Magical Express

[gtpoohbear]

We've used ME 3 times and never had any problems at all- I think it's the best way to start your vacation! I did have to rent a car at MCO once (on a non-Disney trip) and it was a nightmare! Long wait, rude agent, LONG walk with luggage to find our car, traffic getting out of the airport, UGH. Would not want to start a Disney vacation that way for sure.

 

[ThreeBeans]

We've been using it for years. I would never *not* use it. I've traveled as a single adult with girlfriends, as a one of a couple, and as a parent with a large family. Never a lost bag, never a negative experience.

I agree it is one of the biggest 'perks' to staying on property.

 

[cheesemouse]

We love magical express. The biggest benefit is the luggage handling. I can't say enough about what a huge benefit that is to our family of 5, with 3 small kids. Not having to go get our luggage, schlep it through the airport and onto a bus, and off the bus and into the hotel is HUGE!

As for the ride itself and the time it takes, it really varies. Our best trip was when we stayed at POP. We got on a waiting bus and were some of the last people on so it left shortly after we got on. POP was the 2nd stop. So it was pretty quick.

We usually stay at CR/BLT and those trips are always longer as CR is usually the last stop. And sometimes we've waited 10-15 minutes for a bus to arrive and then waited for it to get mostly full.

The 60-90 minute guideline is right on. I say for sure she should use ME. And my kids LOVE watching the video on the way.

 

[ARAITHEL]

My sister is in Orlando right now moving our aunt home for the summer. My mother and sis flew into MCO and were renting a car. They said it was over an hour in line at the rental company! Eek!!! My sis said she wished they were taking ME!i have never used anything else than the ME service. My bags have always met me in my room with no problem. I love it because I don't have to worry about parking, directions, driving or gas. Wouldn't do it Any other way! Have a great trip!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I have a friend who is going on her first trip at the end of this month. She is scheduled to use ME, but now is suddenly having a panic attack over some bad experiences she has read about. I have never used ME and would like to give her some feedback from some of you who have. So tell me - good or bad - what was your ME experience like?

What specifically is she worried about? The luggage not arriving? A long wait for the bus at the airport? Missing the bus back to the airport?

We've been using it since 2005 (so 14 times??) and have only had minor issues three times. 2 were going back to the airport (too many people waiting for the bus and not enough room for all of us. The resort CM's sorted it out easily enough) and 1 was the luggage taking 8+ hours to get to the room (but I blame that on the resort luggage delivery folks and not DME). Nothing ruined our trip, nothing warranted a complaint to anyone after we returned.

We have also used a rental car, once. I honestly don't think it saved us much time at all. Plus, with DME it is WONDERFUL not have to go to the luggage carrousel in MCO.

Tell her not to worry!

 

[rainynight]

We've used it for 2 trips and had a slight problem on our return to airport trip last September. We were scheduled to leave at 4:45pm from the resort and showed up about an hour early and paced around. Well a bus came around 4:15 and we thought it was ours and was early and was told no, ours was the next one. So the next one comes around 5 and we are told we must have missed our bus. We told then no, we haven't left the front of the building for so much as a second so there's no way we missed our bus. They let us on the bus (but told us we had to wait until everyone else loaded to make sure there was room for us) but never admitted to it being a mix up on their end. Our paper clearly stated our pickup time and were standing there the whole time outside so we know for a fact we didn't miss our bus. If there wasn't enough seats on the bus for us it would have been a big hassle for us I'm sure.

 

[jennbunn]

Love ME. our fav part is the video that they play . Plus they handle our bags and the wait was not very long. Can't wait to board the bus again in 42 days : )

 

[LSUfan4444]

If there wasn't enough seats on the bus for us it would have been a big hassle for us I'm sure.

I don't think so. Your bus is scheduled to pick you up three hours before your flight. Even if you couldn't get on your bus at 5 pm, for a 7:45 flight, you still had plenty, PLENTY time.

 

[DisneyDude71]

In my personal opinion, she is way more likely to have sever baggage issues with baggage handlers at her airport and MCO than DME.

