Who's taking Magical Express???

[cra-z-4-dizney]

I just wanted to get an idea of who is brave enough to be the "genuie pig" for ME. I am signed up for it, but now am nervous about the time it will take to get us to our hotel. My time in Disney is precious to me and I don't want to waste an hour dropping people off at their hotels and such, so I just want to get a poll of who is going to try it, and who will pass up th free service for a rental or town car.

 

[3PrezGirls]

We're doing it. Our plane lands in MCO at 8:35 so we'll have plenty of time on our first day even if we are dropping off other people.

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

We are doing it as well . We land at 9am and will have plenty of time to get to the resort and run to MK. Since it's free it gives us more money to spend on Disney!

 

[YetanotherMouseFan]

We're doing it. It was the deciding factor in the fly vs: drive argument this year. We'll be down on May 7th, the second day of operation. Hope any "bugs" in the system are squashed by the afternoon of the 6th!


(Doing 45-day dance! )

 

[athenna]

I'll be doing it for my trip in November. It won't be up and running for my trip next month.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I am signed up for it, but now am nervous about the time it will take to get us to our hotel. My time in Disney is precious to me and I don't want to waste an hour dropping people off at their hotels and such,

I disagree with the wording of the choices:
-- Yeah...free is for me I don't care how long the ride is.
-- Nope, my time is too precious, gonna rent a car.

You could also have worded them:
-- Yeah... free is for me, and I won't have to waste time at baggage claim.
-- Nope, I have plenty of time, so I'll waste my time waiting for baggage and obtaining a rental car.

I like the idea that I can go right from my gate to the motor coach. And I don't have to haul my luggage around the airport and the car rental lot. The coach may not leave immediatley, but it's likely my coach will depart before others on my flight have loaded their luggage into their rental car.

Each coach will depart from only one spot at the airport and will serve 3 or 4 WDW resort hotels. I might be the first stop. I might not be. But each stop should be brief because the checked luggage is on a luggage truck, not on the coach.

While on the coach, I plan to watch the Disney video on the flat panel monitors throughout the coach. I hope the video will be entertaining and informative. If not, I'll just look out the window. In any case, I don't have to drive; I don't have the issue that the rental car trunk might be too small for the luggage of everyone in my family; and I can think of other ways to spend the money that a rental car costs.

 

[ncbyrne]

We always rent a car. Most of the time we spend our last day shopping, and sometimes we go offsite. DH would never even consider a bus.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We always rent a car. Most of the time we spend our last day shopping, and sometimes we go offsite. DH would never even consider a bus.

Yes, that's a good reason to rent a car. Having a car means that you can easily get to off-site attractions, restaurants, and shops.

On the other hand, renting a car because you might (or might not) get to your hotel 5 minutes sooner is not a good reason to rent a car.

 

[pumpkinboy]

You could also have worded them:
-- Yeah... free is for me, and I won't have to waste time at baggage claim.
-- Nope, I have plenty of time, so I'll waste my time waiting for baggage and obtaining a rental car.

I'm with Horace all the way on this one. I would so much prefer spending the hour on a modern climate controlled bus than waiting at baggage claim or waiting fully-laden in the car rental line. And the free part is just icing on the cake.

If you all want to waste money on a limo or a rental car, that's your business. Plus, we DME riders will likely get there at the same time as you anyway. Of course, the fact that we're not getting rental cars might mean that you folks who still rent one will have more spots to park too, so a nice DME benny for you too.

 

[off to neverland]

We're giving it a shot. So far I'm hesitant how well it will work because I've had so many problems just getting our airline info to Central Reservations and DVC member services. WE'll see how it goes...

Good luck, everyone!

 

[debster812]

.
If you all want to waste money on a limo or a rental car, that's your business. Plus, we DME riders will likely get there at the same time as you anyway. Of course, the fact that we're not getting rental cars might mean that you folks who still rent one will have more spots to park too, so a nice DME benny for you too.

EXCELLENT Spin pumpkinboy.

I agree--DME looks like a GREAT possibility for us for next February. Can't wait to hear some of the reports.

 

[goofy4tink]

I can't wait to try it in June. I figure that we land at 11:30 am. The fastest we have ever gotten to our resort was when my dd and I did only carry-on and had a town car. We arrived at the airport at 11:30 and got to AllStars at about 12:30. We normally get to the resort at about 1-1:30 when we have baggage to pick up and we have a town car waiting. I don't think ME will be any longer than that. But, even if it is, I would rather have that $140 in my pocket for some nice meals rather than get to my resort an hour earlier.

