Magical Express...neither Magical, nor Express

[DisneyWacker]

I found the only good thing about Magical Express was the cost. It was a horribly inefficient process. I did not make my reservation soon enough (7 days in advance) to get luggage tags sent to me, so I knew I had to go to the desk to give them my luggage slips and descriptions. But what I wasn't expecting was that EVERYONE has to go to that same desk.

Why is it that the people who do make advance reservations and have the special luggage tags have to still check in (about a 20-30 minute wait) at the Magical Express desk? I would expect that the people that made their Magical Express reservations in advance would simply go straight to the bus to get taken to their hotel.

Oh, one more thing, it was ANOTHER 30 minute wait to get on a bus AFTER I waited in the first 30 minute line for the check-in process. So, I basically had to wait an hour just to get on a bus. Then, if I wasn't lucky enough to be the first stop (thankfully, I was), I might have to wait another 15-30 minutes driving to other hotels before getting dropped off. So, the total wait time spent in Magical express could have been in excess of 90 minutes + drive time.

I do appreciate the free transportation, but really, this could be done much, much better.

 

[Mousema]

You must have arrived during a peak time. When we went in September, it took about 10 minutes at the desk and another 10 waiting for the bus. I'm going again and using ME in 26 days, I'll let you know how it works when crowd levels are higher.

 

[goofy4tink]

Wow, you had an extremely unusual experience! Everyone has to check in so that DME knows that you are there. They have to stamp your vouchers and then you'll have the return vouchers ready to go for the trip back to the airport. They double check to make sure your return info is correct, as well as your resort info.
I've used DME 4-5 times now, and never waited in line for 30 minutes!! I did count, yes I did even though my dh thought I was nuts, and the longest line I've been in was a 10 minute wait. I was about the 48th person in line. I figured it would take me forever to get there!!! But, I was wrong.
As for the wait in the bus line, again, an unusual experience. I've never waited more than 13 minutes (yep, timed again). Then waited about 10 mins on the bus. All in all, it's taken me a total of 70 minutes usually to get from my plane's jetway to my resort checkin. One time it took me almost 90 mins but that time I was the third stop of three.
When I use a towncar, with checked luggage it usually takes me 55-60 mins to get from my plane to the resort. And I have to lug the luggage.
Again, I'm sorry you had this experience. I guess that there is always going to be someone who has a less than magical experience. Sure wish that wasn't the case.

 

[Jestocost]

Sorry your experience wasn't the best, but it sounds like your hit things at just the wrong time. I've never had to wait more than a few minutes at the desk or to board the bus. Using the old Mears bus system I'd waited MUCH longer for the bus and still had to deal with the possibility of having to make one or more stops before reaching my resort.

ME isn't perfect and it's certainly not as good as using a town car/limo (if money is no object), but relative to comparable services that used to cost a fair amount of money it's at least as good and, in my experience, better.

 

[**pixiedust**]

Honestly..and I don't mean for this to come across as sarcastic...but how could it be done better? I have found it to be a very efficicient process and will be using it again in May. Ninety minutes from plane to hotel is nothing, as far as I'm concerned. It would take me twice that long to get off the plane, claim my luggage, get my rental car or get on to a shuttle and get to my hotel. I really thing ME is wonderful.

 

[BubblPopElectrc]

Honestly..and I don't mean for this to come across as sarcastic...but how could it be done better? I have found it to be a very efficicient process and will be using it again in May. Ninety minutes from plane to hotel is nothing, as far as I'm concerned. It would take me twice that long to get off the plane, claim my luggage, get my rental car or get on to a shuttle and get to my hotel. I really thing ME is wonderful.

Well said. I'm guessing that you have never had to wait for rent car before? And also, as you mentioned, it is free.

 

[CleveRocks]

I found the only good thing about Magical Express was the cost. It was a horribly inefficient process. I did not make my reservation soon enough (7 days in advance) to get luggage tags sent to me, so I knew I had to go to the desk to give them my luggage slips and descriptions. But what I wasn't expecting was that EVERYONE has to go to that same desk.

Why is it that the people who do make advance reservations and have the special luggage tags have to still check in (about a 20-30 minute wait) at the Magical Express desk? I would expect that the people that made their Magical Express reservations in advance would simply go straight to the bus to get taken to their hotel.

