Magical Express? Would you use it if....

[Mastiff]

Would you use ME on your day of arrival if you just planned on checking in to the hotel and swimming the first day you arrive.

Our flight arrives in Orlando at 10:30 a.m. We were not planning on going right to the parks. We thought we would get settled in and maybe check out the Poly and swim for the afternoon, nap (if we can) and then we have dinner at Chef Mickey.

I know that you do not get your bags right away so I was going to pack our suits and stuff in a carry on bag that I could take with me to the Poly when we check in.

I am just questioning if we should take ME or forget it and just get our bags and take a cab to Disney.

How much is a cab to Disney any way?

What are your expert thoughts? What have you done for your first day at Disney?

Thanks for your help!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We always take ME now and then we do get a rental of the week on-sight or close to it.
Why would you want to pay when you travel for free . You room might not be ready until 3 so you might have to get Bell services to watch your luggage anyhow.

We hit the parks running as soon as we get in. But have done DTD if the room was to be ready in a short time.

Pool sounds nice maybe a round of MiniGolf to unwind

 

[goofy4tink]

You have the right idea. Pack swim suits and a change of clothes for the first part of the day. You should be at the Polynesian by noontime. Your bags will most likely be there mid-afternoon at the latest. If your room isn't ready, just head to a restroom and change into your suits. Grab a bite to eat and sit by the pool. Sounds like a great plan to me. I would most definetly use DME.

 

[bab31]

ME = more pool time!

 

[CarolMN]

A cab from MCO to the Poly will run about $50 plus tip. It probably won't get you to the Poly much sooner than ME because you'll have to wait for your luggage.

FWIW, I think your first day plans are perfect for ME.

 

[LauraAnn630]

I would use ME .

My worry is coming home. How early will we have to take ME back to the airport for a 8:00pm flight? TIA

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I would use ME .

My worry is coming home. How early will we have to take ME back to the airport for a 8:00pm flight? TIA

For domestic flights, your pickup time will be 3 hours before your flight -- adjusted up to 15 minutes less or 14 minutes more, depending upon the DME schedule at your resort.

During the day, DME motorcoaches depart from each resort at specific times twice per hour. So plan on 4:50 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. for an 8:00 p.m. flight., depending upon when DME departs from your particular resort.

If you use a cab or towncar, you would be able to leave around a half hour later. That wouldn't be worth $50-60 to me, but it might be for some people.

 

[momeagle36]

My husband and I have always used ME on the day of arrival at Disney World I personally find less stressful to have someone else do the driving for me and can just relax on the way to the resort then when i get to my hotel i am ready to do what ever we planned for our first day weather it be just staying at the hotel and doing nothing or going to a park for a part day

 

[lippylulu]

This is a great post for me too. I have been considering arriving late the night before our planned date...just so we can be fresh and ready the next day to start off at MK. This is making me rethink that idea since paying for an extra night is expensive (thought the night flight on Jet Blue is much cheaper). Maybe we should just get in early, hang out in our cabin, rent our golf cart and bikes to explore on the first day, and then start the parks on Day 2. We are staying 1 week and I just don't see how we can do MK, Epcot, Universal, MGM and possibly Animal Kingdom or a water park all in 1 week.

 

[Edd]

Horace,

You can leave an hour earlier than the busses. Most car service companies will set up a passenger to be picked up 2 hours before their flight. When I say most I mean 95% of them. A passenger can adjust the time back to 2 1/2 or 3 hours if they want. One and a half hours is sufficient time to get through security and to your plane at OIA.

 

[Kae]

You can get your luggage yourself & still use ME. Just do not put the yellow tags on your suitcases.

I would pack a carryon & let ME bring you, your luggage.

Kae

 

[KittyKitty]

I use ME and pick up my own bags at the airport. It works for me.

 

[Princess Stitch]

Just wanted to mention with all your planning, don't forget to make sure you have some sunscreen available! I think you can bring a really small bottle in with your carry on. Don't want to be caught at the pool without sunscreen!

 

[Tottwo]

I have a question about an earlier comment about using ME and picking up your own bags at the airport.

