Magical Express with a 12am flight arrival & 2 kids in tow: good idea?

abeyst

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 7, 2002
Messages
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Our flight arrives tomorrow night at 12:24am (actually that's Saturday morning). I have reservations on Magical Express, but I'm nervous about taking the bus so late at night with 2 kids. Does it take a long time? Is the service worse at night or make more than 4 stops?

We're already arriving so late that I want to get to the hotel as quick as possible. Should I just fork out the money for a towncar to take us there? What would you do?
 
I would take the magical express.

Check your bags and let Magical Express transport them behind the scenes to your resort.

Pack a carryon with pajamas, toiletries, and the next days clothes.

When you arrive at the resort, drop by bell services and tell them you don't want your bags till the next morning.

Get checked in and get to bed.

The next morning, get ready for the parks, call bell services and tell them they can delivery bags at any time, and head for the parks!!

Carol
 
that late??

I would take a towncar for one way trip and schedule ME for trip back

just my opinion from one mom with three...

no way do I want to be hunting down ME at midnight...

but it is a great service if you decide to do it!!

good luck!!
 
Haven't used ME but, last Aug. we where supposed to flight in to mco at 9pm but where delayed about 5 hrs out of chicago. Arriving really late. When we landed did not see anyone from ME anywhere. There where several on our flight that where signed up, and trying to figure out what to do. They where still trying to call someone when we went out to our rental car. If you have to do it, then at least its free, but coming in late I would think twice.

Good luck, mky princess:
 

I don't understand the comment "hunting" for Magical Express. You get off the plane, you go all the way downstairs to Level 1, Side A, and the desk is there. You can't miss it!

Now granted, there is no one to show you the way there, and no signs, but I would much rather walk through the airport to find a desk that is there all the time, and head for a bus, than have to stop and wait for bags, hope that a TC driver is waiting, then wait for him to go get his car. Especially with kids!!

Carol
 
Perhaps by hunting they meant that they went to the counter downstairs and no one was there! This happened to us last summer - our flight got delayed by weather and we arrived and was at the ME counter downstairs around 3 am and they were long gone. Practically no one was at the airport except the cleaning crew. I called the 800 number on the ME info I had and got a real person who authorized payment directly to one of the cabs out front.

If you are coming into the airport so late I would be sure and confirm with ME how late they are actually there and what you should do after that time. Make sure you have their number handy to call. We also had luggage checked for ME that my husband was able to get out of a locked room (some airport staff opened it for him) so we were able to get all of our luggage to the hotel with us. Keep that in mind too.
 
I did Magical express with a 2yo at 12:00 would not do it again. The wait was long. ( waiting for the bus to fill at that time) then you get your luggage at 3:00 am. If you have a choice I would say no. If it is not in your budget to do anything else, We did survive! :teeth:
 



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