Thoughts on Magical Express???

[MagikMom]

Hi. We will be going to WDW in October. My husband wants to use Magical Express. We have never used it before. For those of you who have, is it worth it? Do you have to stop at a bunch of other resorts before you get to your own? Any feedback will be helpful.

 

[Nanajo1]

How have you traveled to your resort in the past?

 

[MagikMom]

We usually take a taxi.

 

[*elaine*]

It is great, IMO. It is FREE. I have two small kids and not having to wait at the carousel for baggage is worth its weight in GOLD.

They have a number of Magical Express busses, and you get on according to resort, so that there are only a few stops for each bus.

 

[kcdisneymom]

We've ridden it a couple times. If I remember right we waited at most 10 minutes and went to Saratoga Springs first, then Old Key West and then it was going to one other resort. Our bags came later. We're usually out and about while the bags arrive. I think it takes around 2-4 hours for the bags to get there. I've seen vans and large trucks unloading at SS Main House and then the SS staff delivers them on the housekeeping trollies. We're using ME in September when we take our golf clubs and 2 yr old. Thank goodness.

 

[kcdisneymom]

Last trip on ME we beat my DH back to the resort. He rents alot of cars from Hertz and is a GOLD VIP so all he does is find the car in his numbered parking spot and drive away. Very fast. Total trip took about 20 minutes. And the ME shows a cute "Welcome to Disney" film. Kids love it. (I do too.)

 

[*elaine*]

Last trip on ME we beat my DH back to the resort. He rents alot of cars from Hertz and is a GOLD VIP so all he does is find the car in his numbered parking spot and drive away. Very fast. Total trip took about 20 minutes. And the ME shows a cute "Welcome to Disney" film. Kids love it. (I do too.)

On the way back to the airport, our driver had us laughing the whole way. He must have been a comedian in his spare time. And he also had the kids looking for alligators in the various "ponds" we passed - telling them where to look, if a gator had been seen hanging out in that particular pond.

 

[Nanajo1]

I think you'll find ME a big improvement over the taxi. First, its free. Second, you don't wait for your luggage. Third, you get an entertaining ride to your resort. We've used ME several times and are so glad it has been extended to ?2009.
Remember to pack your carry on bag with whatever you might need in the first few hours after arriving as luggage delivery takes a couple of hours.

 

[dsneygirl]

We've used it twice with good experiences both times. First time we didn't even have to wait in line at the airport were ushered right out to the bus. 2nd trip going to OKW we waited maybe 15 min before bus loading.

 

[Cruelladeville]

As everyone else noted, ME is free. If you are arriving around midnight, you wait a bit longer, and stop at more resorts, but during the day you usually stop only at one or two resorts. When you go thru the airport, you look for the Mickey hand, and they will give you directions. If you happen to come in at A(B?) it's just down in the elevator. Go to the desk(you'll see it), and they have a line for you to stand in to get to your resort. After a short, informative ride, you are there! Bags show up a couple hours later. If you are returning on one of the participating airlines, you give Disney your bags at your resort, and they end up home when you do! You also check in at the resort. If your airline is not participating, then you go to the airport as usual, except that the bus takes you there. In either case, it's very simple, and a really cool perk!

 

[SWVA BGSU Fan]

We've used ME twice and it's been great both times. Check in your bags at your departing airport and have them delivered to your room for you.

It's easy to use and it worked great for us on the last 2 trips.

 

[emma'smom]

We've used it twice and it worked great! Even if it stops at another resort first, they are quick stops and you get to see the other resort.

 

[thelobstershanty]

We used it once and had no problems with it. We stopped at 3 resorts on the way to WDW, ours was the 3rd. On the way back to MCO we only stopped at 2 resorts.
We prefer to have a car when at WDW, so have not used it again. We also did not like how early they pick you up for the return trip to MCO. But other than that we thought the service was just fine.

 

[byoung]

Used it three times now, works out great, maybe 15 t0 45 minutes longer than a town car. But it's free.

 

[patsfan]

Just back yesterday and used ME for the first time - loved it! We stopped at CB, then our stop at BWV, then the bus was continuing on to the BCV. We got off the plane, walked to the bus line and were on a comfortable bus within 5 minutes of entering the line. On the way to the airport yesterday, the bus picked us up at BWV and made no other stops. The bus was half empty. Good thing we left 3 hours early - the July 4th holiday traffic yesterday was horrible all the way to the airport. We will definitely use ME again.

 

[SLM]

We were very pleased-no hassles at all-we also returned yesterday and the bus driver knew an alternate route to MCO- because of the shuttle launch the traffic was backed up-if we'd been driving it would've been awful. The trip only took 10-15 minutes longer at the most and we just sat back and relaxed. I'm happy to tip the nice drivers and not fuss with a rental car or pay for a taxi or town car.

 

[vbalacek]

We love ME. With 3 small kids, we travel with lots of luggage, strollers, carseats... Having someone else pick up, and on the way back check, your luggage is wonderful! (In fact my husband now will only go to Disney on airlines that participate with check-in at DVC)

 

[MrsNick]

Any issues with check-in at the resort when using ME? Long lines/waits at check-in? Thanks

 

[prez65]

In my opinion ME is terrific......Check your bags at your departing airport and see them when you get to your room. No waiting at the arriving airport for your bags..No lugging your bags to a cab..or trying to find a porter..Just get on the Bus and get to your resort. I think it is one of the best features that Disney offers....Even when I rent a car I still use ME.....later on when I am at my resort I get a shuttle to the car rental place at the Magic Kingdom and drive back to my Resort.

 

[lsutigger2]

We're headed to WDW in Nov. My niece/husband/baby (reason for the trip ) will be flying and we'll be driving. I plan on taking all of their stuff. I'm hoping they will just have to get on a flight and get off without much hassle. The baby will be 16/17 months at the time.

Now for the question (and now that I have it typed out, it really isn't a question, more like a thought): I'm assuming it works wether or not you have luggage. It would be more like a free ride from the airport and no waiting for luggage. Okay, there is a question: do they give you something to show that you have registered to use ME? I already have them listed on our reservation. And plan to call MS when I know their flight info.

Is anyone else as confused as me??