Magical Express or something else?

[kenman]

I'm going solo this year should I use the Magical express or something else to get from Airport to hotel and back?

Is the Magical Express ok?

How often do the busses come?

THANKS!

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

I would try Magical Express. We had a family party to got to when we arrived and needed a car. Going home we used it and it was very convenient. Plus it was free!! Is it still with the Celebration going on? It was just one less thing to worry about. My cousin used it both ways and loved it.

 

[ReneeA]

We used ME in August and it was great. The line to check in to board looked HUGE, but it actually only took about 20 minutes to get through. Then, we went and boarded the bus and were at WDW within the hour.

It was that easy on the way back to the airport, also. I would say to try it! It's free and easy.


ReneeA

 

[simzac]

We used ME just last week. We were very pleased. Went from concourse at MCO to POP in one hour. We will definitely use this again in the future.

 

[MareSINY]

ME is great!! When your plane lands you simply go down to the area where the rental cars are, that's where the ME counter is. You check in and they'll point you to the area where you get the bus. CMs will tell you which line to get in. We had nobody on line in front of us and a CM immediately came and escorted us out to our bus. Within an hour of landing we were on our way to our hotel.

I'll be using the service again next Friday when me and my niece head back to the world! You can't go wrong with this service, you'll be amazed at how great it is.

 

[newcomer52]

We used it two weeks ago and were very pleased. We were at the Beach Club within an hour of landing at MCO. Pleasant ride and you can't beat the price!! Have a great trip.

js

 

[mickeygirl18976]

Quick Question- We have the opportunity for the ME- however we want a car too, but they said we had to ride with our luggage???? What happens if you check in at the bus and then don't board? We were also thinking that my DH could go and pick up the car and I take the bus. Do you think that will work? Any help would be greatly appreciated- we leave tomorrow morning,

 

[tjmw2727]

If I were solo (and I may be in April yeah) I would definately use ME.

I did have a less than stellar experience in October while traveling alone with my daughters. So...if I am traveling agin with my dd's I would go back to reserving a towncar. However, if its just me I can't justify the expense and I am more patient than my dd's so I would try ME again. Also, after reading posts here and on other boards my experience seems to be unique - maybe a bad day! So I am willing to give it another shot if I am solo.

Have a fun trip.
tj

 

[Hincher]

We didn't use ME, but it is operated by Mears and we have used them and it was a nightmare. So we will never use ME. We use a car service to come get us. They bring a town car and meet us at baggage claim to get our bags.

 

[helenk]

I've used ME twice, last July, it was pretty crowded and I had a bit of wait for the bus to the Allstar Music. The bus not only included the allstar resorts but also the POP, 4 value resorts...needless to say there were alot of people in line. I had just missed getting on one bus and had to wait about 15 to 20 minutes for the next one. From the time my plane touch down to the time I got to check in a the Allstar Music was just over an hour and a half.
My husband and I used ME in December, going to the Poly, the lines for the buses were not any where near what I had experienced in July. We only waited about 10 minutes for the bus, the Poly was the first stop, from the time our plane landed to the time we were checking in at the Poly was just about an hour.
I am using ME again for my trip this May. It's free and they seem to have worked out the bugs.

 

[janette]

Quick Question- We have the opportunity for the ME- however we want a car too, but they said we had to ride with our luggage???? What happens if you check in at the bus and then don't board? We were also thinking that my DH could go and pick up the car and I take the bus. Do you think that will work? Any help would be greatly appreciated- we leave tomorrow morning,

If you are using a participating airline with the luggage tags your luggage won't be on the bus. I don't think it would really matter, I don't remember them even checking lists after you check in so don't know how they would even know. I'm thinking of doing to same thing on our next trip so hopefully someone knows for sure.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I've actually never used DME (but I have used Mears ) and probably never will, but that is because I discovered (through the DIS) about the wonders of using a town car service and I can't ever imagine not using one now.

I know DME is free, but to me a town car service is worth every nickel. I love getting met in baggage by our driver, I love not having to wait in line to check in, I love hopping right in the car and leaving (not having to wait for other passengars or for luggage to be loaded) I LOVE the grocery stop, I love going straight to my resort with no other stops, I love having my luggage right away since it's with me and I love the later pick up on the return back to the airport.

