Question about Magical Express

[MIDisFan]

This has probably been asked and answered before so I apologize in advance.

For those of you who have used Magical Express, how long would you say it took you to get to your resort from the time you arrived at MCO. This will be our first time flying down to WDW, and I think the shuttle ride will be about 40 min. I was just wondering how long it takes, on average, to get checked in at the ME kiosk and anything else that needs to be done before you board the shuttle.

 

[coinkc]

We used ME last week. We were walking down Main Street in MK exactly 1 hour and 40 minutes after our plane had landed. This included getting to Pop Century, checking in, taking our carry-ons to our room that was already ready, and taking the bus to MK.

The actual bus ride from the airport to Pop was 29 minutes (our driver made a big deal out of it being less than 30 minutes,

 

[MIDisFan]

We used ME last week. We were walking down Main Street in MK exactly 1 hour and 40 minutes after our plane had landed. This included getting to Pop Century, checking in, taking our carry-ons to our room that was already ready, and taking the bus to MK.

The actual bus ride from the airport to Pop was 29 minutes (our driver made a big deal out of it being less than 30 minutes,

Thank you so much. We will be staying at POP also (First time). 7 days and counting.

 

[MissMagnolia]

Good to know. I just checked our reservation on waltdisneyworld.com and the information for ME had our flight numbers but said both arrival and departure time were at 12:00 a.m. - which is not the case. Do you think they just put that it because it doesn't matter or should I call? I suppose it is no big deal to call and confirm, but I'm curious if others have noticed this.

 

[krissyh]

Good to know. I just checked our reservation on waltdisneyworld.com and the information for ME had our flight numbers but said both arrival and departure time were at 12:00 a.m. - which is not the case. Do you think they just put that it because it doesn't matter or should I call? I suppose it is no big deal to call and confirm, but I'm curious if others have noticed this.

All that matters is that your flight number is correct. On our way in, we arrived about 2 hours late. We checked in just fine, got on the bus (first people on it) and were checking in to the hotel within an hour. Loved the ME.

 

[LBelle]

Last Sept. we arrived in Orlando at around 9:45am, had to claim our luggage, go through International customs, found the ME area, on the bus, arrive at Pop, checked in, changed, etc., caught a bus to Epcot and we were through the gates by 1pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dbenlee]

I'm not trying to sound negative, but I have read that you should expect to take up to 2 hours for ME to get you to your resort. I have also read about some people on these boards taking every bit that long to get to their resort. Of course, I think that was probably happening more when ME first started. I know the first time we used ME in June 2005 we sat on the ME bus for about 20 minutes before leaving the terminal and that was after standing in line for about 10 minutes. So we didn't get to our resort for about an hour and 45 minutes (our bus stopped at another resort before going to WL). All that being said, we are happily using ME for our arrival in November because of the convienience and ease of getting to our resort. I feel relatively certain that ME has gotten faster since last summer and even if it hasn't gotten faster, we will still gladly use it. My family will probably always use ME as long as its available.

 

[MareSINY]

I've used ME twice, and both times arrived at my hotel within about 1 1/2 hours of arrival. I honestly believe it's the best way to go. Getting off the plane, heading down to the ME desk, waiting in a line for maybe 10 minutes, and then going to sit on a bus. It's stress free, and very convenient. I'll be using it again in December, can't wait to show my dad how great it is not to worry about a rental car!!

 

[kamehameha]

We used ME July 2005. We arrived at the Orlando airport around 10:00am, had a short wait for our bus to arrive, stopped by two other resorts before arriving at AKL and I remember being on time to our reservation in Epcot at the Garden Grill at 12:30 pm. Once ME takes you to your resort, you will enter your resort and they will give you what you need to go to the park you want to that day. From your resort, you take a WDW bus to the park you want to go to.

Therefore, for that entire process, we were at Epcot 2 and 1/2 hours after we landed at the airport.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It generally takes 60 to 90 minutes from landing at the airport to arriving at your resort, with the average reported time being about 70 minutes. Each experience is different, of course - but from when I entered the terminal to when I got off the bus at Pop Century* took 59 minutes last Labor Day weekend.

