Magical Express to MCO

[Laurajeremy]

Mentioned to DH that ME picks up 3 hours before flight time and he is having a HUGE concern that we will be on the bus driving all around to various resorts for an hour---

Has anyone experienced this? looking for honest feedback as it might solve some headaches to just use the free service only one way--- and take car service back to airport

any opinions?

 

[bellelinus]

In my experience, you don't spend that long picking up guests at other resorts -- however, you do get to the airport very early. If you don't mind hanging around the shops at MCO or eating there, go ahead and save the money and use DME. If a lot of time at the airport would bother you, use another method and leave closer to your departure time.

 

[Laurajeremy]

ok with that being said does anyone know how early a car service would pick up? meaning how much time before our flight? (trying to maximize our last day!!!)

 

[kaytieeldr]

Usually two and a half hours. And ask your husband how does he "know" your resort will be picked up first and have to ride around to 'all' (read three, maximum) other resorts before getting to the airport? Or that once you get to the airport, it won't take up to an hour to get through security? Or... or... or... well, you get the point Tell him enquiring minds want to know; I want to know

 

[Cinderumbrella]

We used the "participating airline" check in at the resort last fall. We got our boarding passes and checked our luggage with the TSA in the lobby of our hotel in the AM and used ME to get to MCO later in the day. Our bus was 25 minutes late. We still sat around the airport for more than 90 minutes with nothing to do since all we had to do was walk through security once we arrived.

It will be fine!!

 

[dznyntnh]

You won't spend a great deal of time waiting at each hotel, basically however long it takes to get on, the drivers (in my experience) will not waste a lot a time on straglers.

When I use ME last year, I was the first picked up at CR, the only one on the bus (September, very slow). Next stop was GF, nobody waiting, then Poly, nobody waiting, and finally WL, you guessed it, nobody waiting, the driver was supposed to pick up 18 people in addition to me, none of them was waiting, apparently they all felt the time was too early, but by not taking the time assigned to them, they could very well screw things up for the next bus through.

The driver spent less than 5 minutes waiting at each hotel, she would go into the lobby, double check with the bellman and then take off.

 

[ferris198]

Our bus picked us up 3 hours ahead of time, and actually I am glad now that it did.
We only stopped at one other resort to pick people up, but the line up at security was terribly long.
When we went last year, the security line was short, but this time it was at least an hour on both sides.
And, because of a problem with my ticket, I was given the "special security" treatment. As a result we came very close to missing our flight.

 

[safetymom]

The lines at security have been very long lately. There were lots of people missing flights today. Be glad you have plenty of time to get through security.

 

[TDC Nala]

My last two trips, the security lines at MCO on a Monday afternoon took 45 and 30 minutes respectively.