Magical Express Line?!

[Tawney]

If you remember can you post about your experience arriving at that time. If my flight leaves on time later in the year that’s about the time I should be arriving

Hi there! I'm back from my trip and have some times to report to you!

Our flight landed at MCO 30 minutes before the scheduled time - we landed at 8:40 AM. We didn't have any bags to pick up as we only packed carry-ons, so we skipped baggage claim and headed straight to the Magical Express line. We arrived to the ME line at 9:00 AM and were checked in by 9:06 AM. The CM quoted us a 45 minute wait to be picked up, and then another 45 minute ride to POP. There was one family of six in front of us in the ME line. The bus arrived just three minutes after we got in line, and we were on our way to POP by 9:10 AM. When we arrived at POP (9:40 AM) there was no line for luggage services, so we checked our bags in at 9:45 AM. I had hoped that our room would be ready, but it wasn't ready quite yet.

We were excited to be able to head straight to Epcot for opening. The line for the Skyliner was pretty long, both at POP and at the transfer station. We got in line for the Skyliner at 10 AM and were walking through the World Showcase entrance to Epcot at 10:58 AM.

Anyway, I was super pleased with how quick and painless everything was. Definitely cannot complain about one hour between landing and checking bags at the resort!

 

[Gitelfor]

Hi there! I'm back from my trip and have some times to report to you!

Our flight landed at MCO 30 minutes before the scheduled time - we landed at 8:40 AM. We didn't have any bags to pick up as we only packed carry-ons, so we skipped baggage claim and headed straight to the Magical Express line. We arrived to the ME line at 9:00 AM and were checked in by 9:06 AM. The CM quoted us a 45 minute wait to be picked up, and then another 45 minute ride to POP. There was one family of six in front of us in the ME line. The bus arrived just three minutes after we got in line, and we were on our way to POP by 9:10 AM. When we arrived at POP (9:40 AM) there was no line for luggage services, so we checked our bags in at 9:45 AM. I had hoped that our room would be ready, but it wasn't ready quite yet.

We were excited to be able to head straight to Epcot for opening. The line for the Skyliner was pretty long, both at POP and at the transfer station. We got in line for the Skyliner at 10 AM and were walking through the World Showcase entrance to Epcot at 10:58 AM.

Anyway, I was super pleased with how quick and painless everything was. Definitely cannot complain about one hour between landing and checking bags at the resort!

I think the fact that you had an early morning arrival at MCO contributed to your no-wait, positive experience. Starting mid to late morning, the line starts to get long.

Thanks for sharing - it’s good to hear that not everyone has a frustrating experience with DME.

 

[HashberryOTG]

We were most recently there a few weeks ago. DME line looked a little scary, but moved fast. Even a family of 4 with luggage takes up so much space with distancing. They told us it could take up to an hour before we got our bus, but once sorted into our lines we were picked right up.

 

[kedz]

Has anyone had any experience with Magical Express recently in the am heading from resort to airport. We have a 7am flight, I'm worried about the DME being slow or running late getting back to airport in the early am.

 

[Suejacken]

Hi there! I'm back from my trip and have some times to report to you!

Our flight landed at MCO 30 minutes before the scheduled time - we landed at 8:40 AM. We didn't have any bags to pick up as we only packed carry-ons, so we skipped baggage claim and headed straight to the Magical Express line. We arrived to the ME line at 9:00 AM and were checked in by 9:06 AM. The CM quoted us a 45 minute wait to be picked up, and then another 45 minute ride to POP. There was one family of six in front of us in the ME line. The bus arrived just three minutes after we got in line, and we were on our way to POP by 9:10 AM. When we arrived at POP (9:40 AM) there was no line for luggage services, so we checked our bags in at 9:45 AM. I had hoped that our room would be ready, but it wasn't ready quite yet.

We were excited to be able to head straight to Epcot for opening. The line for the Skyliner was pretty long, both at POP and at the transfer station. We got in line for the Skyliner at 10 AM and were walking through the World Showcase entrance to Epcot at 10:58 AM.

Anyway, I was super pleased with how quick and painless everything was. Definitely cannot complain about one hour between landing and checking bags at the resort!

