Magical Express

[bulah1]

You know, it was a free service - so I'm all on board! LOL

This will be our first trip to DW together AND first time to use Magical Express.
Weighing the options for just the two of us, I think it was the best way to go. We're going in the end of October, so I'm not too worried about it being busy or taking long.

My question though, is in regards to how long it will take our bags to reach us. I plan to carry as much as possible on our carry-ons. I'm not even sure we can check in right away... our plane lands at 11:30... so that will get us there around noon or 12:30... I don't think our check in is until 3 or 4 pm (All Star Music). So I guess we'll have to blow some time. Will we be able to pick up our park tickets and stuff early even though check-in isn't until that time?

Then - how long does it really take the bags to get to the room? I guess I'm confused on the whole thing. If my plane gets in that early the bags should be there by the time I would need to check in around 3 or 4 wouldn't they? Or do they really take that long?

We won't be getting back to the hotel for bed-time until late anyways, we'll be doing MNSSHP that evening and won't leave there until midnight... think my bags will be up by then?

Thanks for the input!!

 

[CleveRocks]

You know, it was a free service - so I'm all on board! LOL

This will be our first trip to DW together AND first time to use Magical Express.
Weighing the options for just the two of us, I think it was the best way to go. We're going in the end of October, so I'm not too worried about it being busy or taking long.

My question though, is in regards to how long it will take our bags to reach us. I plan to carry as much as possible on our carry-ons. I'm not even sure we can check in right away... our plane lands at 11:30... so that will get us there around noon or 12:30... I don't think our check in is until 3 or 4 pm (All Star Music). So I guess we'll have to blow some time. Will we be able to pick up our park tickets and stuff early even though check-in isn't until that time?

Then - how long does it really take the bags to get to the room? I guess I'm confused on the whole thing. If my plane gets in that early the bags should be there by the time I would need to check in around 3 or 4 wouldn't they? Or do they really take that long?

We won't be getting back to the hotel for bed-time until late anyways, we'll be doing MNSSHP that evening and won't leave there until midnight... think my bags will be up by then?

Thanks for the input!!

Disney doesn't make you wait until the 3:00 p.m. check-in time to check-in ... if your room is ready, then you can get it any time. If you get to the front desk at 7:0 a.m. and your room is available, then BINGO, you have your room at 7:00 a.m.

If your room isn't ready when you arrive, you'll still get checked in and get your park tickets and any other package components, as well as your actual room key. The key won't open your room door yet, and you won't even know the room number yet. They'll give you a phone number to call to learn your room number, so that way you don't have to stop to wait in line at the front desk again, you can just go directly to your room once it's ready.

Expect your DME bags to be delivered by abut 3 hours after you arrive at your resort. SO if your plane lands at 11:30 a.m., expect to be at the resort by between 12:30 - 1:00 p.m., and expect your luggage to be delivered to the inside of your room (whether you're in there or not) by 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

ENJOY!

 

[chrismb22]

I love ME so much that when I traveled for work recently I was very upset that I actually had to wait for my luggage! I didn't understand

Seriously, it worked out great for us. We got off the airplane at @10:30 went RIGHT to ME and were on the bus for EPCOT by 12:30. It was the BEST!!

Don't tell the folks at disney vacations but I would pay for this service. That's how much I love it.

 

[bulah1]

Disney doesn't make you wait until the 3:00 p.m. check-in time to check-in ... if your room is ready, then you can get it any time. If you get to the front desk at 7:0 a.m. and your room is available, then BINGO, you have your room at 7:00 a.m.

If your room isn't ready when you arrive, you'll still get checked in and get your park tickets and any other package components, as well as your actual room key. The key won't open your room door yet, and you won't even know the room number yet. They'll give you a phone number to call to learn your room number, so that way you don't have to stop to wait in line at the front desk again, you can just go directly to your room once it's ready.

Expect your DME bags to be delivered by abut 3 hours after you arrive at your resort. SO if your plane lands at 11:30 a.m., expect to be at the resort by between 12:30 - 1:00 p.m., and expect your luggage to be delivered to the inside of your room (whether you're in there or not) by 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

ENJOY!

