Magical Express resort pick-up?

[fkj2]

If I have a 10 AM flight, does anyone have an idea as to what time I might get a pickup to MCO by ME?

I'm thinking of switching around departure times.

Thanks.

 

[alanapapa]

If I have a 10 AM flight, does anyone have an idea as to what time I might get a pickup to MCO by ME?

I'm thinking of switching around departure times.

Thanks.

Should be around 7:00 AM, which is a might early IMHO

 

[Hunclemarco]

It's generally 3 hours before airline departure.

 

[disneynutz]

DME pickup time is 3 hours before your flight.

Bill

 

[fkj2]

Should be around 7:00 AM, which is a might early IMHO

Thanks. I was thinking it would be around 7.

 

[Hunclemarco]

Also, if you plan to get your boarding passes at disney...(if you're using a sponsored airline), i think there are specific hrs they'll perform this service. If i find the times, i'll edit this post.

Edited to add: This was taken from Allears.net.


2009 CHANGES:

Effective February 10, 2009, Disney's Magical Express will mail only one luggage tag per person, as travelers are now flying with less luggage due to various changes on the airlines. If you need additional luggage tags, you can request them by contacting Disney's Magical Express at 866-599-0951.

Also, effective February 16, 2009, Disney's Magical Express will only mail the Airport Transportation Booklet and luggage tags to guests located in the United States and Canada. Disney's Magical Express section at www.disney.go.com will be updated to include a general information guide for those who do not receive the booklet in the mail.. If you are located in countries other than the United States and Canada you can still use the full extent of the Disney's Magical Express service, including the resort luggage delivery. You will receive all the pertinent information, including transportation vouchers, upon check-in at the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center. These vouchers are used for transportation to the resort and then back to the airport. You can either collect your luggage at Baggage Claim and it will travel with you on the motorcoach or you may have Disney's Magical Express collect the luggage and deliver it to your room. The luggage delivery time may take up to four hours to be delivered to the resort room.

Effective March 30, 2009, Disney's Magical Express will no longer offer luggage delivery service for arrivals to the Orlando International Airport after 10 p.m. Guests arriving at the airport after 10 p.m. will pick up their luggage at the baggage claim and take it with them to the Magical Express motor coach to their resort. This will allow late-arriving guests using Magical Express to have more immediate access to their luggage. Luggage delivery service will still be provided for Magical Express and Disney Cruise Line guests traveling to Walt Disney World for a resort stay who arrive on flights beginning at 5 a.m. until 10 p.m.


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We want to hear about YOUR Experiences with Magical Express!



Magical Express | Resort Airline Check-in Service

In December 2004, Disney announced a new service called Disney's Magical Express which offers free airport shuttle service, luggage delivery and airline check-in for Disney hotel guests. The service began May 2005 and will remain complimentary during the 50th Anniversary Celebration.

As of March 2009, the Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World agreed to terms that will keep Disney's Magical Express shuttle service running into 2015.

Service is only valid for Orlando International Airport. Resort Airline Check-in Service (see below) is only available for resort guests flying with participating airlines.

How Disney's Magical Express ARRIVAL service works:

* Disney's Magical Express must be booked at least 10 days prior to arrival through disneyworld.com, Disney Reservation Center by calling 407-W-DISNEY or a travel agent. Be sure to have your Arriving Flight Number and time into the Orlando International Airport as well as your Departing Flight Number and time out of the Orlando International Airport as well as the name of the airlines you are flying. We HIGHLY recommend booking this service a minimum of 6 weeks in advance!

NOTE: Guests must be 16 or older to travel unaccompanied on the Disney’s Magical Express transportation service.

* Before you arrive, you will receive in the mail an Airport Transportation Booklet containing general information and special Disney's Magical Express luggage tags for your bags.

* Check your specially tagged luggage at your departure airport.

* Upon arrival in Orlando, bypass airport baggage claim and go directly to the Disney Airport Welcome Center (Level 1, "B" Side).

* Car seats are not permitted on the motor coaches and must be stowed underneath the motor coach.

* You will board state-of-the-art motor coaches that will take you to your Disney hotel. A video is shown during the ride. Your motor coach may make up to FOUR different stops at various Disney resorts.

