Magical Express ????????????

Magical Express or Town Car Service

  • Try Magical Express (without special tags) who cares we will be at WDW who needs luggage

  • Use old reliable Town Car service


Results are only viewable after voting.

peaches

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jul 27, 2000
Messages
97
:paw: We are arriving this Saturday morning, staying at YC Conceirge, however we just decided yesterday to try the Magical Express Service (we had a town car service on order we cancelled).We thought we would try it out even after I have heard it can take up to 2 hours to get to your resort. Another problem we have is because we decided to try this service so soon before our trip they can not send us the proper identfication for our luggage? So when we arrive we have to go up to the Cast Member with the big finger and tell them about our situation, we will be on there list and they will take it from there. However we are nervous about lost luggage because we dont have the special tags, and might swith back to town car service. Does this seem like a problem (no special tags) to people who have used this service? How was your experience...long waits or short [ :paw:
 
First off....you might want to change your font..it's very hard to read, especially for tired old eyes like mine. Now, as to your situation. You can do one of several things. I was prepared to tag my bags with my own version of the DME official tags. I made bright yellow (from construction paper) strips..abut 2"x10". On them I put...my resort name, my last name and how many bags I had ie....1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3, for 3 bags. I then covered each tag with that clear sticky paper (contact paper). Then tied them onto each bag. I also made some very distinctive ribbons to put on my bags....bright turquoise with Pooh bears on it, about 2" wide. I then sewed bright lime green grosgrain ribbon along one side. Tied one of these to each bag. Then, I was going to take a photo of each bag, or one group shot, so the baggage person could tell which were mine. It was about 4 days before I was due to leave (back in June) and I didn't think I would get my tags. However, as soon as I tied those darn tags on, the Fed-EX guy showed up with my DME packet. But, I still think that's a good way to go if you aren't going to have enough time to get your packet. If you do this, be sure to keep your baggage claim numbers handy. They will need those. Just give the claim numbers to the DME rep, give her the photos of your bags (with all their adornments) and you should be set to go. Yes, it will most likely take you a bit longer to get your bags than someone who had the yellow tags since they will have to go to baggage claim and get them. You could just go with them and point out your bags also. Or take them yourselves from baggage claim and have them put under the bus. That would mean your having to lug those bags from the baggage claim area to the DME desk area though.
Hopefully I have't confused you any more than you might already be!!!
 
First off....you might want to change your font..it's very hard to read, especially for tired old eyes like mine.
Well... my eyes are not old, but just tired. Sorry I ended up not reading your post, it was giving me a headache... but anywhooo....

I have tried DME 3x already. I think the service was great. It was easy. No tags, so we just grabbed our bags and brought it with us on the bus (storage area). As far as going back. You will recieve a letter the night before to let you know what time you should be at the bus stop for DME to pick you up.
 
We are arriving this Saturday morning, staying at YC Conceirge, however we just decided yesterday to try the Magical Express Service (we had a town car service on order we cancelled).We thought we would try it out even after I have heard it can take up to 2 hours to get to your resort. Another problem we have is because we decided to try this service so soon before our trip they can not send us the proper identfication for our luggage? So when we arrive we have to go up to the Cast Member with the big finger and tell them about our situation, we will be on there list and they will take it from there. However we are nervous about lost luggage because we dont have the special tags, and might swith back to town car service. Does this seem like a problem (no special tags) to people who have used this service? How was your experience...long waits or short

We have used ME several times now and love it. Just get your own bags and bring them on the bus (underneath). Most people get to their resort quicker than 2 hours so I wouldn't really worry about it.
 

We just got back and used ME it took less than 45 minutes and it was great....
 
Glad to see positive responses about ME. I was just going to ask a question about it.

DH & I are going to try it for the first time in about 10 days. I do still have a car on hold just in case we get "cold feet", but for the $200+ it will save us to use ME I think we'll give it a try!!!
 
/
My husband and I just returned from WDW last night. We used the Magical Express service and found it to be not at all magical. On our trip from the airport to Animal Kingdom Lodge, we did not even get one of the ME buses (on which I've read there is a WDW welcome video) but instead were loaded onto a regular Mears bus, where we sat until the bus was full enough to leave. Then we stopped at Pop Century and Coronado Springs before AKL. One of the advantages touted for ME is not having to claim your bags, but since we sat on the bus for so long, any time advantage that might have gained us was wiped out. I don't know how long it took our bags to arrive in our room, as they appeared while we were out watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks and having dinner. I do know that my husband's bag was damaged at some point--I assume by the ME handlers, since they replaced the bag with a reasonable facsimile without our even asking. On the trip back, we did have an ME bus, but no video. We had to leave AKL three hours before our flight time, making one long stop at Pop Century to pick up about 40 people on the way.

Next trip, we'll get a town car. I'd rather pay the extra money and be able to spend two more hours at the hotel or in the parks and not have to wonder when my luggage will arrive and what condition it will be in when it does.
 
So funny you should mention this, being that I just came home yesterday after our vacation. I just used Magical Express and didn't realize until I was on the plane heading to FL that I forgot to put the tags on my bags. ;) I was a nervous wreck, but as soon as we landed I was assured it would not be a problem and I was not the only one to make this mistake. When checking in with ME, I just described my bags and showed them my luggage receipts and that was it. My bags made it to the room within 1 hour of my arrival. They just put a tag on it with my hotel name and all was fine. No need to worry. ME was wonderful. The busses are large and very comfortable. A nice way to get the vacation started. No regrets here. :cheer2:
 
Just wondering - how long did it take each of you to arrive at your resort. I'm wondering what the average amount of time is?
 
It took us about an hour and a half to AKL once we boarded the bus. The check-in and waiting to board took about 15 minutes before we boarded. I imagine that the time varies quite a bit depending on how many other people are coming in at the same time heading to the same resorts.
 
I'm using ME in 9 days. We are staying at POR. I have read that it is the worst as far as how long it takes to get to the resort. Any trueth in that?
 
Yes, it does make 2 stops before POR. But honestly, the bus was only about 1/4 full and the stops were quick. Also, they are very comfortable. The bigger pain was the bus transportation to the parks. Being that the buses stop at POFQ first, many times all the seats were taken by the time the bus made it to POR. This did create a bit of a problem at busier times. The last time I stayed at POR, POFQ was closed - so I was unprepared for this. Being that POR is one of the largest resorts, you would think it could have its own bus, but not so. They really need to correct this.
 
where can you get the schedule of where the buses stop? if we are going to YC will it be like the in park buses and stop at Dolphin, Swan and then YC??
 
MamaQuack said:
where can you get the schedule of where the buses stop? if we are going to YC will it be like the in park buses and stop at Dolphin, Swan and then YC??

There is no set schedule, it varies based on demand. It's different than the theme parks since it's based on location coming from the airport. POP, CSR and AKL is a common route.

Non-Disney owned hotels like Swan, Dolphin, SoG and the DTD hotels do not participate.
 














Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top