Pros & Cons of using Magical Express?

[Maisey13]

Hi! We will be taking our first trip to Disney next month and our TA arranged for transport on the ME. I've heard good (free, convenient) and bad (3 hours to get to hotel from airport, luggage showing up too late) so I am trying to get a balanced view of experiences.

My sister's family had an unfortunate experience with missing her flight because of ME schedule but I'm hoping that was just a one time fluke (Disney paid for a hotel at the airport and breakfast the next day so clearly it was a Disney mistake).

We have an early morning arrival (before 9 am) and a late evening departure (after 8 pm). Thanks for the feedback.

 

[monorailsilver]

We have taken it 3 times so far.

We plan on taking in as well in August.

I love it! We don't need to rent a car or pay extra to get to the resort (yes I am sure I pay extra per night but I don't think of it that way).

We do, however, get our luggage. It makes us feel secure that our luggage made it on the plane & to the resort with us!

We did learn our lesson after our 2nd trip with kids & I stayed up in the concourse with the 3 kids, car seat, carry ons and stroller while my dh went down to baggage claim alone to get the 2 suitcases we had. It made the 'move' so much easier.

 

[jordanri]

Hi! We will be taking our first trip to Disney next month and our TA arranged for transport on the ME. I've heard good (free, convenient) and bad (3 hours to get to hotel from airport, luggage showing up too late) so I am trying to get a balanced view of experiences.

My sister's family had an unfortunate experience with missing her flight because of ME schedule but I'm hoping that was just a one time fluke (Disney paid for a hotel at the airport and breakfast the next day so clearly it was a Disney mistake).

We have an early morning arrival (before 9 am) and a late evening departure (after 8 pm). Thanks for the feedback.

my one experience with me was neutral but i will use them again. our flight got delayed out of rhode island due to summer weather up here, when we landed we got on me and it took maybe 45 minutes for us to get to the hotel. our bags, on the other hand, didn't follow us back until almost midnight.

when we left, me was fine. we got on about two hours early as is customary with me, and set off for MCO. i would suggest picking up your own bags at the terminal and taking them on the motorcoach with you. this way you have peace of mind and can begin your vacation bright and early.

 

[bdklein]

my one experience with me was neutral but i will use them again. our flight got delayed out of rhode island due to summer weather up here, when we landed we got on me and it took maybe 45 minutes for us to get to the hotel. our bags, on the other hand, didn't follow us back until almost midnight.

What time did ou check in?

 

[OKW Lover]

We've used ME multiple (more than 10) times.

Pro:

• Never had lost or delayed luggage.
• Have always gotten to our resort.
• It was free.
• On late flights, we ask bell services to hold our luggage until we call the next morning. We also hang out the DND tag. No problems.

Con:

• Sometimes you wait in line or on the bus for what seems like a long time, especially when you want to get your vacation going.
• Bus stops at other resorts before yours seem like torture
• No ability to stop at a grocery store along the way

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We have an early morning arrival (before 9 am) and a late evening departure (after 8 pm). Thanks for the feedback.

With an early arrival, I would recommend using the full Disney's Magical Express (DME) service, including free inbound luggage transfers with any airline. It's wonderful not having to deal with your checked bags at Orlando International Airport or at your resort.

Your room is unlikely to be ready before noon and may not be ready until 4:00 p.m.

Don't waste any time at baggage claim. Take DME to your resort (60-90 minutes total including waiting for departure and possibly stopping at a couple of other resorts before your own). Check in. Get your key cards. Leave carry-ons with bell services. Go have fun. When you return to your resort later in the day, your checked bags will be in your room.

On checkout day, use the Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) service if your airline participates in RAC. Again, it's wonderful not having to deal with your checked bags at Orlando International Airport.

 

[sam_gordon]

Hi! We will be taking our first trip to Disney next month and our TA arranged for transport on the ME. I've heard good (free, convenient) and bad (3 hours to get to hotel from airport, luggage showing up too late) so I am trying to get a balanced view of experiences.

My sister's family had an unfortunate experience with missing her flight because of ME schedule but I'm hoping that was just a one time fluke (Disney paid for a hotel at the airport and breakfast the next day so clearly it was a Disney mistake).

We have an early morning arrival (before 9 am) and a late evening departure (after 8 pm). Thanks for the feedback.

First, the time from when you walk off the plane until you walk into your resort lobby is usually between 70-90 minutes. If you arrive late (say after 10:30p), you may have a longer commute if DME waits for more flights to get in to fill the bus.

