Magical Express timing

[cjparker0110]

I've seen a few people report that it takes about 3 hours from airport to hotel using ME. I was just wondering if the time estimate is different based on what time you fly in. I feel like when I used it before (2006) that it didn't take much time at all. We got off our plane and went to the ME area. I think we were on a bus in 30 minutes or so and arrived at the Poly 45 minutes or so later. But we had one of those ridiculously early flights. Does this effect it? Or is it just taking longer these days?

 

[JanaDee]

I've seen a few people report that it takes about 3 hours from airport to hotel using ME. I was just wondering if the time estimate is different based on what time you fly in. I feel like when I used it before (2006) that it didn't take much time at all. We got off our plane and went to the ME area. I think we were on a bus in 30 minutes or so and arrived at the Poly 45 minutes or so later. But we had one of those ridiculously early flights. Does this effect it? Or is it just taking longer these days?

It isn't 3 hours from airport to hotel. It averages about 90 minutes from airport to hotel. However, you are picked up for the reverse trip around 3 hours before your flight leaves.

 

[PCFriar80]

I've seen a few people report that it takes about 3 hours from airport to hotel using ME. I was just wondering if the time estimate is different based on what time you fly in. I feel like when I used it before (2006) that it didn't take much time at all. We got off our plane and went to the ME area. I think we were on a bus in 30 minutes or so and arrived at the Poly 45 minutes or so later. But we had one of those ridiculously early flights. Does this effect it? Or is it just taking longer these days?

I think the 3 hour benchmark you're referencing is most likely in relation to the return criteria [from resort to MCO]. This is the standard timeframe for domestic departures. In all of the years we have used the service from the airport to resort it has never taken us more than 2 hours from when we arrived at ME checkin to our destination.

 

[cjparker0110]

Thank you. Just wanted to double check for planning purposes.

 

[scrapquitler]

I've seen a few people report that it takes about 3 hours from airport to hotel using ME. I was just wondering if the time estimate is different based on what time you fly in. I feel like when I used it before (2006) that it didn't take much time at all. We got off our plane and went to the ME area. I think we were on a bus in 30 minutes or so and arrived at the Poly 45 minutes or so later. But we had one of those ridiculously early flights. Does this effect it? Or is it just taking longer these days?

April 17th. Our flight arrived at 9:30AM. We did online check in and had the text with our room number when we landed. We got off the flight, went to the restroom, bought a snack in the airport and headed toward ME. We checked in to Magic Express and got on the bus. Less than 10 minutes after we got on the bus, we were on our way. We stayed at Pop and we were the first (or maybe only?) stop they made. We were in our room around 11:10AM.

I think it just depends on how long between when you arrive and when the bus leaves the airport, and how many stops the ME makes on the way to your resort (I know that when we stayed at All Stars it made two stops before it was our turn to get off, so it took a lot longer).

 

[huckabear]

We'll be arriving in Orlando at 9:40am so I'm hoping for similar timing!!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Unfortunately, DME is luck of the draw and you never know what you're going to get. We once waited in line for an hour just to get on the bus. There were a whole bunch of unhappy people on the bus that day. Other times, we've walked right onto a bus that left immediately and arrived at our resort within an hour of landing.

 

[Tatertot75]

We really lucked out on Thursday. Our flight got in around 7:40AM, and we hustled down to DME. We were on the bus by 8, breezed through Beach Club and at the gates to Epcot at 9. Obviously a best case scenario, but it can happen

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I've never had it take 3 hours from airport to hotel. No way it takes that long. Even on the post midnight bus that went to six resorts (mine last), it didn't take that long.

They do want to pick you up on your return 3 hours ahead of your flight time.

 

[Kevin355]

Longest time from landing to resort was a little over an hour.

