Magical Express to Old Key West

[rigsby25]

I have never taken Magic Express. My daughter is getting married at the Swan and Dolphin and we have a lot of relatives coming in for that week. I have recommended the Magic Express, although I have never used it. Could anyone tell me start to finish what to expect? The grooms parents are flying in from Chicago on a Sunday morning. What happens after the plane lands? I know we go get our luggage and off to rent the car, but what will the Groom's parents be doing? Has anyone taken the magic express to Old Key West? And another thing. Their daughter is in a wheel chair. What can they expect?

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

I cannot comment on using ME with a wheelchair, but I have used it several times.

Anyone using ME will go from the plane to the ME check in desk. They will be given a map of where it is with all the info that comes in a packet about 21 days prior to trip start. Also, there are ME employees thru out the airport with the big white Mickey hands on one hand to direct anyone lost.

Once they reach the ME checkin desk they will be asked about the luggage they checked such as if they attached the yellow luggage tags, how many pieces they had, and what they look like. Then they will be directed to a line number that the bus they will be taking is for. There are typically three resorts on the same bus (at least when I have used it there have been three). Once that bus is available for boarding a CM will scan the booklet that came in the mail 21 days prior and the driver will assist them with carryon luggage, it will be placed below the bus (they even use different slots for each resort!). Then you board the bus and wait for it to be full enough to leave. Your resort could be the first or the last of the drop offs, so that can make a difference in amount of time it takes to arrive at your resort. We have always had great luck and busses have not waited long to leave from MCO. We have been the first stop before, we have also been the last and I love the service either way. I believe we have arrived quicker than with rental car once or twice because we didnt have to wait on luggage!

 

[OKW Lover]

Your OKW guests need to be signed up with ME before the trip. I'm assuming you've already taken care of that.

When the plane lands at Orlando, they simply go to the ME registration desk. There will be a map in their ME registration packet along with their ME luggage tags. The luggage tags are put on their bags before they check in at their home airport. The next time they see their checked bags will be in the room at OKW. That's right, no need to go to baggage claim at Orlando - just head directly to the ME counter.

At the ME counter, they will verify the basics - what resort they are going to, how many checked bags and any arrangements for the return trip. Then they will be directed to the appropriate line to get on the bus for their resort. At the bus, any carry-on luggage they have (anything larger than a shoulder bag) should be given to the driver who will put it under the bus. Once the bus has loaded, it will head for WDW. Once at WDW, the bus may stop at other resorts before getting to OKW. The bus driver will announce the resort when stopping. They just get off the bus, claim any carry-on bags that the driver stored under the bus (a tip of $1-2 per bag is customary) and head for check-in.

Once checked in, they can either walk to their OKW unit, or get a ride from Bell Services. Their checked bags will arrive later (probably several hours later) so they should have a change of clothes and any needed med's in their carry on bags. The checked bags are supposed to be delivered to the room "magically", even if they are out. If its been longer than 4 hours since they landed, they might want to call bell services to see what the delay is.

You might want to read the "stickies" at the top of the Transportation board here on the DIS for more good info.

 

[Nanajo1]

I used ME with my W/C. When they check in at ME the tell the CM that a lift bus is needed. They will be taken to the front of the terminal to wait for an OKW bus with a lift. Not all busses have the lift so it is usually a short wait. Once loaded the w/c is secured.If the daughter is able to tranfer to a seat she may if not there is a seat belt.

 

[AKLFan3]

We took Magical Express to OKW and the bus drops you off at Hospitality House, where the check-in desk is located. To get to their room, Bell Services may be available if they are not busy. We took the Internal Resort Bus to get to our room, and they will have a wheelchair lift on the bus. It usually takes about 15 minutes maximum for the internal bus to pick up guests from Hospitality House.

 

[Alexander]

The bus may or may not stop at POFQ and POR before stopping at OKW and then SSR. This is the route that the bus usually takes for these resorts.