The time to get your checked luggage is 3 hours after you check in.

To return to MCO, your assigned pickup time will be 3 hours before your flight +/- 15 minutes.

I would definitely utilize RAC on the return trip. At some point between 8am and 1pm, you present your checked luggage and they'll get delivered to the airport and you get them at your destination.

I love DME! The only time we had an issue with luggage was with my sister & BiL and it was the airline that "misdirected" the luggage, not DME. DME took care of the claims and the luggage showed up that night (or the next day, can't remember).

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

A few slight corrections:

If you arrive late (say after 10:30p), you may have a longer commute if DME waits for more flights to get in to fill the bus.

DME does not wait for motorcoaches to "fill up." Most coaches leave MCO with empty seats, sometimes with many empty seats.

The real reason it takes longer after 10:00 p.m. is that you have to wait for your bags at baggage claim and then take them all the way to the DME location at MCO.

The time to get your checked luggage is 3 hours after you check in.

The time to get your checked luggage delivered to your room is UP TO 3 hours after you check in at your resort. I've had bell services show up less than an hour after I checked in. Other times, I have no idea how long it took because I wasn't in the room. The beauty of inbound DME luggage transfers is that the bell service CM is pre-tipped by Disney, so you don't have to wait in your room.

Of course, your bags won't be delivered until your room is ready.

At some point between 8am and 1pm, you present your checked luggage and they'll get delivered to the airport and you get them at your destination.

The actual Resort Airline CheckIn (RAC) operating hours are 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily. So even if you have a 7:00 a.m. breakfast reservation and you don't want to return to your room afterwards, you can still use RAC. At one time, you could only use RAC 3 to 12 hours before your scheduled departure, but now it just has to be more than 3 hours before departure on the same day.

 

[sam_gordon]

A few slight corrections:



DME does not wait for motorcoaches to "fill up." Most coaches leave MCO with empty seats, sometimes with many empty seats.

My understanding is if they're waiting for people on a flight they may hold the bus. Of course, it all depends on timing. I didn't mean to say the bus had to be full to head out, but if a group of 3 arrives at 10pm and there's 20 people arriving at 10:30, I can see them holding the bus.

The real reason it takes longer after 10:00 p.m. is that you have to wait for your bags at baggage claim and then take them all the way to the DME location at MCO.

I'm going by reports posted here. I've never arrived that late.

The time to get your checked luggage delivered to your room is UP TO 3 hours after you check in at your resort. I've had bell services show up less than an hour after I checked in. Other times, I have no idea how long it took because I wasn't in the room. The beauty of inbound DME luggage transfers is that the bell service CM is pre-tipped by Disney, so you don't have to wait in your room.

Of course, your bags won't be delivered until your room is ready.

Yes, your bags could show up early.

The actual Resort Airline CheckIn (RAC) operating hours are 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily. So even if you have a 7:00 a.m. breakfast reservation and you don't want to return to your room afterwards, you can still use RAC. At one time, you could only use RAC 3 to 12 hours before your scheduled departure, but now it just has to be more than 3 hours before departure on the same day.

I hadn't heard they had dropped the 12 hour time frame. I apologize.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Yes, your bags could show up early.

Bags being delivered to the room in less than 3 hours after check-in does not mean that they would be showing up "early." It just mean that that they are showing up within the 3-hour window.

At Disney's official description of its "Complimentary Airport Transportation", here's what it says (I've bolded the key phrase):

Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, skip baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.​

Three hours should be the worst case, unless your airline delays your bags.

It makes sense that it takes the bags longer to get to the room than it does for the guest. The bags must first be unloaded by the airline and turned over to DME. Then the bags must be sorted at the airport to be sent via truck to the right resort, where the bags are then queued up for delivery to the room. (The bell staff also has to deal with arriving guests, departing guests, and other DME bags.)

This should seldom take a full 3 hours.

That said, most guests probably have no idea how long it took because they weren't in the room.

 

[goofy4tink]

I love using DME...have used it too many times to actually remember the number.
It has never taken me 3 hrs to get from the airport to my resort using any type of transportation!!! The longest was the one time my resort was the last of three resorts, and there was a ton of luggage to be taken out and handed off at the first two resorts. That time it took us almost 90 mins, from gate to resort.
Usually, it takes about 70 mins.
Here's a breakdown of timing...
gate to terminal.....10-20 mins, usually about 12-15 mins.
from tram to DME area.....10 mins unless you stop to collect luggage
in bus line.....0-25 mins
on bus, waiting....0-25 mins
ride to resort......30-45 mins

As you can see, it could be about 2 hrs if everything went wrong...you had the longest waits. But that seldom happens.

