Magical Express with 2 Yr. Old? - Please help me decide

[Marthasor]

Hi Everyone - My DH and I are taking my DS2 to WDW in October and I'm trying to decide whether to rent a car, take a cab or Magical Express. We rented a car for our last trip when my DS was one and though we loved the convenience of coming and going whenever we wanted, picking up our luggage and then lugging it to the rental car place and getting the car was a real hassle. I heard you can send your luggage via Magical Express, but then take a cab or rent a car to get to the resorts yourself, which sounds good, but my husband is afraid they will lose our luggage. I have heard nightmares of people waiting hours for Magical Express or having to leave the resort many hours before their flight. I'm just not sure what to do. We will have a tired 2 yr. old and his car seat and stroller in tow. Cost isn't an issue - we are really looking for convenience. What would you do? Thank you for your thoughts and advice!

 

[msmama]

Personally, I would never use anything but Disney transportation.

In my experience, the people who have had problems with Magical Express (that I was waiting in line near at the airport, I mean) brought the problems on themselves. It really is SO INCREDIBLY easy!! I was shocked at the number of people who were trying to make it harder than it was.

I did it with a 10 month old. The stroller and carseat will go underneath the bus. Our luggage showed up to our room well within the # of hours they say it could take.

I've heard horror stories about all of Disney transportation, but I've never had anything but GREAT experiences.

 

[tribus121]

I was a bus driver for almost 20 years and it still totally amazes me how well magical express and Disney transportation works . I have used it twice and loved the hassle free convenience that it provided .

 

[jen2207]

ME is soooo convenient!! We were very happy with it last fall with a 2yo, and 6yo and 8yo...... Just pack a carryon that has a change of clothes - swim suits or whatever you might need in the time it may take for your luggage to make it to your room. Ours took maybe 2 hours from flight landing?? Checked in, had lunch, went swimming - luggage was in room went we got back from pool. Sweet!

 

[disneymarie]

I would highly recommend the MEespecially with a 2 year old. I have in the past also rented from enterprize pick you up for the weekend, THursday to Monday AM for $55 a Nissan Sentra. It gave us some ability to go off site.

But getting from the airport, even the last trip dil and I took the kids,and the luggage went by ME, the ds and dh rented a van for the week.

We did pack a case with swimsuits and change of clothes as I did not realize the delay to get the cases.
di

 

[Mommy2Jameson]

My vote is ME! I did it last fall with a 2 year old with NO problems! We got on the bus immediately at the airport and it left within 10 minutes. He loved it because they had tvs playing videos with the characters giving tours of the parks. When it came time to leave, we just showed up at the bus stop at our hotel 3 hours before our plane was scheduled to leave. I didn't think that was that unreasonable, because most airports want you to arrive that early anyways. And the nice part was we were able to do all our check-ins at the hotel, so once we got to the airport, we had nothing left to do!

And the buses between the parks were great. He loved riding them! The wait was rarely more than 10 mins, which is what it would take you to get yourself to your car if you drove. And even when the bus was full, someone would immediately get up for me if they saw me holding a sleeping 2 y/o!

 

[twinmom06]

We have done the magical express the past 2 years with our twins - when they were 1 and then when they are 2. We are doing it again this year when we go (they will be almost 3). No problems whatsoever and they have little tv's with disney info on them and that keeps the kids entertained.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Magical Express is so convenient. I've done it with three kids, the youngest being 2. It is so easy.

 

[StitchyPoo81]

Last Year we rented a car and just let me say, by the end of the trip I was going to throw the car seat in the trash. Also trying to struggle with the luggage was another pain. So unless you have your own carseat and no luggage rent a car.. But this year when we go, we are doing Magical Express less the hassle

 

[tjmw2727]

I have used DME a couple times a year since it started and I find it very convenient and have had no problems.

Check in - its always been quick for us. After getting off the plane we hit the restroom and the snack shop for some water and a quick snack. The kids sit in the comfy couches in the waiting area with the snack while I check in with DME. Then the CM directs you to the line for the bus to your resort, I have never waited more than 10 minutes in line and waited once about 5 minutes on the bus. Average time from landing to resort is 90 minutes with DME, which is quicker than my rental car and towncar service times.

Luggage - Yes your luggage can take up to 3 hours after you check in to arrive but if you pack properly that shouldn't be a problem. It's recommended that travelers pack 24 hours of essentials in case the airlines misdirect your luggage. We usually check in and head to a park or the pool and our luggage is always waiting when we return to the room. I think the luggage delivery feature is the best part of DME. Its so nice to skip baggage claim, head straight for the bus and let someone else deal with the bags!

