Magical Express Questions

[FantasiaMagic]

SOO, for Spring Break I will coming to the world. It is my first time not renting a car and my friends and I will be using Magical Express for the first time.

I know that magical express usually sends you luggage tags before the trip, but I am thinking of not letting them bring the luggage over. I plan on just picking up the luggage from the carousal after the plane lands and then walking over the the Magical express desk.
Has anyone ever done this before? Do most people have a preference.

Also, my flight lands around 5:45, and I already booked my ME pickup. What is the time frame we have to board a magical express bus? do we have a good 15 mins to pick up our luggage and then go over to the desk? What happens if our flight is delayed?

TIA!

 

[AngiTN]

You can pick up your own bags. Just leave off the yellow ME tags. You really do not have a time that you are required to board ME for the Resort. If you want to get your own luggage you just get it and head to ME and they'll load you on the next bus to your Resort.

I do think most people let them get the bags. It's one of the great things about using ME in my opinion. I hate dealing with bags and let someone else do it gladly.

 

[DebbieB]

SOO, for Spring Break I will coming to the world. It is my first time not renting a car and my friends and I will be using Magical Express for the first time.

I know that magical express usually sends you luggage tags before the trip, but I am thinking of not letting them bring the luggage over. I plan on just picking up the luggage from the carousal after the plane lands and then walking over the the Magical express desk.
Has anyone ever done this before? Do most people have a preference.

Also, my flight lands around 5:45, and I already booked my ME pickup. What is the time frame we have to board a magical express bus? do we have a good 15 mins to pick up our luggage and then go over to the desk? What happens if our flight is delayed?

TIA!

When you arrive at MCO, there is no set time for the bus. They just ask you your flight # so they can figure staffing levels. Whenever you get there, they will put you on the next bus to your resort.

If I'm riding the bus, I like having them handle the luggage but I can understand with your later arrival that you want to have your luggage with you when you get to the hotel.

 

[sndral]

If you want to lug your own bags from MCO to your resort just don't put the yellow tags on them, collect them from baggage claim and take them with you to the DME bus. The driver will stow them under the bus for the drive to your resort and then retrieve them when you pull up.
I always use the delivery to the resort, though - so much easier, and after a long flight I am impatient to get to my resort and if I'm the 3rd or 4th resort and have to sit on the bus and watch the driver off load a bunch of luggage at each prior resort it's a test of my patience it's good practice for the hurry up and wait that is a Disney vacation, tho'.
They don't have a stop watch timing when you show up for DME. Sometimes if we are arriving on different planes we'll wait a half hour or so till the last plane gets there in order to ride the same DME bus.

 

[FantasiaMagic]

Many thanks to all of you, this helped tremendously!

 

[nkereina]

We usually get our own bags. We arrive after check-in time on most trips, so I like to unpack, iron, get organized before I can relax. Getting my own bag and having it immediately helps with that.

As PPs have mentioned, just leave off the yellow tags and proceed to baggage claim after you get off your flight. Keep in mind that you may have to take your bags from baggage claim, up an elevator, across the main lobby of the airport, to the other terminal to catch DME. Our flight always lands in the opposite terminal but with one rolling suitcase a piece, it's not a huge deal. Also be prepared to tip the DME driver when you get to your resort, since he will store the bag for you on the bus.

 

[Mickeynov08]

How often do the ME buses arrive at the airport? I'm trying to determine how much time will elapse between plane landing and arriving at POR via ME due to dietary/health reasons. Thanks for any info!

 

[KonaKaiTom]

At any point in time there are probably a dozen DME buses at MCO. Some resorts (the MK resorts anyhow and I'm going to guess the Epcot ones as well but don't shoot me if I am wrong as I won't know for two more weeks) share buses. The general rule most people follow on here is that you need to plan (if you are using DME) on it taking 90 minutes from the time you land until you arrive at your resort.

They try to have as many seats full as possible before the bus pulls out. That being said I was on a POR bus that went to POFQ and dropped off 4 people and then went to POR and dropped the 3 of us off. If you absolutely have to, and for medical reasons you might, have a really precise time, you might want to consider either renting a car or getting a car service.

Tom

 

[Mickeynov08]

Thanks Tom! This is a big help for a diabetic who plans for a "next meal" because snacks/airplane food is not always enough.

 

[Mrsjvb]

SOO, for Spring Break I will coming to the world. It is my first time not renting a car and my friends and I will be using Magical Express for the first time.

I know that magical express usually sends you luggage tags before the trip, but I am thinking of not letting them bring the luggage over. I plan on just picking up the luggage from the carousal after the plane lands and then walking over the the Magical express desk.
Has anyone ever done this before? Do most people have a preference.

Also, my flight lands around 5:45, and I already booked my ME pickup. What is the time frame we have to board a magical express bus? do we have a good 15 mins to pick up our luggage and then go over to the desk? What happens if our flight is delayed?

