???'s for all Magical Express Experts....

[Tink10]

I'm leaving for WDW this Saturday & my flight gets in at 10:15am. I'm staying at the AKL. I have to meet several people at Animal Kingdom at 2:00pm, but really really wanted to have time at the resort after checking in to have a drink & snack before heading off to AK. (I don't want to feel rushed)

I'm concerned about there being a long wait at MCO for ME because of the crowds coming in for EE preview & because there's a Disney cruise leaving on that same day. (Do cruise people use ME?)

If it were you, would you all "risk it" and take ME or would you go with a towncar?

Thanks So Much!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Assuming your plane is on time, I'd go with Magical Express.
Many, many users report arriving at their respective resorts an hour after landing. Not an hour after checking in at the counter, or getting in line for the bus, or after the bus departs... Yes, it's true many users don't have that experience - but even if it takes you two hours from landing to resort, you still have plenty of time. If it takes you three hours, well, then you're cutting things kind of close...
DCL passengers who are arriving that day and starting their vacations at a Disney Resort may or may not be using the DME buses to get there. But DCL passengers going directly to the ship will be on dedicated DCL buses.
I can't speak for whatever 'crowds' the EE preview might draw - but it's January, historically one of the slowest periods at Walt Disney World. I really really don't think you're going to have a problem.

 

[Lewisc]

You need an advance reservation for DME. Disney knows how many buses and CMs are needed.

My guess is the opposite. Busy means the buses will fill up faster. There isn't any reason to hold a full bus. You haven't read many horror stories about DME during the crowded holiday weeks.

AKL is generally the last stop. The DME bus to AKL frequently stops at POP and CSR first. My last trip took under an hour from landing to arrival at CSR and that includes the 10 minutes it took to get from the plane to the DME desk. AKL might have been another 10 minutes.

I'd be more concerned about a possible plane delay.