Magical Express Question / Issue

[Spencer Wright]

I am leaving on Sunday on a 740am flight and just found out since it’s before 5am (pickup time), we have to check on our bags. How well does the express run this time of day?! Anyone ever have issues with this?!

I love WDW and have beeen having a great vacation but find the express filthy and the service appalling. So I find it troubling I have to rely on them that early in the morning to get me there so I can navigate the airport and check bags.

Thoughts and experiences are appreciated, Thanks!!

(Sorry to be negative, air travel makes me very anxious for some reason, and this seems like extremely poor service on Disney’s part)

 

[karen4546]

I am leaving on Sunday on a 740am flight and just found out since it’s before 5am (pickup time), we have to check on our bags. How well does the express run this time of day?! Anyone ever have issues with this?!

I love WDW and have beeen having a great vacation but find the express filthy and the service appalling. So I find it troubling I have to rely on them that early in the morning to get me there so I can navigate the airport and check bags.

Thoughts and experiences are appreciated, Thanks!!

(Sorry to be negative, air travel makes me very anxious for some reason, and this seems like extremely poor service on Disney’s part)

If you are talking Magical Express - I have never had it filthy. I have ridden it over 30 times. Sometimes, there may be a bottle or two left behind but never filthy.

You can take an uber, lyft, minnie van, or taxi to the airport with your bags and check them.

For future trips, try to book your flight for after 8am because baggage at the resorts opens at 5am and Magical Express picks up 3 hrs before your flight.

 

[Kae]

Never had an issue either. Try lyft or Uber. Maybe It will help your anxiety

 

[CNYMickeyFan]

If you feel that strongly about ME, I'd advise don't use it. Perhaps an Uber or Lyft tot he airport is more to you liking. That way you'd have more control of your bags, arrival time to the airport, etc.

 

[FCDub]

You don’t have to rely on them for anything. It’s not a mandatory service.

 

[Spencer Wright]

I appreciate everyone’s feedback so far! I was a bit more severe than I initiallly intended!

How has it gone for people who have used the express real early?!

 

[Spunky946]

If you are that dissatisfied don’t use it and use Uber or a cab. I’ve never used it that early, because I would never fly out that early.

 

[Moliphino]

They pick you up 3 hours before your flight, same as any other time of day. The only difference is that you need to bring all your luggage on the bus and check in any checked bags at your airline's counter at the airport.

 

[sponica]

I appreciate everyone’s feedback so far! I was a bit more severe than I initiallly intended!

How has it gone for people who have used the express real early?!

Honestly I've NEVER used the resort airline check in desk for luggage, the line is always too long and I'd rather spend my time in the parks. I think last year we had a 6 AM bus and we had plenty of time to take the bus, deboard the bus and check the luggage.

 

[shocker]

I think they build in enough time for you to check bags at the airport, but I understand that can a feel a bit of a hassle, especially when trying to end a vacay on a nice relaxing note. Its not called the 'tragical express' for nothing.

I'm going to suggest something completely radical & not for everyone. But, lately I've been requesting a later pickup for DME anyway, because the 3 hours +/- was always ending up 3 hours + 15 min + be at bus stop 15 min early & I was devoting 3.5 hours or more to this bus ride. So, I would turn in a flight number for between 8-8:15. I would arrive at RAC by 4:45 & check my bags, get on a bus around 5:15, get to airport around 6, get thru security around 7 & be at gate with breakfast in hand by 7:15.

But, I'm not traveling with toddlers or granny in tow. We don't need extra time due to medical or mobility issues. I know how to pack my carry ons to reduce TSA time. I'll trade a sit down meal for eating on the plane, etc. etc.

Now, this decision also comes with a soul searching question, 'what is my pain level tolerance for...' missing my flight from MCO? Having my bags arrive on a different flight than me?

How savvy are you at booking an alternate flight if you miss yours, are you going to a location with many flights per day or only one? Were you planning to head straight to work with a meeting with your boss who didn't want you to take any time off or are you planning to go straight home & start laundry & take a nap?

Do you live close or far from your home airport to swing by later & get your bag that came on a later flight? Do you have things in your checked bag like medical, food, etc. that would make delay a problem?

 

[shocker]

(Sorry to be negative, air travel makes me very anxious for some reason, and this seems like extremely poor service on Disney’s part)

As I read back through your OP & see you're an anxious flyer, than my suggestion to use RAC & then go later to MCO on DME probably wouldn't be a good idea.

But, I have some concerns about this comment above. DME & RAC are 2 separate services & entities. They just happen to overlap their services at your resort for only 6 hours. So, if you don't like the timing of RAC to your bus ride...I think your beef is with RAC, not the 24 hour availability of DME. The employees you encounter at RAC are employees of the airport, not Disney or Mears.

So, I would suggest you be at RAC at 4:45, check your bags, then go by Lyft/Uber or possibly Limo service to airport. Because these 2 services are separate, you can use one without using the other. They don't require use of other service to be utilized.

 

[Sugardimples]

If you don't like it, don't use it. I've never found a ME vehicle to be dirty, much less filthy. And we've used it for over thirty trips and have not had any appalling service. But everyone is different. I suggest you find alternative transportation.

 

[mrp4352]

We have often used ME for return service on early flights (benefit of working for an airline - free flights; curse of working for an airline - those free flights are generally the very first ones of the day because you can only fly if there are seats available! ) The service is prompt and efficient.

 

[OKW Lover]

Magical Express does these early morning pickups all the time. There's nothing to worry about.

 

[Spencer Wright]

Honestly I've NEVER used the resort airline check in desk for luggage, the line is always too long and I'd rather spend my time in the parks. I think last year we had a 6 AM bus and we had plenty of time to take the bus, deboard the bus and check the luggage.

I appreciate the information! Does the express let off close to the check in at the airport or not so much?

 

[Spencer Wright]

We have often used ME for return service on early flights (benefit of working for an airline - free flights; curse of working for an airline - those free flights are generally the very first ones of the day because you can only fly if there are seats available! ) The service is prompt and efficient.

Magical Express does these early morning pickups all the time. There's nothing to worry about.

I appreciate the reassurance!

 

[gatormom2tots]

We had a 6AM flight once....so picked up ME at 3AM. It was on time, not very crowded, and pleasant. Still had like an hour to sit at the gate.

 

[OKW Lover]

I appreciate the information! Does the express let off close to the check in at the airport or not so much?

Not so much. You'll be dropped off on level 3 and check-in is on level 1. You'll have to wrangle your bags yourself or get a skycap to do it.

 

[mrp4352]

Not so much. You'll be dropped off on level 3 and check-in is on level 1. You'll have to wrangle your bags yourself or get a skycap to do it.

Also, if you're flying Southwest (or any carriers on that side of the airport), you'll have to walk to their side. But it's not a bad walk - maybe 5 minutes from drop off to the Southwest gate. American is on the side that they drop off with - so the trip is even less.

 

[sponica]

I appreciate the information! Does the express let off close to the check in at the airport or not so much?

I don't really pay attention to stuff like that...because it doesn't bother me. But I also spent a ton of years schlepping luggage from my apartment to the subway (without an elevator/escalator) and then to a train then to a bus....