TIA!

you absolutely have the option to self carry your luggage

the bus will be waiting for you when you show up, there is no set time frame except very late at night when they do not run as often. they will either run every x number or minutes or when full (whichever comes first)and they will all serve 2 or 3 resorts minimum. they just want to knwo when your flight lands and what resort so they can plan on the right buses to be available.

hell it will take 15 minutes just to GET to the ME section even without having to swing by baggage claim. I swear it is so far out into the boondocks you need a golf cart just to get there.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Thanks Tom! This is a big help for a diabetic who plans for a "next meal" because snacks/airplane food is not always enough.

My brother-in-law is a diabetic so I had a pretty good idea that was the issue. He does very well as long as he can plan ahead.

Tom

 

[orbeachlover]

I just got my ME luggage tags and tickets in the mail. I thought that I needed my Magic Band to get on the ME not tickets. Do I need both? Thanks in advance.

 

[Polydweller]

I just got my ME luggage tags and tickets in the mail. I thought that I needed my Magic Band to get on the ME not tickets. Do I need both? Thanks in advance.

MB is not needed. The bands are only mailed in the US and everyone else gets their's at the hotel and use ME just with the hotel reservation. So, as long as you have reserved ME and have your resort reservation info you don't need a MB.

 

[goofy4tink]

Plan on it taking 90 mins from the gate to your resort when using DME. If you get your own bags, you may find that it takes 15 or so mins longer.

You aren't assigned a particular bus. When you get to the DME checkin area, they will direct you to the appropriate bus line. You can stop and get something to eat and then go to DME. You get there when you get there.

If you do decide to get your own bags, be sure to tip the bus driver. Anyone that 'touches' your bags will expect a tip. Yes, the tip is taken care of if you use DME for luggage delivery. But as soon as you take your own bags, all bets are off. Not only will that driver be looking for a tip, so will Bell Services if they get your bags at any point. So, be prepared.

And yes, your travel info is on the MBs...so you really don't have to bring those paper vouchers. But, I always stick the packet in my carryon, just in case there's an issue.

 

[FantasiaMagic]

Thank you all so much for the helpful information. All my questions about using DME are answered and I feel so much more comfortable using the service knowing this information.

I wasn't aware of the tipping the driver/bellhops with the bags, so I'm glad I know that now. I will be ready for that once my trip comes.

And also thanks for the timeframe I should suggest. I wasn't positive about this but now I will be able to inform the rest of my friends so they are not confused. None of us have used Magical Express before so this is a new experience for all of us, even me.


One last question. Once we check out, is there a certain time DME will pick you up? Certain amount of hours before?

 

[AngiTN]

Thank you all so much for the helpful information. All my questions about using DME are answered and I feel so much more comfortable using the service knowing this information.

I wasn't aware of the tipping the driver/bellhops with the bags, so I'm glad I know that now. I will be ready for that once my trip comes.

And also thanks for the timeframe I should suggest. I wasn't positive about this but now I will be able to inform the rest of my friends so they are not confused. None of us have used Magical Express before so this is a new experience for all of us, even me.


One last question. Once we check out, is there a certain time DME will pick you up? Certain amount of hours before?

Yes, they will pick you up 3 hours before your departure (domestic flights). Unlike arrival, this is a reservation. You need to be there for that bus. And on our last trip we needed every bit of that 3 hours. We got to the gate for our flight 20 min before take off. We didn't stop for anything along the way, it took that long to get through MCO security (it's been awful everytime I've flew out of MCO)

 

[FantasiaMagic]

Yes, they will pick you up 3 hours before your departure (domestic flights). Unlike arrival, this is a reservation. You need to be there for that bus. And on our last trip we needed every bit of that 3 hours. We got to the gate for our flight 20 min before take off. We didn't stop for anything along the way, it took that long to get through MCO security (it's been awful everytime I've flew out of MCO)

Perfect, this is what I thought, thanks for the info! Yes, MCO security can get very crowded, I'm preparing myself for Spring Break week lol

 

[hill6]

If you are worried about meals due to health concerns, there are a number of food options at the airport if that would satisfy the need to eat/medicate.

 

[Mickeynov08]

If you are worried about meals due to health concerns, there are a number of food options at the airport if that would satisfy the need to eat/medicate.

Thank you! . I just was worried if I'd have enough time to grab a sandwich in the airport if I needed to before boarding ME, and I know the rest of my family will be so anxious to get on board they would hope I wouldn't need to...hence my wondering about time. I will bring lots of healthy travel snacks and hope for the best!

 

[sndral]

Thank you all so much for the helpful information. All my questions about using DME are answered and I feel so much more comfortable using the service knowing this information.

I wasn't aware of the tipping the driver/bellhops with the bags, so I'm glad I know that now. I will be ready for that once my trip comes.

And also thanks for the timeframe I should suggest. I wasn't positive about this but now I will be able to inform the rest of my friends so they are not confused. None of us have used Magical Express before so this is a new experience for all of us, even me.


One last question. Once we check out, is there a certain time DME will pick you up? Certain amount of hours before?

Yep, need to have those small bills handy - even for carry on if it gets stowed below.
Your return will be scheduled 3 hr.s before your plane departs MCO and you will be expected to be @ your resort out there waiting for that DME return bus. If you want to check your bags going home you can do so at the RAC check in counter in the lobby - they have set hours - you might pose this part of your question over in the transportation area of dis - those people are the experts on this stuff.
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