I use Murray Hill Transportation and they are just the best there!

 

[Marthasor]

If I were going solo - I would definitely try ME, but I would bring a carry-on and don't let anyone take it from you when you arrive at the resort!!! I just have this thing about not having my bags with me. On our last trip we used FL Tours because we were getting in so late with two kids and just wanted to get to the hotel and get them to bed. FL Tours was WONDERFUL! But, I think the ME luggage system is kind of putting a wrench in the gears in luggage services at the resorts. When we arrived in our town car, they took our luggage while we went to the front dest to check in. I assumed that they were taking our luggage and bringing it to our room. We got to our room and an hour and a half later - no luggage. I called the luggage desk and asked them to bring our luggage up. They asked me if I wanted them to call us when the luggage arrived or just bring it - I had to explain to them at least three times that we weren't on ME, we had brought our bags with us and they were sitting somewhere down with them. So they finally brought them up. It was really obvious that they don't have this quite worked out yet. So anyway - I don't know if that helps, but if you give Disney your luggage, just don't expect to see it for awhile.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Quick Question- We have the opportunity for the ME- however we want a car too, but they said we had to ride with our luggage???? What happens if you check in at the bus and then don't board? We were also thinking that my DH could go and pick up the car and I take the bus. Do you think that will work? Any help would be greatly appreciated- we leave tomorrow morning,

Magical Express isn't a luggage service.
As you board your bus, the driver scans your voucher. If your voucher isn't scanned, your luggage isn't transported from the airport.

 

[mom22boys]

We loved using ME! From the time our plane landed till we were standing in the lobby at OKW was less than an hour! We had excellent service on the return too. Just make sure you arrive the 15 minutes early to your departure time that they suggest! Our ME return bus was very prompt!

You might want to check out the transportation board. I am sure you would find a lot of positive comments about ME over there.

Hope you have a wonderful vacation!

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

To the posters that want to send their luggage thru without them, it can be done but what a pain!
I did it on accident on our last trip. We had a family party to go to on arrival day and only wanted ME for when we were leaving. I had called ME before we left to make sure to do things correctly and they said just put the yellow stickers on. When we arrived in Orlando, we went to baggage check and the bags weren't there! I panicked because I figured our luggage was lost. I went to their office and they asked if we put those stickers on. ME AUTOMATICALLY takes those bags when the yellow stickers are on them. They didn't have to scan anything, they just went. We figured no big deal because we were driving back to Disney that night anyway! I called the hotel 2x's to make sure the bags were there. 2x's I was told yes. Well we checked in...no bags!!! They were driving around on the bus to all of the resorts all day! We weren't on the bus to the resort to claim the bags! After all of the confusion, they arrived at 2am! They did make it to the room, but super late! I wouldn't do that again. We had to wait forever for our pj's toothbrushes etc to come! I was afraid the bags would go back to the airport, what a disaster!
If you're renting a car, put them in the car.

 

[SpecialK]

It was convenient to use ME when arriving in Orlando, but I don't think the convenience was enough to make us use it again. We didn't receive our luggage for over six hours; we didn't expect it to take that long. Going back to MCO, we were the first pick-up at the CR and after picking up at the Poly and GF, we were on the bus a full hour before we even left Disney property. Next time we'll use a car service.

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

I'll add another vote for ME. We were in WDW last week (and wish we were still there now). We drove down, and DM met us there. DM flew in from NJ and used ME. She was very pleased with the service.

In NJ, she checked the bag and did not have to deal with it again until it appeared in our rooms a few hours after her arrival. She had a little trouble leaving, but her problem was the 1/2 marathon being run while she was trying to get to the airport last Saturday.

 

[mickeygirl18976]

It worked out just great for us!!! We checked in with the ME counter and they TOLD us we could go and rent the car and not have to ride the bus with our luggage!!! We got there at 930am and our luggage was in our room by noon!!

 

[Viki]

From our experience in December, we would use it as long it's free. But once they start charging I am right back to taking the vans where you we are the only passengers. Getting to our resort in 40 minutes for $50.00 is way more worth it to us than paying some equivalent fee for two hours.