As for when your bags reach your resort. DME tells us to expect bags, in the room, up to 3 hrs.after you checkin at the resort. I am usually off having a good time by the time the bags get to me. I never wait for them.
BUT...I do pack my carryon bag with anything I may need to start my vacation. I usually pack a pr of shorts and a tee shirt, a swimsuit, toiletries to freshen up with upon arrival. All of my park passes and IDs. That way, I am good to go, no need to wait around for those checked bags.

RAC...opens at 5am, closes around 1pm. If you have a departing flight that is prior to about 8:20am, you won't be able to check your bags at RAC. You need to be walking away from the RAC counter, boarding passes in hand, no less than 3 hrs prior to flight departure.


With a flight that arrives at 9am, you can expect to be at your resort by 10:30, probably sooner. With a departing flight of 8pm, you have plenty of time to check your bags and get boarding passes that morning. Then, DME will give you a pickup time of around 5pm....this means you need to be back at your resort about 4pm. This gives you time to use the bathroom, check out the gift shop one last time, get any carryon bags you may have left in storage and be out at the DME bus stop no less than 15 mins prior to the time they gave you.

Is DME perfect? Does it work for everyone? No and no. But it is a good service for the price. It gets you to your resort fairly quickly. It has routinely taken me about 20-25 mins longer when using DME vs a car service. And I'm okay with that for the cost savings!

 

[maxiesmom]

A few slight corrections:



DME does not wait for motorcoaches to "fill up." Most coaches leave MCO with empty seats, sometimes with many empty seats.

The real reason it takes longer after 10:00 p.m. is that you have to wait for your bags at baggage claim and then take them all the way to the DME location at MCO.

I disagree. At least in my one time using DME late at night they did still try and fill up the bus. We sat on the DME bus for 20 minutes before departing for the resorts. And people were on the bus before us. Then we were the 4th stop.

Honestly? That is the only time I wouldn't use DME--coming in after 10 pm. To me having them handle my luggage is the best part of DME. If I have to stop and get my bags I would rather then hop in a cab or towncar and be on my way. Not playing DME bus route roulette.

 

[sam_gordon]

Bags being delivered to the room in less than 3 hours after check-in does not mean that they would be showing up "early." It just mean that that they are showing up within the 3-hour window.

At Disney's official description of its "Complimentary Airport Transportation", here's what it says (I've bolded the key phrase):

Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, skip baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.​

Three hours should be the worst case, unless your airline delays your bags.

It makes sense that it takes the bags longer to get to the room than it does for the guest. The bags must first be unloaded by the airline and turned over to DME. Then the bags must be sorted at the airport to be sent via truck to the right resort, where the bags are then queued up for delivery to the room. (The bell staff also has to deal with arriving guests, departing guests, and other DME bags.)

This should seldom take a full 3 hours.

That said, most guests probably have no idea how long it took because they weren't in the room.

Good gravy. Fine. They bags should be there within 3 hours. Is that better?

Speaking for me personally, I'd rather budget that the bags are going to take the three hours and plan accordingly than to hope the bags are there within an hour (and need something out of the bag).

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Good gravy. Fine. They bags should be there within 3 hours. Is that better?

Speaking for me personally, I'd rather budget that the bags are going to take the three hours and plan accordingly than to hope the bags are there within an hour (and need something out of the bag).

I agree that nobody should plan on receiving their bags in an hour.

I also agree with goofy4tink that anything that's needed right away should go in a carry-on bag. That's not just a good idea when using DME; it's a good idea whenever flying anywhere.

All I've tried to do in this thread is to describe DME inbound luggage transfers (and other aspects of DME) accurately. I've been responding to DME questions since DME started in May 2005. People who haven't used DME can misunderstand how DME works. They think they have to twiddle their thumbs in their hotel room for 3 hours waiting for their bags to be delivered. Or they think their bags should be waiting in their room when they check in. Or they think DME motorcoaches sit at MCO until every last seat is filled. I could go on an on.

 

[goofy4tink]

I agree that nobody should plan on receiving their bags in an hour.

I also agree with goofy4tink that anything that's needed right away should go in a carry-on bag. That's not just a good idea when using DME; it's a good idea whenever flying anywhere.

