to magic express or not?

[bcsmom]

We are set up to use the ME for our upcoming trip. I was wondering though, is it worth it? Someone told me that it takes forever to get to your resort, because they stop at all the resorts. Should I just get a taxi or is ME ok?

 

[abk96]

They don't stop at all the resorts. Just a few. When we went in July it was so easy and fast. We were at our resort in about 40 min. from arriving at the airport.

We're using it again in April.

 

[bcsmom]

They don't stop at all the resorts. Just a few. When we went in July it was so easy and fast. We were at our resort in about 40 min. from arriving at the airport.

We're using it again in April.

Are they there waiting for you when your plane arrives or do you have to wait? I was thinking it would take us maybe an hour & 1/2 at the most to get to the Poly.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

You might have to wait a little...we waited about 20 minutes, but after that we moved quite quickly.
The ME loaders told me that they will never do more than 4 resorts, and usually it's 2-3 resorts. Took us about 1 1/2 hours all told.

 

[bcsmom]

You might have to wait a little...we waited about 20 minutes, but after that we moved quite quickly.
The ME loaders told me that they will never do more than 4 resorts, and usually it's 2-3 resorts. Took us about 1 1/2 hours all told.

Thanks for the info. That is what I kind of expected for the trip.

 

[shiva316]

We went in December and waited on the bus for about 10 minutes. The ride took about half an hour and we were checked in, changed and in the parks less than 2 hrs after landing. I'd do it again in a second.

 

[allaboutmm]

We thought it was great! Would use it again in a heart beat!

 

[mdbehr]

We just returned from the World and I would use ME again as long as it is free, but I certainly wouldn't pay for it.

When we arrived at the airport, we had to wait quite a bit of time for the bus but once on, it was pretty quick. However, for our return, we waited outside our hotel as instructed, we were out there 20 minutes early. 5 minutes after our scheduled time I asked the girl at the valet desk if the bus had arrived yet, just making sure, and she looked at the book and said no, that time pickup had not signed in and they had to sign in. I asked her if someone would announce when our bus arrived and she said the driver would do this when he came up to the desk to sign in. So we waited. Buses came and went, but nobody ever came to sign in at the desk. Finally I went up and asked another lady about it and she looked at the book and said yes, the bus had already come and gone. What? How did we miss it? We were sitting right here! I told her I had just asked the other girl and so she asked her if she remembered me. The girl looked at me and said yes and when questioned by the other lady just gave a shrug like oh well. We had a really great trip and I was just so disheartened by her attitude. We ended up being scheduled on the next bus and barely arrived at the airport in time, that extra time would have made a huge difference.

Having said all that, and I do apologize for being so long-winded, I wouldn't let one experience completely ruin it. Just know that you have to really watch for that pickup bus and as long as it remains a free service I would give it another shot.

 

[dinky]

Another "yes" vote. Used ME in Dec w/o any problems whatsoever.

 

[tmt martins]

Because ME is ran by Mears they all don't get along all the time ME causes extra work for CM's and so forth .

If you are there and see a ME bus just ask the driver if it's not full they will take you even if it's not your bus.

When we used it in OCT. it was 55 min from gate to desk and that wasn't bad at all .heading back we got to the stop a little early and got on the earlier bus with no problem.

 

[hockeybabe]

Will definately use ME again. Used a towncar once before, and the wait for the bus was not much longer than waiting for the chauffer to pull the car around. We were the second resort stop, but the first was very quick, less than 10 minutes, and we had several special needs people in the bus to unload.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Because ME is ran by Mears they all don't get along all the time ME causes extra work for CM's and so forth .

If you are there and see a ME bus just ask the driver if it's not full they will take you even if it's not your bus.

Do you mean on the way from the airport to your resort? Because that's a BIG issue right now - Disney can only transport Guests with reservations, per airport regulations. You can't just 'get on' a DME bus.
I don't understand your statement about ME causing extra work for CMs. In what way? Cast Members have been reassigned to or hired for Magical Express; that is their job - how does it make extra work?

 

[MaryJ]

How did you all handle your luggage? When we used ME in May, it took 4 hours or more for our luggage to be delivered. Can you pick it up yourself from the baggage carosel and bring it with you? This is the only thing that makes me hesitant to use ME for our next trip in March.

 

[okck]

How is it in the evening? We are landing in Orlando at 6:00pm on Friday night.
Do they still only do three or four resorts per bus at night? Is the wait for the bus any longer then the wait during the day? Thanks!

 

[IlovePiglet]

I'm also curious as to how DME makes extra work for CM's. With the exception of the luggage handling (which an outside contractor transports to/from the resort), not too much has really changed since Mears ran the service.
Drivers are supposed to announce that they are picking up for ME, especially if they are in a DCL or black/yellow Mears bus. Unfortunately not everyone does this.
If you are out at the bus stop and you see a bus pull in and it's the general time frame for your pickup, ask. I really don't think you should have to, I think the drivers should do their jobs, but you don't want to miss your flight either.

 

[abk96]

Are they there waiting for you when your plane arrives or do you have to wait? I was thinking it would take us maybe an hour & 1/2 at the most to get to the Poly.

When we were there the bus just happened to be there. I'm sure if it's not, it wouldn't be too long of a wait.

 

[abk96]

How did you all handle your luggage? When we used ME in May, it took 4 hours or more for our luggage to be delivered. Can you pick it up yourself from the baggage carosel and bring it with you? This is the only thing that makes me hesitant to use ME for our next trip in March.

Our luggage arrived in our room shortly after we got to our room. I'd say about 1 1/2 hrs. after check-in. Not bad at all. But we were prepared. We packed some extra stuff in our carry-on's just in case.

ME just started running in May, so I think they were still ironing out the kinks.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

How is it in the evening? We are landing in Orlando at 6:00pm on Friday night.
Do they still only do three or four resorts per bus at night? Is the wait for the bus any longer then the wait during the day? Thanks!

We landed at 6:08 p.m., and there were only 2 resorts on our bus. I think it depends on total number of people arriving, whether they do 2, 3, or 4 resorts. A CM told me they NEVER do more than 4 resorts on a bus. My wait was around 20 minutes.

 

[okck]

Good to know. What about your luggage. Do you still get it sent to your room that night. If we land at 6:00 do you think we would have the luggage by 9:00 or 10?

 

[rayjess]

I have never used Magical Express yet. But, I did fly into Orlando back in late November and got there around 1:00am. People were boarding the Magical Express at that time. I was really impressed that this service was offered that late at night.