That feeling you get when you set foot on Magical Express

[Magpie]

There always has to be one, and this time it's me.....Whenever I see DME I say "Glad I'm not on that!". Both times my wife and I used it, it was a disaster.

The 1st time we arrived on a late flight, ~9PM and it took ~2hrs to board the bus and get dropped off at check in (All Star Resort). Then we waited another 2hrs to get our bags. It was 2AM by the time we got settled in and planned to hit the parks early that morning...no chance.

The 2nd time was a hot and miserable afternoon during an unexpected busy time of the year. The buses were packed and hot with screaming kids and irritated adults. The driver sat and waited until we almost had people standing in the aisles. Even when we planned for 3hrs+ before we could head to the parks, we were even later to arrive because it seemed everyone on our bus was headed to the same resort. Check in was overflowed.

Agree with the return trips, though. Lots of teary kids and parents overloaded with bags and souvenirs and short of patience and energy. Being at the bus 3hrs+ before a 9am flight is also tough after a week of hitting the parks. Nope. Give me a rental and less hassle any day.

So... why does there always have to be one? Is it a rule? Or is this like when people say, "No offence, but..." and you know it's going to be bad.

I'm sure lots of folks dislike Magical Express. If you wanted to start a "Tell me why you never take the Un-Magical Not-Express!" thread, plenty would chime in with their own horror stories. Same as you'd see a good mix of opinions in a, "Should I take Magical Express?" thread, with some saying, "Always!" and others saying, "Never!"

But this is a, "Dat feelin' you get!" thread, and you obviously don't get the feeling.

That said, my sympathies on your bad experiences. We've done ME many times, and one time we did end up waiting about 45 minutes, standing next to a pile of sawdust-covered cheerleader vomit. But even then, as soon as we stepped into that air conditioned bus and settled into those comfy seat and the video came on... yeah, we were back in our happy place. Heck, we especially enjoy it when our resort isn't the first drop off, because then we get a nice little bus tour of the other resorts.

We're perfectly content to let Disney do the driving!

 

[Serrina89]

I rode the Magical Express back to the Airport of Aug 2013 and I completely lost it. I was already sad because I was in the middle of grad school and working 2 jobs----that trip was my escape from reality (2 weeks, DIS/Universal trip) but it was coming to a close....And then the farewell video came on with Mickey and the crew......"awe mickey's telling me goodbye" I thought.....but then they took it too far..they started playing the Mickey Mouse Club theme song....M-I-C..see you real soon...(I sniff and can feel tears starting to form..)...K-E-Y....Why? because we love you...Commence incoherent blubbering, gasping, and sobbing. My boyfriend at the time (fiance now) could do nothing but hold me and rock me like the big blubbering baby I was.......*or maybe he was trying to muffle my cries as I was the only person crying...child or adult on the entire bus.....

 

[PamNC]

I'll be taking the Magical Express Friday - can't wait. It's my first time because we usually drive. excited to see how magical the Magical Express can be.

 

[lustergirl]

I am used to that feeling as it first comes alive inside me when I step in the Buffalo Airport before my flight going to Disney.

 

[BobC]

I typically get those same feelings...or the same feels when I enter my rental car...either or.

This time though I waited about 45 minutes for the DME. I was the first in line for the WL bus so I must have just missed the prior DME bus.

When I boarded it I finally felt relief that I wasn't standing!

Plus I was very tired as well...woke up at 3am..drove to Chicago...waited 2 hrs for plane...2.5 hr flight. Just happy to be on the bus!

Once I finally entered my room bypassing the front desk using my MB and saw the beautiful pool view on the 6th floor of the WL, I finally felt all those feels and laughed like a 5 year old getting a new puppy on Christmas.

 

[lauracitawita]

I LOVE Magical Express.

We are going with my in-laws this year. My mother in-law has a very close friend that goes to Disney often. She suggested we hire a car and have them bring us to a grocery store etc instead of using Magical Express.

When she suggested it, my husband and I just stared at her almost in shock.

She laughed. We told her it is one of our favorite parts of the trip, so she is in! Hahahaha.

 

[IvyWinter]

Now i want to look up Magical Express videos on youtube with all this talk!.... to the YouTubez!

 

[Masonmj84]

Typical Disney World Magical Express experience:

1. Get off plane
2. Hit restroom
3. Take tram to main part of MCO
4. Walk to Magical Express area and wait for bus with excited anticipation
5. Board and ride Magical Express bus (while watching video) as excited anticipation grows

Typical other vacation experience:

1. Get off plane
2. Hit restroom
3. Take tram/walk to baggage claim
4. Wait at baggage claim
5. Grab bags from carousel while watching kids and worrying whether all bags will make it
6. Take bags to rental car area (which often involves waiting for and riding a rental car shuttle) with kids in tow
7. Wait in line for rental car (kids becoming increasingly restless)
8. Sign rental car contract, including rental car agent lecture about declining gas and insurance options (kids now almost beside themselves)
9. Find and load rental car (including strapping car seat(s) into an unfamiliar vehicle)
10. Find way out of parking garage (often involves waiting for final clearance from rental car agent at garage exit)
11. Feel disoriented as you exit the garage and begin driving in an unfamiliar environment
12. Hope you don't get lost or get into an accident as you drive to your destination

With a WDW vacation, I feel like the vacation starts the minute we step off the plane. On other vacations, it doesn't seem like the vacation starts until we reach the ultimate destination (with a lot of stressful and exhausting steps in between).

 

[PeculiarMadmoiselle]

That song at the end is the worst. A few years ago we took it and on the way back I swear every adult female was blubbering because the song reminded us we are going back to reality. One little girl said to her tearful mother...it's ok mommy we will come back. The only thing that gets you through is thinking of your next trip