. You do need to be at MCO 2 hrs. before your flight time...security can be incredibly time consuming if there is a long line...better safe than sorry. People that have had rental cars have come home and reported cutting it too close for comfort...after returning the car, getting stuck in long security lines, then getting to the gate with only 30 mins to spare. Phew..not for me.
Towncars will routinely pick you up at about 2 hrs. 15 mins before flight time, so DME is only adding about 30 mins to that time. Not a big deal for me. If you want to spend more time in a park on your departure day, book a later flight.

As has already been stated, many of the negative reports you see are from those who were ill-informed, who may not have done their homework. If you pack your carryon with anything you will need for the first day of your stay, you should be fine. I always pack my swim suit and a change of clothes....just in case. Most of the problems you hear about are either the airline has misdirected the bags and DMe just deliveres them when they finally get them, or it's Bell Services at the resorts. Although most do a good job, but they can be slow pokes.

 

[K9pal]

We knew exactly what to expect both times we've used it, and both have been positive experiences. FREE, clean, comfy, FREE, quick, courteous, and FREE!!
The only thing I was disappointed in (and it had nothing to do with the service) is that neither driver on our June trip used the TV monitors, and we had told the grandkids about them. But the driver to the resort did point out a lot of sights along the way, and gave us lots of Disney info too.

 

[maxiesmom]

I like it because it is free. I don't like it because on our way back to the airport, they had more people who wanted on the bus than they had seats for. It was a very angry mob, and the bus driver actually asked us if we "had his back" if they got out of control. It was a little scary.

 

[Skroops]

Just like everywhere else, at busy times you must bring your patience. It is a free service, and we love it. On off peak travel times, it goes very quickly. During regular and peak season, the lines can be long at the ME check in counter and then at your resort check in because you arrive with a bus full of folks. During regular and peak season you just have more guests at each stop which takes more time unloading at each stop.
For us, we rarely have park plans on travel days anyway. We make the stop to baggage claim to have our bags to bring to the ME bus, because we like to have our bags in our room right away with little ones. That is just us. Everyone has their own preference. We are able to relax and just enjoy the free ride (plus tip!)! I hope ME continues!

 

[CleveRocks]

I like it because it is free. I don't like it because on our way back to the airport, they had more people who wanted on the bus than they had seats for. It was a very angry mob, and the bus driver actually asked us if we "had his back" if they got out of control. It was a little scary.

It's unfortunate that some people don't think the rules apply to them, and decide to catch a later bus back to the airport than the one they were assigned to. I actually saw someone bragging about this on another board.