Magical Express- luggage only

[BobaScott]

I was able to secure CRT for dinner the night we arrive! Unfortunately it's only about a 2 hour window (if no delays) from landing to dinner so I would rather just skip the Magical Express as to not waste time waiting and stopping at other resorts.

What I'm having trouble understanding is; do I actually need to ride the shuttle to the resort to have my tagged luggage reach my hotel? I have spoken with several CMs and have recorded conflicting answers.

Basically, I will tag my bags with the ME blue (I think they are blue) tags before we check them at the airport, but will likely hail a cab straight to the Magic Kingdom once we land... Hoping our bags go to the resort.

Not sure if anyone else had had experience with a similar situation?

 

[bumbershoot]

There's a whole "sticky" thread about this very question on the Transportation forum.

Lots of opinions and feelings and experiences there.

Officially it's not a luggage service". But I haven't read of any negative reports yet. The bags are taken from behind the scenes and are stent on their way possibly long before you hit the bus line. You might stop to get Starbucks, go to the bathroom, change clothing (I can't be the only one who goes from WA clothes to FL clothes as long as it's not yet another cold snap I've walked into), go get some food, do some shopping, etc, and by that time the bags are well on their way. Therefore...

Anyway, read the sticky thread on the Transportation forum. It's called something like "I don't want to ride the bus!"

 

[Kevin355]

The luggage travels separately and should be no problem as long as they are tagged correctly.

 

[BobaScott]

Awesome! Thanks for the replies... I will check out the Transportation thread as well.

 

[tiggergal15]

I was able to secure CRT for dinner the night we arrive! Unfortunately it's only about a 2 hour window (if no delays) from landing to dinner so I would rather just skip the Magical Express as to not waste time waiting and stopping at other resorts.

What I'm having trouble understanding is; do I actually need to ride the shuttle to the resort to have my tagged luggage reach my hotel? I have spoken with several CMs and have recorded conflicting answers.

Basically, I will tag my bags with the ME blue (I think they are blue) tags before we check them at the airport, but will likely hail a cab straight to the Magic Kingdom once we land... Hoping our bags go to the resort.

Not sure if anyone else had had experience with a similar situation?

 

[maxiesmom]

There is no way I would book an ADR for 2 hours after landing. No way. There are too many things that can go wrong. And if you are late to your ADR there is no guarantee you will be seated, and you would forfeit the whole amount. That is a lot of money to be risking. It can take 30 minutes to get off of the plane and grab a taxi. Then you have to drive to the Magic Kingdom (which means the TTC) get to the front gate, go thru security, and get to the Castle. You are really pushing it!

Plus Disney will tell you DME is not meant to be used as a luggage transfer service. If somehow your luggage ends up missing, they will be a lot less happy to help a guest they know misused their system. And they will know you didn't get on a bus, as they scan your Magic Band.

I think you should cancel your ADR or keep checking for a later one. If not, know going in that there is a good chance you will miss it, and be out all that money.

 

[BobaScott]

Yea I have been going back and forth on this, and I'm really getting too nervous about cutting it that close... I'm trying to work out something with the inbound flight situation... wasn't thrilled with having anything scheduled for arrival night, however my wife already had gone and booked the special event tickets for the evening so we are stuck with those regardless. ... thanks

 

[Kimberle]

CRT, that's tough. A cab will only take you to the TTC. You'll still have to monorail or boat over to MK, then wait in the security lines. I don't see how you could possible make this one. CRT is also pre-paid, so you'd loose the full amount, not just $10pp....

 

[maxiesmom]

Yea I have been going back and forth on this, and I'm really getting too nervous about cutting it that close... I'm trying to work out something with the inbound flight situation... wasn't thrilled with having anything scheduled for arrival night, however my wife already had gone and booked the special event tickets for the evening so we are stuck with those regardless. ... thanks

What airline are you on? If it is Southwest be sure to pay for Early Bird Check In. If it an airline where you pick your seats, get them as close to the front of the plane as possible. Maybe even pay for Comfort Seats if they are an option. You want to be close to that door so you can get off asap! And no stopping for bathroom breaks, nothing, until you are in the park and at the castle. Have your crew use the airplane bathroom before you land. Your mission will be to get to that ADR, no stopping for anything!

 

[Lynne M]

Wow, that is going to take some spectacular luck. I'd have the cab drop you at the Contemporary instead of the TTC, you can walk across the road to MK instead of taking the ferry or monorail.

 

[bumbershoot]

however my wife already had gone and booked the special event tickets for the evening so we are stuck with those regardless. ... thanks

It's a party night, too? And you'll be dining?

Yikes, I'm sorry.

Of course another problem is what to do with your carryons.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I'd take a cab to the Contemporary and walk over, travel light.

 

[Polydweller]

I'd take a cab to the Contemporary and walk over, travel light.

That would be the only chance they'd have and it would be tight. It's at least 30 minutes to get a taxi. You have to get off the plane, walk to the tram, take a tram to the main terminal, locate the tax stand and find a taxi. That doesn't include the likely restroom break.

The drive to the Contemporary from the airport is 40 minutes. Then 5 minutes to pay the cabbie and then a couple of minutes to find the walkway to MK. It takes a minimum of 10 minutes to walk to the MK entrance. You're now at 85 of 120 minutes. You have to get through security and the entrance gates, another 5 minutes.mthen 10 minutes to walk down Main Street. So if everything is perfect you've got 15 minutes left.

All of that presumes everything runs like clockwork which it likely won't. The flight can be several minutes and they often are. There can be delays taxiing into the terminal which we've had on many, many trips. Arrival at the gate is almost always a few minutes late. Then you may have to wait for the second team to the terminal much less having to orient yourself. In other words delays can happen anywhere in your travels.

So best case yeah it can been done but likely it cannot. I'd make plans for something other than CRT.

 

[OThopeful35]

That's cutting it very close. If your plane is even a little late getting to MCO, it can derail all of your plans.

 

[mickeygirl78]

Last year we tagged our luggage but did not take the magical express, our luggage got to our room with no issues.

 

[Avi Winter]

Last year we tagged our luggage but did not take the magical express, our luggage got to our room with no issues.

Hi, did you scan your magic bands or do anything at airport ?

 

[ColoradoMom12]

If it were me, I would not cut it that close for CRT. If you miss the ADR, you are losing the full amount of the meal, not just the $10 per person no show fee. I have pushed our luck with ADRs (not CRT) on arrival day, and we have been very lucky. I am ok, though, with paying a $10 per person no show fee. It's a risk I'm willing to take. I know how difficult it is to get that CRT ADR, but I also know how upset I would be to pay the full amount for a dinner experience my family did not, in fact, experience. I guess like me, you have to decide if it's a risk you're willing to take. You're cutting it very close, though.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

This thread is over a year old . . .

 

[mickeygirl78]

Hi, did you scan your magic bands or do anything at airport ?

Nope - at the airport we just got our rental car and went to the hotel. We didn't scan bands or talk to anyone at the magical express desk.