Magical Express - Never Again

[Polybound]

Going on an hour, still in line here now, still not on the bus. This sucks.

 

[wajones2]

I would definitely flag down a CM and let them know how long you have been waiting. We have never waited more than 15-20 min to board the bus. I would inquire about alternative transportation options to get your magical vacation started!

 

[familyfirsttimer]

That stinks! We did wait @30 min total last week and I was surprised at how long it was. But then again, I didn't have to go get my own luggage and once we got on bus, it was fantastic and luggage was in room when we returned from the park that night.

Good luck.

 

[Polydweller]

Going on an hour, still in line here now, still not on the bus. This sucks.

Maybe you could add a little info to help us understand. Is it that no bus has showed up at all or is the line just long?

 

[Polybound]

Going on an hour, still in line here now, still not on the bus. This sucks.

Finally left 1:20 from when plane landed

Maybe you could add a little info to help us understand. Is it that no bus has showed up at all or is the line just long?

line was huge. Bottom of the escalator took right walked 100 feet hit the line which wound around and around like a typical Disney line

 

[Polybound]

Just now arriving at our resort 2 hr

 

[ArwenMarie]

Bummer
We always rent a car or take a car service now, seems easier

 

[Polybound]

Just now arriving at our resort 2 hr

And luckily, our resort was the first to be let off.

 

[xlsm]

Probably an influx of people because of the holidays. I know a lot of our December thread people are arriving in the next couple of days.
We always plan for a two hour window, just in case, but we've been lucky so far to not have much of a wait.

Sorry it took so long, but I hope the rest of your vacation is magical! We'll be arriving in 6 days Have fun!!

 

[maxiesmom]

Just now arriving at our resort 2 hr

I've had that before. And that is why many of us will tell people to not plan any ADRs for arrival day, or at the very least leave a 3 hour buffer from when you land to your ADR.

 

[goofy4tink]

Last Sunday, we arrived at MCO about 10:15ish. Got to the DME area and found the line back to the Mears area! Pop Warner was starting but I had figured they would arrive on Sat! Guess not. Took about 10 mins to get thru the checkin line. Then, we were two groups from the front of our bus line...maybe 6 in front of us. BUT...groups were put in the queue next to us, and they kept being put on buses! But huge groups tho, maybe groups of 15ish. We waited about 30 mins...longest wait to date! They needed a second bus because our line was so long!!
A rental car is looking better and better.

 

[familyfirsttimer]

Can I just ask 1 thing for those that rent cars. Doesn't it take 20-30 minutes to get bag, then shuttle to rental car and then drive? Seems to me that would take @1-1.5 hours total until you get to resort.

Like I said last week we had to wait @30 min for the bus which was LONG but overall. I longer than the rest

 

[DLgal]

Can I just ask 1 thing for those that rent cars. Doesn't it take 20-30 minutes to get bag, then shuttle to rental car and then drive? Seems to me that would take @1-1.5 hours total until you get to resort.

Like I said last week we had to wait @30 min for the bus which was LONG but overall. I longer than the rest

Most rental car agencies are on site. No shuttle needed. Walk out the doors and across to the rental garage. Usually we are on the road less than 10 min after getting our bags since we are Hertz Gold and just get right in the car once we get the text with the stall number. No need to stop at the counter. The drive to property is around 30 min. I am usually AT my Disney resort within an hour of landing. I have never arrived at my resort in shorter than 2 hours from my planes touchdown time when riding DME. It takes MUCH longer to use DME, every time.

 

[Dis703]

We had that happen to us once. Found out there was an accident or something causing major backups on the return trip so buses were able to get to the resorts and they weren't making it back. Eventually, they started putting us on Mears Vans just to get us to our resort. That was the only time we've had an excessive wait though. Other times we've even been lucky enough to walk right off the plane and straight onto a bus barely pausing and then departing within minutes.

 

[DVCcurious]

Sounds like it wasn't Magical or Express.

I hope the rest of your trip exceeds your expectations. I've never been over the holidays so at least you get to enjoy the fantastic decorations!

 

[Tattylou]

Last 3 times I took it we were on it within 5-10 min, must've just been lucky to get there at a not busy time. One of those times it was on Easter week too.

 

[Dentam]

Tis the season - probably not a good sign for what the park crowds will be like... if it gets too overwhelming, remember to visit the deluxe resorts to see their Christmas decorations! We did that one year and it was a great way to relax a little and still enjoy the ambiance of being at WDW for Christmas.

 

[Belle's Librarian]

Can I just ask 1 thing for those that rent cars. Doesn't it take 20-30 minutes to get bag, then shuttle to rental car and then drive? Seems to me that would take @1-1.5 hours total until you get to resort.

Like I said last week we had to wait @30 min for the bus which was LONG but overall. I longer than the rest

Thanksgiving week it took us 1.5 hrs after landing just to get out of MCO! We had to wait for oversize luggage to come out because we have carseats, then head to the counter and wait in line, then wait another 20-30 mins while they called and got the car, then walk out to the car and load the luggage and install the carseats. Other family members had a similar experience when they arrived the next day; they had an offsite rental car shuttle that took ages. The cars were nice for several reasons, but getting a quick start to our vacation was not one of them!

 

[cassie58]

Finally left 1:20 from when plane landed

line was huge. Bottom of the escalator took right walked 100 feet hit the line which wound around and around like a typical Disney line

Wow!. I guess we have been lucky - have come in weekend before Christmas and day before Tday and never had lines beyond the ropes. Can't imagine seeing a line right after the escalator. We have waited a while sitting on a bus once, I guess waiting for it to fill. Hopefully you can put it behind you and get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy all the special touches this time of yr.

 

[KangaFan]

I think the rental car lines get backed up on busy days too. We once waited 45 minutes in the rental car check-in line. Not free, but another alternative if you happen to notice a huge back-up when you arrive is to schedule an uber. My husband and I took one to the airport in order to leave earlier than our schedule ME because we were concerned about the security lines due to the hurricane and is was only $40ish with tip.