Magical Express question.

[RedFoxRunner]

Hi there,

So I'm leaving this Saturday for Disney. I've never done the Magical Express before, I recieved all of my tags & what not. So do I pretty much just walk up & show them my ticket & then they tell me which bus to board for my resort? Someone else waits for my luggage & takes it to my room? I'd hate to misunderstand it & then have something screwed up. )

Thanks,
Bryant

 

[jasonchas]

Once you go arrive at MCO go to the DME counter. They will tell you where to go. You get in line for your resort. The bus will take you to your resort. Later that day your luggage will be in your room. Very easy.

 

[Monty]

You've got it. The DME counter has a check-in line where you show your ticket and then they send you across to another line [you're going to WDW, lines are part of life ] to wait for the bus to your resort [you may share with other resorts and stop along the way].

The only addition I'd make is - Don't forget to put the tags on your checked luggage [you said you wanted to make sure you didn't screw something up :lol:]

 

[wannabeBelle]

You pretty much have it down actually. DME id designed to be very easy and very user friendly!!! The only thing I would tell you beyond what others have said is to pack a carry on with some items. Take whatever you would think that you would need for the first few hours of your trip as you may not have immediate access to your luggage. Swimsuit, Shorts, sunblock, any prescriptions, any camera equipment, all jewelry, money, traveler's checks etc. All valuables should remain on your person. Your bags will go through a bunch of people, no sense in packing something that cant easily be replaced! Within 3 hours your bag will have made it to your resort and will most likely be in your room (assuming you are) There have been cases of my bag actually beating me to the room!!! I Am still not sure how that one happened but I will chalk it up to Pixie Dust!!! Any other questions, please feel free to ask as I have used this service quite a bit in the last year or so!!! Belle

 

[Bill Smugs]

Just remember go to the A side of the terminal and don't follow any signs to where your checked luggage will be. Once you get to the A side you will see a CM holding a sign saying Disney's Magical Express and Disney Cruise Line. Approach them and they will give you directions to the check in desk.

 

[swimmom]

Just remember go to the A side of the terminal and don't follow any signs to where your checked luggage will be. Once you get to the A side you will see a CM holding a sign saying Disney's Magical Express and Disney Cruise Line. Approach them and they will give you directions to the check in desk.

Unless you arrive late at night, there was no one to direct us to the DME counter. We had no idea where the counter was and there were no signs for DME anywhere on the lower level. The only help I can be is that it's at the end and of course we came down the escalator on the opposite end.

 

[Teddy1]

Has anyone ever flown USAir and used Magical Express? I know they can be notorius for lost baggage. We are planning on using the service this April. Just wondering.

 

[foldmama]

I have booked DE for May. If I prefer, can I pick up my luggage and then proceed to the counter. I just feel better knowing my luggage is with me.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I have booked DE for May. If I prefer, can I pick up my luggage and then proceed to the counter. I just feel better knowing my luggage is with me.

yes you can just do NOT tag your bags with the yellow stickers in the DME booklet or they will not be sent to the baggage claim area. Belle

 

[foldmama]

Perfect! Thanks Belle! - I may be calling you when we plan our family vacation in the fall. We want to get the best rates possible using my AP. Thanks Again!

 

[wannabeBelle]

Perfect! Thanks Belle! - I may be calling you when we plan our family vacation in the fall. We want to get the best rates possible using my AP. Thanks Again!

Not a problem, when you are ready, drop me a line!!! Belle

 

[Yukinon]

Hello, I have a few questions to add for our family too... We're planning on using DME this summer in June.

So, after you get off the plane and get going to the other side of the terminal, there will be someone there to point us in the right direction... is this in the approximate area near that Disney store and security for when you go home? Its like an atrium-type area?

How many resorts are on a line with one bus? We are staying at the Polynesian, and we were curious as to how long our commute would be, how many other resorts would be connected with ours?

Now we are having a very early flight this year, and even when we have had later flights we always seem to wait a while for our room... would the concierge hold our carry-ons as well while our room is getting ready? We were hoping to get to a park (thinking of Epcot) and we dont want to carry all our things - I mean our valuables will be on us in our belly-bags and whatnot. We even carry a backpack with various items every park we go to! Would they hold the rest of our things?

One final question - are the buses for DME handicap-accesible? My grandma has a wheelchair we use on vacation, and she could walk up stairs on a bus if need be, but is there any area we could put her wheelchair while on the bus?

Thank you to anyone who can help us out

 

[RonAnnArbor]

NO, it is not in the atrium. You go to the actual arrival level on Side A and you will see a long corridor with rental cars, busses, etc. Just continue all the way down the corridor to your right until you get to the end of the hallway and see Disney. You can not miss it.

IT takes about an hour from the airport to your hotel. Usually 3 or 4 resorts share a bus. At peak times, there might be individual busses. They are all computer dispatched based on the number of ME customers coming in at any given hour. Sometimes there is a wait at the airport for your bus to arrive. Sometimes you sit on the bus for 20 minutes until you actually leave. All in all, count on about an hour.

If your room is not ready, you can just check in, leave everything you want with the desk, and go play in the parks. Your luggage will be delivered to your room and it will be sitting on your bed about two hours after you arrive. You do NOT need to be in your room for the luggage.

I did not notice if the busses were handicap assessible. I believe that they are not all that assessible. I work with patients in wheelchairs all day, and in all honesty, I kind of block that whole thing out when I am on vacation -- You should call and ask about that -- they might send a separate shuttle van for you. THe busses are the standard issue tourist-class busses used for tour groups - a steep and narrow three step entrance, a sharp turn to the left, and a step up into your seats. The wheelchair will fit if it is collapsible. It will not fit if it does not fold up -- but they might be able to put the chair underneath the bus with the luggage -- you should definately call Disney Reservations and inquire about that.

 

[Yukinon]

Thank you soooo much for your speedy reply! That has been so very helpful! We will definately make a call to check on the accesibility factor! Again thank you so much! :wave:

 

[GoofyFan1]

Not a problem, when you are ready, drop me a line!!! Belle

Hi Belle,

We're going in July and using ME for the first time, we always use a towncar, Do we tip the driver?

 

[wannabeBelle]

Thank you soooo much for your speedy reply! That has been so very helpful! We will definately make a call to check on the accesibility factor! Again thank you so much! :wave:

Hi there!!! I know that when I book DME service for my clients there is a special section that asks questions regarding wheelchair and accesibility options, so I would certainly imagine that there are provisions for that sort of thing. Belle