Can someone tell me all about Magical Express? I'm so confused.
-
The new WDWMAGIC iOS app is here!
Stay up to date with the latest Disney news, photos, and discussions right from your iPhone. The app is free to download and gives you quick access to news articles, forums, photo galleries, park hours, weather and Lightning Lane pricing. Learn More -
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Magical Express?
- Thread starter butterfly18237
- Start date
I just want to know how it works. I kind of understand how getting there works. But going home is what I don't understand.
Monty
Brilliant...and Canadian
- In the Parks
- No
Coming home you will receive a notice the day before your departure date advising what time to catch your DME bus back to MCO. It will be scheduled 3 to 4 hours in advance of your flight departure time. They usually ask that you be at the DME bus stop 15 minutes before the bus time so you're ready when the bus arrives [they make multiple stops].
If you are traveling home domestically on a "Participating Airline", you will have the option of checking your luggage at the Resort Airline Check-in counter at your resort and receive your boarding passes for your aircraft at that time. Otherwise, you take your luggage with you on the bus and check it at the airport.
If you are traveling home domestically on a "Participating Airline", you will have the option of checking your luggage at the Resort Airline Check-in counter at your resort and receive your boarding passes for your aircraft at that time. Otherwise, you take your luggage with you on the bus and check it at the airport.
I'm flying Air Tran is that a participating airline?
MattyFresh
Well-Known Member
I believe it is....yes it is. Here is a great page to answer some of your questions
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQDMEPage
If you have any more questions I am sure someone here can answer them.
I used DME last Oct so feel free to PM me if you need any more help.
:wave:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQDMEPage
If you have any more questions I am sure someone here can answer them.
I used DME last Oct so feel free to PM me if you need any more help.
:wave:
Air Tran does participate. My sister & I used the early check in and it was great. They held our carry ons for us and we got to enjoy the rest of our day at the parks til we had to return to pick up the carry ons and catch magical express. Easy and relaxing. The only problem we had was the computers were down at first and they couldn't give us the correct info for our flights(we had a connecting). All we did was walk right up to a customer service rep when we were dropped off and they printed out the correct info and we were off. Not really much of a problem, but everybody was so nice and helpful we didn't consider it much of an inconvenience. We've used ME twice and didn't have a problem either time. It was easy and made the trip relaxing and enjoyable. We plan on using every time we go down (hopefully that'll be many times, but the way the economy is going you just never know). Have a magical time.
CleveRocks
Active Member
DME is a FREE perk offered exclusively to guests at WDW owned-and-operated resorts.
It consists of 2 things:
Several weeks before your trip, you'll receive a DME info packet. In there will be a booklet of instructions, which will include bus vouchers. Also included will be special luggage tags. These are yellow, sticky-backed paper, and are pre-printed with all sorts of information such as a barcode, the "master" name on the reservation, the name of the individual guest the tag belongs to, the name of your resort, your reservation number, and a 2-letter code printed inside a color-coded Mickey-head silhouette.
At home, you put one tag on each bag that you will check with your airline (in other words, you DON'T put a DME tag on carry-ons). Your airline has nothing to do with these tags, so don't ask them about it.
When your plane lands at MCO, all luggage is unloaded from the plane. In the behind-the-scenes trip from airplane to baggage claim carousel, luggage with DME tags is pulled from the rest of the luggage stream ... DME-tagged bags never make it to the baggage claim carousel. Instead, they're gathered and taken to Disney's luggage sorting facility on the grounds of the airport. The barcode is scanned upon arrival (1st scan). The bags are then sorted by resort. Bags are loaded (by resort) into locked cages, and are scanned as this happens (2nd scan). The cage itself is then scanned (3rd scan) as it is loaded onto a delivery truck. The truck itself is tracked by GPS as it makes its delivery rounds. At your resort, that cage is dropped off, and the bags are now in the hands of the resort staff rather than DME staff. When the bags are unloaded from the cage, they are scanned (4th scan). The Bell Services/Luggage Assistance staff then deliver the bags to the inside of your resort room whether you are in there or not (5th scan). In other words, Disney knows where your bags are at all times.
