Questions about the Magical Express

[nannye]

Is there an extra charge for it? I'm assuming there is.
After i get off the plane, I assume I collect my luggage and then what is the procedure after that? with regards to the ME? Are there certain times you have to be there? Like what if your plane is delayed or you are just slow?

My bosses have a house in Florida and My plan is that they will fly down to their house in Sarasota. A couple days later they (with their daughter) will meet me at the airport when my flight gets in. We are surprising their daughter in that I am taking her to Disney again. I'd prefer arriving at the Orlando International so that I can take the ME, but here is my question. Can I book the ME for 2 people? and take her with me? OR since she didn't fly down with me is she not allowed to take the ME?
Thanks
Erin

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Magical Express is a free service available to anyone booking accommodations at a Disney resort. When you make your reservation, you have the ability to also book the Magical Express service from the Orlando airport (only) to your resort. You will provide Disney with your flight information and they will send you a packet of information prior to your trip, including your vouchers for boarding the ME bus as well as luggage tags that you may use to have your luggage sent directly to your resort. Put the tags on before you check them at your home airport, then you don't have to handle them again until they arrive at your resort (usually less than 3 hours after you arrive at MCO.) You can also gather your luggage from baggage claim and take it with you to the ME bus. It will be stowed under the bus until you arrive at your resort.

We have always used the luggage tags and find it to be a very valuable service. We enjoy not having to hassle with them, but then we have two small children to be managing as well, so not having to haul bags is a huge plus for us. Riding the bus is also a pleasure for us. Waiting for the Disney video to come on when you are in range of WDW is such a rush for us!

As for being "slow", we have on occasion, had lunch at the MCO food court before going to ME to board the bus. No problem. I'm sure flight delays are also not a problem. This is a service that is run out of an airport, so I'm sure they are aware this happens frequently. You can join the ME process of lining up according to the resort where you are staying and waiting for a bus to take you there.

I don't know 100% for sure on your question of booking for two people, so hopefully someone can chime in on that part.

Best of luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[seashoreCM]

Origin is only Orlando Int'l Airport.
Destination is only Disney's resorts.
(vice versa for going home).

Advance reservations are required for each person. Magical Express hot line number: toll free 866-599-0951
All riders must have been booked in the resort room, go to the resort on or after check in day, and leave the resort on or before checkout day. However you need not have just gotten off a plane or, back at the airport, immediately hop a plane.

You can be early or late or get lunch in the airport when going to Disney but you must make a specific pre-reserved bus time when going home.

 

[MySportsTeamsStink]

As long as her name is on the reservation I don't think making a reservation for her on the ME will be a problem. Personally, I've traveled with someone back to the airport on the ME who wasn't flying out (they were getting a rental car). Plus, I've booked my ME with just the time when I didn't have my flight info in front of me.

And it's free, though I'm sure its because you are more likely to spend some time (and money) off-site if you rent a car.

 

[NLD]

Wait, are you staying at a Disney resort?

Magical Express is only available to people staying on Disney property.

If you are all staying on property you can all take the Magical Express.

 

[nannye]

Wait, are you staying at a Disney resort?

Magical Express is only available to people staying on Disney property.

If you are all staying on property you can all take the Magical Express.

Yes we are staying on property, it's just that the child is not flying with me, she's meeting us at the airport so I wasn't sure if she could take it.

 

[Lynne M]

As long as her name is on the resort reservation, she can ride DME. There's no requirement that you fly in.

You'll receive a packet in the mail before your trip with your luggage tags and a voucher for each person listed on the resort reservation. You'll need to show a voucher for each person boarding the bus.

 

[lukenick1]

If I'm not riding the ME (renting a car instead) will my luggage still be taken care of? We are staying at AKV and have luggage tags and ME vouchers.

 

[DebbieB]

If I'm not riding the ME (renting a car instead) will my luggage still be taken care of? We are staying at AKV and have luggage tags and ME vouchers.

No, you must ride the bus to use the luggage service.

 

[newdeal]

No, you must ride the bus to use the luggage service.

Are you sure about that? The luggage tags are separate and you get them well before your trip. I see no reason why you couldn't tag your luggage and just take our own car

 

[lukenick1]

Are you sure about that? The luggage tags are separate and you get them well before your trip. I see no reason why you couldn't tag your luggage and just take our own car

Yeah and if the luggage do not need to be picked up at baggage claim and carried to ME by me who would know? I just want to make sure that my luggage get where they need to be, with or without my help.

 

[trickiwoo]

Yeah and if the luggage do not need to be picked up at baggage claim and carried to ME by me who would know? I just want to make sure that my luggage get where they need to be, with or without my help.

When you board the DME they scan your ticket so they know if you've used the DME service or not... So I imagine they'd be able to know if you used the luggage service but did not ride the DME.

Using the luggage delivery service without riding the DME is not allowed. I don't know how strictly that is enforced, but I'd recommend not trying to test it just in case!

 

[Alesia]

Are you sure about that? The luggage tags are separate and you get them well before your trip. I see no reason why you couldn't tag your luggage and just take our own car

Yeah and if the luggage do not need to be picked up at baggage claim and carried to ME by me who would know? I just want to make sure that my luggage get where they need to be, with or without my help.

There is a sticky about this on the transportation board: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788

In a nutshell: yes, technically you can do it, but if the airline misdirects your luggage, you're screwed. I wouldn't risk it.

 

[lukenick1]

There is a sticky about this on the transportation board: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788

In a nutshell: yes, technically you can do it, but if the airline misdirects your luggage, you're screwed. I wouldn't risk it.

