Magical Express - TERRIBLE

[kaytieeldr]

With only 12 people on the bus what is the reason that our luggage could not travel with us? I travel often, using hotel shuttles, this is the worst run system I have seen. Disney should be ashamed.
Disney is known for its excellence, DME in my opinion does contribute to that excellence.

Most of the over five million Guests who've used Disney's Magical Express (between 5,000 and 10,000 per day, for the last 22+ months, average = 7,500 per day times 678 days) would tend to disagree with this assessment,,, but then, those Guests didn't have your experience.

Unless you pick up your own luggage (which you need to plan in advance by not attaching the DME luggage tags), all luggage is transported on trucks.

I'm surprised Bell Services told you they're "too busy" between 6 and 9 AM to deliver DME luggage. That hasn't been reported in other threads I've read - usually, late-arriving Guests wake to see the message light flashing on their phone; returning the message enable them to let Bell Services know they're ready for their suitcases.

 

[MidgeD79]

I also had a bad experience with DME and the responses on here to me were not nice. I think there are more negative experiences with DME than the DIS realizes because people are hesitant to post anything but glowing reports. I don't know if I would say "never again" though.

 

[goofy4tink]

king974.....what resort were you staying at? I'm just curious. Sorry you had a less than 'magical' experience. I certainly wouldn't enjoy sitting on a bus for that long at the beginning of my vacation!! Unfortunatly, it seems that those arriving at MCO after 7:00 stand a better chance than others of having a less desireable experience with DME
I know that when my dh and dd arrived at MCO last May, on a Tuesday evening about 9:45, they only waited about 10 minutes before the bus left, adn they were at POP around 10:40. They had no luggage so that helped.

To those of you who have posted negative experiences with DME, please don't be frustrated with the responses you get here. The vast majority of people using DME have had very good experiences. It's upsetting to hear that DME isn't as magical for everyone as it has been for us. I hope that you have tried to contact Disney about your bad start. And yes, that 3 hr before flight time is a huge pain, but I'm sure they do that to be sure that no one misses their flight. It's the one thing I really dislike about DME....I wish they would allow me to choose my time of departure. I guess I could lie about my flight departure, but I would hate to have to do that.

 

[CleveRocks]

With only 12 people on the bus what is the reason that our luggage could not travel with us?

The reason may take a lot pf words to explain, but is actually pretty simple.

Buses and luggage are 2 completely different systems. Luggage tagged with DME tags is pulled before it ever reaches the public baggage claim carousels. It's grouped at various behind-the-scenes drop-off points, and then transported to a centralized sorting facility, where it's then placed into separate cages and then those cages are loaded onto trucks, which then transport the luggage to the resorts.

So if you put DME tags on your bags, there's no way for them to get your luggage to you on your bus. If they did that, it would cause a huge delay, as one of the great time savers with DME is NOT having to wait for your luggage at all. Now, of course, I know you had a huge delay of your own, so I know it wouldn't have delayed you any, but you know what I mean.

The system was poorly run for the dozen people on your bus that night. Nothing will change that, and nothing will change your opinion because you earned that opinion of DME. But I just want others to realize that the thousands of other people who used DME that day didn't have the same experience.

To MidgeD79, sorry you had a bad experience both on DME and here. I think it's the opposite, I think there's no incentive for people to post about their positive experiences, or rather to start a thread about their positive experiences. When things are business as usual, we usually don't talk about them unless asked. That's why we don't see threads with titles like, "Mousekeeping adequately cleaned my room every day," "I rode Space Mountain and Expedition Everest and they didn't get stuck or get delayed due to repairs," or "We went to Chef Mickey's and were seated within 5 minutes of our ADR time."

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we have used it 5 times with no issues or problems

 

[kaytieeldr]

When things are business as usual, we usually don't talk about them unless asked. That's why we don't see threads with titles like, "Mousekeeping adequately cleaned my room every day," "I rode Space Mountain and Expedition Everest and they didn't get stuck or get delayed due to repairs," or "We went to Chef Mickey's and were seated within 5 minutes of our ADR time."

