Mears Shuttle questions for the new Magical Express.....

[rsschneck]

We are DVC members and I called member services Friday. MS told me they will start accepting ressies for the Magical Express as of March 1st. You will need flight numbers, times, etc.

I am assuming it will be a lot like the Disney transfers when you take a Disney Cruise. They will have it worked out that they try to keep the number of stops to a minimum. This is only for Disney resorts. The nice thing will be not claiming your baggage! They will probably deliver it to bell services and then they will deliver it to your room! No hauling luggage around. We will arrive May 14th and definately will be one of the first to try the FREE shuttle service.

We bought some of the new TSA approved luggage locks for our Christmas trip and we were glad we did. Our bags did not come home with us! They were delivered the next day and we have indicators letting us know if the bags had been opened. They had not been opened and arrived the next afternoon. I was glad our luggage was delayed on the leg home and not the leg to WDW.

 

[justhat]

I like the sound of the program, but what if one of your bags is lost, by the airline I mean? Aren't you supposed to file a report with your airline immediately, not hours after you leave the airport? Will Disney know how many bags you're supposed to have and file it for you? That seems almost impossible unless you have to say how many bags and describe them when you book magical express. Anyone know how this works with the cruise lines? I only took a shuttle like that once, with Royal Caribbean in San Juan, but our bags came out on the carousel then and a RCCL employee pulled them all off (we watched him for a bit while waiting for the other RCCL passengers before we were all herded on the bus).

 

[abline]

I just love the idea. Usually I rent a car but I trust Disney to do this right and I would be doing it even if they charged a fee. I love the idea of not having to lug my suitcases all over the place besides were going to be a family of five by the time we go again and with all that luggage and two strollers it would be crazy. Good Job Disney now lets just let them work out any bugs before we kill the idea.

 

[EEyorelover22]

If Mears bought 37 new busses, this sounds like a service that will be around for awhile and not just for the 50th celebration?

 

[disneybride96]

Assuming this program is going to work like the Disney Cruise Line Program. Your luggage is tagged before you leave home and "claimed" by Disney before it every reaches the baggage claim area. Kinda Freaky that I can drop my luggage in Indy and it shows up on the cruise ship in my stateroom without ever seeing it....but it works! The time we flew in the night before and showed up to the busses with our luggage, our bags were loaded in a large panel truck with all the other luggage. If Mears runs the DCL part, then they already have the science down. Magical Express is the main reason we chose to stay on sight in November.

 

[helenk]

EEyorelover22

From the sounds of it the service will continue after the celebration, it just will not be free then.

 

[rsschneck]

EEyorelover22

From the sounds of it the service will continue after the celebration, it just will not be free then.

Always a catch! They get folks to try it, then love it, and then pay for it. I will try it for free and see how wonderful it first.

 

[LoveToDisney]

...since there will only be carryons to store underneath the bus.

For those of us who fly SWA, we will have all our luggage. Not all airlines are included for the time being, but anyone staying on property can use the shuttle (if reserved).

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

From the sounds of it the service will continue after the celebration, it just will not be free then.

From the FAQ:

Will Disney’s Magical Express continue on a complimentary basis after the “Happiest Celebration On Earth” has concluded?
While no determination has been made, our focus right now is the successful launch of Disney’s Magical Express as a great new benefit for our guests.​

If Magical Express meets Disney's business goals during the Celebration, then I believe Magical Express will continue to be complimentary in 2007 and beyond. Disney just isn't making any promises right now. So let's hope that Magical Express increases resort occupancy, keeps guests spending money on-site, and makes more money for Disney than it costs to operate the service. Then, this promising free service should be around for many years -- for free.

For those of us who fly SWA, we will have all our luggage. Not all airlines are included for the time being, but anyone staying on property can use the shuttle (if reserved).

For those of you flying SWA, you will only have all your luggage when you're returning home.

When starting your vacation, you'll be able to check your bags from your home airport all the way to your resort, even if you're flying SWA -- or any airline for that matter.

 

[dpic]

. So let's hope that Magical Express increases resort occupancy, keeps guests spending money on-site, and makes more money for Disney than it costs to operate the service. Then, this promising free service should be around for many years -- for free.