All I've tried to do in this thread is to describe DME inbound luggage transfers (and other aspects of DME) accurately. I've been responding to DME questions since DME started in May 2005. People who haven't used DME can misunderstand how DME works. They think they have to twiddle their thumbs in their hotel room for 3 hours waiting for their bags to be delivered. Or they think their bags should be waiting in their room when they check in. Or they think DME motorcoaches sit at MCO until every last seat is filled. I could go on an on.

So true. We all remember the moderator that took her adult dd to WDW...for dd's first trip to WDW. The dd was told to pack her carryon bag with anything she would need to start her stay at Pop. Everything else could go in the checked bags....of which she had two!! Well, when dd got to Pop, said moderator said it was time to head to the parks. Nope, couldn't do that since dd refused to go.....she felt she needed to freshen up...and of course, that carryon bag was full of just shoes!!! Nothing else.
So there they sat, for hours. Pop isn't quick about getting bags to rooms..it took nearly 5 hrs!!! Too late to go to a park since they were meeting other family for dinner that night.

Yes, we continue trying to give out the most current info about DME. As I've said at other times, DME isn't perfect. It isn't going to work for everyone. It is up to each person to decide for themselves what is going to be best for their particular group, on that particular trip. This is why we try to be as honest and truthful as we can. This is no place for 'well, I thought they would know that already, so didn't think I needed to repeat it'...so to speak. Overkill? Maybe. But at least the correct info is getting out to those that need it. There is a lot of misinformation out there!!!

 

[Chuckers]

I *LOVE* DME! I've used it three times and it's been wonderful. I don't have to rent a car or pay for a cab. The service has been perfect and I have stayed at a AKL, GF, and ASMu. (This trip will be POR). Service didn't vary with resort level.

I always have an early flight in (before 10am) and I have left the MCO terminal with in 15 minutes of arriving at the DME location. My room has never been ready because I am so early. I ask them to message me when it is, I drop off my bag at guest services for them to hold, and go play in a park.

When I get back to my room in the afternoon for a change, my luggage has always been there waiting.

Once, my sister and I came in on different flights and DME handled it perfectly.

Going back to the airport is just as great.. it's SO much easier to use the RAC then to try and fight with luggage and paying for bags at the airport.

I do always pack a few essentials in a carry on just in case.

 

[davedmaine]

We use it several times a year. One note, if you and I are on the bus together, you're going to be the last stop automatically. That seems to be my Disney curse. Overall, the pros outweigh the cons by far.

 

[gdrj]

Hi! We will be taking our first trip to Disney next month and our TA arranged for transport on the ME. I've heard good (free, convenient) and bad (3 hours to get to hotel from airport, luggage showing up too late) so I am trying to get a balanced view of experiences.
.

You do leave for airport approx 3+ hours before your flight home (maybe thats what they were thinking). We really enjoy ME...the . We pack what we need for the day in our carry-on, drop off at Bell services after checking-in if room is not ready and head to the parks. Since we are usually out all day and never ever waited around for luggage (why would you?). In our carry-on's we have bathing suits and change of clothes and anything else we would need for the day.

 

[Maisey13]

Thank you everyone for your helpful, and balanced, responses to my question about DME. It sounds like if you have realistic expectations, all will be fine.

Now, for a really strange question. I was just reading the thread about bedbugs (never, ever crossed my mind at WDW and now I am a bit freaked out!). One thing that stuck out was a comment about contaminated luggage on DME transferring bedbugs from one luggage to another. Has anyone actually know if this happens? I would think WDW would use state of the art approaches to prevent that from happening, right?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Now, for a really strange question. I was just reading the thread about bedbugs (never, ever crossed my mind at WDW and now I am a bit freaked out!). One thing that stuck out was a comment about contaminated luggage on DME transferring bedbugs from one luggage to another. Has anyone actually know if this happens? I would think WDW would use state of the art approaches to prevent that from happening, right?

Bed bugs were in the news a lot in 2010 and 2011. Hotels figured out that their reputations (and thus their business viability) could be severely damaged by bed bugs. Hotels trained their staffs and contracted with pest control companies. I'm sure Walt Disney World was no exception.

There seem to be fewer news articles about bed bugs these days. I doubt, however, that the reduction of news about bed bugs means that bed bugs are back down to their pre-2010 levels.

I would be more concerned about airports and airlines than about DME in terms of bed bugs. The TSA even opens some bags for inspection.

There are precautions you can take, as described in this Forbes article from 2011: http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2011/11/21/bed-bugs-on-airplanes-how-to-fly-bed-bug-free/