Magical Express to Wilderness Lodge

[Cinderella]

We are trying Magical Express for the first time this month. Do you have to wait long at the airport, and how long does it take to get to Wilderness Lodge on ME? Are there many stops at the other resorts first?

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, In Feb.2006 we landed at MCO at about 9:30pm and arrived at the WL about 11pm. Yes, WL was the first stop for us. We did not get our luggage till I called in the morning and then it was brought right up. Have fun, I LOVE the WL! Joan

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

How long you have to wait at the airport depends on the time of day and time of year you arrive.

Your ME bus will sometimes stop at another resort first, and sometimes your hotel will be the first stop. Again, it depends on the time of year and day.

In general, you should allow between one and two hours from the time you land until the time you are at the hotel. There will be some instances where you can get there faster, and rare ones where it will take longer.

 

[DisOrBust]

Joan how long did you wait for the ME at MCO....an hour???


TIA! Sue

 

[Paticake]

In Jan. We landed at 11:50am boarded the bus ,stopped at the GF and the Poly and were at WL by noon. Checked in room was ready,were at AK by 1:00pm. When we returned about 4pm our luggage was in our room.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, Our plane landed at about 9:30pm(I remember because we were delayed in Baltimore for about 45min.) So we were probably waiting about 30-40 min.(you have to get in a check-in line before you are actually in the line to board the bus.) We were also the ONLY ones in the WL line for a while,and I saw other resort buses board,so I think we may have JUST missed a WL bus! But it was a pleasant wait and we were chatting with CM's that assured me a bus would be here soon for us! I know I was in the check-in line at WL at a few minutes to 11pm because I sent my DS to Roaring Forks to get something to eat thinking that they closed at 11pm,but they were open until 12pm and we both got food(after checking in) and took it up to our room. Joan

 

[princessgirls]

Nov 2005 I landed at MCO around 5:40 pm, went down to ME, checked in there and boarded immediately onto a bus heading to VWL. I think there were 6 other people on bus. Straight drive there, first stop and at check in counter by 6:45. Now how long you have to wait to check in....well that's another question!

 

[Gary M]

In Jan. We landed at 11:50am boarded the bus ,stopped at the GF and the Poly and were at WL by noon. Checked in room was ready,were at AK by 1:00pm. When we returned about 4pm our luggage was in our room.

10 minutes must be a record. I bet you meant 10:50 am and got to WL at noon. Our two times taking DME to WL last winter took about 1 hour each time. This was the time we walked off the plane until we were standing in line checking in at the WL. Once the WL was the first stop and the other we stopped at the Poly then the WL. These trips were before noon each time.

 

[abner1776]

We took ME to WL back in Jan '06. Total time from the bottom of the escalator in the terminal to the bus departing was no more than 15 minutes...heck...it would have taken 15 minutes just to get our bags without ME.

WL was the first stop on our trip, so I am confused about one of the other posts which said they stopped at GF and Poly first.

With no bags to lug around we checked in very quickly and spent the rest of the afternoon "checking" everything out at WL. When we returned to our room just b/4 dinner our bags were waiting.

Having rented a car at MCO (off airport) I know it would have taken us 1 hour minimum to get our bags, get on the shuttle, get our car and departed for WDW. With ME, we were at WL within the 1 hour.

 

[Paticake]

I just re-read my post. We landed at 10:50. It would have been some trick to get to WL in 5 mins. Sorry!!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

WL was the first stop on our trip, so I am confused about one of the other posts which said they stopped at GF and Poly first.

No need for confusion. There are no pre-set DME routes, and no pre-set groupings of what resorts go on buses together. It's all decided and dispatched based upon expected and actual need ON THAT DAY and AT THAT TIME. You could take DME 10 days in a row and maybe have the same other resorts on your bus 4 or 5 out of those 10 times. On top of that, each DME bus stops at the resort closest to the airport first, and farthest from the airport last. As a result, which other resorts are on your bus will obviously affect your order of drop-off for that ride.