This is the key point. Disney feels the competition, and the best way to deal with it is to make sure people stay on Disney property. We normally rent a car. This will make our trip about $200 cheaper with the potential of more convenience (as long the luggage shows up). This could be a win-win for everyone.

Except Universal, of course...

 

[localdriver]

Will the new buses have a bathroom on them? Don't laugh...I am very paranoid about having to use the restroom and there not being one around, esp. on a bus.

I wish Southwest would join that list too!

What are everyone's thoughts on luggage getting lost?

Yes they will!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

There's a rest room right after we get off the plane-I ALWAYS stop there when we land. I just realized that it's my first sign that I'm in WDW-that rest room is very familiar to me! So I think your question is a valid one, and I'm glad to hear that there'll be bathrooms on the buses also.

 

[alpinebelle]

Does anyone know if the Magical Express will be made available to the Land/Sea guests from the resort to the port? I'd sure like to save some money.

 

[Taja]

Will the new buses have a bathroom on them? Don't laugh...I am very paranoid about having to use the restroom and there not being one around, esp. on a bus.

I wish Southwest would join that list too!

What are everyone's thoughts on luggage getting lost?

Always have a carryon bag with two days basics!

Do you get the feeling my luggage frequently does not arrive where I do?

 

[TDC Nala]

Would it be necessary to wait around in the resort room for the luggage to be delivered?

If your resort room isn't ready, I'd assume they put the luggage in storage at the resort.

 

[localdriver]

Does anyone know if the Magical Express will be made available to the Land/Sea guests from the resort to the port? I'd sure like to save some money.

I thought I read somewhere, DCL guests going to the resorts first will use the Express. The DCL coaches will take you to the port from your resort.

(((if someone knows differently, please correct)))))

 

[Werner Weiss]

Does anyone know if the Magical Express will be made available to the Land/Sea guests from the resort to the port? I'd sure like to save some money.

Magical Express service will only be between MCO and WDW. Magical Express will not serve the Disney Cruise Line terminal at Port Canaveral, but the DCL coach service will continue to provide service to and from the port.

 

[paulmc80]

I've got a story about baggage service that works for DCL delivering our bags to our room last September. Now, you must keep in mind this was the first day of flights back into Orlando International Airport after one of the hurricanes of September 2004.

We flew in on Delta arriving at about 1:00p.m. We did not have tags from DCL, but they took our baggage claim numbers and told us to get on their bus. We got to the Port Orleans resort very well. We went about doing our thing that day returning to the room at about 8:00p.m. No bags.

I called bell services and was told that the baggage service was running late, and in fact the first truck of the day was just pulling up and he bet my bags were on there. Sure enough, about 10 minutes later they brought up our bags. They even refused our tip.

Considering how difficult things must have been on that first day of flights after the hurricane, I give the baggage services a lot of credit. Rather expected my bags to be lost, but they were not.

So, as far as bags being lost - I'm sure some will. I expect not very often though.

 

[localdriver]

I've got a story about baggage service that works for DCL delivering our bags to our room last September. Now, you must keep in mind this was the first day of flights back into Orlando International Airport after one of the hurricanes of September 2004...(see previous post)..........
Considering how difficult things must have been on that first day of flights after the hurricane, I give the baggage services a lot of credit. Rather expected my bags to be lost, but they were not.

So, as far as bags being lost - I'm sure some will. I expect not very often though.

The service contracted to handle bags for the "Express" has been doing it for years with Disney Cruise Lines. Those were trying times back in Sept for everyone involved in moving both people and luggage. Seems they all know what they are doing.

Glad you had a good experience in spite of some trying times due to the storms.

 

[justhat]

My question is not so much about Disney losing the bags, as I'm sure that's rare. But what happens if the airline loses your bag? You're supposed to file a claim before you leave the airport, but if Disney is getting your luggage then how would you even know a bag is missing till you got them in your room? I guess if Disney knows how many bags each party should have, then they can file the claim, but then they'd need to know what it looked like, contained, etc.