Oh, one more thing, it was ANOTHER 30 minute wait to get on a bus AFTER I waited in the first 30 minute line for the check-in process. So, I basically had to wait an hour just to get on a bus. Then, if I wasn't lucky enough to be the first stop (thankfully, I was), I might have to wait another 15-30 minutes driving to other hotels before getting dropped off. So, the total wait time spent in Magical express could have been in excess of 90 minutes + drive time.

I do appreciate the free transportation, but really, this could be done much, much better.

Wow, sorry you had such a long wait in that line. From my experiences but more importantly from the many many experiences I've read about here and in other places, your experience was very unusual.

It stinks when you have to wait in any line that long. My first DME experience couldn't have been more different. I came up to a simply huge line that snaked out way beyond the roped-off switchbacks they had set up. I girded myself for a long wait, and I was pleasantly surprised when I was served in 5 minutes even though it was a huge line. I counted, and they had 14 CMs serving guests.

My second experience is an unfair comparison in terms of line at the DME Welcome Center, as it was about 10:00 p.m. and there was only one person in line ahead of me. However, in both instances the actual time I was standing at the counter was about one minute, which is probably what made it such an efficient process. So if you do the math, if one person is served in a minute, and there were 14 people served at a time, then when that huge line took me only 5 minutes it's likely I was about 71st in line.

So what I'm trying to say is, this info doessn't give you back your time or your normal blood pressure, but it was pretty out of the ordinary.

 

[IMDORY]

Wow. Sorry about that. Even still, it could take you 90 minutes if you had to get your own baggage and rent a car. Maybe with a taxi or town car service you could shave off a little bit of that time perhaps-but then again, probably not too much more and ME is free.

I've only taken ME once-but it was soooo hassle free for me. Maybe we landed at a quiet time? (around 11:30am)I didn't wait in a line at all b/c as people were entering, there was a free CM to help. I think I might have stood there for 2 minutes max. while the CM entered me in the computer and told me where to go next. We got in the "line" for our bus, but there wasn't anyone else in the line. We were immediatly escorted to our bus-we didn't even wait a minute in the rope line. We got on our bus, we waited no more than 5 minutes while a couple of people boarded after us, then we were off. We were the first resort to be dropped off too. I'm hoping ME will be as efficient next trip-maybe I was just lucky that day?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hmm, let's see... first trip, landed about 2:30 on a Saturday, five minute wait in line, went directly to bus, bus departed once I boarded (no, I'm not special - it was just amazing timing). Second trip, landed about 5:30 on a Friday, NO line to check in, escorted directly to bus by Welcome Center CM, first person on bus, departed about twenty minutes later. Both trips, debarked bus an hour or less after getting to Welcome Center; in fact, first trip was 59 minutes from getting off the plane to getting off the bus!

 

[fitzkerry]

Can anyone tell me if it is busier in the am or pm. We are arriving on a Saturday at 9:20 AM.

 

[DisneyWacker]

Well said. I'm guessing that you have never had to wait for rent car before? And also, as you mentioned, it is free.

I'm an Avis preferred member, so if I'd rented a car it would have been waiting for me. I just would have had to pick up my luggage. However, in my trip last year I had FL tours pick me up which was much easier and faster. But this is free, so I decided to give it a try.

 

[DisneyWacker]

Honestly..and I don't mean for this to come across as sarcastic...but how could it be done better? I have found it to be a very efficicient process and will be using it again in May. Ninety minutes from plane to hotel is nothing, as far as I'm concerned. It would take me twice that long to get off the plane, claim my luggage, get my rental car or get on to a shuttle and get to my hotel. I really thing ME is wonderful.

My main point is that they could eliminate the line for people who make advance reservations and have their luggage tagged with the special magical express tags. All they would have to do is pre-print the "tickets" and get everyone's flight and hotel information when they make the reservations. That way, they could probably eliminate 75% of the line (and save money on labor for the people checking everyone in. You would just have to turn in your preprinted voucher on the bus line.

