Wait for Magical Express or rent car??

[superrach]

Flying into MCO morning of Saturday, December 17th. We're taking the Magical Express. How long do you think the wait would be for a bus to Pop on a Saturday morning? I've only taken it late at night once. I've rented a car the other times. Will the wait be long? Should we rent a car instead?
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Alesia]

Renting a car will likely save you between 0 and 20 minutes.

It's also possible that it will take longer than DME.

 

[alliecat523]

Not worth the money to rent a car just to get to the resort quickly.

 

[richmo]

Agreed that renting a car just for that doesn't serve much purpose. Any time you might gain with the car you might lose waiting for luggage, etc.

On the other hand, if you're keeping the car for the duration, it can be a nice convenience going to parks, etc., with the possible exception of MK.

 

[Sandi]

We also arrive on December 17, but in the afternoon. I expect it will be a busy day at the airport and for DME, but it will be for the rental companies, too. While we often rent cars, we don't really have a need for it on this trip, so we are taking DME from the airport. If the trip from MCO to Pop is the sole reason to rent a car, I'd just take the bus.

 

[Minnesota!]

It will be busy, sure...gearing up for Christmas week. However, if you have no intention of using the car during your stay, I would skip it. Let someone else do the driving, and saving 30 or so minutes (maybe) isn't worth the $$$ for a car, IMO. Lots of people watching to be had on DME

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would say rent the car. If you get one from Alamo which is what I do. I do the online check in from home. Cost you nothing and you get your luggage walk straight out pick out your car and you are on your way. No waiting for the bus to fill up and make multiple stops. Plus you can stop at the store to pick up snack or water for the room. I get off at the Landstar exit and just to the south about 1/2 mile is a Publix. Do a google search and there is a $15 off coupon for Alamo right now.

 

[Zife]

Personally, I prefer renting a car. Yes, DME is nice, but then you rely on Disney Transport once you're on-World too. I like to be able to drive to and from the Parks/Resorts and not have to rely on buses that may or may not have seats and where I don't get to control the temperature (I find the buses cold sometimes). Again, that's just my preference, lots of people love Disney Transport.

 

[DisneyRobin]

Take a cab! That's what we always go. So much faster than magical express or renting a car. Just walk outside after you get your bags and you'll see cabs waiting. Only $65 to the disney resorts. Same price for the way back and there are always cabs at the resorts. Cabs are great for getting from park to park, too. Much faster than driving or taking a bus.

 

[nursejackie]

We have only done MDE once and decided it's not for us. It was a long way from our arrival terminal, we waited at least 15 minutes for a bus to come in and then another 20 minutes at least on the bus. Then add on the journey time, we were sorry we did it. Luckily it stopped at OKW first so that was the only positive. Last year we jumped in a cab to BCV and door to door took 30 minutes.

 

[Aliceacc]

The length of the wait is a total crap shoot. You could be the first on line, having just missed the prior bus. Or you could be the last seats they fill before leaving. There's absolutely no way to predict it.

But we love DME.

 

[dburg30]

The lines I saw for renting cars last time I was there in October, I have a feeling we made it to WDW on DME before some of those people got their cars.. Now, maybe there is some special skip the line stuff you can do, but the lines were HUGE and not moving very fast..

 

[sam_gordon]

We have only done MDE once and decided it's not for us. It was a long way from our arrival terminal, we waited at least 15 minutes for a bus to come in and then another 20 minutes at least on the bus. Then add on the journey time, we were sorry we did it. Luckily it stopped at OKW first so that was the only positive. Last year we jumped in a cab to BCV and door to door took 30 minutes.

But isn't it further to get to the rental cars? Didn't you wait at least 15 minutes for your luggage? The journey time would be faster in a car (provided you don't make a wrong turn). That's why renting a car might save you 20-30 minutes. The cost isn't worth in IMO unless you're going to use the car on property. That changes the equation.

 

[nursejackie]

But isn't it further to get to the rental cars? Didn't you wait at least 15 minutes for your luggage? The journey time would be faster in a car (provided you don't make a wrong turn). That's why renting a car might save you 20-30 minutes. The cost isn't worth in IMO unless you're going to use the car on property. That changes the equation.

That wasn't a choice for us as we had no drivers on the trip, which is why I only relayed my personal experience and didn't offer advice on hire cars.

Not sure where/why I would be waiting 15 minutes for my luggage. Our luggage was waiting for us by the time we had cleared immigration, we then headed straight outside and jumped in a cab.