When you arrive at MCO, you totally skip baggage claim, since your checked bags are being handled for you. You walk to the Disney Welcome Center, check-in, and then are shown to your bus queue. You will be on a bus with guests from up to 3 other resorts. When you arrive at your resort, you check in. You can expect your luggage to arrive within about 3 hours of when you check in at the resort. Remember, you don't need to wait for your bags ... go out and play, and they'll be waiting for you inside your room later.
Make sure you pack a carry-on with your immediate needs. For example, the first tme we used DME, we took the kids to the pool as soon as we got to our room. We had all of our swim stuff in our carry-ons. When we got back from the pool, our bags were in our room waiting for us.
Disney provides the tip for the luggage delivery, so even if you happen to be in your room, there is no need to tip someone who's already received a good tip from their employer (reportedly, Bell Services CMs prefer this over "chancing it" with non-DME guests who may or may not be good tippers). Disney does NOT provide a tip for the DME driver, and you should tip the driver as you see fit.
On the way home, everyone is entitled to the bus ride. If you are flying a "participating airline," you can also use a different service called Resort Airline Check-in. Think of it as curbside check-in, only it's at your resort rather than at the airport ... you check-in for your flight, get your boarding pass, and check your luggage through to your final destination (the luggage is brought to your airline via truck, and you will not have access to it until you see it on your home airport's baggage claim carousel). If you use RAC, you must do so no later than 3 hours prior to your flight time.
Please keep in mind that RAC and DME aren't the same thing. They are separate services.
Regardless of airline ...
On the day before you leave, you'll get written notice in your room of the time of your assigned DME bus back to the airport. Be there 15 minutes prior to that time. If you are NOT using RAC, then the driver will load your luggage under the bus. You'll get it back as soon as you arrive at the airport. When you arrive at the airport, take your luggage and go check in with your airline just like you would any other time you get to an airport.
Please post again with any other questions!
It consists of 2 things:
- round-trip motorcoach rides between Orlando Int'l Airport (MCO) and your resort
- one-way automatic luggage delivery from MCO to your resort room
Several weeks before your trip, you'll receive a DME info packet. In there will be a booklet of instructions, which will include bus vouchers. Also included will be special luggage tags. These are yellow, sticky-backed paper, and are pre-printed with all sorts of information such as a barcode, the "master" name on the reservation, the name of the individual guest the tag belongs to, the name of your resort, your reservation number, and a 2-letter code printed inside a color-coded Mickey-head silhouette.
At home, you put one tag on each bag that you will check with your airline (in other words, you DON'T put a DME tag on carry-ons). Your airline has nothing to do with these tags, so don't ask them about it.
When your plane lands at MCO, all luggage is unloaded from the plane. In the behind-the-scenes trip from airplane to baggage claim carousel, luggage with DME tags is pulled from the rest of the luggage stream ... DME-tagged bags never make it to the baggage claim carousel. Instead, they're gathered and taken to Disney's luggage sorting facility on the grounds of the airport. The barcode is scanned upon arrival (1st scan). The bags are then sorted by resort. Bags are loaded (by resort) into locked cages, and are scanned as this happens (2nd scan). The cage itself is then scanned (3rd scan) as it is loaded onto a delivery truck. The truck itself is tracked by GPS as it makes its delivery rounds. At your resort, that cage is dropped off, and the bags are now in the hands of the resort staff rather than DME staff. When the bags are unloaded from the cage, they are scanned (4th scan). The Bell Services/Luggage Assistance staff then deliver the bags to the inside of your resort room whether you are in there or not (5th scan). In other words, Disney knows where your bags are at all times.
When you arrive at MCO, you totally skip baggage claim, since your checked bags are being handled for you. You walk to the Disney Welcome Center, check-in, and then are shown to your bus queue. You will be on a bus with guests from up to 3 other resorts. When you arrive at your resort, you check in. You can expect your luggage to arrive within about 3 hours of when you check in at the resort. Remember, you don't need to wait for your bags ... go out and play, and they'll be waiting for you inside your room later.
Make sure you pack a carry-on with your immediate needs. For example, the first tme we used DME, we took the kids to the pool as soon as we got to our room. We had all of our swim stuff in our carry-ons. When we got back from the pool, our bags were in our room waiting for us.
