Magical Express Service LOVE IT? HATE IT?

[maddhatir]

I will be using the Magical Express Service for the first time in Sept 06-- my last trip i got a town car to pick us up at the airport becasue i did not hear many great things about the Magical Express Service--

DH insists on trying it this time.

I am prepared to bring the 'ol carry on with extra items just in case, but i am just wondering what you all think of it.

Thank you!

maddhatir

 

[byoung]

Used it twice now with no problem. Saves you cash. 1/2 to 1 hour longer then a town car.

 

[goofeyken]

We thought the service was great.

 

[miller2470]

We used it last May and will definitely use it again this June. Definitely saves money and so much easier than hasseling with luggage claims

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

We "apprehensively" used it last July. Like you we had heard all of the bad press. It was great! you are directed wonderfully through the airport to the counters. That was just about the only thing I had to complain about... the lines were quite long at that time and that was with only one person from each party waiting! after 20 mins all was taken care of and we were off. After check in we went to Beaches and Creams for the traditional Kitchen Sink and when we got back to our room the bags were waiting for us. I say use it! All that luggage claim hassel will be a thing of history!

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

Used it in August 2005 and using it again Feburary 2006 and April 2006! Got off the plane, right onto the bus ... NO WAIT!!! Went to check in and then onto the parks, when we got back to our room, our bags were waiting!! Thought is was great ... since it's free. If they charged for it I wouldn't use it ... since there are six of us it would be cheaper to get a towncar/van I'm sure!!

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

i went on my trip this last August with a big group. most of us were staying at the cabins and the rest were staying at Pop Century. we had all opted for the Magical Express. the first mishap was when we were supposed to recieve the tickets for our luggage. we never recieved ours, but my fiance's father recieved his for his son. his son would be coming down a few days later with us. well his sons' tag said Pop Century when he was staying at the cabins with us! then when we had gotten to the resort we had stayed there for about 2 hours before heading off to see Cirque in DTD. anyway, needless to say after 2 hours we still hadn't recieved our luggage and it had my clothes and some of my medicine that wouldn't fit into my carry-on in it. we didn't get back from Cirque until around midnight and our luggage was sitting there for us in the room. we asked my fiance's mother how long it took and she said not counting the 2 hours we were there earlier, it took an additional 2 hours to come after we had left! plus when we had arrived to the airport....since we had never recieved our luggage tags we had to take all of our luggage down to the bus ourselves.....which pretty much defeats the purpose if you ask me.

don't pack ANY medication into your luggage, pack it in your carry-on or put it in your purse. try and fit an extra pair of clothes in your carry-on as well.

 

[mrsfascinating]

We used this service on our Nov/Dec 2005 trip. My only complaint is this we had the understanding that there was a bus per hotel . Not the case. We were staying at AKL the bus ,after waiting 45min at the airport to fill up I guess ,first stopped at pop century then dixie landings (I think . not sure on that but I wasn't where we were going) then the AKL only because the 3rd stop had no one for it. This just took way to long especially with a special needs child. The ride back worked out ok we were at the Boardwalk Villas stopped at carribean beach then off to the airport. This Nov we are renting a car to see how controlling our own departure works. (I also have issues with the internal park bus waiting times ). I got an awesome deal at alamo less then $200 on a midsize SUV for 9days.

 

[TikiGoddess]

We too had some issues. It took quite awhile to get on and it definitely took longer to get to our resort than if we had taken a cab, but again it was free. Our biggest issue was not really w/ME as much as our hotel communicating with ME. They had us in Mighty Ducks when we got there and we wanted Toy Story which we got, but they failed to communicate that to ME so ME could tell the luggage handlers when they came to take our luggage to our room. Hence the checking in at 2:30 and the actual receipt of our luggage at 10:45 that evening. The luggage handlers lost our luggage (ie: took it to the Mighty Ducks room) where it sat for many hours. Once again, not ME's fault, but if you do change rooms make sure the person at the front desk communicates that to everyone. The trip home was great though. I really liked the airport check in at the hotel. Just make sure everyone in your party is there for that. I saw them turn away 5 people while we were there b/c part of their party wasn't there.

 

[maddhatir]

Thank you everyone, so far, for your comments.

DH wants to use it b/c its free- i will look at it like...an adventure!

i for one would rather pay money for less aggrevation--
but! at least he did not freak out when i sprung it on him that i made ressies for sept! i kind of "briefed" him in on the fact i wanted to go back to Disney (even tho we just got back in dec)....you know how you have to talk about it a bit until they get used to hearing about the disney trip that they have no idea you are planning-- (in your head!)

i am so bad!

My DH is the best!

maddhatir