 

[BettyCv]

I am hoping that it won't take THAT much extra time. I am hoping 2 hours from getting off the plane to checking into our hotel is all that it will take. I haven't seen any time estimates from Disney, though, only what I've read people guestimating the time to be.

A big plus for us is that, flying with three kids, we can pack TEN suitcases (not that we ever would!) and not have to worry about how to handle them, while juggling a double and single stroller and three kids.

Betty

 

[LauraAnn630]

I know its terrible but I hope the bus doesnt take off to fast! I will have to take kids to bathroom. Im also a yucky smoker!

After that plane lands Im SMOKIN"!!
Ill be so nervous!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[robinb]

I'm thinking about it. We'll be staying at a DVC resort in August and can have groceries delivered. We always rent a car, but rarely use it. I'll need a car to go to Tampa, but we might use the Magical Express one way. {{shrug}} Right now I'm open to anything and I think I read they only make 3-4 stops.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

we're trying the magical express in may and can't wait. It has to be better than Mears, and no going to baggage claims with restless toddlers means less whining and bribing... and no getting lost in disney traffic.

 

[DebbieB]

I'll still be renting a car. It's nothing to do with the time issue at the airport or going from the airport, we just like the freedom of a car. I don't want to spend my vacation sitting or standing on crowded busses or waiting in line for busses.

I'm glad so many will be using Magical Express. I got a full size reserved for May 7 to 13 for $109 total, I think it's driving down the rental prices. Plus hopefully I will have more cars to choose from!

 

[dreamingdisney]

We're going to use ME for our trip May 8-13. Since this is our first trip to WDW, we're not too worried about how long it'll take to actually get to the resort - we're just going to take it all in

I think it's great Disney is doing this - does anyone know if this service is here to stay, or only here for a limited time.

 

[erinstar]

We're going to use ME for our trip May 8-13. Since this is our first trip to WDW, we're not too worried about how long it'll take to actually get to the resort - we're just going to take it all in

I think it's great Disney is doing this - does anyone know if this service is here to stay, or only here for a limited time.

I technicially dont' have a trip planned, but I would definatly use this service... being a first timer I would actually enjoy making 3/4 stops before my resort, as it would give me a chance to have a flying look at the other resorts. Plus on the first day I like to just chill out and check out the room, and resort and head off to Downtown Disney rather than rush off to a park, then start off at the parks first thing the next morning.

I also hope the ME is here to stay, however I reckon they will probably see how popular it is and how it goes. My only thoughts are that it being a free service, somewhere down the line it needs to be paid for so I can see Disney removing the service for cost reasons. I hope not thou!

 

[bugsy]

I disagree with the wording of the choices:
-- Yeah...free is for me I don't care how long the ride is.
-- Nope, my time is too precious, gonna rent a car.

You could also have worded them:
-- Yeah... free is for me, and I won't have to waste time at baggage claim.
-- Nope, I have plenty of time, so I'll waste my time waiting for baggage and obtaining a rental car.

I like the idea that I can go right from my gate to the motor coach. And I don't have to haul my luggage around the airport and the car rental lot. The coach may not leave immediatley, but it's likely my coach will depart before others on my flight have loaded their luggage into their rental car.

Each coach will depart from only one spot at the airport and will serve 3 or 4 WDW resort hotels. I might be the first stop. I might not be. But each stop should be brief because the checked luggage is on a luggage truck, not on the coach.

While on the coach, I plan to watch the Disney video on the flat panel monitors throughout the coach. I hope the video will be entertaining and informative. If not, I'll just look out the window. In any case, I don't have to drive; I don't have the issue that the rental car trunk might be too small for the luggage of everyone in my family; and I can think of other ways to spend the money that a rental car costs.

We are taking advantage of the ME as well, as you mentioned, no baggage
claim (been down that road plenty of times) direct to resort--also, since we
native Californians have never stepped foot in FL-I prefer this less stressful
relaxing alternative. But you made an interesting comment I would like to ask
you about..you state "each coach will depart from only one spot and will
serve 3 or 4 WDW resort hotels" is that verified info? we are staying at the
YC, so 3 stops would be YC,BC,BW..#4 would be ? if that is the case, that
cannot possibly be as long as in Las Vegas, where they stop at 5,6,7
resorts on one shuttle transfer! Let me know!