Agree

 

[Mickeefan]

I have used it so many times I know the way to the ME counter without looking at my booklet. It's great. With a short wait, either to get onto the coach or once on the coach waiting to leave, it can't be beat.

The experiences she's read about are not the only experiences guests have using ME. People only tend to write reviews after a bad or less than stellar experience. You never hear from people that have a great experience.

 

[Tormania]

As previous posters have already mentioned, we also have not had any issue with ME. I will say though that on a few occassions we had to wait 20-30 minutes or so to board the bus and then wait for it to depart. In addition, it is customary to tip the bus driver when removing your bags. Always bring a change or clothes or essentials in your carry-on as it may be 2-3 hours before your bags arrive to your room. If arriving late evening - probably best to leave the tags off your luggage and cart it to the bus where it will travel wit you to the resort.

I think this is a good tip, if arriving late or for some reason you need your luggage when you check in you should just leave the tags off and collect it yourself. But if you plan accordingly and don't need your luggage for hours then ME baggage service should be the way to go.

Looking forward to our first ME experience this Dec. Of course our plan is to arrive at MCO around 10am, AKV by 11:30am, and then off to the parks for a few hours before returning to our room and hoepfully finding our luggage waiting for us.

 

[anonymousegirl]

In ten trips I have used DME 8 times--all without a hitch! Buses all on time and got me to the airport with plenty of time.
I have used their luggage pick up and picked up my own--no problems with either option.

I love the video! The first tears of the trip happen on the DME bus. last year when I went with my sister's family, I sent her and her kids on the bus while her husband and I picked up the rental car just because I knew those kids would love that video.

 

[ponyboy]

Some people are nervous about trusting someone else to get their luggage from the airport to their hotel. My response to that is that unless you're doing strictly carry-on, you're trusting someone else to get your luggage from your home airport to MCO, so what's the difference between that and trusting DME to get your luggage from the airport to your hotel?

Anybody heard of any theft rings involving Disney employees and luggage? Happens every day with TSA and airline employees. I have about 846% more confidence that Disney will handle our luggage better than TSA or the airlines.

 

[sambisc]

We love DME..it's one of the reasons we choose to stay on site. Much less stressful than having to find your luggage and arrange transportation. Just another way to let the magic start happening right away!

 

[LisaBi]

Just another vote for good experiences. I have used it at least a dozen times. The only slight hitch ever was one late evening arrival the luggage took a little too long to get to our room. If I was going to arrive after 6:00 pm again, I would probably get my On my own luggage and take it on the bus with me.

 

[ARAITHEL]

Theft? Who leaves really valuable things in their checked luggage? Unless they want Mickey apparel and old, comfortable shoes, my checked belongings are safe as if they were in Fort Knox! A of my valuables never leave my hands!

 

[ThreeBeans]

Theft? Who leaves really valuable things in their checked luggage? Unless they want Mickey apparel and old, comfortable shoes, my checked belongings are safe as if they were in Fort Knox! A of my valuables never leave my hands!

Sometimes, depending on the nature of the valuables and the size of your traveling party, you do not have a choice but to pack certain items. I'm not talking about earrings and diamonds though

 

[rainynight]

I don't think so. Your bus is scheduled to pick you up three hours before your flight. Even if you couldn't get on your bus at 5 pm, for a 7:45 flight, you still had plenty, PLENTY time.

Unless the following buses were full as well, in which case we would have had to hire a taxi which would have been an unplanned expense. The point is Disney made a mistake and didn't want to own up to it. There was a bus that arrived before and after our scheduled time and nothing in between so its insulting to be told we missed our bus when we were standing out in front of Pop for nearly two hours and know for absolute certainty that there was no 4:45 bus.

 

[Peachkins]

Our family has never had an issue with DME either. I couldn't imagine that renting a car or getting a cab would be any easier. I love being able to just get in line for my bus and not have to worry about my luggage. None of us have ever had an issue with bags not making it to our rooms. The process is very streamlined as someone else mentioned- no waiting in line to check in with someone. You just get right in the bus line and they take care of you there.

 

[Iamajoy79]

We always use ME and I love love love it. We've only had good experiences. It's so easy and convenient.