Magical Express - Never Again

[thingwithwings]

I wonder if it had anything to do with the road closures around the area? Yesterday, the bus driver to MK said that buses were running way behind schedule because the road that most CMs take to work was closed, so they all had to use the usual bus roads, which caused delays there... wonder if it had a ripple effect.

We noticed a delay when we caught the DME early this afternoon, too. The bus before ours took ages to get out of the resort, and our bus had more passengers from our resort than it was supposed to. We got to MCO in good time, but it was still a wild ride.

 

[ah10is]

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

We rode it today too and it was absolutely crazy! Got in line at 12:30 and we didn't get on a bus until 2:03pm!!!! I have ridden it several times before & have always just walked right on! We got to our resort at 3pm. it certainly was not a magical express today!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

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

We saw the line after you were in a bus and it was heinous. It had to have gone at least halfway back down the airport if not more and I'm pretty sure it doubled back on itself.

Due to circumstances we had a rental car booked but I had been considering taking ME and letting hubby and son do the car, but when I saw that...nope!

We leave here, visit San Juan, cruise, then come back on Xmas eve. We were going to do the bus. Nope. An hour ago I got a rental. Not chancing that line!

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

There's no shuttle if you're doing it right.

We deplane then hit the restroom to go from WA clothes to FL clothes. Walk leisurely. And our bags are generally ready by then. Take escalator or elevator downstairs (same level as DME), go outside, cross the street, pick a car.

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.

We use national's emerald aisle or Alamo, both with accounts where we don't use the line. We just go straight to the car.

 

[bumbershoot]

We landed around 12:54, were towards the front of the plane. Got off, did the above. As we were in the chosen car (Enclave thanks to emerald executive aisle) and the lady at the exit was checking our booking I texted that that's where we were. It was 1:30. Entered OKW property at 1:54.

I am 100% sure that we would still have been waiting in that line until at least 2 if not later. It was horrid.

We saw DME buses the whole way so I don't know about any backups.

 

[DebbieB]

I took DME last December on a Saturday around noon. I didn't get on until the third bus.

 

[jdisnut]

The name "Magical Express" is a misnomer. In reality, it's a service in which the customer receives service commensurate with what he or she pays -- nothing. The only positive is that it's free.

I'm sympathetic to the fact that travelers have different budgets, and for some, free transportation to and from the airport might be an extremely important factor. I begrudge nobody in that situation. But if you can afford another option, it's hard to justify taking Magical Express if you value your time.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

And I had been seriously thinking about cancelling the rental car for next week! Maybe not.

 

[maxiesmom]

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.

Ok your time line is a little off. Using DME you don't have to get your bags, so what is your time line before getting your bags? That is the true comparison. I bet you have to add at least 20 minutes for that.

 

[DisneyRobin]

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

Yes- renting a car takes time too.
Best thing to do is jump in a cab. They are always waiting outside and cost $65. It saves so much time and you keep your bags with you!

 

[DisneyRobin]

And I had been seriously thinking about cancelling the rental car for next week! Maybe not.

Take a cab!

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Ok your time line is a little off. Using DME you don't have to get your bags, so what is your time line before getting your bags? That is the true comparison. I bet you have to add at least 20 minutes for that.

Of course getting your bags and renting a car takes time.

Even those that claim it doesn't, use up that time changing clothes or walking where ever. Or they stroll leisurely, which means they walk slowly, otherwise they have to wait for their bags. Or they have to be members of what ever car rental agency is the cheapest this trip. Which means they spend time, before they leave, joining whichever web site they need to join.

It is just that they don't spend time actually waiting in line for the Disney bus.

Even those that take a taxi have to wait for their bags to come off of the plane. Well, unless they use only carry on.

Everything takes time. For our family, it is the seven hours we spend in the car getting from our house to the resort.

 

[sam_gordon]

The name "Magical Express" is a misnomer. In reality, it's a service in which the customer receives service commensurate with what he or she pays -- nothing. The only positive is that it's free.

I'm sympathetic to the fact that travelers have different budgets, and for some, free transportation to and from the airport might be an extremely important factor. I begrudge nobody in that situation. But if you can afford another option, it's hard to justify taking Magical Express if you value your time.

Here are the other positives for me:
* Don't have to wait for checked luggage (especially if a thunderstorm hits and the baggage crews have to leave the tarmac)
* Someone else is driving

 

[DebbieB]

It's a time saver to not have to go to baggage claim. On the other hand, you have your luggage when you need it. I landed around 11:30 in October, my luggage was not delivered until after 7:00. My friend landed around 5:30, no luggage after 10:00. She was on the phone with DME when the guy across the hall knocked on the door, it was in his room. Our room number was written on the tag. Another time hers was missing for 2 days (wrong resort). I'm getting it myself from now on.

 

[siskaren]

My friend landed around 5:30, no luggage after 10:00.

You're supposed to get your luggage 3-4 hours after you check-in, not after you land. If she landed at 5:30, she probably checked in about 7, so at 10 she was just within that range.

 

[DLgal]

Ok your time line is a little off. Using DME you don't have to get your bags, so what is your time line before getting your bags? That is the true comparison. I bet you have to add at least 20 minutes for that.

No, I included getting my bags in my timeline. It usually takes 5-10 min to simply get off the plane. I go straight to the baggage claim, and usually have my bags inside of 10 min from arriving at the carousel (so we are around 20-25 min now from plane landing time). The walk from the baggage claim to Hertz is approximately 2 minutes. It takes me maybe 5 minutes to throw my bags in the trunk, start the car, and leave the garage. So we are at about 30 min and we're leaving the airport. I know my way around and get to WDW property in around 30 min most of the time. DME can simply not beat it.

I have never boarded a DME bus and left right away. Never. I have always boarded an empty bus and then sat there for at least 20 minutes waiting for it to fill up. And then it is a SLOW ride to the resorts, and we are never the first stop, etc. And then we have to wait hours for our bags...

 

[maxiesmom]

It's a time saver to not have to go to baggage claim. On the other hand, you have your luggage when you need it. I landed around 11:30 in October, my luggage was not delivered until after 7:00. My friend landed around 5:30, no luggage after 10:00. She was on the phone with DME when the guy across the hall knocked on the door, it was in his room. Our room number was written on the tag. Another time hers was missing for 2 days (wrong resort). I'm getting it myself from now on.

To me not getting my bags is the main perk of using DME. Otherwise I'd get a town car each time. I only used DME my last trip because I ended up with a $5000 vet bill 2 weeks prior that I was obviously not expecting. Even so, even having to get my bags I was at my resort within 90 minute of landing. Which was a nice surprise.

 

[DebbieB]

You're supposed to get your luggage 3-4 hours after you check-in, not after you land. If she landed at 5:30, she probably checked in about 7, so at 10 she was just within that range.

The problem was it was delivered to the wrong room! When she called, they kept saying it was delivered at 9:30. She said it's not here. That's when the guy across the hall knocked.

 

[supersnoop]

You know, you can have DME pick up and deliver your checked luggage without actually riding the bus.

 

[siskaren]

You know, you can have DME pick up and deliver your checked luggage without actually riding the bus.

That's not how the service is supposed to be used, though.

 

[supersnoop]

That's not how the service is supposed to be used, though.

Says who?

Luggage transfer is separate, both directions.