New "Free" transportation service from MCO to WDW ?

[robdam]

How do I sign up for it or make a reservation? Has anyone done this yet? what was it like? Is it a time saver? How does it work? Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

It's not starting until May 2005. There have been some posts about it. You may want to do a search here on the DIS for the other threads about it.

 

[robdam]

It's not starting until May 2005. There have been some posts about it. You may want to do a search here on the DIS for the other threads about it.

Hmmm, we arrive @ MCO on May 7. Do we dare try it out so early on before all of the kinks are worked out?

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

it is only available to certain airlines as well, so make sure your airline that you are flying is on the list...the current carriers that provide the magical express are....
American, Ted, United, Song, Delta and Continental...

from the disney website...

Disney's Magical Express Service**
With this complimentary service scheduled to begin May 2005, Disney's Magical Express lets your vacation start the moment you arrive at the Orlando International Airport. This is just one more advantage of staying at a Disney Resort.
Don't bother picking up your luggage when you arrive; Disney takes you from the Orlando airport to check-in, while your luggage goes straight from the plane to your room.
Save on transportation costs, tolls, parking, and more.
Enjoy comfortable transportation to and from the airport in themed air conditioned motorcoaches.
When your vacation's over, you and your luggage are whisked back from your Disney Resort to the airport.
All you do is attach the personalized luggage tags we send you — we do the rest!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

it is only available to certain airlines as well, so make sure your airline that you are flying is on the list...the current carriers that provide the magical express are....
American, Ted, United, Song, Delta and Continental...

For service to WDW, you can use Magical Express with any airline.

For service from WDW, you can use Magical Express with any airline -- but you can only check your bags directly from your resort if you're flying American, United (including ted), Delta (including Song), and Continental. The list of airlines may grow by May 5.

There are already several other threads on Magical Express. Do a search for more information.

 

[robdam]

Can a reservation be made for May now? If so, how?

 

[msim]

I tried to make a reservation for June. After being on hold for twenty minutes, I was told reservations can't be made until after March 5th.

 

[horner5]

We made reservations for the Magical Express last Sunday the 2nd and got our confirmation in the mail yesterday. The confirmation was printed on Magical Gatherings letterhead, even though there's only 2 of us and we're not doing a Magical Gathering. We are going 5/15-5/20. The CM got all of our flight numbers which showed up on the confirmation. You should be able to reserve this now as well. We called the 407-wdw-info line. Hope this helps!

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

For service to WDW, you can use Magical Express with any airline.

For service from WDW, you can use Magical Express with any airline -- but you can only check your bags directly from your resort if you're flying American, United (including ted), Delta (including Song), and Continental. The list of airlines may grow by May 5.

There are already several other threads on Magical Express. Do a search for more information.

Are you sure??? WHen I called and made my ressies, I told the CM that I was flying Southwest, and she told me they do not service Southwest????? Maybe she didn't know what she was talking about?????????

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Are you sure??? WHen I called and made my ressies, I told the CM that I was flying Southwest, and she told me they do not service Southwest????? Maybe she didn't know what she was talking about?????????

Yes. See the Magical Express FAQ for Travel Agents in the thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=703882

Regardless of which airline you're flying, your bags can go from your home airport directly to your resort hotel room. You just have to put Magical Express tags (which you'll get from Disney when you reserve Magical Express) on your bags. The baggage handlers at Orlando Airport will know what to do.

When it's time to return home, you'll be able to check your luggage through from your resort back to your home airport -- but only if you're flying home on American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines (including Song), or United Airlines (including Ted). The list of airlines may grow, but I doubt it will ever include Southwest Airlines.

If you're not on one of those those airlines, you can still use Magical Express. According to the Travel Agent FAQ, "Complimentary transportation from the Disney Resort to the Orlando International Airport is available to all Disney Resort Guests." I assume this means the luggage will be carried in the belly of the motor coach. When you get to Orlando Airport, you'll have to drag your luggage to your airline's check-in counter.

I imagine that some CMs still have a lot to learn about Magical Express.

 

[robdam]

I made my MAgical Express ressy, thanks. FYI, I'm Flying Song Airlines.

 

[rsschneck]

Interesting! DVC member services told me on Friday I need to wait until March 1st to make ressies. Maybe I will call them again next week and ask another CM. We have our flights booked. Just need to keep checking off the to do list!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Interesting! DVC member services told me on Friday I need to wait until March 1st to make ressies. Maybe I will call them again next week and ask another CM. We have our flights booked. Just need to keep checking off the to do list!

DVC Member Services uses a different computer system. Magical Express bookings need to be tied to an on-site reservation. It's possbile that the necessary programming changes have been implemented for the regular room reservations system used by CRO, but not yet for the point-based DVC member reservations system.

It would be better to wait until 2-3 months before your trip anyway. Airlines adjust flight times and change flight numbers. Usually, the flights are pretty well set 2-3 months ahead. There's no advantage to booking Magical Express earlier; and there's a real possibility your flight info could be wrong by the time you travel, if you book Magical Express way ahead.

 

[robdam]

DVC Member Services uses a different computer system. Magical Express bookings need to be tied to an on-site reservation. It's possbile that the necessary programming changes have been implemented for the regular room reservations system used by CRO, but not yet for the point-based DVC member reservations system.

It would be better to wait until 2-3 months before your trip anyway. Airlines adjust flight times and change flight numbers. Usually, the flights are pretty well set 2-3 months ahead. There's no advantage to booking Magical Express earlier; and there's a real possibility your flight info could be wrong by the time you travel, if you book Magical Express way ahead.

You say "It would be better to wait until 2-3 months before"? I disagree. I do agree, however, with your statement that airlines may adjust thier departure/arrival times between now and May 7. There is no reason whatsoever to not book your M.E. reservation now. You can always adjust that reservation should the airlines decide to adjust theirs. My 2 cents.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There is no reason whatsoever to not book your M.E. reservation now. You can always adjust that reservation should the airlines decide to adjust theirs. My 2 cents.

But there is no advantage to booking Magical Express way in advance. You won't get a better seat on the bus, nor will your bags have a higher priority. It's just likely you'll need to call twice -- first to make the "way early" reservation and again to make a revised reservation -- instead of calling just once.

 

[robdam]

The *advantage* as you put it, would be that I already have a ressy made and would have some sort of peace of mind. It's really not a big deal. In the past when airlines change flight departure/arrival times it's usually only by a few minutes. Peace.

 

[ctrezek]

I read somewhere that you have to email Disney for the reservation.