Questions about Magical Express

[madcam]

Ok, can someone give me an idea on how the Magical Express actually works.....kind of a blow by blow of what I do from the time I arrive at my airport to board the plane until I arrive at my resort. Also, what about my 2 year old? She is in a carseat/booster seat. Do I need to bring my carseat with me?

 

[CrazyforDisney]

Ok make sure you put your Tags on your luggage that you got from Disney...thats the first thing. Check your luggage as normal...when you get to Orlando you do not need to worry about your luggage it will be picked up for you. I suggest packing all the things you will need for the day you arrive in a carry on. Go to the magical express line and show your tickets to them and they will take you to your resort to check in....depending on the time you get there your room may not be ready yet, but i would check in to get your tickets and all. your luggage should be in your room within a few hours. As for the car seat my son was 1 when I brought him and I did not bring his car seat and I will not be bringing it with me tomorrow either. I just hold him in my lap.

 

[Cynt]

Ok make sure you put your Tags on your luggage that you got from Disney...thats the first thing. Check your luggage as normal...when you get to Orlando you do not need to worry about your luggage it will be picked up for you. I suggest packing all the things you will need for the day you arrive in a carry on. Go to the magical express line and show your tickets to them and they will take you to your resort to check in.....

Here's a little more detail starting from go to the DME counter. They ask that only one person representing your party stand in the DME line. After they check your tickets they will direct you to stand in a line for your resort at which time you and your party go and stand in that line. At the appointed time you'll proceed to the designated bus for your resort. You'll put your carryon luggage under the bus and they'll whisk you away to your hotel. You shouldn't need a carseat. The bus is a large coach bus. Once you arrive at your hotel go to the check in counter. They'll tell you whether or not your room is available. If it's not they will hold your luggage and you can go to the parks or whatever you have planned for the day. They should give you a phone number to call to check and see when your room is available.

It's a really smooth and efficient process. JMHO.

 

[MKFan-PR]

Step by step:

1) You will receive tags from Magical Express (DME) to put on your luggage. Make sure that you put them on all the bags you will check.

2) Check your bags on your home airport as you normally do.

3) When you arrive in Orlando and exit the plane, take the airport monorail and go to the main terminal.

4) Once there, head to the 'B' side (look for a huge neon "B"), then take the escalators / elevators to Level 1, and head to the DME desk. You don't need to claim your luggage. DME will handle it.

5) At the DME desk, check-in. They will then direct you to the correct line for the bus to your resort.

6) You will line up and then board the bus. Depending on which resort and time of day, you might have to wait for other passengers.

7) When the bus leaves, the driver will inform you the order in which the resorts will be visited and guests dropped off.

8) Once you arrive at your resort, proceed to check-in there as you normally would.

9) Your bags will arrive at your resort later. You do not need to be in your room to receive the bags. They will put them there if you are not present.

Again, depending on time of day and resort, the average experience everyone is reporting is around 60-70 minutes from deplaning to check-in. Bags are received between 1-3 hours after check-in, maybe less. If you arrive late at night, you can call bell services and let them know that you want your bags delivered the next day, if you so choose.

As for the car seat, I'm not sure. If you are bringing one from the plane you can use it, but I believe it's not a requirement on the bus.

 

[goofy4tink]

You've gotten some pretty good insights here. You can not use a car seat, or a booster on the DME bus. There are no seat belts. The same holds true for the buses that will take you from your resort to the parks. So, unless you need it for the plane, don't cart it along with you.

You do know that you have to reserve DME well in advance of your trip? If you book it too close, within 2 weeks, you most likely will not get the info packet with your luggage tags in it. But, you can still ride...you will just have to either get your bags yourself and bring them on the bus with you, or give the DME CM at the welcome counter your baggage claim receipts.

If you do book in advance, the info packet you receive will give you just about all the info you need. Head on over to the Transportation board...there is always a thread or two concerning DME going on.

 

[Princessbubblegum]

The above answers are correct so I'll just add this part. When you are walking through the airport you will be directed by people in uniform with large Mickey Mouse gloves on waving. They will tell you where to go with instructions such as "the mickey bus is down the hall on the right." With their help you will easily find your way.

 

[madcam]

Thanks so much for all the info......I don't know how I would even begin to plan my trip without the awsome people on these boards!!!!! I do have one question about the luggage tags that Disney will be sending me. I am under the impression that I get one per person (excluding my 2 year old as Disney does not count her as a person) so what about my stroller......will it need a tag as well? As you can probably tell, we have never flown anywhere with our kids.

 

[Mousema]

You will get 2 ME tags per person. If you attach a ME tag to your stroller, you will not see it until after your luggage is delivered to your room.

 

[CrazyforDisney]

If you want to use your stoller in the airport and before you actually get your luggage my advice is to just gate check your stroller and do not put a ME tag on it.

 

[clownchk]

if you are buying your 2 YO a seat on the airplane, then YES you WILL get 2 tags for her as well.

I suggest you "gate check" your stroller, that way you will have it with you all the way to the gate when you depart for MCO then when you get off at MCO, you will get it back as you exit the airplane, while still on the jetway.

If you bought your 2YO her own seat on the airplane, then yes, you SHOULD bring your Car seat form home, but you will not need it on ME. It will be stowed under the bus with your stroller and carry on bags.

When you arrive at your resort, if your room is NOT ready, bell services will hold any bags you do not want to take to your "Arrival day" activities. If your room IS ready, you can pop in, stow your carry ons and head back out.

All checked bags will arrive to your room, whether you are there or not.

ENJOY your trip!!!

BTDTGB! Been There Done That Going Back!

 

[msgrimm23]

just remember one thing. the lagguage is going to take a while so pack a carry on. Put it in your head pack a carry on. I did not and i had nothing not even a swim suit. otherwise everything said is spot on have a great trip

 

[J&K'SMom]

The above answers are correct so I'll just add this part. When you are walking through the airport you will be directed by people in uniform with large Mickey Mouse gloves on waving. They will tell you where to go with instructions such as "the mickey bus is down the hall on the right." With their help you will easily find your way.

My information might be incorrect, so if it is--I am sorry!!!! But I understood that the big handed Mickey gloved people are no longer there to direct. Which is too bad, since that was a nice part of the service.

Just go to Main terminal, B side, up to level 1. That shouldn't be too hard for me to remember

 

[kaytieeldr]

When gate-checking a stroller (or wheelchair, or similar item), see the Gate Agent well in advance of boarding. You will be given a tag to fill out and attach to the item. This saves time (and tempers) at the door of the plane.

Always always always pack a carry-on bag with: travel documents, medications, valuables, and whatever you will need for the first 24 hours or so at your destination – toothbrush/toothpaste, hairbrush, change of clothing, swimsuit, sleepwear… Nothing to do with Magical Express, and everything to do with common sense – and the airlines’ penchant for misdirecting luggage