Magical Express question/opinions

[jodivee]

Good evening everyone! 13 sleeps!!!

I have a question regarding the Magical Express from the airport. We are staying at the All Star Movies resort, and our plane gets in around 7pm.
Do you all use this transportation? Have you had good experiences with it? Not so good?
How long of a ride should we be planning on?

thanks in advance!

 

[JCornell]

We love it. Nothing better than getting off the plane and not having to claim luggage. Just walk down to ME, and the longest we've ever waited to get on a bus has been 5-10 minutes. That may not be how it always is but it's been our experience. I'd say allocate 40-60 minutes from plane arrival to be safe but our experience has usually been around 40.

 

[jodivee]

excellent, thank you!!
and also, I apologize, I should have likely posted this in the transportation section........sorry!

 

[disneynutz]

Depending upon various factors, your bus could have 3 stops at other resorts, or the bus could be full of All Star Guests and you wouldn't have any extra stops.

Bill

 

[bas71873]

Can I make a suggestion? Since u r arriving in the evening and likely will not get to your resort until 8 PMish, and I presume you will be heading to bed shortly thereafter so you can hit the parks first thing in the AM , I would either go get your own luggage OR have an overnight bag so you have your jammies & toothbrushes and have ME/Resort hold your luggage until the AM and then you can call the front desk and have them bring it to you.

It can take up to 3 hours, sometimes more, sometime less, to have the bags show up in your room and I would not want someone banging on my door at midnight . So, if you HAVE to have your luggage (like I do if I have a late arrival), I would go get my own bags and take it on ME with me (the driver will store it for you and get it off at your resort). We did this on our first trip and it worked out just fine.

Just a suggestion. Good luck!

 

[Disneyaunt4]

Can I make a suggestion? Since u r arriving in the evening and likely will not get to your resort until 8 PMish, and I presume you will be heading to bed shortly thereafter so you can hit the parks first thing in the AM , I would either go get your own luggage OR have an overnight bag so you have your jammies & toothbrushes and have ME/Resort hold your luggage until the AM and then you can call the front desk and have them bring it to you.

It can take up to 3 hours, sometimes more, sometime less, to have the bags show up in your room and I would not want someone banging on my door at midnight . So, if you HAVE to have your luggage (like I do if I have a late arrival), I would go get my own bags and take it on ME with me (the driver will store it for you and get it off at your resort). We did this on our first trip and it worked out just fine.

Just a suggestion. Good luck!

THis is what I would do also!!!!!

 

[mpbs]

My family has used it multiple times and have always had a great experience.

 

[Missytara]

ME and Disney World have shown me that a real vacation is one that you don't have to drive to get everywhere nor drag your luggage around. They have spoiled me rotten.... and I love it!

 

[NHdisneylover]

We have had nothing but good experiences with ME. I agree with the recomendation to pack overnight things in your carry on and have the luggage held until morning.

 

[jackemail]

I've used it about 10 times---8 of those were very successful. The other two were just okay---we waited 1 1/2 hours at the airport for the DME bus once; the other time, the luggage took 6 hours to show up (not a biggie since we knew to pack anything we might need in case the luggage was slow).

I will definitely use it next trip!

 

[TagsMissy]

We using this service

It worked very well when we travel as a group of 2 and it worked just as excellently as a group of 7!

 

[jennylyn_b]

We use the magical express every single time we go to the world! We wouldn't go any other way. We don't have to worry about our baggage or renting a car or paying for a cab or directions. We get on that bus sit back and wait for the video to come on that gets you all excited (if you weren't excited enough). Then the bus goes through the Disney World gate and you know you have left the real world behind and all your worries with it!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I've used it about 10 times---8 of those were very successful. The other two were just okay---we waited 1 1/2 hours at the airport for the DME bus once; the other time, the luggage took 6 hours to show up (not a biggie since we knew to pack anything we might need in case the luggage was slow).

I will definitely use it next trip!

Is the DME bus stop anywhere near baggage claim? I guess my question is, if we have to wait more than an hour (which we probably won't, arriving at 11:15 AM, right?), can we go get our own luggage?

 

[Jestocost]

For planning purposes, you should expect that DME will get you to your resort anywhere from 60-90 minutes after you exit the plane IF you use the luggage transfer service or have only carry-on bags. If you plan to collect your own bags and take them on the bus with you, add another 30 minutes to that timing.

You should expect your bags to be in your room within three hours of resort check in (not within three hours of when you get off of the plane or get on the bus or whatever). Most guests who use DME will get their bags in that time frame, but sometimes it does take longer. One issue with the All Stars and POP is that baggage services at the resorts close at midnight and if your bags arrive from DME after then (or maybe even close to then), you won't get them delivered until the next morning.

Regardless of that, as a few PPs have noted, you always should take your essentials (whatever you might need for the next 24 hours, ideally) in carry-on bags in case your luggage is delayed or misdirected by the airline (most likely) or by DME (less likely, but not unheard of).

 

[Missytara]

Is the DME bus stop anywhere near baggage claim? I guess my question is, if we have to wait more than an hour (which we probably won't, arriving at 11:15 AM, right?), can we go get our own luggage?

If the yellow tags are already on your luggage, chances are they have been retrieved by the time you get to the ME desk.

One year, back when they gave you two tags per person, we had added an extra person at the last minute and they told me to very carefully cross out my name and add hers with a sharpie pen. When we got to the check-in desk, they asked how many bags we had checked and we told them. The CM commented, ah, three regular tagged bags and one with a name handwritten on it. It was already retrieved, scanned and in the system.

 

[Jestocost]

Is the DME bus stop anywhere near baggage claim? I guess my question is, if we have to wait more than an hour (which we probably won't, arriving at 11:15 AM, right?), can we go get our own luggage?

As previously noted, if you tag your bags they should not even make it to the carousel and you won't be able to retrieve them. If you plan on retrieving your bags, leave the tags off and they will wind up on the carousel. Baggage carousel's all are on level 2, and DME is on level 1 on side B of the terminal. As a result, if your airline is on side B you only have to go down one level and then to the DME desk. If your airline is on side A, however, (which includes Southwest, American, Continental, jetBlue and others) you have to go up to level three, cross over to the B side, then go down to level 1 and the DME welcome center.

 

[jodivee]

wow - all very great information and opinions. Thank you yet again! I am beginning to feel more relaxed about everything now. With none of us ever having been there before, we really have no idea what to expect, so this is very helpful!
Also, if there are any fellow Canadians reading this, the carry-on restrictions were lifted as of this morning - yay!!

12 more sleeps!!!!!! woo hooo!!!

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Another positive vote here! We come from the UK and have nothing but praise for ME, it's great!

 

[Bev J]

We have used DME 7 times and every time we were very happy with it. We always pick up our luggage and it goes on the bus with us. It is so relaxing letting them do the driving and delivering us right to our resort. We will never rent a car again, DME has us totally spoiled.

Bev

 

[Stitch2244314]

The Magical Express service is great! It's really, really easy. I'd say figure approximately an hour from the time you get off the plane to the time you arrive at your resort. Have a great time!