 

[simzac]

We have used ME twice now. Line at checkin counter had 30 or so people ahead of me each time, only took 5-10 minutes to get checked in. And from what I've read here on DIS, this is the norm, not the exception. Sounds like you just had a bad experience. We love ME and will continue to use it as long as it is offered. JMO

 

[goofy4tink]

The DME system works just fine. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, as they say. No method of transportation is going to meet everyone's needs. We just have to figure out what is going to work best for us.
For me, the quickest way to the resort is this....carryon luggage only, use a towncar that meets you at the escalators. About 45-50 minutes from deplaning. That was my best time from the plane to POP, using carryon and a towncar service. For those of you who think you can do it in 30 minutes, I have to question you...it's a 30 minute ride to most resorts, and about 10 mins from the plane to level 2 baggage claim area where you meet the driver. That's 40 mins right there. I guess you might be able to do it in 40 mins but the stars will have to be aligned just right in the sky.

 

[disneynutz]

Honestly..and I don't mean for this to come across as sarcastic...but how could it be done better? I have found it to be a very efficicient process and will be using it again in May. Ninety minutes from plane to hotel is nothing, as far as I'm concerned. It would take me twice that long to get off the plane, claim my luggage, get my rental car or get on to a shuttle and get to my hotel. I really thing ME is wonderful.

Done better... Skip the check in counter unless you have changes or a problem. They know that you are there, they scanned your bag tags. The signs while in line for check in state that they need your airline claim checks. I tracked down the wife, got our claim checks and returned to the check in que. When I got to the counter the CM told me that they only need the claim checks if we didn't yellow tag our bags. I got the feeling that a lot of the problems are caused by the visitors not following the instructions correctly.

 

[NewJersey]

Arrived at noon last year on a Monday; waited about 10 minutes in line and then 10 minutes for a bus.

I would have waited another 30 minutes because:

a) its free so I can't complain
b) it's disney and I'm on vacation..why get aggravated?
c) Don't have to get my bags

 

[HELPDESKGUY]

I have a 3 and 4 year old. I'm terrified of the delay using ME...I'm willing to pay $98 RT using a private town car. So for anyone not wanting to use ME and willing to pay around $100 to get you to your resort within 45 min of your arrival + free 30 min grocery stop and Car Seats use Sunray they are the best!

 

[carolina_yankee]

Any system of transportation is going to have its down days. I've used limos and had serious problems and great successes - rented my own car with great success and frustrating hassles - and taken DME. So far, DME is batting 1000. Each time, I've been in my room within 1 hour of getting off the plane, and have had my bags before I wanted them. (Can't say when they were delivered because we were out.)

For me, it's a balance between cost and time. For shorter trips, I'll spring for a rental from National so I just go out and get the thing. For longer trips, I'll use DME and then rent a car from somehwerhe on property or near WDW for the couple of days I might need it.

As for checking in, I think DME is probably wise to do that to make sure that each guest is following the procedure properly so there are no surprises down the road. There are a lot of people who don't understand they need to put their tags on their lugggage, etc., and a check-in can resolve most of that pretty quickly.

Dirk

 

[CleveRocks]

I have a 3 and 4 year old. I'm terrified of the delay using ME...I'm willing to pay $98 RT using a private town car. So for anyone not wanting to use ME and willing to pay around $100 to get you to your resort within 45 min of your arrival + free 30 min grocery stop and Car Seats use Sunray they are the best!

I'm curious what "delay" you're talking about. If you make a 30 minute grocery stop, there's almost NO WAY that a car service will get you to your resort quicker than DME will. And with DME, any delay in getting the bags from airplane to baggage claim carousel won't matter since you don't even have to go to baggage claim to wait.

Here were my two experiences:

• May 2005, with my 5 and 2.5 year olds -- 63 minutes from airplane exit to resort drop-off

• November 2006, with my 6.5 and 4 year olds -- 56 minutes from airplane exit to resort drop-off

In each case, we got a grocery delivery, so we didn't need to delay ourselves by searching around in a strange (i.e., unknown to us) grocery store and waiting in line.

So I'm not quite sure what "delay" you're terrified of. Please explain ....

 

[traviesojmt]

When we used ME in Feb, we had an awesome experience. It took less than 5 minutes to check in and another 2 minutes in line to get onto the bus. Once on the bus, we only waited about 5 minutes to leave. We were at our resort in less than an hour. I really don't see how it could get any better. Well, we were chosen for a limo ride back to the airport so that we a bit better, but I didn't have any problems with ME.