OOO! Very cool - that all makes me a happy camper! I can't wait!
Thanks again for your help!

I'm so glad other people remind me of all the questions I forget to ask on here!

EDIT! -
It just ocurred to me I have another question! LOL
So when your happy time is all over at Disney and you are catching your return flight...
Do you need to get your bags to the bus, or is that taken care of for you? Do you need to get the bags off the bus at the airport, or are they taken directly to your flight for you?

Thanks again!

 

[kaytieeldr]

To triple-ensure your luggage (which will be at your resort within a few hours of your check-in) is not delivered in the middle of the night:
… Let the Front Desk know when you check in that you’d like it held until morning.
… Call Bell Services/Luggage Assistance from your room and let them know you’d like it held until morning.
… Place the “Privacy Please” card in the key slot on your door.

 

[bzbostonmom]

We're leaving in a few days and are staying at the Royal Plaza in Downtown Disney -- I can't find anything online or at the hotel site that says DME services the hotel. Does anyone know if DME services DTD hotels?

 

[stitchlover]

I don't believe DME services that hotel. It is not a Disney property.

 

[MisMikiNikiLynne]

DME will not service offsite hotels. Your hotel is considered offsite. Sorry.
We went through the same thing a few years ago when we opted to stay at the Grovsner.

 

[princess_sexton]

I was curious about ME on the way back to the airport. I heard that you have to be back at your hotel like 3 three hours before your flight. Is this acurate? Also has anyone used a private service just for the way back. I will be in the parks that day and really like to get the most for my ticket and if i have to leave at 3 it will stink

 

[dburg30]

You can use a personal service, how close are you planning on cutting it? There are posts in the transportation forum where people have waited 90 minutes to get thru security. Now not always, it's probably quicker almost all the time, but do you want to chance it? Even if you went with 2 hours before your flight, you might get an extra 30 minutes? Just seems a little silly for 30 minutes more. I guess I'm one of those that would rather get there early, get thru security and not worry about it.

 

[BigGreen73]

When we went this past May, we waited about 30mins before getting on the bus and the total time from off the plane to the resort was about an hour. I would go with DME over anything else.

 

[FancyBrat]

DME worked great on both our trips. Went straight down to the DME Counter and checked in each time and wasn't long before we were on our way to the Resort. We let DME handle the bags for us and had no problems what so ever. Actually when we came back to the Resort in the afternoon for a nap we found all our Checked bags as well as our Carry on's that we left with the Bell service already in our room waiting for us. Wasn't expecting that at a Value but it was awesome.

 

[crissichef]

DME is the best thing going...........I wish they had it years ago when we had to pay a pretty penny for Mears to pick us up at the airport and drop us off. We used it last October with my DH, DD8, DS1 and they did not have time to be impaitent. The employees there went out of their way to keep the kids busy ! Just like everything else Disney does it right !

 

[Pirates4me]

The Magical Express is the way to go. All of the time that we have taken it, the driver did his/her best to get us loaded, our luggage loaded and get to our home resort within an hour.

Our kids don't even mind the bus ride as it has Disney movies playing on the bus. With the kids happy, it gives me time to think about how I can move down there and make a living and also keep my wife speaking to me. She;s not sold on moving to Florida. She has agreed to NC,SC or Virginia. I just need a few trip tp Disney and I think I will have her changing her mind.
IT'S GOT TO BE DISNEY TO BE MAGICAL FOR ME!

 

[GofFreak]

DME was very fast for us. (Nov 07) We got off the plane right on the bus. Left right away. Total trip time was about 40 minutes. The bus played some Disney clips for the kids and the kids at heart.

DME all the way

 

[mrincredible2008]

I would like to say that we have never had a problem with the pick up from the airport. quick! no problem! BUT wait..... on the trip home. (yes, i called early 1 morning before leaving) the next day i got in line at the hotel early check my bags and waited for the bus. right on time no problem.... i had my tickets out and turned so the bus driver could see... i was first in line of about 20 people. the bus driver said sorry we only have room for these 3. boy if i had been next i would have missed the flight! so better check your seat!