Magical Express

[Disneyland1084]

Do they work with every airline, or only the ones listed on Disney World.com? Our preferred airline is Southwest, and we will most likely fly them in June.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

magical Express is independent of airline. You walk from your arrival gage to Ground Transport to meet ME. When dropped off, you walk from Ground Transport to security.

You can do resort check in and bag check for Southwest.

Disney simply do not book travel with SW for resort packages including air.

 

[goofy4tink]

It doesn't matter how you arrive AT MCO....you can arrive by bus, car, plane or yak. You get to ride the DME bus to your resort, as long as you made your reservation for it. You can tag your checked bag with the yellow tag if arriving by plane, otherwise leave it off. That tag calls attention to your bag as soon as it comes off the plane and baggage handlers will take it and put it aside for DME transfer, by truck, to the resort. I've seen many people, standing in the DME bus line, attaching the yellow tags..no need. The bag is nowhere close to those that need to see the yellow tag!
Where a lot of people get confused is being able to use RAC (not DME) when returning home. RAC (Resort Airline Checkin) works with specific airlines. Southwest was one of the last to join the group that can use RAC. This is where you would go to check your bags in, and get your boarding pass. You can then return to MCO on the DME bus, in your rental car, or via a car service..doesn't matter.
So..long story short? Anyone can use DME to and from the airport..airline doesn't matter.

 

[Disneyland1084]

It doesn't matter how you arrive AT MCO....you can arrive by bus, car, plane or yak. You get to ride the DME bus to your resort, as long as you made your reservation for it. You can tag your checked bag with the yellow tag if arriving by plane, otherwise leave it off. That tag calls attention to your bag as soon as it comes off the plane and baggage handlers will take it and put it aside for DME transfer, by truck, to the resort. I've seen many people, standing in the DME bus line, attaching the yellow tags..no need. The bag is nowhere close to those that need to see the yellow tag!
Where a lot of people get confused is being able to use RAC (not DME) when returning home. RAC (Resort Airline Checkin) works with specific airlines. Southwest was one of the last to join the group that can use RAC. This is where you would go to check your bags in, and get your boarding pass. You can then return to MCO on the DME bus, in your rental car, or via a car service..doesn't matter.
So..long story short? Anyone can use DME to and from the airport..airline doesn't matter.

Wonderful! Say I arrive in Orlando at 4 in the afternoon, get to All Star Sports at 5 or so, when do you think I can expect our luggage to be delivered to the room?

 

[KrazeeK120]

Wonderful! Say I arrive in Orlando at 4 in the afternoon, get to All Star Sports at 5 or so, when do you think I can expect our luggage to be delivered to the room?

I think they usually say to allow at least 3 hours from touchdown, so likely sometime after 7 pm.

 

[dansdad]

I think they usually say to allow at least 3 hours from touchdown, so likely sometime after 7 pm.

Actually it's 3-4 hours from the time you check in at your resort.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Actually it's 3-4 hours from the time you check in at your resort.

No, that's not true. Many people never physically check in at the resort (they do online check in). The bags are pulled before going onto the carousel, loaded up, and taken to Disney. It's completely independent of check-in.

 

[dansdad]

No, that's not true. Many people never physically check in at the resort (they do online check in). The bags are pulled before going onto the carousel, loaded up, and taken to Disney. It's completely independent of check-in.

Yes it is. That is how WDW advertises when to expect your luggage from DME.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Yes it is. That is how WDW advertises when to expect your luggage from DME.

OK, so then what happens to the people who never check in?

Just because Disney "advertises" something doesn't make it true.

In my experience, it's been about 3 hours from touchdown. However, I've also heard of it taking much, much longer.

Disney actually advertises "up to 3 hours from arrival at resort," but that might still be conservative in some instances.

 

[goofy4tink]

If you land at 4, you can expect to be at your resort by 5:30...probably sooner, but it's best to figure on longer. Because you're staying at a value resort, you might have it take longer for the bags to get to your room. The value resorts luggage assistance CMs tend to make room deliveries at certain times, not as they get the bags. I would pack a carryon bag with anything you may need for that first afternoon/evening in it. That way, it won't make a difference when the bags get to you. Most of us just head off to a park as soon as we check out our room...no need to wait around for the bags to show up.
And yes, it is from the time you get to your resort. I quote from the DME letter you get...'Luggage may take up to three hours after you arrive at your resort to be delivered to your room'.

 

[goofy4tink]

OK, so then what happens to the people who never check in?

Just because Disney "advertises" something doesn't make it true.

In my experience, it's been about 3 hours from touchdown. However, I've also heard of it taking much, much longer.

Disney actually advertises "up to 3 hours from arrival at resort," but that might still be conservative in some instances.

Because you have checked in....either in person or via online checkin. If it's via online checkin, and you are taking DME, Disney knows what time your flight is arriving. If you aren't flying in, you have entered a time that you expect to be at the resort...if you say you plan on arriving at 11am, then that's when the 3 hrs starts ticking.
Touchdown isn't arrival....it's when the plane touches pavement. That plane can sit somewhere, waiting for a gate to open up if they arrive early, or late. Which means you could be sitting on that plane for an addtl 20-30 mins before arriving at the gate. Which is why we always give estimated times from 'gate to resort' not touchdown to resort. Way too many factors can change how long the plane takes to get to a gate.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They generally will need to bring your bags to your room until you have been in your room.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Because you have checked in....either in person or via online checkin. If it's via online checkin, and you are taking DME, Disney knows what time your flight is arriving. If you aren't flying in, you have entered a time that you expect to be at the resort...if you say you plan on arriving at 11am, then that's when the 3 hrs starts ticking.
Touchdown isn't arrival....it's when the plane touches pavement. That plane can sit somewhere, waiting for a gate to open up if they arrive early, or late. Which means you could be sitting on that plane for an addtl 20-30 mins before arriving at the gate. Which is why we always give estimated times from 'gate to resort' not touchdown to resort. Way too many factors can change how long the plane takes to get to a gate.

Very true, and I should have said "gate" not "touchdown."

I think for purposes of answering the question the previous poster asked, it's at least going to be a couple, if not several hours. You may wish to pack anything you'll need for the first several hours (or day) of your trip in your carry on.