 

[sam_gordon]

Not sure where/why I would be waiting 15 minutes for my luggage. Our luggage was waiting for us by the time we had cleared immigration, we then headed straight outside and jumped in a cab.

That's another variable. Folks arriving via a domestic flight would need to wait for their luggage if they're not using DME. International passengers would need to clear customs, so have to wait for their luggage regardless.

 

[Mousetopia]

Since they know how many to expect they are pretty well prepared. i had a 5minute wait last time. I say try it! I loved not waiting for luggage and magic band meant no check in line..and the ride is very Disney! After waiting for your luggage, renting a car you wont save much. Once on property use Uber as needed

 

[MillauFr]

The lines I saw for renting cars last time I was there in October, I have a feeling we made it to WDW on DME before some of those people got their cars.. Now, maybe there is some special skip the line stuff you can do, but the lines were HUGE and not moving very fast..

You don't need to wait in those lines when you rent a car. I skipped them and went right to my car. I had the rental agreement printed out at home and just showed it to the person when driving out of the garage.

 

[superrach]

Thank you everyone for your input especially about the luggage. I totally forgot about us not having to worry about that. I think we've decided to use DME when we arrive but then on the last night of our trip are going to the Voctave concert (yay) so I think we are going to rent a car for 24 hours so we can use it to drive back to the airport.

 

[dres40]

We almost always rent a car. Our last trip my DD had her heart set on taking MDE to the resort. We waited over 40 minutes to get on the bus and maybe another 15- 20 before we left MCO. This was on a Sat afternoon but still….doesn't Disney have an educated guess of the # of guests arriving? They were using the cruise line buses and Mears to handle the crowd.
Then we had to stop at other resorts before our resort....

Our first 4 nights we stayed at the AoA in a Mermaid room and I came to dread the walk to the bus stop and the long wait for the buses to arrive. Our room had a view of the parking lot and I was so wishing we had a car to just jump in and drive to the parks. Not MK though, we always bus it there.

If we had stayed in a room closer to the bus stops maybe it would not have been so bad … but still I think I would want a car.

We then switched over to the Yacht Club for 3 nights and I was no longer missing a car! We just went to Epcot and HS and it was heaven after dealing with the buses.


Unless we stay at an Epcot resort I always want to rent a car… so much more freedom and less waiting in line. And we never wait a long time to rent a car. We always have a reservation where you skip the line and go right to the garage to get the car.

 

[AngiTN]

We almost always rent a car. Our last trip my DD had her heart set on taking MDE to the resort. We waited over 40 minutes to get on the bus and maybe another 15- 20 before we left MCO. This was on a Sat afternoon but still….doesn't Disney have an educated guess of the # of guests arriving? They were using the cruise line buses and Mears to handle the crowd.
Then we had to stop at other resorts before our resort....

Our first 4 nights we stayed at the AoA in a Mermaid room and I came to dread the walk to the bus stop and the long wait for the buses to arrive. Our room had a view of the parking lot and I was so wishing we had a car to just jump in and drive to the parks. Not MK though, we always bus it there.

If we had stayed in a room closer to the bus stops maybe it would not have been so bad … but still I think I would want a car.

We then switched over to the Yacht Club for 3 nights and I was no longer missing a car! We just went to Epcot and HS and it was heaven after dealing with the buses.


Unless we stay at an Epcot resort I always want to rent a car… so much more freedom and less waiting in line. And we never wait a long time to rent a car. We always have a reservation where you skip the line and go right to the garage to get the car.

Mears does all the ME transportation, they are the contractor for the service. As for cruise lines buses, it's my understanding there is no such thing. They just have wraps on some of them that look like cruise ships. They aren't cruise lines buses.
It's very unusual to wait 40 min to board and than another 15-20 min to leave.
The goal they have is for everyone to be on their way in about 30 min. Doesn't always work but it's their goal.
And travel time to Disney is the same no matter who's driving, it's roughly 30 min away, be it in a car or on a bus.
We use ME some trips and others we call for Uber. Just depends on what I feel like doing. All in all, using Uber saves very little time over ME. Some but not hours. Renting a car and driving around Disney is near the 7th layer of hell, so we never do that. Plus, no driving once we arrive since we enjoy adult beverages with our meals

I hear ya on the walk from AoA rooms to the bus stops. Once, never again. That sucked. One of many reasons we do not stay at the value resorts