Magical Express

[tgropp]

Our children will be flying Westjet from Toronto and are taking the 8:10 flight which will get them at Orlando near 11. Instead of me picking them up at Orlando airport, I thought about them catching the Magical Express to our hotel room at VWL. How does this process work? Do they pick up their luggage and hop on the bus with their ME passes. How long would the wait for the bus to leave the airport be? I will have rented a car but I thought that this may be easier, especially since it is late at night.

 

[aristocat65]

At that time of night, they will have to go to get their luggage first, then down to the ground transportation area to get the bus. They have to go to the counter down there first and "check in" for the bus and will be directed which bus to get on. We arrived later like this once and because it wasn't very busy, we had to wait on the bus for quite a while for them to fill it up before leaving. They then stopped at more resorts than usual before ours. It actually seems to take longer late at night when things are quiet, because they don't want to send the buses out with only a few people. Our flight arrived at 10 pm and we arrived at WL at 11:50.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

It actually seems to take longer late at night when things are quiet, because they don't want to send the buses out with only a few people. Our flight arrived at 10 pm and we arrived at WL at 11:50.

I've only arrived in the afternoons (12-4 range) but it's always taken me at least 2 hours to get from touchdown to resort and usually more. So I don't think that sounds so bad.


1)Everyone has to go to the bathroom as soon as they exit the plane.
2)2 trips getting my own luggage and 2 without. My personal opinion after waiting almost 9 hours for my luggage to arrive at my resort is I will pick up my own from now on thanks.
3)It's usually busy at the check in desk, once I went during a cheer week. It was super crowded around the check in that time too.
4)I've never travelled on a bus that wasn't stopping at three resorts. I haven't been resort stop #1 yet.
5)When it's busy you may get a Mears without the video.
6)It takes half an hour so so depending on traffic to drive to the resort anyway.

But when you say "children" you are not implying small kids right?

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

That's is the exact airline/flight we are taking out of Toronto on Thurs. We will have to pick up our own luggage due to the fact that we are arriving after 10pm (as mention by pp). Then, its off to the ME check-in counter and onto the buses. The ME folks will place you in the appropriate line depending on which resort you are staying at.

 

[ABCanada]

Had this same debate last December with friends visiting for part of the trip. We ended up picking them up.

While ME is a great service at that time of night even if the wait isn't any longer, and I think it is just because of the volume, it feels that way. Everyone will be to bed at least an hour earlier if you pick them up.

At that time getting to and from the Airport is a snap
(took 15-20 minutes tops)
There is a cell phone lot so you can wait there then drive up and load them after they have picked up their luggage.
(I dropped my husband off and he waited for them while I waited in the cell phone lot.)

 

[aristocat65]

I've only arrived in the afternoons (12-4 range) but it's always taken me at least 2 hours to get from touchdown to resort and usually more. So I don't think that sounds so bad.


1)Everyone has to go to the bathroom as soon as they exit the plane.
2)2 trips getting my own luggage and 2 without. My personal opinion after waiting almost 9 hours for my luggage to arrive at my resort is I will pick up my own from now on thanks.
3)It's usually busy at the check in desk, once I went during a cheer week. It was super crowded around the check in that time too.
4)I've never travelled on a bus that wasn't stopping at three resorts. I haven't been resort stop #1 yet.
5)When it's busy you may get a Mears without the video.
6)It takes half an hour so so depending on traffic to drive to the resort anyway.

But when you say "children" you are not implying small kids right?

I guess we've been lucky. We usually arrive around 6pm ish (except the last time arriving late at night) and we have been in our room at the resort by 7:30. We even had time for an 8 pm reservation for dinner. Our bags have usually arrived 3-4 hours after our flight arrival time. I've been very pleased with the service.
I do agree with other posters though, at that time of night it will be much quicker to pick up your kids yourself.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Here is something else important to remember. Since you will need to pick up your checked bags 1st the WestJet baggage claim area is on the A side of the terminal and the Magical Express check-in/pick up area is located on the B side of the terminal.

 

[tgropp]

Thet are my children and their spouses. One of them are coming down on WJ on the 21'st and the other on the 22'nd. Since it has been mentioned that it will take less than 1/2 hour and they have a cell phone lot, that is probally the direction that I will go. Thanks everyone for your help.