* A team of Disney representatives at the airport will pick up your luggage and transport it to your Disney hotel room.

* International Visitors - If the Orlando International Airport is your first point of entry into the United States, you will follow the U.S. Customs & Border Protection process and claim your luggage upon disembarking the airplane. Once you have completed this process you will proceed to the main Terminal building where you will be met by a Disney Representative. Your luggage will be transferred to the Baggage Claim area, where Disney will collect it if tagged with Disney's Magical Express luggage tags. If you have already completed the US Customs & Border Protection process in another US city or before entering the US, you will proceed directly to the main Terminal building; and Disney will claim your luggage.

How Disney's Magical Express DEPARTURE service works (from your Disney hotel):

* You will be notified of your motor coach pick-up time and location the day prior to checkout.

* Motor coach pickup time is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes prior to your flight departure.

* The motor coach has 4 drop-off locations in all four quadrants of the airport (Gates 1-29, 30-59, 60-99, and 100-129).

* The service also assists you when it's time to depart. If you are flying one of the participating airlines, you can avoid airport check-in lines by checking your luggage and receiving your boarding pass before you leave your Disney hotel as described in the Resort Airline Check-In Service section below.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Travelers in wheelchairs can be accommodated. You must ask for wheelchair transport when you make your Magical Express reservation.

Service animals are allowed on the motor coach to and from the airport as long as they are accompanied by the owner.

You don't have to book Magical Express Round Trip; you can book one way, either to or from your Disney hotel.

You can not book luggage transfer only. You must be on the motor coach to have your luggage transported.

Your luggage will not be transferred separately to the airport as it is on the inbound service from the airport to the resort. However, you may request Bell Services or Luggage Assistance to help with your luggage.

If you do not have your flight information and wish to make a Magical Express reservation, you may do so. Don't forget to let them know your flight information once it is confirmed!

If your flight information changes, call Disney to make sure they have the correct info. Or you may do it online at www.disneyworld.com/mydisneyvacation

If you miss your flight or it is significantly delayed TO Orlando, call Disney's Magical Express Guest Services. Disney Representatives will retrieve your luggage and confirm your arrival before transferring it to your resort.

You may be able to use the service upon arrival at the Orlando International Airport if it's possible to accommodate you. If you decide to do this be sure and PICK UP your luggage from baggage claim yourself!

Resort Guests should contact Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at (866) 599-0951.


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Resort Airline Check-In Service

* Resort Airline Check-In Service at your Disney resort is only available if you are flying domestically (includes Puerto Rico) on the following airlines: AirTran, Alaska Airlines, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest (as of 6/1/09 testing at Pop Century), Northwest, United (including TED) AND USAirways. It is a complimentary (free) service.

* This service allows you to check your luggage and receive your airline boarding passes right at your resort on the day of your departure.

Changes to Resort Airline Check-in Baggage Policy

Effective June 1, the Resort Airline Check-In service implemented several changes in its checked baggage policy:

-- Guests who fly AirTran, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, and US Airways may check one bag per passenger using the Resort Airline Check-in Service. Guests with multiple bags on these airlines will have the option to check additional pieces through their airlines' ticket counters at Orlando International Airport or they may call Baggage Airline Guest Services at 407-284-1231 to pay their airline's excess luggage fees in advance of checking in at the Resort Airline Check-In desk. The excess luggage fees vary by airline.

-- Guests flying on American who wish to check bags must call Baggage Airline Guest Services at 407-284-1231 to pay their airline bag fees in advance of checking in at the Resort Airline Check-In desk. Otherwise, Guests must check-in at the airport.

-- Guests flying on United Airlines are subject to checked bag fees based on when they purchased their tickets and when they are flying. Verify the actual fees with United before traveling.

-- Guests flying on Alaska Airlines are not subject to bag fees at this time. NOTE: Alaska Airlines will be subject to excess bag fees effective July 1.

NOTE: Each airline has a long list of exceptions to these checked bag policies. Exceptions may include those who bought before the new rues, elite frequent fliers (and those traveling with them on the same reservation), first class passengers, full-fare economy passengers, and government and military fare passengers. Consult with your airline on its exact policies before traveling. The Resort Airline Check-in Desk may be also be able to provide you with airline-specific fee information.