Note to self: In lieu of trip reports (which, okay, as certain posters know I don't do anyhow ), post positive or service-as-expected experiences on DisBoards... then wait for the "So? Why are you telling us this?" responses

 

[Disneyhappy]

My niece's college softball team used ME two weeks ago. Their flight got in at 6:00 PM and were checked in by 8 PM. So far so good! They had an 8 AM softball game the next morning so they had to be up and out by 6:30 AM to get on the bus to head to WWOS. Part of their luggaagge arrived a 3 AM and the rest at 7 AM! (including some of their equipment and uniforms which they did not have in time for their departure for their first game). DH and I, along with some parents, went to All Star Sports to wait for the equipment/uniforms (had to sort through the luggage!) and drove it over to WWOS for the team almost in time for the game. It sort of threw them off but they won their first game in the bottom of the 7th and won the rest of their games for the week so all was well!!! Before booking their flight, the coach had confirmed with Disney that the flight times were OK for the tournament schedule as well as transportation issues. Disney assured the coach everything was fine. Disney did compensate the coach/team according to my niece which was a pleasant surprise as I don't think they were expecting anything. I'm not sure what it was but I know the team was able to to a group dinner at Trails End that they had not planned on.

While I have no personal experience with ME, it seems the majority of people have no issues and love this great benefit to staying on site. As far as the OP, I would have been very frustrated at waiting so long for the bus to leave MCO as well as getting the luggage in the middle of the night. Thank you for sharing your experience so others may benefit when preparing for their trips.

 

[MEK]

I used it once with great results. We liked it so much, my kids didn't want to get a rental car on our last trip. They said -"let dad get the car and we'll meet him there".

However, it does concern me that someone would get a 3am luggage delivery. Since my next trip involves a 8:30 pm arrival at MCO, I think I might pick up my own luggage. Truely - this wouldn't be neccessary if you could just pack the liquids you need in your carry on. If that were the case, you could wait until 9am to get your luggage the next day.

I also agree that the bus leaves way too early to get to the airport. However, that is the trade off for getting free transportation, so I accept that as part of the deal.

 

[Lewisc]

There have been reports that Disney is outsourcing bell services. I hope this isn't the problem with late luggage.

I'm surprised Bell Services told you they're "too busy" between 6 and 9 AM to deliver DME luggage. That hasn't been reported in other threads I've read - usually, late-arriving Guests wake to see the message light flashing on their phone; returning the message enable them to let Bell Services know they're ready for their suitcases.

 

[kaytieeldr]

MEK - realistically, how much liquid product would you expect to need in your first 24 hours? Toothpaste, check. Maybe shampoo and conditioner, check. Sunscreen, check. Mascara, check. Deodorant, check. Hair 'stuff', check.

MOST, if not all, of those items are available in travel or three-ounce-or-less sizes - which you can bring on the plane with you (gotta fit in a one-quart clear zip-top plastic bag, one per person). If you can manage that, you may be able get by without your luggage until 9 AM or so - IF, it turns out, that's the future practice. It's still not confirmed.

 

[ParrotBill]

Not sure why some are saying 3 hrs is too early to be picked up. My last 2 pickups when like this:

About an hour for the other 2 resort pickups and ride to the airport
About an hour to walk to the check in counter, wait in line, get boarding passes and luggage tags, wait in line for luggage insepction and check in, wait for security checkpoint, get through security, ride train to airside, stop at a bathroom, walk to gate.

That gave us just 30 minutes to wait before boarding began.

When it was just 2 hours we got to the gate and boarding had already begun.

Both times we witnessed people who were not at the pickup and ready with their luggage at their scheduled time, so they were on a later bus.

And a scene that always frost me: how many families get to the Orlando airport with an hour or less to departure... so the ticket agents are pulling them from the line behind me... such wonderful expedited treatment for arriving late, making those of us who arrived in the right amount of time wait longer in line. I counted 8 groups who skipped ahead of me last time.

 

[Boston5602]

I too do not think 3 hours ahead of flight is to much. When I hire a town car they suggest 2 1/2 hours before flight. 1/2 an hour for the ride to the airport and 2 hours as per suggested by the airport.

What do people who rent cars do? You need time to return it ( some need to refuel first) and check in I would think thats at least 2 hours so we are actually talking 1/2 or 1 hour difference for a free shuttle service to MCO.

The longest time landing to resort for me was 1 hour 40 minutes. I was going to POP and was last stop after 2 other resorts.

 

[MEK]

MEK - realistically, how much liquid product would you expect to need in your first 24 hours? Toothpaste, check. Maybe shampoo and conditioner, check. Sunscreen, check. Mascara, check. Deodorant, check. Hair 'stuff', check.

MOST, if not all, of those items are available in travel or three-ounce-or-less sizes - which you can bring on the plane with you (gotta fit in a one-quart clear zip-top plastic bag, one per person). If you can manage that, you may be able get by without your luggage until 9 AM or so - IF, it turns out, that's the future practice. It's still not confirmed.

