Magical Express (W/ Covid)

[Goofy2015]

Hello All,

I will be going to WDW for the first time during the COVID pandemic in Late October.

Typically, for airport to resort transportation, I would Uber/Lyft. However, I am not sure we are comfortable using an Uber for that amount of travel time from the airport to the resort. I think we wouldn't mind shorter trips like from resort to resort. Essentially, we want to reduce exposure to being in an uber.

Anyway, we are thinking of using Magical Express. I have never gone about this process and have a few questions.

1) Do you have to make a reservation in advance to receive a ride? If so, how much in advance? I am not sure if it is something you just show up to the ME respective spot at MCO and then hop on your resort ME.
2) Does each resort have their own ME? Or, are you traveling along from resort to resort dropping people off? We are staying at the Boardwalk.
3) How long is the wait typically to get on the bus and get to the resort? How much has COVID impacted the wait time?
4) It sounds like in the past, ME would pick up your luggage for you. With COVID, we pick up our luggage at baggage claim, how do they handle the luggage throughout the entire process, now with COVID?
5) How are they maintaining COVID social distancing on a Magic Express bus? Like how many people does a typical bus hold and how many people are allowed on the bus with COVID?

Overall, I am not very familiar with the Magical Express. I am sure it is super easy process. I just want to make sure we handle it safely with COVID. My biggest concern with COVID is being off Disney property like the airport. Ubers are a little concerning because they are not consistent in their cleanliness.

 

[momtwoboys]

yes make a ressie with aiport arrival times/flight number.
Resorts are shared, they are at times random on where and order.
When we landed in Sept 28th we waited about 15 min, it really can vary . Takes about 30-35 min to get on disney property then depends if you are first stop or last.
If you have luggage you need to go to baggage claim and get it, then the driver puts it under bus and when you get off he gets it out. We only use carry ons, so no experience with that.
At airport we were told where to sit on bus and they were spacing out parties well. On departure the driver just motioned us on and when I said where do we sit he just shrugged anywhere you want. So we took our time looking for seats that were spaced away. We didnt feel like the interior of Bus was cleaned between rides, actually those cloth seats were gross, and we may not use DME again. Times to and from airport and resorts were normal as compared to pre covid, hope that helps. We are traveling again in April and will use a towncar service.

 

[Goofy2015]

yes make a ressie with aiport arrival times/flight number.
Resorts are shared, they are at times random on where and order.
When we landed in Sept 28th we waited about 15 min, it really can vary . Takes about 30-35 min to get on disney property then depends if you are first stop or last.
If you have luggage you need to go to baggage claim and get it, then the driver puts it under bus and when you get off he gets it out. We only use carry ons, so no experience with that.
At airport we were told where to sit on bus and they were spacing out parties well. On departure the driver just motioned us on and when I said where do we sit he just shrugged anywhere you want. So we took our time looking for seats that were spaced away. We didnt feel like the interior of Bus was cleaned between rides, actually those cloth seats were gross, and we may not use DME again. Times to and from airport and resorts were normal as compared to pre covid, hope that helps. We are traveling again in April and will use a towncar service.

Thanks for all the input!

Overall, I am trying to make the safest decision on getting from the airport to the resort. It sounds like the DME may not be as clean as one would hope given the pandemic. That is my biggest concern. Also, you have more people around you for a 30 minute ride.

If I went with Uber, I'd consider getting a Uber Black XL. I personally feel those cars would be more clean because they have to be held to a higher standard. With the XL, I feel like it would provide more room for social distancing. With the Uber Black, the drivers are more professional and would take things more serious, I'd hope.

I think your experience may have convinced me that Uber Black XL or ordering a town car in advance is the better 'route'.

 

[momtwoboys]

Thanks for all the input!

Overall, I am trying to make the safest decision on getting from the airport to the resort. It sounds like the DME may not be as clean as one would hope given the pandemic. That is my biggest concern. Also, you have more people around you for a 30 minute ride.

If I went with Uber, I'd consider getting a Uber Black XL. I personally feel those cars would be more clean because they have to be held to a higher standard. With the XL, I feel like it would provide more room for social distancing. With the Uber Black, the drivers are more professional and would take things more serious, I'd hope.

I think your experience may have convinced me that Uber Black XL or ordering a town car in advance is the better 'route'.

most people would say the busses are clean, but for US I didnt see any cleaning done prior to us boarding, and when we really looked at the fabric on those busses it made me think, no way can these be sanitized. Hair and stuff stuck to seats,and the fact that on return to airport the Bus driver didnt even have a care where anyone sat wasnt ok for us. we kept masks on and glasses on and just took note that in April we will use a town car service. We never had a dirty car, and riding with one person versus a bus with stops will be quicker. The Disney Busses on property were fantastic. dividers between parties and very limited people. Plus the interior gets cleaned. we got on a few times and realized that the seats were a little damp and it was not from wet bathing suits or rain, it was from being sanitized. Maybe we are nuts, but feel that the disney magical express busses should be vinyl or a material that can be wiped

 

[Goofy2015]

most people would say the busses are clean, but for US I didnt see any cleaning done prior to us boarding, and when we really looked at the fabric on those busses it made me think, no way can these be sanitized. Hair and stuff stuck to seats,and the fact that on return to airport the Bus driver didnt even have a care where anyone sat wasnt ok for us. we kept masks on and glasses on and just took note that in April we will use a town car service. We never had a dirty car, and riding with one person versus a bus with stops will be quicker. The Disney Busses on property were fantastic. dividers between parties and very limited people. Plus the interior gets cleaned. we got on a few times and realized that the seats were a little damp and it was not from wet bathing suits or rain, it was from being sanitized. Maybe we are nuts, but feel that the disney magical express busses should be vinyl or a material that can be wiped

Agreed. It is good to hear that the Disney buses on property are very clean. We are staying at the Boardwalk, so will only use the buses for MK, AK, DS, and maybe going to some of the Resorts.

In the past, I have been an Uber/Lyft champion, no matter where I travel. I haven't used an Uber since February, which still blows my mind. Also, haven't been to WDW in 2020, which makes me sad. But that will turn around in less then two weeks.

 

[momtwoboys]

Agreed. It is good to hear that the Disney buses on property are very clean. We are staying at the Boardwalk, so will only use the buses for MK, AK, DS, and maybe going to some of the Resorts.

In the past, I have been an Uber/Lyft champion, no matter where I travel. I haven't used an Uber since February, which still blows my mind. Also, haven't been to WDW in 2020, which makes me sad. But that will turn around in less then two weeks.

and we have never used uber or any service like those. Just DME and car services to and from airport. Next trip we go back to car service!

 

[keishashadow]

Overall, I am not very familiar with the Magical Express. I am sure it is super easy process. I just want to make sure we handle it safely with COVID. My biggest concern with COVID is being off Disney property like the airport.

it’s not where you are in Orlando, but the Actual precautions you observe that will ultimately up your odds Re safety IMO

along with following standard, social distancing protocols, we rented a car as is our standard anyway.

Carousel of progress aside, strived to avoid being stationary in crowded, enclosed places for more than 15 minutes at a time (even with PPE in play).

IMO it’s all about positive air circulation, which an airplane does a surprisingly good job. I just can’t wrap my head around riding a bus right now but everyone’s level of comfort & health risk factors are different The bus lines looked so long anyway as we passed them last trip. Glad we didn’t have to rely upon them.

FYI, We've visited once during covid & are currently comfortable enough to proceed with another trip planned thanksgiving Being realistic, that could rapidly change as we truly are charting new territory. Just need to lower expectations in general and be realistic about both WDW & RL until this plague lifts