magical express service and DVC members

[disney queen]

i know this has been mentioned before, but here goes again. how is this gonna work for those of us who are DVC'ers? thanks!

 

[Doug7856]

Yes, Magic Express is available to anyone, without or with a package, who stays at any Disney resort including DVC. I have an email from MS confirming this. The service is free during the 50th Disneyland Celebration at Walt Disney World (gotta love the marketing people at Disney!).

 

[snowbunny]

I read on the Disney vacation planning site that one of the providers of magical express will be Mears...I guess that means riding the van around to every Disney resort? Which would be better than hitting all the non-Disney resorts on your way to a Disney hotel, I've done that...

That Tiffany town car on the last trip sure was a nice change from Mears. But it's not free

 

[Doug7856]

I read on the Disney vacation planning site that one of the providers of magical express will be Mears...I guess that means riding the van around to every Disney resort? Which would be better than hitting all the non-Disney resorts on your way to a Disney hotel, I've done that...

That Tiffany town car on the last trip sure was a nice change from Mears. But it's not free

That's correct. Mears will be providing the Magical Express service for Disney.

 

[Terry S]

I beleive I read somewhere that the "motor coach" would stop at a maximum of 4 resorts.

 

[tjkraz]

...I guess that means riding the van around to every Disney resort?

I guess it depends on the popularity of the program. If guests flock to this new service, that would mean more frequent busses and perhaps even grouping passengers on a bus by resort.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I read on the Disney vacation planning site that one of the providers of magical express will be Mears...I guess that means riding the van around to every Disney resort?

Yes, Disney is paying Mears to operate the service. After all, Mears is an experienced transportation provider in the Orlando area. It's a family-owned business that's been around since 1939. See http://www.mearstransportation.com/ or for the history of Mears, see http://www.mearstransportation.com/History.htm

This in not simply a rebranding of the current Mears bus and van service. For Magical Express, Disney is promising new, state-of-the-art motor coaches with video screens.

Keep in mind that far more people will use this service than the current Mears services. That should mean more frequent service and fewer stops per coach. And because the luggage will be on on trucks instead of on the bus, each stop should be shorter because the driver will not need to spend time unloading baggage.

 

[jpmom97]

Please forgive me, what is Magic Express?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Please forgive me, what is Magic Express?

Magical Express is transportation between Orlando International Airport and Disney-owned resort hotels (including the on-site DVC properties). You can check your luggage from your home airport to your resort room! And it's all complimentary.

The a good desription, see http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/magical-express.htm#hm-magical-express

For lots of details, see the Magical Express FAQ for Travel Agents in the thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=703882

 

[localdriver]

I read on the Disney vacation planning site that one of the providers of magical express will be Mears...I guess that means riding the van around to every Disney resort? Which would be better than hitting all the non-Disney resorts on your way to a Disney hotel, I've done that...

That Tiffany town car on the last trip sure was a nice change from Mears. But it's not free

Vans will NOT be a part of the Magical Express service. It will be exclusively motorcoaches.

Mears has ordered 30+ Brand New Coaches to be used exclusively for the Magical Express.

 

[newarknut]

I've got a trip planned the end of March (27th) through April 3rd. This includes a stay at SSR and a 3 day cruise. I've booked FL Tours for the Airport - Resort, Resort-Airport trips. How do I go about switching to the Magical Express service?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I've got a trip planned the end of March (27th) through April 3rd. This includes a stay at SSR and a 3 day cruise. I've booked FL Tours for the Airport - Resort, Resort-Airport trips.

If it's in 2006, just call Member Services a month of so before you travel, if you wish to reserve Disney's Magical Express for the airport-to-WDW portion.

If it's in 2005, just keep your FL Tours reservation. Disney's Magical Express service does not start until May 5, 2005.

 

[NMW]

I am fairly certain that Magical Express does not start until May (to coinside with the 50th anniv. celebration). Then it lasts the entire length of the celebration (something like 16 mos? ) I don't think Disney has said if they will continue the service after that. If they do, I bet they will charge for it!

 

[tjkraz]

...I don't think Disney has said if they will continue the service after that. If they do, I bet they will charge for it!

Maybe, maybe not. The presumption on Disney's part is that providing free transportation will discourage the use of rental cars and keep folks on-site, spending all of their money at Disney. I'm sure they have certain benchmarks set for the trial period. If those benchmarks are met, it may just remain a free service.

Or they could roll-up the fees in the 2006 / 2007 cash room rate increases.

 

[CarolA]

I think Disney will decide if this makes them money. And in theory it may. If you don't rent a car you may not be as likely to go offsite.

I am considering this for my October trip. (If I do, I am going to mail myself some grocery supplies!)

 

[localdriver]

I've got a trip planned the end of March (27th) through April 3rd. This includes a stay at SSR and a 3 day cruise. I've booked FL Tours for the Airport - Resort, Resort-Airport trips. How do I go about switching to the Magical Express service?

Thanks in advance!

Is your cruise on Disney Cruise Lines?

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I just don't like the fact that they retrieve your luggage and bring it along in a different vehicle. Too many things could go wrong.

 

[snowbunny]

I just don't like the fact that they retrieve your luggage and bring it along in a different vehicle. Too many things could go wrong.

I agree completely. I like to put my hands on my own bag at bag claim.
Going down the lost luggage road is why I started using only a wheeled carry-on for business trips. I wonder if there will be any way around this aspect of it.

 

[Terry S]

Honestly, if Northwest was one of the participating airlines, I would seriously consider this. I really like the idea of not having to wait around that luggage carousel. Instead of the town car and grocery stop, I would just order groceries from one of the places that deliver.

 

[Candace]

How WILL this work if you are flying Northwest since it is not one of the listed airlines?