I'm a princess, so I need a lot. Those 3 ounce mini things just won't do it for me. I need the full size - the whole lot of them!!!!! So, i'll just get my own luggage if I can't have them all - so there!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm a princess, so I need a lot. Those 3 ounce mini things just won't do it for me. I need the full size - the whole lot of them!!!!! So, i'll just get my own luggage if I can't have them all - so there!

Wrong smiley - I think you want one where you're sticking your tongue out at me

 

[DaisyD]

Careful OP! No one can ever say anything negative about DME! You will get everyone telling you that you are either crazy, delusional, or just plain wrong. Well, maybe not that harsh. They will all tell you that it NEVER happens the way it happened to you. They will all have had wonderful experiences with it. Same thing happens if you bad mouth the Polynesian resort! LOL! Don't feel too badly. My neighbor just came back from WDW last week. She used the DME, because of course it was FREE, against my warning to her. I hadn't used DME before but every time we come out of MCO there have always been long lines waiting to get on the bus and people complaining. I warned her this could happen but did she listen? Nope! LOL! Anyway that was the first thing she complained about when she got home. Almost the same thing that happened to you. They got in at 8pm, waited over an hour in the bus before a few more folks got on. They finally got to the resort and also got that lovely knock at the door at 2am. Hope the rest of your vacation was great!

 

[debster812]

Careful OP! No one can ever say anything negative about DME! You will get everyone telling you that you are either crazy, delusional, or just plain wrong. Well, maybe not that harsh. They will all tell you that it NEVER happens the way it happened to you. They will all have had wonderful experiences with it. Same thing happens if you bad mouth the Polynesian resort! LOL! Don't feel too badly. My neighbor just came back from WDW last week. She used the DME, because of course it was FREE, against my warning to her. I hadn't used DME before but every time we come out of MCO there have always been long lines waiting to get on the bus and people complaining. I warned her this could happen but did she listen? Nope! LOL! Anyway that was the first thing she complained about when she got home. Almost the same thing that happened to you. They got in at 8pm, waited over an hour in the bus before a few more folks got on. They finally got to the resort and also got that lovely knock at the door at 2am. Hope the rest of your vacation was great!

I don't think anyone told the OP they were crazy, delusional or just plain wrong. Others were sharing their experience.

Yours is a pretty harsh reply for someone professing to never have used the service.

I'm not saying that DME does not experience problems, because obviously they do, but there were suggestions made to the OP on how they could avoid some of their pitfalls in the future, or for OTHER posters.

 

[djm99]

I don't know if its just me, but I'd rather have my luggage at 3 am than be sitting around in the morning waiting on my luggage and the parks just calling me and calling me and calling me . Besides, if I arrived late I couldn't sleep because I'd be so excited.

OP, I do understand that everyone is not like me, but I couldn't fall asleep without my luggage. If I am not unpacked, I just don't feel like I'm on a vacation and ready to go!!!

 

[TDC Nala]

Then, if you're coming in late, either use DME and pick up your own luggage, or arrange your own transportation that includes your luggage. There's ways to get what you want done.

I have one horror story about DME and I've used it about 10 times I'd guess. There are not always long lines and you don't always have to wait a long time on the bus, but it's certainly not consistent. If you need consistency, arrange your own transportation.

I'd never tell anybody not to use it but I would make sure they knew what to expect, and it's up to them whether or not they can handle it.

 

[DaisyD]

I don't think anyone told the OP they were crazy, delusional or just plain wrong. Others were sharing their experience.

Yours is a pretty harsh reply for someone professing to never have used the service.

I'm not saying that DME does not experience problems, because obviously they do, but there were suggestions made to the OP on how they could avoid some of their pitfalls in the future, or for OTHER posters.

If you read my post I said no one says that and that was harsh. Did you not see that ? I also remarked how he would get the same flack if posting how bad the Poly is. Just trying to make light and not have him running away because so many here were hard on him'her. He was only sharing his experience and giving those that have never done DME a heads up on what could happen. As you can see by all the posts everyone is saying how wonderful it is and how they have never had that problem.

 

[Edd]

I will tell you one truth. If you come in when those planes are packed with visitors you are going to find long lines at the DME station no matter what. It seems like everyone who doesn't experience the long lines comes in early in the day or later in the evening or during the slower seasons. If I go down and check it out this weekend I will guarantee you I will see long lines and many times no busses outside to load.

Disney is filled up this next two weeks and I will bet there will be some passengers standing in long lines, at the airport and returning from the resort, this next two weeks. If you want to talk about no lines give a time and a date you visited so you can be more understandable.