Magical Express Update - 2 hr wait?!

[wtpclc]

A co-worker just booked a WDW vacation. Of course, he had to run teh details by the office "WDW Expert." Sad place when I'm the expert.

Anyway, he told me that he was offered Town Car service as an add on to ME. The CM informed my co-worker that it could be a 20 min to 2 hr wait, depending on when perople were arriving.

2 hrs??!! I was a proponate of ME based on DCL, but 2 hrs is ridiculus. Has anyone else heard this? Do you think they just had a big spender on the phone who did top-of-the-line on everything else, so why not encourage the Town Car extra?

 

[CLEO Z]

I'm giving you a bump bc I NEED to know this! I'm not sitting around for two hrs with a 4 yr old and 14 mos old! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE -those using the service in May and June: post your experience when you return! TIA

 

[wtpclc]

I'm giving you a bump bc I NEED to know this! I'm not sitting around for two hrs with a 4 yr old and 14 mos old! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE -those using the service in May and June: post your experience when you return! TIA

IIRC, the service does not start until May, so no one can give your their actual experiences. I'm just wondering if anyone else had been told there could be a 2 hr wait or if people think that statement was just a sales tactic.

 

[CarolA]

Since I have never been offered town car service by a Disney CM, I wonder WHO your friend was booking via?

The Towncar agencies are posting things like this on thier websites (and on here), but I think some of it is scare tactics. If your friend was booking via a TA then they could be compesated for putting folks in the towncars which would not make it an "unbiased" view.

 

[MickeyBabe]

Well, since Magical Express is being run by Mears this expected wait time doesn't surprise me. Especailly with the crowds Disney might be expecting for the "Happiest Celebration on Earth" this year.

I am not taking that chance in June even with the lure of "Free" transportation.

I suppose the fact that my Airline is not affiliated with the program makes my decision easier. (I would have to do my own baggage pick up and transfer)

I think we will be using Cartier Town Car.

85 days until our first trip "Home"

 

[wtpclc]

Since I have never been offered town car service by a Disney CM, I wonder WHO your friend was booking via?

The Towncar agencies are posting things like this on thier websites (and on here), but I think some of it is scare tactics. If your friend was booking via a TA then they could be compesated for putting folks in the towncars which would not make it an "unbiased" view.

He called the number on the Disney website, so it was a Disney CM, not a regular town car service.

 

[CarolMN]

When is the trip? You can add a towncar service almost right up to the day of departure. There's no hurry to do that. If the TA doesn't want to do it later, the traveler can do it himself. Easy to do. All you need is your flight number and party size.

If it were me, and I wasn't going until June or later, I'd wait to hear some first hand ME reports. I sincerely doubt people will be waiting 2 hours to depart the airport! Are the people using the DCL transfers reporting a 2 hour wait to depart? Doubt it.

Since Disney will know in advance how many to expect, bet they can/will adjust the size of the transportation vehicles (if necessary) to accomodate the number of expected passengers rather than have someone wait 2 hours for a full bus! JMHO. YMMV.

I also think this is a TA thing (not a Disney CM thing) - maybe the TA gets a commission on the towncar booking.

Best wishes -

 

[spiceycat]

Mears is not running this - WDW is!

I don't think the wait will be that long.

I am going in May - I have a early time 9:30 - so if I have to wait until 11:30am to get on a bus - I will tell you....

go ask about it on the Transportation Board - Chip n Dale (Tyler) is a bus driver - there is also another bus driver there - they are answering questions on this.

or better yet - do a search - they have answered alot of questions.

I think the wait should be around 30 minutes.

Now coming back has a lot of people upset - the bus will pick you up 2 hours and 45 minutes (at least) before your flight. Several people don't want to go that early - but Tyler has answer that one too.

Go see - he will put your fears to rest.

I hate to say this about a CM at Disney - but hey the towncar pay them too...

Go ask Tyler!!!

 

[CarolMN]

He called the number on the Disney website, so it was a Disney CM, not a regular town car service.

Wonder if Disney managers know that the CMs are saying things like this about the new ME service? Bet they aren't supposed to!

