lonegungirl
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 4, 2003
- Messages
- 448
Just back with a few observations on the transport aspect of the trip...
Used the Magic Express service which worked absolutely perfectly. I received the packet with tags about a week or two before leaving, with all information correct. On arrival to the Orlando airport, I was directed downstairs to the check-in desk where there was no line! (probably the first time that's happened in the history of Disney theme parks) They then directed me across the room to the line structure for bus assignment, where there were about 3 people in each line sorted to various resorts. After about 5-10 minutes, we were put on a bus, where the driver told us "you may have to wait here for up to 30 minutes. They won't tell you that there, but I'll tell you." I got out my laptop to watch a dvd, and by the time I got it booted and my earphones connected, he had started up the bus and was driving away.
I can't remember how many stops he made, but it seemed to take about 30-40 min to get dropped off at All Star Music. When I looked at my watch after getting in my room, I think the whole thing, from getting off the plane to lying down on the bed had taken about 1 hr. I went to AK and then to Downtown Disney for dinner and when I got back, about 4 hrs later, the luggage was there.
The weak point in the transportation experience was the bus system, which was abysmal. From AK to Downtown Disney, it took about 1 1/2hrs to make the transfers required. Oddly enough, everytime I wanted to go somewhere from the hotel, it took no time at all--I would walk out and a bus would be waiting and would go directly to wherever I wanted to go. Coming back was always a total nightmare--I tried to leave MK in the middle of the day, and it took about 1 hr as there was 1 bus for all 3 All-Stars which would fill up, leave, and then we would have to wait for about 20 minutes until it came back again.
Fortunately, I then rented a car from National which went very smoothly--they picked me up from the resort (and were very flexible about the times of pick-up), and their gas station had the cheapest gas prices in the general vicinity that I noted. I used some sort of casino coupon that I found on Mousesavers, so a compact for a week cost about $105. (while getting the car, I laughed with another customer that the first place you go after getting the car is...Walmart. Which it was for me.) The return was equally uncomplicated, although there were no signs or instructions, so you pretty much just park the car anywhere and give them back the keys. They returned me to my resort in about 10 minutes, as I had cut it a little close for getting back for the ME pickup.
Going back to the airport was also very easy--I drove my luggage to the lobby where there was again no line! at the airport check-in desk. (they leave departure times and instructions on your doorknob the day before) They let me park the car in front as I unloaded and checked in my baggage and got my boarding passes, and after having the hotel hold my carry-on, I was off. On returning to the hotel, I retrieved my carry-on, walked to the bus boarding area, and in about 15 minutes, the bus arrived. This was a regular Mears bus, not one of the newly painted art-deco-y buses, so we had to ask if that was in fact the ME bus. I guess when you're leaving, you don't get the magical bus.
It was about 1/2 hr to the airport, So I ended up with about 1 1/2hr before boarding time. The only annoying part of the trip home (aside from the fact that you're going home) was the Miami airport, which gave me a 1/2 hr run between gates on different sides of the airport to make a 40 minute connection. The luggage made it back with me with no problems.
Considering my last trip involved: Me not making it to the airport in time to check baggage going; 1 1/2hr wait on Mears to get to the resort; Mears not picking me up to go to the airport and telling me I had to take a taxi to the tune of $60-80; and finally hitching a ride with a nice, complete stranger to the airport so as not to miss my plane, this was wonderful. Not having to wait in line to check in with all my luggage was super wonderful.
Hope this helps! Have good trips!
Used the Magic Express service which worked absolutely perfectly. I received the packet with tags about a week or two before leaving, with all information correct. On arrival to the Orlando airport, I was directed downstairs to the check-in desk where there was no line! (probably the first time that's happened in the history of Disney theme parks) They then directed me across the room to the line structure for bus assignment, where there were about 3 people in each line sorted to various resorts. After about 5-10 minutes, we were put on a bus, where the driver told us "you may have to wait here for up to 30 minutes. They won't tell you that there, but I'll tell you." I got out my laptop to watch a dvd, and by the time I got it booted and my earphones connected, he had started up the bus and was driving away.
I can't remember how many stops he made, but it seemed to take about 30-40 min to get dropped off at All Star Music. When I looked at my watch after getting in my room, I think the whole thing, from getting off the plane to lying down on the bed had taken about 1 hr. I went to AK and then to Downtown Disney for dinner and when I got back, about 4 hrs later, the luggage was there.
The weak point in the transportation experience was the bus system, which was abysmal. From AK to Downtown Disney, it took about 1 1/2hrs to make the transfers required. Oddly enough, everytime I wanted to go somewhere from the hotel, it took no time at all--I would walk out and a bus would be waiting and would go directly to wherever I wanted to go. Coming back was always a total nightmare--I tried to leave MK in the middle of the day, and it took about 1 hr as there was 1 bus for all 3 All-Stars which would fill up, leave, and then we would have to wait for about 20 minutes until it came back again.
Fortunately, I then rented a car from National which went very smoothly--they picked me up from the resort (and were very flexible about the times of pick-up), and their gas station had the cheapest gas prices in the general vicinity that I noted. I used some sort of casino coupon that I found on Mousesavers, so a compact for a week cost about $105. (while getting the car, I laughed with another customer that the first place you go after getting the car is...Walmart. Which it was for me.) The return was equally uncomplicated, although there were no signs or instructions, so you pretty much just park the car anywhere and give them back the keys. They returned me to my resort in about 10 minutes, as I had cut it a little close for getting back for the ME pickup.
Going back to the airport was also very easy--I drove my luggage to the lobby where there was again no line! at the airport check-in desk. (they leave departure times and instructions on your doorknob the day before) They let me park the car in front as I unloaded and checked in my baggage and got my boarding passes, and after having the hotel hold my carry-on, I was off. On returning to the hotel, I retrieved my carry-on, walked to the bus boarding area, and in about 15 minutes, the bus arrived. This was a regular Mears bus, not one of the newly painted art-deco-y buses, so we had to ask if that was in fact the ME bus. I guess when you're leaving, you don't get the magical bus.
It was about 1/2 hr to the airport, So I ended up with about 1 1/2hr before boarding time. The only annoying part of the trip home (aside from the fact that you're going home) was the Miami airport, which gave me a 1/2 hr run between gates on different sides of the airport to make a 40 minute connection. The luggage made it back with me with no problems.
Considering my last trip involved: Me not making it to the airport in time to check baggage going; 1 1/2hr wait on Mears to get to the resort; Mears not picking me up to go to the airport and telling me I had to take a taxi to the tune of $60-80; and finally hitching a ride with a nice, complete stranger to the airport so as not to miss my plane, this was wonderful. Not having to wait in line to check in with all my luggage was super wonderful.
Hope this helps! Have good trips!
