Magical Express Review for 5/14 & 5/22....

OurDogCisco

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May 30, 2002
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5/14-- We were one of the lucky folks that didn't get the luggage tags before leaving home. However, we arrived in Orlando around 8:30 am and were directed to the ME counter. At the counter we provided the ME with the luggage tag numbers & the description of our luggage. He coded those into his handhead machine and said that an ME employee would grab them. After that we went to board our bus. No lines at this time of the morning. Probably the longest wait was waiting for the bus to load. But not bad at all. No worst than waiting in line for a ride ;) ... We were able to bring on backpacks for 2 adults & 2 children (so 4 backpacks), one stroller & one day bag (a rolling suitcase). The day bag had our swimsuits and clothes for the day... Once the bus got loaded we stopped at Pop Century, Boardwalk, Yacht, & then, Beach Club. We were staying at Beach Club. We were in line at the check-in counter at Beach Club by 10 am. Not bad. Our luggage arrived to the hotel around noon. At that point, the bellman let us go into our luggage because we needed something. No problems with that. Our room wasn't ready until 5 pm. I liked the service because we rarely use a car at WDW.

5/22-- Luggage check-in for one of the participating airlines is only from 6 am to 2 pm each day. Since our flight left at 7:35 am we had to take our luggage on the bus with us. You can only check-in your luggage the day of your flight at least 3 to 4 hours in advance. As a result we had to be in the lobby around 4:20 am. Which probably would have been the same time we would have left if we rented a car. The first bus was full with luggage so, we had to wait for the second one which came 10 minutes later. We made one more stop at the Swan & Dolphin Resort and then, off we went. We were at the airport by 5:30 am. No problems.

I thought the service was fine. It operates just like a cruise line does. I think, people need to remember that you need to pack a day bag for all your necessary stuff. I'd use the service again. It saved us over $190 in limo fare. We've never used a taxi service so I don't know how much that would cost. I don't feel it took more or less time than renting a car. A limo service or taxi cab might be faster. However, when we used the limo service in the past they had a hard time fitting all of our luggage into the trunk. We usually got a towncar not the stretch limo.

If you have any questions let me know!!

:flower: Tina :flower:
 
Thanks so much for your report!! We leave in two days and will also have a very early return flight. I am especially glad to hear that two buses came within 10 minutes of each other at such an early hour and that everything went smoothly for you. Thanks again! :flower:
 
Is the ME buses out by the Mears transportation? I am familar with that.

I have already told my ds's to pack their bathing suits and even an extra pair of clothes just in case.

I am glad that you had a good experience with the service. We go the end of June and are staying at the POP. It would be great if we are the first stop. the sooner we get there the sooner the "magic" starts. :flower:
 
matt&jakesmom said:
Is the ME buses out by the Mears transportation? I am familar with that.

I have already told my ds's to pack their bathing suits and even an extra pair of clothes just in case.

I am glad that you had a good experience with the service. We go the end of June and are staying at the POP. It would be great if we are the first stop. the sooner we get there the sooner the "magic" starts. :flower:

You know, I don't know if the MEARS buses are in the same location as the ME buses. I've never used Mears transportation so, I don't know. I do remember taking the elevator down one floor to the ME desk (I think, it is all a blur to me right now). It was all setup with ME logo all over the ME desk area. It looks exactly like an airport check in counter desk area. Then, you walked right out the door to where the buses were waiting. Hopefully someone else will know.

I hope, POP century is your 1st stop too!

Tina :flower:
 

I noticed you said you stopped at Swan. My quesstion would be why ? Are they now part of the hotels being serviced by Magical Express. Input would be greatly appreciated.
 
I was there about the same time as you (May 13th-May 22nd) and also had a good experience the MDE. I stayed at POP, then transferred to BWV for five nights, then back to POP for the last two nights. I was one of the lucky ones though, that got my luggage tags. Check in at the airport was a breeze. I waited for the bus less than ten minutes and then POP was the first stop. Because I was sitting near the front of the bus, I was one of the first to check in and it just so happened that my room was ready at that time (around 11 am), so I dropped off my carryon and was in MK for lunch. My luggage was waiting in my room when I returned that night. On May 22nd I had a breakfast PS, so arrived at 6:00am to check in and was informed that #1 I couldn't check in until 6:20 am (due to my flight leaving at 6:20pm and you can't check in until at least twelve hours prior to your flight) and #2 the computer was down and wouldn't be back up for about 1-1 1/2 hours. Bell services stowed my luggage, I went to my breakfast, and hung around the parks returning around 1:30pm and was checked in and had my boarding pass in just a few minutes. I got on the bus at 3:10pm and we went straight to the airport with no stops. The CM who was checking people onto the bus was very helpful making sure everyone knew exactly where to go once we got to the airport (A or B side and third floor). My luggage (which I hadn't seen since early that morning), was waiting for me in Dallas when I arrived around 8:20pm. All in all it worked like clockwork and I definitely have no complaints with DME. It was free, easy, and I didn't have to deal with my luggage.
 
(copied from another post)

Disney Cruise Line guests staying at Swan and Dolphin are also served by ME. (DCL transportation was the forerunner of and model for ME)

It is conceivable that Swan and Dolphin could participate in ME but those hotel owners would have to pay a fee for it. I was told that other hotels could subscribe to Disney park transportation too, for a fee.

I had a chance to inspect the ME welcoming area at Orlando Airport last week although I did not use ME. The berths where the ME buses sat were labeled "Mears".

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm
 












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