Magical Express

[DisneyDreamer08]

So my husband and I leave one week from tomorrow (woo hoo!) and I just thought of something that happened to us on our last trip with the Magical Express. I thought I would post about here so that hopefully, no one has the same problems we did!

Disney's Magical Express uses all kinds of busses- including big yellow ones with the word MEARS written across it.

When we were departing Disney on our last trip, we went down to the Magical Express Bus Stop about 15 minutes prior to our scheduled time. We were the only ones sitting at the bus stop surrounded by our bags. A yellow Mears bus pulled up, the driver glanced out the window at us, and then pulled away. We had no idea what this bus was for but we never thought it was a Magical Express Bus.

After our pick up time came and went, we went to the podium out in front of the hotel and told the man our bus never showed up. He pulled out a schedule and said that it did. We told him the only bus we saw was a yellow Mears bus. He said that was it! I asked him how we were supposed to know when every other bus we had ever riden has Disney's Magical Express on it.

So we ended up having to wait for the next bus. This time, the bus pulled up, the driver got out and yelled loudly- "Disney's Magical Express! Transportation to Orlando Airport!" We couldn't believe that the first driver never said anything like that. We also couldn't believe that he saw us sitting at the bus stop with our luggage and never even asked if we were waiting for the Magical Express.

We ended up getting to the airport much later than we should have which resulted in my husband being put on standby. It was a long and stressful day!

 

[worldfanatic]

Very strange. I know Mears operates Magical Express. But I've never actually seen a yellow Mears bus being used for it. It's always been themed somehow with Disney.
I wonder if that driver was forced into doing your pick up at the last minute and didn't know the procedures.
Sorry for your difficult day.

 

[ashleycalm]

disney magical express is a free cost service,and it is the newest service introduced for guests staying on property at a disney world resort. this complimentary service offered to all disney resort guests promises to save time.

 

[Yanks07]

Used Magic Express a couple weeks ago and rode on a Yellow Mears bus, that was after waiting 1.5 hrs and the lines(to get on bus) were back past the car rental counter. The driver said that it's common to use the Mears bus when it gets busy.

 

[CleveRocks]

If all of the Disney's Magical Express buses are in use and more are needed, Mears is authorized to place into service Disney Cruise Line buses, Mears buses, and plain white unmarked buses.

 

[stlbobby]

I believe Mears actually runs the whole ME service. The Mears yellow buses are used during the busiest seasons to augment the regular ME line.

It is sad that the driver didn't make more of an effort to makes sure he was getting everyone on board. As with any large company, Mears or Disney, there will be employees that only do the bare minimum.

Thanks for posting the warning so others can keep an eye out.

 

[CleveRocks]

I believe Mears actually runs the whole ME service.

Not really. Disney runs it. But Mears is the subcontractor that supplies the drivers and buses.

I'm not nit-picking here, it's an important distinction. Think of it this way ... Disney is the brains and Mears is the muscle. Disney sets the policies and procedures. Disney handles the logistics ... the dispatching and planning and so on. And Mears has nothing whatsoever to do with the luggage sorting, handling and delivering done as part of the DME service.

The people working at the DME counter at the airport, and the people scanning your voucher to allow you into the bus queue and/or showing you which bus queue to get into, those are Disney cast members. And then the person scanning your voucher when you're outside about to board the bus, and then the driver, those folks are Mears employees. Mears gets paid by Disney on a per-passenger basis, so their employees are very very sure to scan each voucher before anyone boards that bus.

 

[Stevek]

Our first trip in 2006 we used magical express and the trip from the airport was great using the standard ME busses. Our trip back to the airport wasn't so good. They put us in a white multi passenger fan which blew an engine on the way to the airport. Had to push it across lanes right at an interchange and wait for another van. Our driver was clueless and had everyone get out of the van and stand right behind it while big rigs screamed by. I finally suggested that everyone step on the other side of the guardrail for safety reasons. That being said, I'm still using it for our trip in nov-dec.

 

[murphysmom]

Used Magic Express a couple weeks ago and rode on a Yellow Mears bus, that was after waiting 1.5 hrs and the lines(to get on bus) were back past the car rental counter. The driver said that it's common to use the Mears bus when it gets busy.

Yikes! I think at that point I might go grab a taxi. I have used ME 7 times now, and never waited more than 20 minutes before boarding a bus.

 

[htfdwlfpack]

Yeah the two or three times ive used ME ive had nothing but good things to say. But then im not like most of you who go at least once a year so maybe im lucky lol