Magical Express

[Billy6]

Does anyone know how they group the resort ME bus routes from OIA, to WDW?
Or do they vary, the same, etc?

I know all the allstars are on the same route, what are the others?

 

[mousefan1972]

Eric, what is the "partial exception" you spoke of in regards to the drop off order of the MK resorts? I am curious because we have stayed at the Poly twice, WL 3 times, and Contemporary once, and while ME has always been grouped those 3 plus the GF, the drop off order has not always been the same. Thanks.

 

[tomm4004]

I've had UPS try to deliver something to me the past two days but I've been out. Today will be the third and final attempt and I will be home. I'm not expecting anything. Could it be something from Magical Express? I've heard they send things out such as luggage tags, but I didn't think they'd UPS it. I guess I'll find out later today.

 

[Bug715]

I've had UPS try to deliver something to me the past two days but I've been out. Today will be the third and final attempt and I will be home. I'm not expecting anything. Could it be something from Magical Express? I've heard they send things out such as luggage tags, but I didn't think they'd UPS it. I guess I'll find out later today.

My Magical Express stuff has always come through the general mail.

 

[Mystic]

I've had UPS try to deliver something to me the past two days but I've been out. Today will be the third and final attempt and I will be home. I'm not expecting anything. Could it be something from Magical Express? I've heard they send things out such as luggage tags, but I didn't think they'd UPS it. I guess I'll find out later today.

Yes that's most likely your Magical Express book and luggage tags. Ours arrived yesterday via UPS. I think they use UPS for Canadian guests to ensure that your package arrives across the boarder in time.

 

[tomm4004]

Yes that's most likely your Magical Express book and luggage tags. Ours arrived yesterday via UPS. I think they use UPS for Canadian guests to ensure that your package arrives across the boarder in time.

Thanks. Seems like a lot of expense for a free ride. I don't need luggage tags since I'll just have a carry-on. I thought all I needed to do was arrive at the airport and follow the signs.

 

[yankspy]

There are no pre-set DME routes, and no pre-set groupings of resorts.

Disney divides the resorts into 4 DME zones. This doesn't mean that a bus has to stay in that zone, or that it has people ONLY from one zone, or that it has to have people from every resort within that zone. The zones are guidelines, but they are not rules.

The assigning/dispatching of DME buses is a dynamic situation. They plan for the most efficient routes, and they can do so because you have to make reservations, and thus they know in advance about how many people are going to which resorts at what times.


In other words, if you stay at the same resort once a month for a year, it's not like you will have the same resorts on your DME bus during each of those 12 rides during the year.

As for the order of the stops, that is 100% in the control of each individual driver, with a partial exception for the Magic Kingdom area resorts. But otherwise, each individual driver is free to choose whatever route they want to take. They are told what resorts are on the bus, but they are not told what order to go in for the drop-offs.

When a DME bus will remain in a single zone, there can be guests from up to 4 resorts. When the bus is dropping off within 2 or more zones, then it's a limit of 3 resorts per bus (to compensate for the extra driving time).

Here are the zones:

Magic Kingdom: Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge.

Epcot: Beach Club, Yacht Club, BoardWalk, Caribbean Beach Resort.

Animal Kingdom: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs Resort, Pop Century, all 3 All Stars resorts.

Downtown Disney: Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Port Orleans French Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside, Fort Wilderness.

Hmm.. I wonder, if I slipped the driver a twenty spot would he stop at my resort first?

Yes that's most likely your Magical Express book and luggage tags. Ours arrived yesterday via UPS. I think they use UPS for Canadian guests to ensure that your package arrives across the boarder in time.

They will sometimes use UPS in the U.S. as well. I booked a last minute trip in March and they overnighted me the tags.

 

[Phonedave]

Thanks. Seems like a lot of expense for a free ride. I don't need luggage tags since I'll just have a carry-on. I thought all I needed to do was arrive at the airport and follow the signs.

You need the voucher that comes in the mail as well.

The packet they are trying to deliver has luggage tags, DME vouchers, and "instructions" in it.

Well technicaly you dont NEED it, as they can look it up and deal with it that way. It is just faster if you have it on you.