That’s awesome. Thanks for sharing your experience with us

 

[tjmw2727]

I timed our trip on Saturday 4/18 - landed at 2, grabbed bags and traversed the airport (swa) to DME. No line for check in and waited about 5 minutes when the first bus pulled up - just missed it. First party in line now, waited another 18 minutes for the second bus, boarded and left immediately after the bus was loaded. It was a generic coach, no video but it was clean and comfortable, we were loaded back to front skipping rows between parties.

Only POP guests on bus so no additional stops and we were at Pop by 3:15.

Quoted myself to share our outbound experience,

12:25 Pickup from AOA for a 3:30 flight 4/25, bus was on time and a Mears employee was at the stop with a clipboard checking vouchers and boarding guests while the driver loaded bags. It was a "Dynamic" brand coach bus not a DME bus, very clean and comfortable. Mears employee loaded guests back to front and instructed guests to leave an empty row between parties, everyone complied. No additional pickups on the way to the airport.

With the exception of no DME buses, & no movie our last experience was very good!

 

[Mr. X]

DME line today at MCO


View attachment 567979
Photo credit: Kenny the Pirate

That's nuts I would've walked outside and grabbed a taxi

 

[mdguy429]

That's nuts I would've walked outside and grabbed a taxi

On Saturday, someone on the WDW subreddit posted a short vid of the line. It was insane!! They said it was an hour wait to get to the CM who checks you in, and another hour in their resort queue. Without baggage delivery, I totally agree with you, it would've been time for a taxi or Uber/Lyft.

 

[Viking7641]

I'll just play it by ear, if it's excessively long I'll see how much Lyft is.

I'm willing to spend a bit to have more vacation time that isn't spent in an airport

 

[flipflopmom]

We landed today around 3:40 and there were only 5 people ahead of us in line, there were tons of buses waiting for guests and we walked right on. Lots of bus traffic. I was scared but it was super fast.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Hi all! For my upcoming trip, our flight lands at MCO around 8:30 am on a Saturday. What do you think we should expect at that time? Thanks.

 

[FCDub]

Hi all! For my upcoming trip, our flight lands at MCO around 8:30 am on a Saturday. What do you think we should expect at that time? Thanks.

As you can see from the previous posts, it's very hit or miss and virtually impossible to predict. Go in expecting a long line, and be pleasantly surprised if there isn't one.

 

[newcomer52]

Does anyone have line information for early evening? We arrive at 6:44 and I don't really want to be waiting long when it getting bedtime for my granddaughter.

 

[FCDub]

Does anyone have line information for early evening? We arrive at 6:44 and I don't really want to be waiting long when it getting bedtime for my granddaughter.

Take the post right above yours and sub morning for early evening. Unfortunately, it's literally impossible to predict something like this. If you make it on the right tram, you could be ahead of 50 families from just-arriving flights. If you need to take a bathroom break after getting off the plane, you could find yourself at the back of that pack and have a long wait.

So, if you have an extenuating circumstance like bedtime, I’d say your decision has already been made.

 

[Mr. X]

I'm not taking any chances. We arrive around 11am on a Sunday at the end of August.

I want to get to my resort ASAP. So I'm going to book one of the car services that are there waiting for you and take you directly to the resort.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I'm not taking any chances. We arrive around 11am on a Sunday at the end of August.

I want to get to my resort ASAP. So I'm going to book one of the car services that are there waiting for you and take you directly to the resort.

I am considering the same. Roundtrip car service might be the best way to start and end the vacation. This was going to be our last trip with Magical Express, so it was more sentimental, but we want to have as much time as possible at WDW.

 

[LDunks]

Took the Magical Express yesterday (Saturday, May 29th) at 2:30pm. There was no one else to be seen in the entire area: walked up to the check in area, walked onto a bus that had 1 family on it, waited 5 minutes for 2 other families, and we were off!

Such a saving grace as we were traveling through naptime with two 3 year olds

 

[emcarle27]

We arrived today. Line was very long for Magical Express. But it kept moving. We got in line at 11:15 and was on bus at 11:55

 

[beccasmom]

Our flight lands at 4:00 on a Saturday so I hope for the best, but realistically know it could be crazy. We made no plans (no ADRs for that evening), knowing it might be problematic and that it will take some extra time retrieving our luggage. We have normally been lucky with the ME lines, but this year is far from typical.

 

[yaksack]

We arrived today. Line was very long for Magical Express. But it kept moving. We got in line at 11:15 and was on bus at 11:55

What time did you land? We are suppose to land by 10am on 6/24.