 

[disney world dreamer]

I've seen a few people report that it takes about 3 hours from airport to hotel using ME. I was just wondering if the time estimate is different based on what time you fly in. I feel like when I used it before (2006) that it didn't take much time at all. We got off our plane and went to the ME area. I think we were on a bus in 30 minutes or so and arrived at the Poly 45 minutes or so later. But we had one of those ridiculously early flights. Does this effect it? Or is it just taking longer these days?

i'm pretty sure you are confused.
i've never seen anyone say to allow 3hrs to get from the airport to your hotel.
i have seen where people say to allow 3hrs to get from the airport to a PARK.
i've also seen people say allow 3hrs for your luggage to arrive in your room.
and when you go back to the airport from your hotel you are picked up 3hrs prior to your flight so that you can be at the airport the recommended 2hrs prior to your light.

 

[wisblue]

I would say that 90 minutes is about average and how much it varies from there depends on timing, where you are staying, and how many times the bus stops before it gets to your resort.

Yesterday we had one of those best case scenarios. Our flight landed at 1:15 and we made a quick restroom stop and then made our traditional lunch stop at Chick Fil A in the food court. There was a little bit of a line there, but we picked up our lunch and carried it to the bus. When we got to DME we were loaded right onto a bus that was already pretty full, so we were on our way in 5 minutes. The bus stopped at OKW and dropped us off at our home (SSR) at about 2:15, just about an hour after the plane landed.

 

[Mousemommy1]

In 10 trips using ME, it has never taken longer than 90 minutes from landing to resort for us.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

It was 90 minutes for me from the time the plane landed at 3:30p until the time I was heading to my room at Port Orleans Riverside (got the room text so I didn't need to go to the front desk).
Unfortunately Riverside was the last stop out of 4 resort stops we made that day.

Another time I went to Pop and was at my resort 40 minutes from the time I got off the plane and got to DME. That was amazing and it's never been that fast for me before or since.

I let DME take care of my luggage so I don't have to worry about picking it up.

 

[cjparker0110]

I think what I came across for the 3 hours was from landing to arrival at resort. I suppose this could happen if they arrived at a busy time, just missed a bus, maybe had enough people ahead of them to fill the next bus, and stayed at a resort which is the last stop for their particular bus. It sounds like it is abnormal. That is all I was wondering about. Thank you all for replying. I am not going until 2017 but was concerned when I read that it was so long. It's good to know that is sounds about like it was when I went before!

 

[goofy4tink]

That three hours is probably what people are talking about when they are leaving WDW, heading back to MCO. The DME picks you up about 3 hrs. prior to your flight departure...give or take 15 mins.
When you're traveling to WDW, from MCO, figure on it taking no more than 90 mins. We find that 75 mins is becoming the average. Yes, you can do it in an hour, but that's unusual. As is it taking more than 90 mins. Yes, stuff happens and it can take you over 90 mins but it's not the norm. I've used DME more times than I can count, and I've had times of between 50 and 90 mins.....it was 90 mins just once and 50 mins just once. Usually around 70 mins.
These times are from gate to resort...NOT landing to resort.

 

[Nancyg56]

I always figure about 90 minutes from touchdown to checkin at the resort. The return trip plan 3 hours prior to your flight. You will be given a DME departure time, and you must be at the bus stop 15 minutes prior to that time. DME waits for no one

 

[grecorj]

Typically the walk to the DME boarding area after disembarking (15 min) and the DME ride itself (40 min - from airport to first resort) hardly vary.

Variables:
Time spent waiting for bus/waiting for bus to leave: 5-20 min

Resort drop-offs before yours: figure about 5 min per stop

So if you get lucky and board and the bus leaves right away and your resort is first stop, 60 min is possible. 90 min is a better estimate in most cases. 2 hours is atypical. 3 hours means something went horribly wrong (bus breakdown, massive traffic/accident, etc.).

 

[LENNON500]

90 minutes seems about right but as many have mentioned, there are allot of factors that could make this number less or longer. We land on May 18th at about 4pm. We're staying at the BC and we have reservations for Cape May Cafe @ 7:05. I'm not worried about being late for it

 

[jmkjr72]

We are here right now and it took just over 2 hours from landing too the resort
when we got in line they had just filled 1 bus and there were so many people we didnt get the next bus
so we saw 2 busses leave for the mk area resorts before we got on a bus and we were the last stop for the bus