Magical Express

[goofy friend]

Last month, I had a 5:10 flight and the bus picked us up at 2:45. Dropped us off at airport 3:30.

 

[PTownGirls]

i am using ME in October and am hoping to get to POR before Boatwrights closes for the evening. I have done lots of research but it seems like there is no consistent answer as to what the time frame is in general. I know in the past POR is always the last drop off.

 

[myrheille]

We used the Magical Express twice with zero problems, and we travel internationally, so we never printed boarding passes or checked luggage. We always have at least two hours to spare. Our flights were usually leaving around 10AM, so pick-up is usually pretty brutal, heh.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Not all airlines are available for resort check-in. I believe these are the only ones eligible.

Resort Airline Check-In Service
Resort Airline Check-In Service at your Disney resort is available if you are flying domestically (including Puerto Rico) on the following airlines:
-- AirTran Airways
-- Alaska Airlines
-- American Airlines
-- Delta Air Lines
-- JetBlue Airways
-- Southwest Airlines
-- United Air Lines
-- US Airways

Tom

 

[bumbershoot]

If it's Suncountry, looks like some still can check in online ahead of time. So RAC can't help you, but at least you might be able to do checkin. https://paxsvc.suncountry.com/SCAPaxServicesWeb/wci/startWebCheckin.do

I know in the past POR is always the last drop off.

Hasn't been my experience. Schedules and routes vary based on needs that day.

 

[maxiesmom]

After a couple of stressful DME rides I've gone to using a car service to get back to the airport. However you can request to be picked up earlier than 3 hours before your flight, if you don't want to spend the money on a towncar or taxi.

 

[Dbktmc]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I am flying on Spirit Airlines. This is the first time that I am using this airline so I'm not sure what terminal they are located in at MCO. I think I am just going to call and ask for an earlier pick up time. This seems easier than bringing a car seat to Florida.

 

[Kkb0517]

We've never had this problem; in fact, several times we've had to call and change our time to a LATER bus so we wouldn't be sitting at the airport for 4 hours!

You can do that?

 

[shoreward]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I am flying on Spirit Airlines. This is the first time that I am using this airline so I'm not sure what terminal they are located in at MCO. I think I am just going to call and ask for an earlier pick up time. This seems easier than bringing a car seat to Florida.

Spirit is in Terminal B at MCO.

 

[busymommy2pink]

I have always been 2 hours early for my flight using the Magical Express!! Even in the rain or with traffic...
I have never checked bags at the resort.
I have used it 5 times this year alone, and once a year since it's been around.

Truthfully, we would have made it at least 2 hours before, BUT we always call the night before and ask to be placed on an earlier bus and it's never an issue. We always ask for an hour earlier. It allows us to leisurely go through the airport, no added stress, kids can go their pace and not be rushed, and it makes for a much happier group. We have to check our bags at the airport as well.

 

[Aerinha]

Get a car service. My second and final use of the neither magical nor express free bus ride was a nightmare. It took almost two hours to get to my hotel, wasting park time. I was so annoyed. Going back, though I was the first person on, three hours before my flight, I got to my side the airport 1.5 hours before departure time due to numerous stops and having to wait forever at side A for the bus to find a spot, park, unload, driver collect tips, get a break in traffic to back out, drive to side B and find a spot. Then security took forever and I had to wait for the tram. By the time I got to my gate, I had time to pee or buy food as there was a line at every bathroom. Nature won so I was about ready to pass out from hunger by the time I got home.

Never again.

I will also note on my first use of ME, the ride to the hotel was fine, but the ride back was full of people complaining they were on side B and were concerned they were going to miss their flight. That time I was on side A and we just squeaked into the airport two hours ahead of departure time. I remember commenting to my mom that we were lucky we were on side A.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

If it's Suncountry, looks like some still can check in online ahead of time. So RAC can't help you, but at least you might be able to do checkin. https://paxsvc.suncountry.com/SCAPaxServicesWeb/wci/startWebCheckin.do

The RAC desk will print your BPs for you if you check in online, but if you're checking luggage (we always do) you also have to have them dropped before the ticket counter closes. It's a small tradeoff for flying Sun Country. And usually DME gets you to the airport in plenty of time to meet that 45 minute window, but we have gotten snagged up in the security line (prior to our PreCheck days!).