-dave

 

[Wildcat99]

OK. Not trying to ask a stupid question, but when did they start this Magical Express? The last time we were at Disney, we had to "pay" for Mears Transportation to take us to the resort from the Airport. We are going again in April, 2009, and I'm so excited about this new Magical Express.

 

[shoppingnut]

OK. Not trying to ask a stupid question, but when did they start this Magical Express? The last time we were at Disney, we had to "pay" for Mears Transportation to take us to the resort from the Airport. We are going again in April, 2009, and I'm so excited about this new Magical Express.

They started this maybe 3 yrs ago. It was done to make more $$$$, since having you captive on property, you have to eat, buy all your snacks and souveniers there.

 

[Wildcat99]

Thanks. That's about how long it's been since we've been to Disney.

 

[Rob562]

They started this maybe 3 yrs ago. It was done to make more $$$$, since having you captive on property, you have to eat, buy all your snacks and souveniers there.

May 2005, to be exact.

-Rob

 

[tomm4004]

UPS came. It was Magical Express. The luggage tags are nice. I feel guilty that I won't be using them. Good little souvenir booklet. It really shows that they want to make this service first class even though it's free, or let's say complimentary if you're staying at one of their resorts!

 

[CleveRocks]

OK. Not trying to ask a stupid question, but when did they start this Magical Express?

May 5, 2005.

 

[CleveRocks]

Eric, what is the "partial exception" you spoke of in regards to the drop off order of the MK resorts? I am curious because we have stayed at the Poly twice, WL 3 times, and Contemporary once, and while ME has always been grouped those 3 plus the GF, the drop off order has not always been the same. Thanks.

Here's how 2 different former DME drivers (from another board) have explained it. Grand Floridian guests are supposed to be first, except if there are Polynesian guests on board, in which case they get dropped off first (I know this is a weird way to express it, but both of them said it in that way). They said that's the guideline, but that they and other drivers didn't always follow that guideline. And since these folks are now FORMER DME drivers, it's always possible that things have changed since they worked there.

 

[PrinceDon]

Self-Pickup checked luggage?

Hi everyone,
I want to confirm that if I don't use the luggage tags I can pick up the luggage myself and take it to DME without any issues. My flight lands at 10:45p so I am figuring it will be almost midnight by the time I get checked in. I don't want to wait until 3:00 am before I can get my luggage and go to sleep.
Thanks
-Don

 

[tomm4004]

Thanks Magical Express

Flight to Detroit at 5:29pm. ME picked me up at POP at 2:15. Got to departure gate at 3:25. Earlier flight was leaving at 3:49. Asked if I could get on it. No problem. Thanks ME for picking me up so ridiculously early that I was able to make the earlier flight!

 

[Disneykidder]

Just put the yellow tags on the suitcases you want delivered. Any pieces you want to take with you, do not put the yellow tags on and you can pick them up at the turn style and proceed to take them on the DME bus with you.

Btw, Disney will not knock on your door in the middle of the night if you do have luggage that you will not be carrying with you. Just call them in the morning when you wake up and they will deliver it to you then.

 

[wdwCC]

Hi everyone,
I want to confirm that if I don't use the luggage tags I can pick up the luggage myself and take it to DME without any issues. My flight lands at 10:45p so I am figuring it will be almost midnight by the time I get checked in. I don't want to wait until 3:00 am before I can get my luggage and go to sleep.
Thanks
-Don

Good idea. We landed at 7pm, got checked in about 8. So we figured maybe 4 hours making it around midnight delivery, no..1:15am.

 

[PrinceDon]

Thanks!

Sounds like that will be my plan, I will just pick up my checked bags. Getting them delivered in the morning isn't much of a better option. Extra Magic Hours for epcot start at 8:00 :wave:
-Don

 

[NadieMasK2]

Will they deliver the luggage late at night if you ask them to? My daughter and I arrive at MCO at midnight. I expect we will each have one large bag, and I wasn't looking forward to toting it all over POR. We do plan to be up bright and early for MK. Should we just pack a change of clothes in our carry on?