Magical Express

[MommyMOMmyMOMMY]

Does anyone NOT recommend using Magical Express? It will be our family's first trip to WDW this year and I planned on using Magical Express since its included, however, now I have been hearing some negative stories. (Long travel/wait times, lost luggage, etc.). Opinions? Thanks in advance

 

[JoanneDisFan]

I've used it for all 3 of our past trips and will be using it again this trip. Yes it does take about 3 hours to get your bags, but we take our essentials in our carry on (swimsuits). You can still use ME and go pick up your luggage at the carousel if you prefer, just don't attach the yellow tags they send in the mail.

 

[bumbershoot]

We didn't have a negative experience the one time we used them. But it just wasn't so positive that it was better than renting a car has been for us.

But we don't much like taking Disney transportation to the parks, not even for MK. We had such an annoyingly long (and annoying) wait at AKL Kidani for a MK bus that we just couldn't face using the bus to get back, and we took a cab instead. We go early enough to MK that we have, so far, had nice luck in parking up close, so we have yet to use the parking lot tram to the TTC. Or we arrive later in the day after many have left and we've gotten up front.

Since we enjoy driving to the parks, it's nice to have that rental car. Gives us options like Sweet Tomatoes for a casual meal, or going to Publix for other food, souvenirs at the offsite GiftLand.

I doubt we'll do DME in the future, even though we didn't have anything negative happen.



I should mention that we arrived after midnight, so we didn't get the luggage handling experience, which might have tipped the scales more towards liking it.

 

[disneyag]

No worries using DME. It's a great service. And FREE!!! We have also used a towncar service, but it took us about the same amount of time to get to our resort, since we had to wait for our luggage.

 

[MommyMOMmyMOMMY]

Thank you, everyone, for your quick and detailed replies!!!

 

[wdwfan22]

I have used it for every trip I have been to DW since they started offering it, except one that I stayed offsite. I have never had a problem with it. I love not having to deal with bags, either arriving in Orlando, or leaving.

It's great to get off the plane, zip down to ME, enjoy the ride to DW, check in to the hotel, go to room to drop off carry ons, and we are on a bus to the park in no time!!

 

[MommyMOMmyMOMMY]

I have used it for every trip I have been to DW since they started offering it, except one that I stayed offsite. I have never had a problem with it. I love not having to deal with bags, either arriving in Orlando, or leaving.

It's great to get off the plane, zip down to ME, enjoy the ride to DW, check in to the hotel, go to room to drop off carry ons, and we are on a bus to the park in no time!!

Thank you! That's pretty much what I was thinking too, that we could just head to the park and our bags would be there when we got back

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I've used DME 8 times so far and haven't had any problems until the last trip (May 1st through May 5th).

Arriving at MCO, I got to DME to see a long line waiting for the bus to POR. I waited for 30 minutes before a bus showed up. I set the timer on my watch just to see. Luckily all of us in line fit on that bus. I'd have hated to be waiting for that long and not make that bus. As the person behind me said "this is not magical."

Getting back to MCO from POR was also a mess. There were way to many stops (4) going from POR to MCO and it took over an hour just to get done with the DME pickups. Then another 30 minutes to MCO, than another hour through security at the airport (this was sunday evening which is normally crowded).
That meant I only had 30 minutes before the flight left (15 minutes before it started boarding!).

I'm one of those folks who likes to do some last minute airport shopping and get dinner before the plane boards. I had no time to do any shopping and did grab a fast food hamburger that I ate on the plane.

I'm thinking of trying a town car next time since it's cheaper than renting a car. The only downside would be me having to handle my own luggage - DME has spoiled me regarding that.

 

[Sophiesmom]

I have used ME 3 times and will be using it again in a few weeks. We had a bad experience last Summer and my husband refuses to use it again. We had a brand new driver who was very unfamiliar with the area. Made several wrong turns and was SUPER slow. He also added a stop that was not scheduled, which delayed our arrival at our resort even more. I was frustrated too, but my husband has very little patience and vows he will not utilize the service again. To make it worse, they did not get our luggage to the airport in time to make our flight home ( we checked in 3 hours before the flight at our resort).

Having said that, I have used it since then ( on a trip with my daughter) and will use again in a few weeks (another quick trip with daughter).

As long as you go into it aware that it can be a bit slow, you will be fine. I much prefer this than having to deal with a rental car.

 

[fancifull]

I used it to and from POP, and I was really satisfied. I didn't have any checked bags so there was nothing for them to lose or put in my room for me. When I go to the resort, my friends had arrived the day before and I just took my bag up to the room. The plane landed at about 9:20am and we were in Animal Kingdom by 11:30.

I thought my pick up time was a little early for my flight out, and then my flight was delayed an hour so I wished I had had a little more time before having to say good bye to my friends. But that was only a small regret.

 

[MinnieLee]

We've used ME many times and never had a problem. Besides the fact that we do not have to lug our suitcases all over the airport, we love the fact that that "magically" arrive at our room or our home airport. We have had drivers who play trivia games on the way to the resorts, have been pleasant and although they do have to make stops at other resorts, the drivers do make it in and out of the resort as fast as possible.We are usually at our resort checked in within 90 minutes from getting off the plane. Wait times for DME have averages around 15-20 minutes.

You can't judge ME because of one driver. The pros definitely out weight the cons on using the service.

I wish we didn't have to leave 3 hours ahead of time although I understand the reasoning on it.

