Disney's Magical Express

[brresler]

Hey, I'm going to Disney for the first time since they started the Magical Express, and I have a few questions...
How long does the trip take? Where does it leave from, and does it take you right to the hotel or to the TTC/parks, etc?
Does it operate 24/7 or can you only take it during the day?
Do you need to book it in advance? It is free for all Disney hotels right? Anything else I should know? Thanks!
- Brian

 

[Bill Smugs]

The Magical Express takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get to WDW from Orlando International Airport.
It takes you directly to your resort, it may make stops at one or two others in the area. For eample when I took it in febuary it made a stop at Saritoga Springs the at Port Orleans French Quater followde by Port Orleans Riverside.
You must book in advace and it is free to guest staying at Disney Owned hotels only.

 

[Nemo14]

When you book your hotel, you can sign up for ME. A few weeks before your trip, they will send you all the info you'll need, as well as tags for any luggage that you are checking.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hey, I'm going to Disney for the first time since they started the Magical Express, and I have a few questions...
How long does the trip take? Where does it leave from, and does it take you right to the hotel or to the TTC/parks, etc?
Does it operate 24/7 or can you only take it during the day?
Do you need to book it in advance? It is free for all Disney hotels right? Anything else I should know? Thanks!
- Brian

Figure on about a little over one hour from the time you board your bus to the time you end up in your hotel. Make sure whoever you booked your trip with has signed you up for DME. It is free but it does require a reservation. You will get a DME booklet in the mail no more than a month out from your trip. If you want your luggage to be transported for you attach one of the long yellow stickers from this booklet to each piece of your luggage. Be sure to pack a carryon bag with any items that are of value ( Jewelery, money, traveler's checks etc), hard to replace ( eye glasses, prescriptions etc) or you may need within the first 4-6 hours of your trip ( Shorts, swimsuit, sunblock etc) as your luggage may not be immediately available. Once you check your bags at your home airport you wont see them again until they show up in your hotel room! You get off the plane in Orlando and go to the A side of the airport and down to the bottom level where there will be the DME counter. You must check in with the desk there and they will direct you to your coach bus. Once you board the bus, your luggage will be making its own trip to your resort. It will take you directly to your resort where you can check in for your stay. It does operate 24/7 but it is based on your flight information which you or your travel agent provide when you sign up for DME. Any other questions, please ask. Belle

 

[goofyfamily]

We used it last September. Real easy. Got off the plane went downstairs , you will have a voucher that you must get in line andhand it to a member who will then give you another and right next to it are all of the lines with a member directing you to which hotel you are staying at. Moves quickly got right on the bus and shortly headed over to DW . It did take about an hour by the time we got off the plane and we were in our hotel lobby. We checked in and then headed to the parks when we returned later our bags were there no problem..We are doing it again this October. They will give you a paper in your room about a day before you leave letting you know what time the bus will take you back on the day of your exit. At first we thought it was too long but the time flew from being picked up and at the airport.

 

[foldmama]

I guess I am the only one that had a horrible experience with Magical Express. I arrived at 11:00 AM on Sunday, May 7th and I did not board a bus until 2:20 PM. There were at least a thousand people waiting for buses and no busses arrived for at least 1 hour. When buses started arriving they were for every resort except POR. Never again!

Let me tell you, people were not happy!

 

[shoppingnut]

I guess I am the only one that had a horrible experience with Magical Express. I arrived at 11:00 AM on Sunday, May 7th and I did not board a bus until 2:20 PM. There were at least a thousand people waiting for buses and no busses arrived for at least 1 hour. When buses started arriving they were for every resort except POR. Never again!

Let me tell you, people were not happy!

Was this this year or when they first started the service last May? If it was this year all I have to say is !!

 

[swimmom]

Not only do they operate 24/7, but they know when your flight is delayed. We arrived at 2:00 a.m. after a four hour flight delay. I called from Chicago to let them know, and they informed me that they track flights and they would be operating until everyone was transported to their resorts. However, I am very glad that we didn't put the yellow tags on our luggage and claimed our own so that we had everything that night or should I say morning.