I would really like to do this because I don't want to wait approx 3 hours before I get my bags delivered to my room. So, does this mean that once I land, I go to the baggage carousel, get my bags off the carousel, bring them to the ME bus and they will load them on the bus? Then, when we arrive at our hotel, I can get my bags as I get off the bus?

 

[Linda T.]

We are using ME on July 11 and then going to CBR to swim and relax. We have used Me before and we let them pick up our luggage and take it to the resort. It is great free service. We each have a carryon bag and pack our swimsuits, flip flops, and suntan lotion for the pool. That evening we will go to Magic Kingdom and watch the parade. Have a great vacation!

Linda T.

 

[CleveRocks]

I have a question about an earlier comment about using ME and picking up your own bags at the airport.

I would really like to do this because I don't want to wait approx 3 hours before I get my bags delivered to my room. So, does this mean that once I land, I go to the baggage carousel, get my bags off the carousel, bring them to the ME bus and they will load them on the bus? Then, when we arrive at our hotel, I can get my bags as I get off the bus?

If you want to get your own bags at the airport, THROW AWAY your yellow DME luggage tags. After your flight lands, go to baggage claim, get your bags, go to the DME Welcome Center, check in, and get in your bus queue. The driver will load your bags under the bus, and when you arrive at your resort the driver will unload them for you.

I just want to be sure you realize that if you use the automatic baggage delivery you don't have to sit in your room and wait for your luggage. It will be left in there whether you're in there or not.

No matter which you choose, it's always a smart idea to pack a carry-on with your first 24 hours' worth of supplies just in case the AIRLINE delays your luggage.

 

[sunlover13]

Here's my question. We are planning on using the Magical Express and are arriving at Disney around 10:30AM. We plan on going to the parks that day. There are some items that I don't think you can carryon the plane, such as sunscreen, lotion, etc. I guess you can if they are really small bottles, but my point is, what if there is stuff in your luggage you want to bring with you to the parks or vice versa....... What if there is stuff you have on the plane that you don't want to lug around the parks. For example, we'll probably be wearing jeans and will want to change into shorts. I don't want to carry around jeans with me to the parks if our room is not ready. What is your suggestion?

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's my question. We are planning on using the Magical Express and are arriving at Disney around 10:30AM. We plan on going to the parks that day. There are some items that I don't think you can carryon the plane, such as sunscreen, lotion, etc. I guess you can if they are really small bottles, but my point is, what if there is stuff in your luggage you want to bring with you to the parks or vice versa....... What if there is stuff you have on the plane that you don't want to lug around the parks. For example, we'll probably be wearing jeans and will want to change into shorts. I don't want to carry around jeans with me to the parks if our room is not ready. What is your suggestion?

Thanks!

Every person who has paid for a seat on the flight is entitled to a quart size baggie with 3 oz containers in it. If everyone in your group has a small container of sunscreen in their baggie you should be fine. I usually have sunscreen, mouthwash, hand lotion, purell, shampoo/conditioner in my baggie. I find that the 3 oz is enough to get me through to when my checked bags get there.
Now....clothes. I always travel in jeans, doesn't matter what the time of year is. So, in each of our carryon bags we have.....our quart size baggie, swim suit, shorts/tee shirt, book, tickets, park passes, snacks. So, when we get to the resort, we checkin and if we aren't able to get into our room then, we just head to a restroom, change our clothes and then put the 'old' clothes in the carryon bags. We leave the carryon bags with Bell Services and retrieve them later in the day. We either head to the pool or a park. This has worked great for us on many occasions.

 

[nutsforgolf]

I am arriving around 11am, and I want to go straight to Epcot. Since we are using ME and my bags will go directly to POP Century, is it possible for us to get on a BUS to BoardWalk or BeachClub so we can go right to the park instead of going to POP then getting on another bus to Epcot. This would save a lot of time, also since our room will probably not be ready at noon anyway.

is this allowed / possible

 

[OKW Lover]

I am arriving around 11am, and I want to go straight to Epcot. Since we are using ME and my bags will go directly to POP Century, is it possible for us to get on a BUS to BoardWalk or BeachClub so we can go right to the park instead of going to POP then getting on another bus to Epcot. This would save a lot of time, also since our room will probably not be ready at noon anyway.

is this allowed / possible

No - you have to go to your hotel first.