Magical Express (would like first hand experience sans rumors)

[carol1231]

One of the great things about ME is not having to wait for your bags. You just go to teh counter and hop on the bus. Your bags may be a while behind you, though, so I highly recommend making sure whatever you need for 2 to 4 hours after you arrive (to be safe) is in your carry-on.

Thank you. So they will bypass the baggage claim and go straight to the ME counter. That makes sense, but like I said, I was beginning to be confused and I didn't think the process should be that difficult.

Thanks again!

 

[LeftCoaster]

Ok, I just want to make sure I have this all straight, because now I'm getting confused.

The in-laws are flying into MCO on SWA, they have ME tags already (thank goodness) and the tags will be on their bags. When they arrive at MCO, do they go to baggage claim and get their bags and then go to the ME counter, or just go to the ME counter and don't go get the bags?

One poster mentioned that they were told to get the bags from baggage claim and it would be quicker, is that a better plan?. Do the bags even go to baggage claim if they are tagged?

Sorry to ask the questions, but if they end up running around the airport, I'm gonna hear about it all week.

Since your inlaws will have the ME tags on their luggage, they will NOT have to go to baggage claim. They can go directly to the ME coutner to check in.
People that do not have the tags on the luggage can either pick up the luggage or, give the claim tags and a description to a CM who can retrieve it for them. The quickness in this instance has to do with the person retrieving the luggage. Who's going to recognize your bags quicker? You or a CM?

 

[kathleena]

So, with the non participating airlines (Southwest for example), you need to go to the baggage claim and get your luggage? I thought the only part that didn't apply with those airlines was the resort check in.

My in-laws are coming in from Chicago on SWA and I just want to make sure they know what they need to do.

The way CRO explained to me is if the airline is not participating, you still get the tags for your luggage going down and Disney will transport it.

BUT for the way back - you have to take your luggage and go thru the check in line. They can't print your boarding passes, nor can they take your luggage.

 

[anabelle]

I used it for my recent trip June 4 - 11. My airline, Northwest is not yet a participating partner, so I was responsible for my luggage, which was no problem. I went and got it from baggage claim and went to check in with a rep standing in the airport. She directed me to the bus terminal, and I was on the bus for OKW in just a few minutes. SSR was the first stop and OKW was the second, with POFQ being the third on our bus (and there were only to be 3 hotel stops). On my return day, I called bell services to come get my luggage and ME picked me up exactly when they said, which was 3 hours prior to my flight. It really is a good service especially if you don't need a rental car. This was the first time I have been to WDW without a car in years, and I sorta missed it, but ME worked just fine. I have heard the bad stories about people not getting their luggage until late at night, but I didn't deal with that because I retrieved my own. Would I use it again? Sure! It was a free ride on a beautiful new bus with great 'movies' while riding.

I used Northwest... I had no problems. We arrived at 9:40 AM and we were swimming by noon at the Beach Club.

I did find that my tags did not want to stay on, so we stapled them just past the barcode.

Since our room was ready at the Beach Club when we arrived, they delivered our 5 pieces of luggage in stages. The last piece arrived about 5 PM. We packed our suits in a carryon, so we did just fine.

What I didn't like is that on the way back, we stopped at several more resorts than I expected. I had to put my daugther on my lap because the bus was over full. Yet it still took just over an hour to arrive to the airport. Since we didn't have to deal with a rental and they dropped us off close to the check in area for Northwest, we did not have any problems making our flight. I do suggest if you fly Spirit or Southwest and you need to checkin, you might want to request an earlier shuttle time. Those lines seemed very long.

 

[iankh]

Really great posts, I had no idea that the tags were stick-on. I thought the tags would have string and tie on like ordinary tags.

It would make sense that a stick-on tag would fall off. Great suggestions about stapling, especially past the bar code.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I think it sounds great for arrivals, but for departures, I think I may still spend the $$ and do a town car or Limo, nice straight shot to the airport.

I bet the bellman aren't happy with this, they must be loosing a fortune on tips. If you are in your room when your bags come, do you tip, what if you aren't there, they don't get a tip either!!


If you do carryons, can you take them with you or do they still go under the bus and taken directly to your room?

 

[Deemarch]

We used the service for our return trip home from BWV the first week in May. Checked our bags at the airline desk in the BW lobby and picked them up at the airport at home.