Best wishes -

 

[wtpclc]

So when you call the Disney number on the website, that is a 3rd party travel agent? I would have assumed it was a Dsiney CM.

They are not traveling until November, but didn't want any hassles so did air though Disney and did teh towncar to save the wait. The person may have just smelled a sucker.

 

[spiceycat]

it could be a Disney CM - but if they get more money to recommend towncars - they will recommend towncars....

go ask Tyler!!! he won't lie to you - promise!!!

 

[TwirlerGirl]

I have 2 questions.
1) When is he going, month and arrival time?
2) Is he a DVC member?

I was told by a CM the expected turn around time is approx. 1 hr. unless you are arriving late. The later in the day the fewer people going to the resorts the longer the wait time. I guess that would apply to off season as well. It made sense to me.


Sandy

 

[wtpclc]

I have 2 questions.
1) When is he going, month and arrival time?
2) Is he a DVC member?

I was told by a CM the expected turn around time is approx. 1 hr. unless you are arriving late. The later in the day the fewer people going to the resorts the longer the wait time. I guess that would apply to off season as well. It made sense to me.
Sandy

He's going the Sunday before Thanksgiving and arriving at noon. No he's not a DVC member.

spiceycat - Thanks for the info. I think our thoughts are along the same lines. Quite honestly, I don't think he wants to deal with any more arrangements, so I will not likely look too far into it. I was just shocked as this was the first I've heard of it.

CarolMN - When I did DCL, the wait was less than 15 minutes. I was out of there WAY before I could have gotten my luggage. That's whay I cannot believe he was told it could be up to 2 hrs.

Luckily, I know I will have heard plenty of acutal reports before I go in January.

 

[DrTomorrow]

I too suspect that a later arrival - when fewer guests arrive - will mean a longer delay. I just can't seem them sending off 4 or 5 buses (how many different resort routes?) with only 5 or 6 people in each when they know that 3 more planes will arrive in the next hour and a half.

Time, as they say, will tell....

 

[spiceycat]

here is a link to help you

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=765076&highlight=magical+express

 

[wtpclc]

Thanks spiceycat! Very informative link!

 

[NJDVCFan]

Mears is not running this - WDW is!

Mears does run the buses - though Disney may be the contractor in charge. DCL buses are run by Mears also.

FYI - we used the DCL transfers several years ago for land / sea package. Everything was quite smooth. We exited the plane and a DCL CM was outside the gate and directed us to another CM further inside the terminal. We waited there with a group of people for a few minutes to make sure they had eveyone they expected. We then all walked to the bus staging area and boarded our respective buses and within a few minutes, we were on our way (and we did take carry on's in the bus).

Now, as for Mears - I have used them quite a few times when I was at Disney for conferences - and I never had any problems with them. My waits were never longer than 15 / 20 minutes, but most of the time it was buy a ticket at the window, board the van or bus, and away we went.

 

[spiceycat]

yes but WDW is the key here.

my last time to do Mears - there was a person who told the buses where to go....

anyway my bus never came.

so I finally start watching this guy - guess what - if you tip him -your bus is next one....

okay I was slow - I will admit it - but once I caught on - our bus was the next.

WDW would NEVER put up with this type scam.....

I have since heard that Mears finally got enough complaints that this person was fired. but Mears should have realized that something was wrong due to the complaints in the first place!!!

so if this happening this time - I am complainting immediately to WDW.

and MEARS knows it!!!

there will be balances and much better planning - and accordingly to Tyler - WDW (not Mears) decides which resort the buses goes to at all times. that is why they needed the arriving and departing schedule from you to place your reservation.

So I am expecting much less trouble.

 

[kathleena]

I suppose the fact that my Airline is not affiliated with the program makes my decision easier. (I would have to do my own baggage pick up and transfer)

Just wondering if Disney told you this. I called last week to book the ME and was told that the affiliation is only relevant to printing your boarding passes at the hotel - not the luggage. They said the luggage transfer is good for ALL airlines.....................

 

[wtpclc]

I PM'd Tyler and, although he has not seen any specific time estimates, the info he gave me leads me to believe the waits should be minimal. The link from spiceycat appears to be the latest and greatest info. Thanks again spiceycat!