Disney provides the tip for the luggage delivery, so even if you happen to be in your room, there is no need to tip someone who's already received a good tip from their employer (reportedly, Bell Services CMs prefer this over "chancing it" with non-DME guests who may or may not be good tippers). Disney does NOT provide a tip for the DME driver, and you should tip the driver as you see fit.
On the way home, everyone is entitled to the bus ride. If you are flying a "participating airline," you can also use a different service called Resort Airline Check-in. Think of it as curbside check-in, only it's at your resort rather than at the airport ... you check-in for your flight, get your boarding pass, and check your luggage through to your final destination (the luggage is brought to your airline via truck, and you will not have access to it until you see it on your home airport's baggage claim carousel). If you use RAC, you must do so no later than 3 hours prior to your flight time.
Please keep in mind that RAC and DME aren't the same thing. They are separate services.
Regardless of airline ...
On the day before you leave, you'll get written notice in your room of the time of your assigned DME bus back to the airport. Be there 15 minutes prior to that time. If you are NOT using RAC, then the driver will load your luggage under the bus. You'll get it back as soon as you arrive at the airport. When you arrive at the airport, take your luggage and go check in with your airline just like you would any other time you get to an airport.
Please post again with any other questions!
Disneykidder
Well-Known Member
Holy knowledge of DME, batman. Go Eric!! I don't think anyone would have a question after your post!!
NewfieFan
Well-Known Member
Holy knowledge of DME, batman. Go Eric!! I don't think anyone would have a question after your post!!
:ROFLOL:
I was just going to say the same thing!:lol: Maybe we should make his post a sticky and when anyone has a question we'll just direct them to here!!!
Oh, one thing to add though... if you're traveling from another country you have to claim your luggage at MCO and then you can give it back to them so Disney can handle it. I, myself have never used the luggage service b/c we had to claim our luggage and seeing as how I already had it in my hands I just dragged it out to the bus myself. *Note* If you do handle your own luggage and carry it to the DME bus it is customary to tip your DME bus driver for handling your luggage for you!
Monty
Brilliant...and Canadian
- In the Parks
- No
Not always.
If traveling from another country where you pre-screen U.S. Customs before departure, you can still use the tags in the same way as anyone flying domestically would. When I travel to MCO, I pre-screen in either Ottawa or Toronto and as a result, my bags are automagically delivered to my resort without having to claim them at MCO.
Thanks Eric, thats alot of good information. I think you cover every question I had. Thanks again.
CleveRocks
Active Member
I'm very happy to help!!! :wave:
Thanks for your kind words.
Thanks for your kind words.
NewfieFan
Well-Known Member
I go through U.S. Customs in Toronto but I still thought I had to claim my luggage in MCO when I arrived!?! Very interesting...
(What is "pre-screen" U.S. Customs - does that just mean going through customs or something different?)
Monty
Brilliant...and Canadian
- In the Parks
- No
Nope, if you've cleared U.S. Customs in Toronto, you don't have to claim your bags in MCO. If they're tagged for DME you wouldn't see them at baggage claim anyway.
Pre-screen is going through their Customs before you actually leave Canada.
NewfieFan
Well-Known Member
Mystic
Well-Known Member
Hey MontyMon,
You ever had any problems using Magical Express on the trip back to the airport? Did it get you back with enough time to catch your flight? We're considering taking ME on our next trip but we're concerned about not having enough time before our flight to get through Security. We'll be flying in to/out of Toronto International.
You ever had any problems using Magical Express on the trip back to the airport? Did it get you back with enough time to catch your flight? We're considering taking ME on our next trip but we're concerned about not having enough time before our flight to get through Security. We'll be flying in to/out of Toronto International.
Monty
Brilliant...and Canadian
- In the Parks
- No
Never. As annoying as it is at the time, DME books your return to MCO at a reasonable time to ensure you get to your flight on time. We've never had a problem. In one case, security was the busiest I've ever seen it and we still had about a twenty-minute wait before our plane boarded.
Air Canada only occasionally has direct flights to/from MCO out of Ottawa, so most of my flights have been through Pearson.
CleveRocks
Active Member
Guests on international flights are picked up at their resorts 4 hours prior to scheduled flight time. Should be more than enough time.