 

[Iamthequeen]

We've used DME the last two times we've been to WDW with no problems at all. The only glitch happened at the resort when our bags were sent to the wrong room.

 

[maxiesmom]

The only time I would not use DME would be late at night, when you have to get your own luggage anyway. We had one not so great late night experience where we landed at 11 pm and were not checking in at our resort until after 1 am. Now if it is that late at night I will pay for a towncar.

 

[Mskanga]

I just came back from our trip a month ago and used ME , I found that it was a lot LESS stressful than getting a rental car and having to drive myself . First of I did not have to wait and claim my luggage , we went from the plane to the bus and thankfully our room was ready so we checked in , put on our shorts that we had in the carry on and off to the park we went . When we came back our luggage was in the room.
On departure day we just brought the suitcases down , checked them in at the resort and did not see them again until we got back to philadelphia.

I do not mind at all using disney transportation at all , delays and everything. Enjoy your vacation and take the time to smell the roses.

 

[seashoreCM]

Arriving at MCO, I got to DME to see a long line waiting for the bus to POR. I waited for 30 minutes before a bus showed up. I set the timer on my watch just to see. Luckily all of us in line fit on that bus. I'd have hated to be waiting for that long and not make that bus. As the person behind me said "this is not magical."

Getting back to MCO from POR was also a mess. There were way to many stops (4) going from POR to MCO and it took over an hour just to get done with the DME pickups. Then another 30 minutes to MCO, than another hour through security at the airport (this was sunday evening which is normally crowded).
That meant I only had 30 minutes before the flight left (15 minutes before it started boarding!).

I'm one of those folks who likes to do some last minute airport shopping and get dinner before the plane boards. I had no time to do any shopping and did grab a fast food hamburger that I ate on the plane. .

To do last minute shopping, etc. at the airport, you can optionally request an earlier Magical Express bus. This request is always granted when you make it on or before the morning of the day before the day you will leave. This request is also desirable if you paid for early boarding of the plane.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Getting back to MCO from POR was also a mess. There were way to many stops (4) going from POR to MCO and it took over an hour just to get done with the DME pickups. Then another 30 minutes to MCO, than another hour through security at the airport (this was sunday evening which is normally crowded).
That meant I only had 30 minutes before the flight left (15 minutes before it started boarding!).

I'm one of those folks who likes to do some last minute airport shopping and get dinner before the plane boards. I had no time to do any shopping and did grab a fast food hamburger that I ate on the plane.

DME picks up at an undetermined number of resorts on the return trips to MCO, based on when how many guests from which resorts need to be there. There was never a limit on the number of return pick-ups like there is on the WDW-bound trips.

Thirty to 40 minutes is normal travel time between the two points, and that's without any traffic incidents. Disney has zero control of security lines. The goal of Magical Express is to get the guests to the airport on time to get through security and make their respective flights. Shopping/dining is a time-filler if one arrives at the airport early enough, or as seashoreCM stated, one's DME return can be scheduled earlier by choice.

To make it worse, they did not get our luggage to the airport in time to make our flight home ( we checked in 3 hours before the flight at our resort).

Magical Express doesn't check you in for your return flight, or check your luggage, or magically transport it to the airport and hand it over to your airline to get it to your home airport. Resort Airline Check-in does all that.
You checked your luggage in three hours before your flight departed? Or you had your luggage completely checked in more than three hours before departure? Just like you can't be checking in luggage at the airport 45 minutes prior to departure and expect it to get on your flight, "at least" means "completed by more than" to Resort Airline Check-in.

 

[Sophiesmom]

Magical Express doesn't check you in for your return flight, or check your luggage, or magically transport it to the airport and hand it over to your airline to get it to your home airport. Resort Airline Check-in does all that.
You checked your luggage in three hours before your flight departed? Or you had your luggage completely checked in more than three hours before departure? Just like you can't be checking in luggage at the airport 45 minutes prior to departure and expect it to get on your flight, "at least" means "completed by more than" to Resort Airline Check-in.

Pardon me for not making it clear that I was referring to "Resort Airline Check-in".

We checked our luggage in 3 hours prior to our Magical Express departure. I am well aware that checking in at the last minute might result in a delay with the luggage.

Really didn't need the "lecture", but thanks anyway.

 

[sam_gordon]

Pardon me for not making it clear that I was referring to "Resort Airline Check-in". In my mind this is all a part of the DME experience as you CANNOT utilize the Resort Airline Check-in without using DME.

We checked our luggage in 3 hours prior to our Magical Express departure. I am well aware that checking in at the last minute might result in a delay with the luggage.

Really didn't need the "lecture", but thanks anyway.

Regarding the bolded... I'm pretty sure that's incorrect. ANYONE can use RAC (as long as they are on a participating airline). Usage of DME is *NOT* required.

 

[Missytara]

Regarding the bolded... I'm pretty sure that's incorrect. ANYONE can use RAC (as long as they are on a participating airline). Usage of DME is *NOT* required.

That is correct. RAC and DME are two totally different things. I am glad you clarified that the PP provided incorrect information; on the transportation board, we always try to make sure that info does not sit for long and be interpreted as correct.

 

[Sophiesmom]

Regarding the bolded... I'm pretty sure that's incorrect. ANYONE can use RAC (as long as they are on a participating airline). Usage of DME is *NOT* required.

I stand corrected. Edited my post to remove the inaccurate information.