Looks like it's a moot point since OP is flying Spirit, but I always like to talk up Sun Country.

 

[aVASTGrl]

You can do that?

Yep! You can either call the ME number or let a CM know at the front desk of your resort and they can take care of it!

 

[Babsy]

Yep! You can either call the ME number or let a CM know at the front desk of your resort and they can take care of it!

I tried twice and they said no. How did you convince them? They always bring us 4hours prior, even when that puts us there in wee hours before there is anyone present to check you In.

 

[goofy4tink]

We've never had this problem; in fact, several times we've had to call and change our time to a LATER bus so we wouldn't be sitting at the airport for 4 hours!

Why are you getting picked up 4+ hrs early? Only International guests get picked up 4 hrs prior, which would get them to MCO about 3 hrs prior to their flights...which is what MCO suggests.

As far as being dropped off on Side A vs Side B goes.....we took a car service back to MCO two weeks ago. Dd and I were on a different airline than her friend. We left from Side B, she left from Side A. I had the driver drop us all on Side A. It's just not a big deal. We walked across the main terminal (about 15' further than if we had been dropped on Side B. If you're feeling stressed about time, and you are the second stop, just hop off at the first stop. Especially easy if you have no checked bags.

 

[maxiesmom]

I tried twice and they said no. How did you convince them? They always bring us 4hours prior, even when that puts us there in wee hours before there is anyone present to check you In.

I wouldn't recommend trying it. Sitting at the airport for 4 hours is a gross exaggeration. At most you are picked up 3 hours ahead of your flight (4 if you are flying internationally) and the drive to the airport takes up another 40 minutes. And that is only drive time to the airport. So now at best you arrive 2 hours 20 minutes ahead of your flight at an airport that recommends you arrive 2 hours before your flight. Keep in mind you can spend a lot of time driving to other resorts to pick up guests before even heading to the airport. I've spent almost an hour on the bus making the rounds before.

 

[aVASTGrl]

Why are you getting picked up 4+ hrs early? Only International guests get picked up 4 hrs prior, which would get them to MCO about 3 hrs prior to their flights...which is what MCO suggests.

I couldn't tell you, you'll have to ask the ME people that question.

 

[aVASTGrl]

I wouldn't recommend trying it. Sitting at the airport for 4 hours is a gross exaggeration. At most you are picked up 3 hours ahead of your flight (4 if you are flying internationally) and the drive to the airport takes up another 40 minutes. And that is only drive time to the airport. So now at best you arrive 2 hours 20 minutes ahead of your flight at an airport that recommends you arrive 2 hours before your flight. Keep in mind you can spend a lot of time driving to other resorts to pick up guests before even heading to the airport. I've spent almost an hour on the bus making the rounds before.

This has not been our experience, so I'm not sure why you think I'm grossly exaggerating anything...just trying to share my family's experience. Have a magical day.

 

[maxiesmom]

This has not been our experience, so I'm not sure why you think I'm grossly exaggerating anything...just trying to share my family's experience. Have a magical day.

Magical Express picks up domestic flights 3 hours ahead, international flights 4 hours ahead. So unless your flight was delayed it is impossible for you to have sat at the airport for 4 hours.

 

[msb578]

Get a car service. My second and final use of the neither magical nor express free bus ride was a nightmare. It took almost two hours to get to my hotel, wasting park time. I was so annoyed. Going back, though I was the first person on, three hours before my flight, I got to my side the airport 1.5 hours before departure time due to numerous stops and having to wait forever at side A for the bus to find a spot, park, unload, driver collect tips, get a break in traffic to back out, drive to side B and find a spot. Then security took forever and I had to wait for the tram. By the time I got to my gate, I had time to pee or buy food as there was a line at every bathroom. Nature won so I was about ready to pass out from hunger by the time I got home.

Never again.

I will also note on my first use of ME, the ride to the hotel was fine, but the ride back was full of people complaining they were on side B and were concerned they were going to miss their flight. That time I was on side A and we just squeaked into the airport two hours ahead of departure time. I remember commenting to my mom that we were lucky we were on side A.

Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic. Magical Express is neither magical nor an express. Discuss.

Sorry, couldn't resist. And sorry if you're not in my age bracket and don't get it.