Magical Express

[LAS321]

For the first time ever we aren't renting a car this year. We will be using the ME to get from the airport. How exactly does it work? I know they pick you up at the airport....is it true that they collect your luggage for you? And do you end up going to every resort to drop people off? And then when you get there do you have to wait for them to unload your luggage off the bus? My luggage tags came last week and I realized I have no clue what I'm going!

 

[kapoof]

when you get to the airport, check in with ME and you may (most like will) have to wait on the bus for a bit, while it fills up usually about 20 minutes. if you chose to pick up your luggage yourself, it will be on the bus with you. but if you don't, it will take a different bus to your resort, usually a few hours later. they will deliver it to your luggage to your room. if you have a later flight better take p.j.'s with you in a carry on bag. or if you have an early flight pack your swim suits with you, if you plan on doing swimming. all and all it is a very good system. we have used it twice with luggage delivery to the room and had no problems.

 

[Cee]

Read the booklet carefully that came with the luggage tags. Put the tags on
the luggage and check the bags when you get to the airport. When you arrive
at MCO, follow the directions to the ME counter and they will direct you to the
CM that will ask you what resort and get you on the right bus. You have to
make a few stops along the way but your resort might be the first stop! Your luggage should arrive at your resort within 3 hours of
your arrival. If you need anything right away, be sure to pack it in your carry
on. Your luggage will "magically" appear in your room! It's a very nice service. Enjoy!

 

[kapoof]

also..yes you probably will make a few stops at different resorts.

 

[mc'smommy]

You're somewhat on the right track.....The last time I used the ME you went to the lower level of the airport, gave the CM your voucher and were directed outside to the appropriate bus for your resort...There were several buses located out sidethe airport terminal. One for All star resorts, one for the Deluxe resorts etc..... The luggage was taken by staff from the airport and delivered to our room about an hour after we checked in to the hotel...

Now things may have changed since I last used it, So make sure you have your necessities in your carry-on for what you plan on doing when you arrive at the hotel... such as swim suits, if you plan on swimming.......

 

[goofy4tink]

You need to have a 'reservation' for DME. Be sure you book it through whomever you booked your stay with. Then, you will get in info packet about 4-5 weeks before you depart. In this you will find directions to the DME checkin counter, and yellow luggage tags for your checked bags, for each person on the reservation.
Put those yellow tags on any bags that are going to be checked. Get on the plane, have a great flight. When you arrive at MCO, head to Side B, level 1 of MCO. It's very plainly marked, and you will have your info packet (with map) in hand...do not pack it in your checked bags!!!!
You will get to the DME counter, they will ask you how many bags you checked, what your return flight is (times, numbers). Then, you'll be directed to the appropriate resort bus line.
Go to the line, when the bus comes you'll be directed to the proper bus.
You will then head out to the resorts. Each bus has up to 3, sometimes 4, resorts to stop at.

My average time, from deplaning to resort checkin, has been about 70 mins. I have been the first resort stopped at, the second, the third, and one time, the last.
The shortest time was abouty 55 min...going to POP, which was the first stop.
Longest was again, to POP, but we were the third and last stop, and there was a ton of luggage that guests had brought to the bus with them so it had to be stowed and then unstowed at each of the first two stops...adding a bit of time.

Now....your DME info packet will tell you to expect your checked luggage in your resort room up to 3 hrs after resort checkin. Most of the time, this is the case, but sometimes the wait can be longer. So....pack anything you may need for the first 6 hrs of your vacation in your carryon. It shouldn't be much...maybe a change of clothes, a swimsuit. But, you'll be able to start your WDW vacation without hanging in your room, waiting for luggage.

Any other questions, just ask. I'm sure I've missed something.

 

[Lynne M]

And do you end up going to every resort to drop people off?

You don't go to every resort. There are several 'resort areas'; groups of resorts that are close to each other. Your bus will drop off at your resort and others in your resort area. Maybe 4 or 5 resorts all together. You might be the first dropoff, you might be the last. They don't spend a huge amount of time at each resort, maybe 5 minutes, so it's not bad at all.

 

[mdsouth]

We went in 2005 when Magical Express was first in service and it was free. Is it still free or is there now a charge for the service?

 

[CleveRocks]

Still free.

By policy, there are supposed to be no more than 4 resorts per bus. If a bus has resorts on-board from different geographic zones, then it's a maximum of 3 resorts per bus (to make up for the increased driving time).

Luggage with the yellow DME tags never makes it out to the baggage claim carousel. It gets pulled behind-the-scenes and brought to a Disney luggage sorting facility on the grounds of the airport. It is sorted by resort, loaded into locked cages, the cages are loaded into trucks, the trucks deliver the cages to the resorts, and then resort staff deliver the bags to the rooms. The bags are delivered to the inside of your room whether you are in there or not. Therefore, you don't have to sit around waiting for it ... go out and start having fun!

Please read the instructions included in your DME booklet, as they will also help guide you.

 

[divawife]

May I suggest taking your luggage numbers(that the airline staples to your ticket) with you to the parks.

We had an issue where I called from MK to check if all of our luggage had arrived. They said they were missing one bag and they needed the number- we did not have the numbers on us.

Two of us had to run like heck back to ASMu to get the numbers for them so they could try and locate the bag either in their own area or back a the airport. We had to see which bag was missing.

One huge pain. Extremely stressful. We had ADR's at Chef Mickey's and thougt we would miss them for sure.
They couldn't check the room (they said) because they still wouldn't know which bag was missing.

Turns out that there were indeed all pieces in the room-there was an error someplace.

We were thrilled, of course, that we didn't lose a bag. But we were livid about the miscommunication.

ASMu paid for our cab to the Comtemporary where we made the ADR by 2 minutes exactly.

I then complained and got all of us 1 Fast Pass each to use whereever we wanted.

But it didn't make me trust in the luggage service system very much. Next time I think I will pick up my own luggage.

On the way back there still was a glitch-they called us a day early to pick up our return luggage. It was finally straightened out. We did have all our luggage when we arrived at home.

I love the ME-I think it is a very good service. It is the Luggage people who I didn't feel the magic from.

 

[skipperkim]

Still free.

By policy, there are supposed to be no more than 4 resorts per bus. If a bus has resorts on-board from different geographic zones, then it's a maximum of 3 resorts per bus (to make up for the increased driving time).

Luggage with the yellow DME tags never makes it out to the baggage claim carousel. It gets pulled behind-the-scenes and brought to a Disney luggage sorting facility on the grounds of the airport. It is sorted by resort, loaded into locked cages, the cages are loaded into trucks, the trucks deliver the cages to the resorts, and then resort staff deliver the bags to the rooms. The bags are delivered to the inside of your room whether you are in there or not. Therefore, you don't have to sit around waiting for it ... go out and start having fun!

Please read the instructions included in your DME booklet, as they will also help guide you.

Just get off the plane, head to the ME counter, stand in line, get on bus, get off bus at your resort (very important to remember this part), check in to get your KTTW, leave any other carryons with BS, head off to fun. Like magic, the bags appear in the room when you come back.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Now....your DME info packet will tell you to expect your checked luggage in your resort room up to 3 hrs after resort checkin. Most of the time, this is the case, but sometimes the wait can be longer. So....pack anything you may need for the first 6 hrs of your vacation in your carryon.

Twenty-four hours. Not six - 24. I would have agreed with six, except the last time I flew it took my luggage until the next day to catch up because the airline forgot to put it on my plane!