Magical Express

[MelMeg]

Going to WDW 8/16-8/21 will be using Magical Express for 1st time. Would like some feed back on using it, pro or con. Thanks!

 

[FiggyFan]

We tried using a Limo a couple of times, and it was great.
Then Disney came up with Magical Express, we figured why not try it. It takes anywhere from a half-hour to an hour longer to get to our resort (PO-R) but saves us $100.00+
Lets see - $100.00 vs 1 hr ????? That $100.00 buys a lot of extra suvies.

The ride isn't bad, and the convience
of not having to wait for your luggage makes up for that hr.
My suggestion - sit back and enjoy the ride !!!

 

[MelMeg]

Thanks!

 

[Fletch3rd]

My vote is a yes, too. It is so easy just to walk downstairs at the airport and onto the bus without worrying about luggage, cars, etc.

Have fun!

 

[ILoveMagic]

We will be using it again in December!! This will make the third time! Nothing but good things to say about the magical express

 

[HockeyMomR]

We used Magical Express for the first time last week. We have always used a Town Car Service on previous vacations, but we thought this time we would give Magical Express a try. It was great, our plane landed at 10:20 AM and we were at our resort by 11:40 AM. Our luggage arrived in our room about 2 hours later....excellent. We just packed a carry on with things we thought we would need upon arrival at our resort. On the return trip we were picked up at 3:55 for our 6:45 PM flight, no problems. We would use it again and be $140 ahead of the game!

 

[a1tinkfans]

A YES vote.
Though we pull our own luggage to avoid the potential that our luggage won't be avail to use for hours. Heard some people say it was like 4 hours for luggage last year.
Even though we bring s/suits in carry on, I don't want to have to also bring dinner clothes as well. Just works out best for us. If you choose to pull your own luggage, DON'T use the ME Tags on the luggage as you wouldn't want it to get pulled by ME staff to be shipped off to resort.
Good Luck!

 

[CleveRocks]

I love DME, and I found it very speedy the two times I used it. Good message board citizen that I am, I timed it both times. First time was 63 mintes from deplaning to resort drop-off, and the second time it was 56 minutes from deplaing to resort drop-off. I'd like to see a car service beat those times!!!

Your luggage very well could take 4 hours from when you land 'til it arrives in your room. In your DME literature, Disney states your luggage should appear in your room about 3 hours after you arrive at your resort ... so 4 hours after landing should be about right.

The good thing about this is that this should lead you to packing an appropriate carry-on. I pack for the first 24 hours in my carry-on no matter where I fly, just in case the AIRLINE delays my luggage. So knowing I'll have a 4 or so hour wait from the time I land is no big deal to me. On our last trip, we arrived around 10:00 p.m. and planned to not have our luggage delivered until the next morning ... by choice!!! It was so much better to get to our resort ASAP than to wait around baggage claim, especially with two tired young kids.

 

[goofy4tink]

To date, I have used the 'old' Mears shuttle, several different towncar companies and DME. The one time I had carryon bags only, it took me about 45-50 mins to get from the plane to my resort checkin. When I had to go off and get my checked luggage it took about 60 or so mins. With DME it had taken me anywhere from 60 to 85 mins. The longest time was while staying at POP and being the third of three stops, with much luggage being taken off at each resort. The shortest? POP but we were the first stop. It takes me about 70 mins on average to get from the plane to my resort using DME. In order to save myself about $130 I don't mind it taking me another 30 (or less)mins.

 

[MelMeg]

Thanks for the replys, seems like ME is a good choice.

 

[Hopefully]

We have had a rental car, used a Town Car service with a grocery stop and used DME. We will use DME in the future. We don't need (or want) the rental car during the week, so we won't do that again. The Town Car service was convenient, but expensive.
DME is efficient and the price is right. We have never waited long and I agree with the 70 minute average. We usually check in around mid day and head out to Epcot for the afternoon. Our luggage has always been in our room when we arrived back, before our dinner ADR. I can't say how long it took, since we didn't wait for it, but it always made the room before we did.
We also use a grocery delivery service now (wegoshop.com) to deliver groceries to our room. The $11 delivery fee is certainly less than the Town Car service.
I also figure that if we choose, we could take a cab to a resort dinner, still saving ltos over the cost of a rental car. This might be the only time we would drive the rental. We use Disney transpotation to the parks.
All in all, I think DME is the way to go.
Have a great trip.

 

[crazyhunter98]

yyes vote here we had no problems with it at all

 

[beckyb29]

I'll chime in with another Yes! We've used ME 3 times, and will use it again on Aug 9! We have had great results with it...we're always to our resort very quickly, and our bags have always arrived within 4 hours, usually less. (we do pack anything we may "need" in our carryon such as medicine etc). I love not having to deal with luggage!

Another plus to Magical Express is that the Magic of Disney starts as soon as you board the bus, which always makes the ride to the resort more enjoyable! (They show a video of some sort normally). It's easy, and free...I wouldn't think twice about it. Have a great time on your trip!!!

 

[kmjmom]

I agree that when you use DME the Magic begins right at the airport! We have used it a few times and it has been great! One time our luggage arrived as we arrived at our room. One time it took 4 hours. I was prepared and had the carry-on bag packed with necessities. I'll be using it again next month! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[missmissy]

A quick question on the day we leave to go home our flight doesn't leave till
7pm What do you do with your bags when check out is at 11. We had thought about going to a park till 2:30 -3:00 to get a little more magic.

 

[CleveRocks]

A quick question on the day we leave to go home our flight doesn't leave till
7pm What do you do with your bags when check out is at 11. We had thought about going to a park till 2:30 -3:00 to get a little more magic.

Have Bell Services store your bags for you. Any decent hotel in the USA will store guests' luggage after check-out (on that same day), and Disney resorts are no different.