Magical Express ?

[riu girl]

Will people who are staying at DVC properties (not DVC owners, but will have rented points) be able to use Disney's Magical Express to/from MCO-DVC resort?

Thanks
Suzy V.

 

[SB in KY]

Yep...made reservations yesterday and they offered me ME service.

 

[magsmom]

Not me. Yesterday I booked for December (DVC). It was not offered (I don't have air booked yet, either). I am assuming that I will be able to do something if we so desire to use this service.

I am waiting to see what I get in terms of literature for this. FWIW, for my June trip (paying cash) I did not get this, but I did get information with my resort information.

 

[chicknoodle99]

I am sure this has come up before but I was at the Disney Store and they told me that Magical Express is run by Mears? Is that true? She said that they will use big busses, wait until its full, and have lots of stops. Any truth to this..anyone know?

Thanks!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I am sure this has come up before but I was at the Disney Store and they told me that Magical Express is run by Mears? Is that true? She said that they will use big busses, wait until its full, and have lots of stops. Any truth to this..anyone know?

Yes, Mears is involved -- but it's not a rebranding of the old Mears service. See "Mears Shuttle questions for the new Magical Express....." at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=710918

Yes, the will use "big busses" -- actually snazzy new motor coaches with flat panel video displays.

I assume some coaches will leave full, and others won't. Because this service requires advance reservations, they'll be able to schedule the departures intelligently.

Each motor coach will go to only 3 or 4 WDW resorts. I wouldn't call that "lots of stops." And each stop should be fast because the luggage will be on a luggage truck, not on the coach.

 

[seashoreCM]

I am still sure that there will be some times of day when you will be waiting 45 minutes or even an hour for the Magical Express bus to depart, either waiting on the platform or sitting in the bus.

Let's imagine that the goal is to have buses at least 2/3 full. Since the bus holds 50 people that means having at least 35 people going to that group of resorts every half hour to support a 30 minute headway.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[localdriver]

I am still sure that there will be some times of day when you will be waiting 45 minutes or even an hour for the Magical Express bus to depart, either waiting on the platform or sitting in the bus.

You are forgeting something. Disney knows, who, what, when , where. Busses will be scheduled as needed. Not as a surprise.

 

[OKSTATE99]

I am still sure that there will be some times of day when you will be waiting 45 minutes or even an hour for the Magical Express bus to depart, either waiting on the platform or sitting in the bus.

Let's imagine that the goal is to have buses at least 2/3 full. Since the bus holds 50 people that means having at least 35 people going to that group of resorts every half hour to support a 30 minute headway.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

The resort buses leave often with only a couple of people on board. And remember these busses will have to keep moving since they may have someone to go pickup.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, DVC can book it but through MS. I just called last week for our June trip and now have to call and change our departure resort.
As far as wait times go...someone came out with this and it makes sense...the bus holds approx. 57 people. Divide this by 4 (average family) and you get 17 parties going to their particular resort. So, if ME puts the MK resorts together, you would be making, maybe 3, stops, with 5 families getting off at each one..theoretically. But, if most of the people are going to the Polynesian then your wait time is even less. No luggage will have to be taken off the bus, slowing you down. It will be just like taking the park buses.
And yes, Mears is driving the buses but there it stops. Disney is running the show, so to speak. They know exactly who is coming in at what time and where they are going. This way they can plan ahead as to what bus they will need. Not like Mears that just filled 'em up and went. Sometimes you had to sit there, on the bus, waiting for others to come in order to have a fuller bus. And that could take a long time. Now, you get met by a Disney rep, taken to a central disbursing area, put on a bus and off you go.
I don't think there will be more than 3 stops, at most, for each bus run. I would think it wouldn't take more than an hour to get to your resort. And that's what I always figure on when I book a towncar service.