I was so excited about the prospect of not having to pick up my bags on my next trip that I called as soon as I got home to make reservations for our October trip. But we we told that we cannot use the service unless we ride the bus!! We only wanted to use it for the luggage since we always rent a car. I still have to research this further with Disney.

I'd love to have my luggage taken care of and show up in my room when I check in!!!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I bet the bellman aren't happy with this, they must be loosing a fortune on tips. If you are in your room when your bags come, do you tip, what if you aren't there, they don't get a tip either!!

Disney's official explanation is that they cover the inbound bell service gratuity for Magical Express luggage delivered to the room. Here's what Disney's Magical Express FAQ (for meeting attendees) says:

Q: Are Bell Service gratuities included for luggage delivery to my Resort room?

A: Yes, but for the inbound service only. Gratuities are not included if you elect to use Bell Services for luggage assistance when departing.​

In another thread, Tyler (Chip 'n Dale Express) explained how this works, and it doesn't seem that those who deliver the luggage to the rooms are being cheated out of tips. Tyler wrote:

Moderates and Deluxes both have Bell Services. DME luggage is done "GTY" which is the same as convention guest luggage. Instead of getting an hourly wage increase, it's a per bag guaranteed rate. From what I have heard (through the rumor mill) bellmen are always very eager to do GTY's.

Value Resorts use Luggage Assistance. CMs are regular hourly CMs, so DME luggage is processed just as usual.​

Please note that Disney does not cover any gratuities for the Magical Express drivers.

If you do carryons, can you take them with you or do they still go under the bus and taken directly to your room?

You'll want to put larger carry-ons into the cargo hold of ME motorcoach, and carry personal items (such as purses, camera bags, or computers) onto the motorcoach with you.

In either case, they won't go directly to your room. If you use bell services to assist you with taking the items that were on the motorcoach to your room, your gratuity is not covered by Disney.

 

[disneycrazed139]

We just returned and used Magical Express for the transportation portion only. I did receive a fex ex package with luggage tags about 2 days before my trip. However, I decided not to use the luggage transfer portion anyway because I was still skeptical and wanted to be sure this was running smoothly. Wasn't up for waiting for my luggage for any length of time.

Regarding the transportation portion....

This was very smooth. We landed in MCO and proceeded to ground transportation where there were friendly Magical Express reps with giant white gloves giving out instructions on where to pick up the buses.

This was seamless. We entered the line, checked in, were directed to our bus, and were on in about 5 minutes. The buses said Magical Express on them--were special Disney looking buses--different than the cruise line but still distinct.

There was a video shown on the bus which was somewhat entertaining. This is a different subject entirely, but the whole movie was just a little over the top for me. Some of their new advertising just doesn't have the Disney feel to me...so commercialized....not that Disney ever wasn't but the Magic was overshadowed by corny, tacky, and the feeling that they were trying to brainwash me.

I'm already brainwashed, too late!

The return portion wasn't quite as good. The Magical Express bus was delayed (only by a few minutes) and they sent a Disney Cruise Line bus to return us in its place. I didn't like this very much. It stopped at too many places, and the driver wasn't very friendly.

Despite my comments above, I would have enjoyed some sort of video saying goodbye and can't wait to see you again...just so going back home would be a little less of a bummer.

So, to sum up, the way there....good
The way back...would have taken a cab

 

[jellojatdisney]

Just returned 2 days ago and used Magical Express. I never received anything in the mail so I was a bit concerned and expected problems. However, it went pretty smoothly. Arrived mid afternoon with DS 5 and DD3. Was given the choice to get my own luggage or wait and have them bring it later. Chose the latter. Took the bus to Wilderness Lodge (later stopped at Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian - we were first!). Luggage arrived a few hours later while we were at the park. From when we landed we arrived at the resort about 1 hour and 15 minutes later.

Change of plans from when I originally booked service and moved resorts in the middle to the Beach Club. I was impressed that they were able to get this correct. My information turned up under my door the day before departure. We were picked up at 12:10 for a 3 o'clock flight. Made 2 stops after picking us up (at least 1 before). When they dropped us off at the airport they unload the luggage and wave goodbye. Without curbside luggage it took a little more work - hired a person to help.

