Magical Express

[Terk-1]

When I've gone to WDW solo, I've always used Mears. This upcoming trip include the Magical Express. How does this work? Do you get special tags for your luggage? Are all the airlines participating or just some of them? Is Southwest included in this? Is the luggage put on the bus that you are riding on or does it go separately? If separately, how long does it take to get to your resort? Will it get there before you or will you have to wait some time to get it? Why I ask, is that I like to unpack as soon as I check in. If you book a package, but do your airfare separate, how does Disney know? If I bring a rolling carry-on with my clothes in it, am I allowed to bring it with me on the bus or do I have to check it with Disney at MCO? What about the return trip? How is that set up? How long do you have to wait to get a bus to your resort? How long does the trip take? Does it make alot of stops?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[safetymom]

There are several threads here on how DME works. I suggest doing a search to help you understand the process.

You can carry luggage to the bus and they will stow it underneath the bus. You retrieve it when you get to your resort. If you use the DME tags they will not get to the resort before you. It will probably take several hours to get your luggage.

All airlines when you arrive at MCO participate in DME. It is only on your return trip that it is different. Southwest does not participate in DME so that means you will have to take your luggage on the bus and check in at the airport unless you check in online to get your boarding pass then all you have to check in is your luggage. You still will be able to take the DME back to the airport.

 

[helenk]

I used DME for my trip last week and stayed at the ASMU, our bus went to the POP firstm then AS Sports, ASMU, and then ASMO. I landed at MCO at 10:05am and was at the ASMU by 12:00 or so.
I am not sure what time my luggage got to my room because I checked my carry on with the luggage depot at the resort and went right to MGM. I did pack a change of clothes in my carry on as well as my bathing suit just in case it took long for my luggage to get to my room. I came back to the resort at about 5:00 and both my bags from the airport and my carry on were in my room.
About a day or so before your departure date you will get an envelope which tells you what time your pick up will be and where the pick up spot is. My flight was at 8:25 and my pick up time was 5:30. The pick up spot was near where the resort buses pick up to go to the parks.
There are 2 drop off points at the airport, one in terminal A and one in terminal B.

 

[seashoreCM]

Magical Express reserves the right to recheck airline checked or large baggage for automatic resort delivery, right at the bus boarding area, particularly if it is a busy time of day. But, same as for airlines, do not surrender valuables to be checked.

Be sure to get return vouchers and a bus boarding time for the trip back home. Often you can do this at the airport when you arrive for your vacation, you can also make changes after you get to the resort. If you did not get this done sooner be sure to get this done at least a day before you return home.

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

 

[Terk-1]

Ok. So I made my deposit on my trip and booked my outbound flight (waiting for Southwest to open up more of December, so I can book the return). I decided to take a later flight the night before I had planned to go, so that I could get in a full day the next day. My flight won't arrive into MCO until after 11pm.

Does the Magical Express operate only during certain times, like 5am-9pm or will it be available when I arrive after 11pm? How will this work arriving so late? Will I have to use someone else?

I booked my flights separate from my package. Do I need to let Disney know my flight information or can I give that to the AAA agent that booked the package? Should I confirm this information with Disney prior to leaving? If so, do I just call CRO or another number?

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

. Southwest does not participate in DME so that means you will have to take your luggage on the bus and check in at the airport unless you check in online to get your boarding pass then all you have to check in is your luggage. You still will be able to take the DME back to the airport.

How come nobody mentioned this to me? Please explain the difference between SW and other airlines DME procedure.

ETA: Does this difference only apply to return flights? Because DME is not taking us back to the airport, DCL trans. is. Maybe thats why I didn't know anything about a difference. What about DCL trans. is that different too?

 

[safetymom]

You will be able to use DME both ways with Southwest. Southwest is not participating in the resort check in and then DME takes your luggage to the airport.

You can get your boarding passes by going to the front desk of your resort after 12:01 on the day of departure. Then when you go to the bus your luggage will be stowed underneath the bus. When you reach the airport you will have to take your luggage and check it with the airline.

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

We're only using DME for our arriving flight. We have 1 day resort only ressie(our first day at Disney) which is why DME is picking us up from the airport. But for our package we're doing a land & sea, so it will be DCL trans. that will be taking us back to the airport. Does the same apply?

 

[safetymom]

I am not sure how DCL works.

 

[**Tinker*Bell*7**]

i was there in may when ME first started & it only ran during certain hours. what they did if you needed a pickup or dropoff during the hours ME was not running was schedule mears transportation (bus, taxi, van, etc. (mine was a taxi) for you at no charge.