Magical Express

[Azure]

Has anyone here used the magical express service? Is it avaliable to canadians?

 

[Dolphin_Girl008]

Has anyone here used the magical express service? Is it avaliable to canadians?

I've used it twice (May 2005 and Dec 2005)... so yes, it's available to Canadians.

 

[mickeywho?]

It is available to Canadians - just some airlines. Check with Magical Express and they'll let you know. They service WestJet, I don't know about other airlines.

 

[Go4WDW]

If I understand correctly Magical Express is not available with all airlines ?!?! If I fly with Air Transat it's possible they don't made the service with this companie !

 

[mickeywho?]

I believe it is all major airlines - whatever that means! Call Disney and they can check for you.

 

[runner26.2]

Me is available to anyone staying at a WDW resort who arrives at MCO. Whether you are from Wawa, Witchita or Westminister you are treated exactly the same on arrival. The difference is when you leave. WDW has given certain airlines the right/abililty to check passengers in & obtain boarding passes at your resort the day you leave. This allows guests to hand over their luggage to airline employees at their resort and not have to worry about it until they arrive at their home destination -- this is only available for US domestic flights.

If you are flying back to Canada, or using an airline other than a Disney partner to fly to a US airport (Buffalo etc), you must take your luggage to the ME bus at the resort and then take it from the bus to your airline check in at MCO.

Either way it is a good convenient service.

 

[OntFamily]

If I understand correctly Magical Express is not available with all airlines ?!?! If I fly with Air Transat it's possible they don't made the service with this companie !

Disney has made Magical Express a very misunderstood program. This is because they've combined bus transportation and baggage check for the return home into one program, but will differing eligibility for both sections. They should have separated the program with two different names, to make it easier to understand.

Everyone arriving at Orlando International Airport (MCO) is eligble for Magical Express transportation, as long as they reserve the service in advance - and for the bus transportation back to MCO from your Disney resort. Everyone is also eligble for luggage transportation from MCO to your Disney resort room.

Resort baggage check (and airline boarding passes) for your return home is only available for travellers on specifc airlines (of which no Canadian airline is a partner).

 

[Azure]

Our airlines I don't think will use it but can you go up to a counter or something and say that you have reservations?

 

[OntFamily]

Our airlines I don't think will use it but can you go up to a counter or something and say that you have reservations?

Not sure what you are asking?


Travellers on any airline can use Magical Express bus transportation, and resort luggage drop off. The airlines do not get involved with this aspect of Magical Express (all co-ordination is done with Orlando International Airport).

Also, check out the sticky from the transportation board http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=944813

 

[ferris198]

I just returned a few weeks ago and used ME.
I didn't require advance reservations.
I went to the ME counter on the lower level, handed my baggage claim tags over the the CM, he handed me my bus tickets, and we boarded the bus to the resort.

 

[seashoreCM]

As of approximately November 2005 it was a violation of Disney's contract for airport space and operation of Magical Expres to take a passenger with no reservation on Magical Express from the airport. But I doubt if a violation would be upheld if the guest claimed he made a reservation.

All international travelers must go through customs. Coming to Disney, it is suggested that you do not put on the yellow Magical Express tags until after clearing customs. If customs is done at Orlando the baggage can be re-introduced into the baggage handling process there and be magically transported to your resort. Or you may carry the baggage yourself if you wish to get it to the resort more quickly.

Going home all international travelers using Magical Express must manage their baggage themselves from room checkout onto the Magical Express bus and into the airport to clear customs.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[ferris198]

Actually leaving from Toronto we went through US Customs in Toronto, same as when I went to WDW last January.
When you land in Orlando you do not go through Customs again, you pick up your luggage, or if using ME they will do it for you.
This is part of the Happiest Celebration on Earth service.
Last year, the transfers to and fro where provided by Mears, and similar to this year, you went to a counter, got a voucher and got on a bus.
Upon leaving your resort you called ahead and they picked you up, same as this year.
The ME service is still Mears, it is just that the buses are decorated.
Obviously there were others without reservations as the line at the aiport was at least 100 peolple ling if not more !

 

[OntFamily]

All international travelers must go through customs. Coming to Disney, it is suggested that you do not put on the yellow Magical Express tags until after clearing customs.

This is not accurate. Many travellers (including most from Canada) clear US customs in their home country. I believe (not sure on this one) that many UK travellers also clear US customs in the UK.