All in all was a good experience - especially worth the money!!!!

 

[GOVAC24]

Does ME also run out of Orlando/Sanford?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Does ME also run out of Orlando/Sanford?

No.

Magical Express connects Orlando International Airport to Disney-operated resorts at WDW. That's all.

No service from Orlando Sanford Airport. No service from the Kissimmee Amtrak station. And no service from the Orlando Amtrak Station.

 

[Moonmom]

DH & I arrived on separate days... our luggage tags hadn't arrived prior to leaving. By the time I got my luggage from baggage claim, (got it just before a Delta employee was pulling it off.. it was the last of the bunch going round and round; and waited thru the line was about an hour and a half after my arrival at MCO..the CM gave me a voucher type thing for the return trip via ME. Tired and frustrated, (up since 2:30 am, it was noon) I tripped over my luggage... got a blank stare from 2 castmembers. Driver put everything underneath..he was real nice,,name of Joe..very pleasant. I was happy that the first stop was my resort; Boardwalk Villas. -- DH came in the next evening.. he said he had look around for awhile to find a CM with a white glove..his flight had been delayed 2 hours due to mechanical problems.. took him about 50 minutes to get thru the line..that was at 7pm. He also got the voucher for the return trip.
The day before we left for home we got a letter under our door that they didn't have our flight info for our return trip, (sigh!)... (I'd given it numerous times initially and in verifying when the tags didn't come plus at ME desk on arrival at MCO)..but DH called the number and gave the info again.
Checked in the luggage at the desk at the BW that morning and were told that the ME bus would pick us up at 12:50 for our 3:55 flight. Okay.. fine. We were out there about 12:40. We waited...and waited.. finally DH went in and asked at the ME desk "where's the bus?" They don't handle that.. was the reply..go to guest services. Guest services said to see valet services. While the guy in the valet booth is on the phone speaking with someone about what's happened to our pickup and DH is on his cell phone calling the number that he has I see a ME bus pulling up.. so I trot over. The driver gets out and starts unloading some bags...I said something like, "We were supposed to picked up for the airport at 12:50... you're taking us to the airport now.. RIGHT?" and he said.. "No..I'm not going to the airport."
OKAY.. so.. trot back over where DH now has that, "I'm a very patient person but I've reached my limit" and the valet guy's mouth drops open when I told him he said, "oh, he's not going to the airport"... and then a few minutes later appears a nice Boardwalk manager....
And he signaled to a waiting cab...and with apologies for the delays and wasted time we were whisked into the cab...handed cash for the fare and tip and made it to the airport in time for our flight...courtesy of the BW.
And next time.... I'll just rent dang blasted car like we normally do!!!!

 

[nursetigger]

I just got back Thurs. evening using ME. We included myself, husband,DD 7, and DS 4. We got our tags 2 days before leaving and had no trouble with them sticking. We had no trouble finding mickey handed reps and made it to check in with no problems. We got to ourline and waited maybe 10 minutes to board our bus. We then waited about 15 to 20 minutes for the bus to finish filling up. All Stars Movies was the last stop but the trip still did not seem that long. It sure beat driving. Return trip was just as smooth. We were on Southwest so we had to bring our luggage along but was no problem. We got checked in including luggage and through security to our gate with no problems. I plan to use it again in Aug to bring DD, DS, and 15 year old nephew down. So much easier than a rental and cheaper than a car service.

 

[pennilessinpa]

We were staying for 13 days and renting a car from the airport for the first week only. So, when I made the car ressies, I also made a magical express ressie through MS. They said that all info would be waiting for us in the hotel. Well, it wasn't, but I was patient until the day for we were set to leave. Then I called down to the front desk, explained my situation and they put me in touch with Magical Express (which evidently is run by Mears as they were Mears employees). They had no record of my ressie so I made a new one. We were all set; just get on the bus at 12:10. So, me, my dd, and 2 ds get on the bus while dh handles the luggage (just making sure its all set). He hops on the bus and asks me for my voucher and I say I don't have one - they just gave me a ressie #. Well, that's not good enough. The driver hops on as well, asking for the voucher - and looking at my face, he says that's OK, I don't want you to miss your flight because of our problem.

So... it all worked out fine, but they obviously have more than a few kinks to work out of the system.