Departure - DME will pick you up about 3 hours before your departure time, which IMHO is reasonable. I have found its best to heed the recommended arrival time at MCO which is to arrive 2 hours prior to your flight. By using a rental or town car you would save about 1/2 hour as the drive to the airport is @ 30/40 minutes.

Horror stories - I read the boards regularly especially the transportation board and I have read very few horror stories, usually from folks who really didn't know what to expect. Its also more common for folks to post complaints when things go wrong than to post compliments when things go right.

Hope this helps,
TJ

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I voted Magical Express. We've been about two times a year since my oldest was 4 months old. Back then, we rented a car service because it was before magical Express...I seriously think Magical express is easier. You dont touch your luggage once you drop it off at your home airport. Then you just check in at the desk in Orlando jump on a bus to your hotel. You do need to leave for the airport 2-3 hours before your flight but I would most likely do that anyway, I like the fact you don't need to worry about that either.

We've rented a car too before and I thought that was a major hassle dealing with luggage, shuttle service to rental car place...I wouldnt recommend that.

The only time I could see a rental car being worthwhile is if you are staying at a resort that only has bus service. If the cost isn't an issue, I would stay at a resort on the monorail or in the epcot resort area Walk or Monorail to 3 Parks (just bus to AK)

 

[oldbay]

I would say ME!

This is just one story, but 2 years ago we went and our luggage did arrive later - 10 pm, when we had an early afternoon arrival. Well, 2 days later we ran into a family we had met on the plane in the parks and their luggage had been delayed longer but they had not used ME. They had to wait at the airport for it and from what we could figure Disney had done all the waiting and fixing of our luggage problem for us.

We have also never waited for ME, but maybe we fly at odd times? I would say the one down side was getting to the airport 3 hrs early on the return home flight - I understand why it is done that way - but it was boring sitting for 2 1/2 hrs in an airport at the end of the trip.

 

[brergnat]

Just so you know, you CANNOT send your luggage via ME if you are NOT using the bus service. Bags cannot use the service unless the OWNERS are also using the service. Just thought you needed to be aware of this. So, you cannot rent a car and use ME *just* for your luggage. ME is not a luggage delivery service...if you don't check in at the desk, your bags will not go to the hotel...ever! They will stay at the airport.

But, also be aware that you CAN opt to pick up your own bags at the carousel and bring them ON the bus with you. The driver will stow them on the cargo hold under the bus. I have done this all three times I've used ME. I just have a thing with wanting my bags with me at all times. I don't like to trust that they'll just "show up" in my room a few hours later. If the airline is going to lose them, I want to be the one to deal with it at the airport...so I like to have that sort of control. So, I just DO NOT put the yellow tags on my bags when I get them. I just throw them out. I get my own bags, then make my way down to the ME desk, check in, and then hand my bags over to the driver before I get on the bus.

Really, it's not that much of a hassle at all, and then I have my bags as soon as I get to my hotel room.

This may be a hassle with a baby, though. BUT, you can maybe opt to leave the tags off just ONE suitcase, rather than packing a huge carryon with enough essentials for 24 hours for your entire family...you could pack ONE suitcase with that stuff, and that can be the one you get at the carousel yourself, and then let DME take the others for you.

I'd go with DME. Unless you will be staying at a hotel with JUST bus transport, though, then maybe I'd rent a car so you'd have more flexibility...

 

[Marthasor]

Wow! I have to say I am pleasantly surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response for ME! My travel agent had told me we could send the bags via ME, but it sounds like that isn't correct. We are staying at GF, so we will be on the monorail. I think we will give it a try! I was thinking about it again last night and I think the person I'm most concerned about is DH - he has less patience than DS1! Thank you so much everyone - I'm looking forward to giving ME a try and hoping it will be more convenient than the rental car! Thanks again!

 

[2002Disneybride]

We are using ME this time as well...usually we rent a car, but I think ME will do just fine!

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Also, they only have one person in your party go and check in at Magical Express Counter in Orlando. I usually am the one to do that and have DH go sit over with the kids in the lounge area. DH isn't a big fan of lines..so it works well. Honestly though there was only 1 time where the line was long..There was a convention apparently..

 

[Marthasor]

This sounds really good! When we rented the car last year, I had to wait in line at the rental reservation desk, then had to wait in line again to get the key. I'm actually looking forward to ME now!

 

[Bluetickmom]

We have done both the rental car thing and ME and ME was easier hands down!

When we had the rental it was even with a Make A Wish representative meeting us at the airport and helping with the check in and ME was still so much better.

While I liked having the convenience to hop in the car and go other places, using Disney transportation is so much more convenient IME.

Needless to say, we will be using ME again in Oct.