Baggage Airline Guest Services (the fee collection service, not the Resort Airline Check-in Desks) operates seven days a week between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. If paying for excess luggage fees through Baggage Airline Guest Services you must pay with a credit card: MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are accepted. Resort Airline Check-In desks are unable to collect luggage fees on behalf of the airlines.

For ALL airlines, luggage must be 50 pounds or less in order to use the service and it must comply with their airline's size dimension baggage policy. Overweight and oversized luggage cannot be accepted at the Resort Airline Check-In desks.

* This service is separate from Magical Express. You do not have to participate in Magical Express to utilize the Resort Airline Check-in Service.

* Each Disney resort has a dedicated Check-In Desk located in or near the Lobby or near the outside entrance to the resort. If you can't locate the Resort Airline Check-in Desk, ask at the Front Desk. Some examples:

The Polynesian's check-in desk is outside just pass the valet stand on the right as you exit the hotel.

The Port Orleans Riverside check-in desk.

The Port Orleans French Quarter check-in desk.

* The desks are open every day from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can check in no more than 12 hours and no less than 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure time.

* To check in, your entire party must be present with your government issued photo I.D. (e.g., driver's license, passport, Military ID) and your Key to the World card to verify that you are a guest of a Disney hotel

* The Resort Airline Check-In desks can provide some of the same services and information as the airline ticket counters at the airport, including checking seat assignments, and verifying flight information and status. The Resort Airline Check-In Desks cannot make any changes to flight arrangements or make new flight reservations.

* This service is not provided by Disney. A third-party company approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operates the Resort Airline Check-In on behalf of the participating airlines.

* Some persons have reported a wait of over 30 minutes at the Resort Airline check-in desk during peak times. If you are within 3 hours of your departure time, you should bypass this service and get your boarding passes at the airport.

Exceptions:

* This service is also not offered for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Shades of Green, or Downtown Disney Area resorts.

* It is not valid for Disney's Vero Beach Resort and Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort.

 

[fkj2]

I've been flying Southwest, so the return flight's never been an issue: I have to take it myself.

I didn't know about the one tag limit; I'll keep it in mind for future reference. I try to limit the down leg to one bag, and pack a flexible bag in case I have excess weight coming home with souvenirs.

Although 7 AM is an early pick up, at least I'd be getting home by taking an earlier flight. It's like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

 

[corpcomp]

We never take a flight out of WDW before 12pm. With the three hour pickup by ME, it gives us just enough time to wake up, pack and get the bags to the hotel drop off area.

And you also have to be aware that others are doing the same thing so get to the drop - off area at least 20-30 minutes in advance of the ME pickup.

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Boards.

 

[dudspizza]

I've been flying Southwest, so the return flight's never been an issue: I have to take it myself.

I didn't know about the one tag limit; I'll keep it in mind for future reference. I try to limit the down leg to one bag, and pack a flexible bag in case I have excess weight coming home with souvenirs.

Although 7 AM is an early pick up, at least I'd be getting home by taking an earlier flight. It's like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

If you need more than 1 tag per person, you can request more. By default, they only send out 1 per person.

Duds

 

[dburg30]

Should be around 7:00 AM, which is a might early IMHO

It's a 'might early' by 1 hour tops if you used another form of transportation.

As messy as MCO can get, I wouldnt think of 'pushing it' and getting stuck in a security line or traffic or anything like that. And if it's a weekday, smack in the middle or rush hour?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Edited to add: This was taken from Allears.net.

Just so you know - the bulk of - if not all - this information is available in the Magical Express 'sticky' threads at the top of this forum, as well as on the DIS home site, www.wdwinfo.com

 

[Missytara]

I've been flying Southwest, so the return flight's never been an issue: I have to take it myself.

I didn't know about the one tag limit; I'll keep it in mind for future reference. I try to limit the down leg to one bag, and pack a flexible bag in case I have excess weight coming home with souvenirs.

Although 7 AM is an early pick up, at least I'd be getting home by taking an earlier flight. It's like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

They only issue you one tag since most people are only taking one bag; you can get additional tags at no charge if you request them.