*There are NO set routes; each bus drops off at up to (but no more than, at least during the day) four resorts, generally starting with its closest resort to the airport... and since the DME buses use 417, that generally means Pop is the first stop.

 

[jenstall]

Hmmm. My flight is scheduled to arrive at MCO at 1:40pm on Aug. 30th and I have a booking for H&V for the Fantasmic Dinner package at 5pm. I'm staying at Pop and was planning on taking the Magical Express there. Do you think this is cutting it too close?

5pm was the latest reservation they had when I called them yesterday. I'm just wondering if I should keep calling to try and get a later time or maybe try and see if I can get a later time at Mama Melrose or if I should just cancel it and book for another night. I wanted to do something special the night we arrived. Maybe I should try and book a CM at MK instead though instead of risking a guaranteed reservation on my credit card.

 

[BigTiggerGuy]

Our flight arrived from Atlantic City around 9:30am. We were on the bus and heading to POR by 10am. Our room at the hotel was not ready yet but we were able to get our park tickets and headed over to Epcot. We were standing in line for Soarin by 11:30am. Once we returned to POR around 4pm our bags were waiting for us inside our room. I thought the whole process was fantastic!

 

[MareSINY]

Hmmm. My flight is scheduled to arrive at MCO at 1:40pm on Aug. 30th and I have a booking for H&V for the Fantasmic Dinner package at 5pm. I'm staying at Pop and was planning on taking the Magical Express there. Do you think this is cutting it too close?

5pm was the latest reservation they had when I called them yesterday. I'm just wondering if I should keep calling to try and get a later time or maybe try and see if I can get a later time at Mama Melrose or if I should just cancel it and book for another night. I wanted to do something special the night we arrived. Maybe I should try and book a CM at MK instead though instead of risking a guaranteed reservation on my credit card.

Lets see... if you arrive at the ME counter around 2pm (this is giving you time to walk there, higher security might delay flights, etc.) than you have to get your bus and drive to the hotel. Say on the high side it takes two hours, that will get you to your resort around 4pm. That gives you 1 hour to check in and make it to MGM. Personally I think you can do it, but if it's just going to become a big stressful event for you, I would try to reschedule.

Have a great trip!!

 

[jenstall]

I think I'll hold onto the Reservation for now and keep calling and see if I can bump it up 30-60 minutes. If I start panicking a few days before we head down there I can always cancel it then. But for now I'm gonna cross my fingers that everything works out.

 

[sugarpie]

It took us about 2 1/2 hours from landing to arriving at our hotel last October. We waited on the bus for about 45 minutes before we actually left because someone was missing some luggage. It seemed like it took forever but it was convenient and we'll be using Magical Express this October, too.

 

[kim35]

I hope it doesn't take 2 hours to get to our resort. We don't get in until 9 pm.

 

[MissMagnolia]

kim35:
I can't imagine that it would take that long at 9:00 in the evening. I would imagine the waits are longer during the middle part of the day when most flights get in. Just a thought.

 

[my2princessgirls]

We arrived on April 30, 2006 at 1:30. Got to the welcome center at about 1:45. The line went very quickly and we got in line for our bus within about 6-8 minutes (this check-in line was a rather long line and I was impressed at how quickly it moved). Then we waited 40 minutes for our bus to arrive. Got on the bus and waited another 12-14 minutes to leave. We then stopped at WL and CR before getting us to the Poly. We wont be using ME again, it was just too much waiting for us (our girls were 21 months and 3 1/2 at that time). I just kept thinking that we could have been there so much faster if we had used a towncar service.

The other odd thing was that they were playing really old warner brothers cartoons. Never could figure that out. However on the return trip the video was appropriate.

 

[michellelovesthemous]

For anyone that lives there, we arrive at 7:30am on the day after T-giving and I'm wondering if we are going with or against traffic to get to Pop by DME and what you all think our chances are of getting there in 90 minutes are?!?!?
OT how about the new rules on the airline how will this effect DME???