OK spoke to a friend and she said that this is what Magical Express told her.

If you tag your luggage, once the plane has landed at MCO there is a separate truck that comes and removes all Disney Tagged luggage. They do not send these luggage to baggage claim, they go directly the bus or luggage transporter van. (not sure how they transport them to the resorts). Anywho, it doesn't matter, I will not be able to retrieve my luggage from baggage claim anyway. So I guess we can go about taking our rental car and forgoing the ME.
Right?? Does that mean once we get off the plane we can go straight to our rental car and not even think about our bags?

 

[lukenick1]

OK spoke to a friend and she said that this is what Magical Express told her.

If you tag your luggage, once the plane has landed at MCO there is a separate truck that comes and removes all Disney Tagged luggage. They do not send these luggage to baggage claim, they go directly the bus or luggage transporter van. (not sure how they transport them to the resorts). Anywho, it doesn't matter, I will not be able to retrieve my luggage from baggage claim anyway. So I guess we can go about taking our rental car and forgoing the ME.

Right?? Does that mean once we get off the plane we can go straight to our rental car and not even think about our bags?

 

[sissy_ib]

Yes we are staying on property, it's just that the child is not flying with me, she's meeting us at the airport so I wasn't sure if she could take it.

As long as her name is on the resort reservation, she can ride DME. There's no requirement that you fly in.

You'll receive a packet in the mail before your trip with your luggage tags and a voucher for each person listed on the resort reservation. You'll need to show a voucher for each person boarding the bus.

Just to clarify, they do ask for your flight info when you make the reservation. But that is only so they have a general idea of when you will be there. Many people make up a flight number for one reason or another. So when you call just give both names and your flight info.

 

[DebbieB]

Right?? Does that mean once we get off the plane we can go straight to our rental car and not even think about our bags?

Wrong. According to the rules, you have to ride the bus to have the luggage transferred when arriving at MCO.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/airport-service/

How It Works

Reserve Disney's Magical Express Transportation when you book online or by calling (407) WDW-MAGIC or (407) 939-6244. Guests under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian's permission to call.

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.

International Guests flying into Orlando International Airport from another country must follow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process and claim luggage after disembarking the plane. After completing the process, proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will recollect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 4 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.

Sit back and relax as Disney transports you to your Disney Resort hotel in an air-conditioned motorcoach.

As your vacation draws to a close, you'll receive a Transportation Notice advising you of the pick-up time and place for your motorcoach ride back to Orlando International Airport. Please note that it is your responsibility to bring your luggage to the pick-up point.

Please note that you cannot reserve the luggage service exclusively. You must be present on the motorcoach to have your luggage transported to a Walt Disney World hotel.

 

[Jestocost]

OK spoke to a friend and she said that this is what Magical Express told her.

If you tag your luggage, once the plane has landed at MCO there is a separate truck that comes and removes all Disney Tagged luggage. They do not send these luggage to baggage claim, they go directly the bus or luggage transporter van. (not sure how they transport them to the resorts). Anywho, it doesn't matter, I will not be able to retrieve my luggage from baggage claim anyway. So I guess we can go about taking our rental car and forgoing the ME.
Right?? Does that mean once we get off the plane we can go straight to our rental car and not even think about our bags?

What DebbieB said and a few other points.

If you are renting a car the correct procedure would be to not put the DME tags on your bags and to collect them at baggage claim.

Disney does not want you to use the DME luggage transfer service if you are not riding the DME motor coaches and you can run into problems if you attempt to use the luggage transfer service without at least one person in your party taking the bus.

Practically speaking, Disney's contract with MCO apparently requires them to collect and transfer all tagged bags. As a result, your bags probably will get to your resort if you tag them and don't take the bus.

As noted, however, if a bag is lost or misdirected by the airline and you haven't taken the bus, Disney will have no way of knowing that they should start looking for your bags and you will be on your own as far as filing a claim. And that may require going back to the airport after you figure out that the airline lost or misdirected the luggage, which could be several hours after you arrive at your resort.

 

[lukenick1]

What DebbieB said and a few other points.

If you are renting a car the correct procedure would be to not put the DME tags on your bags and to collect them at baggage claim.

Disney does not want you to use the DME luggage transfer service if you are not riding the DME motor coaches and you can run into problems if you attempt to use the luggage transfer service without at least one person in your party taking the bus.

Practically speaking, Disney's contract with MCO apparently requires them to collect and transfer all tagged bags. As a result, your bags probably will get to your resort if you tag them and don't take the bus.

As noted, however, if a bag is lost or misdirected by the airline and you haven't taken the bus, Disney will have no way of knowing that they should start looking for your bags and you will be on your own as far as filing a claim. And that may require going back to the airport after you figure out that the airline lost or misdirected the luggage, which could be several hours after you arrive at your resort.

Is there a "check in" counter at the airport for DME? What if we check in but then don't get on the bus. Won't the check in be enough for them to grab our bags?
Just trying to figure this all out. So much easier not to have to deal with luggage and a rental car if we don't have to.

 

[Melodious]

Is there a "check in" counter at the airport for DME? What if we check in but then don't get on the bus. Won't the check in be enough for them to grab our bags?
Just trying to figure this all out. So much easier not to have to deal with luggage and a rental car if we don't have to.

There's no check-in. You get in the line for your resort and they scan your ticket when you get on the bus. SO you'd have to wait in the whole line, get to the door of the bus, have your ticket scanned and then get out of line and get your rental car