Magical Express???

[GCTales]

Mind if I jump in with a question? Can you take DME just one way? Traveling with my sister to Orlando together, renting a car, but leaving on different days.

Thanks!

yes.. just contact them.. get it .. and only use the return.... it is a free service..

 

[RefillableMug]

When you book your reservation at a Disney resort, you will give them your flight information. If you book your flights after you book your resort, you will have to call Disney. Before your trip, Disney mails you luggage tags for each person in your party. Attach the tags to your luggage before checking them and Disney will pick them up for you, so you don't have to claim your bags (if you want to claim your bags yourself, don't attach the tags!). Simply go to the Magical Express at the airport, check in, get on a bus, and go! Your bags will magically arrive in your room later that day. When you leave the resort, you can check in for your flight and check your bags at your resort. The Magical Express will take you to the airport and handle your bags for you. I use this service every time and it's completely hassle free! I would say it takes about an hour from the time you check in to the time you arrive at your resort, depending on what resort your staying at. A great tip I have discovered is that you can request extra luggage tags!!

 

[RefillableMug]

Follow up question for everyone. Do you have to request the luggage tags a specific number of days in advance of your trip? My trip is less than 3 weeks away, so I'm wondering if it's already too late for me to do this?

Thanks again!

If you don't have tags for your luggage, you can simply show the Cast Member at the Magical Express check-in your checked baggage claim numbers and they'll be sure to find your bags! I've used Magical Express multiple times without tags and my bags have made it to my room every time.

 

[JillC LI]

It also varies by arrival time. If you get there at 9:00AM you will likely have a fleet of buses waiting and dispatching frequently, they will grab your bags and the time comes down to where in the route your hotel is (and it never seems like the same route, so you may be first, you may be last, who knows).

If you are traveling and arriving between 9:00PM-ish and 5AM, just get an Uber. I have made this mistake once and you will need to wait for your baggage (they will not get them for you between these hours), they have one bus that they wait to fill before dispatch, so if you are on the first flight of the group coming in, you can wait in excess of 1.5 hours waiting for other people to board and then have to do the whole trip to get to your hotel.

Yep, we had this experience in January. Arrived around 9:30pm with carry-on luggage only, got onto a bus within ten minutes and then waited an hour for it to fully load and depart. It was such a pain. But we had decided to save money by foregoing the rental car that trip so we sucked it up.

Mind if I jump in with a question? Can you take DME just one way? Traveling with my sister to Orlando together, renting a car, but leaving on

Absolutely. Just book it for your trip. No one is checking if you used it one way, both ways, or no ways. We've taken it one way in the past.

 

[MattyBear]

Interesting thread. Was wondering how long we will have To wait for the bus at 1:30 in the afternoon. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Interesting thread. Was wondering how long we will have To wait for the bus at 1:30 in the afternoon. Thanks for everyone's input.

We arrive at the same time of day. From what I gather it's the busiest arrival time

 

[MattyBear]

We arrive at the same time of day. From what I gather it's the busiest arrival time

From what I understand being very busy is good?

 

[righttrack]

1:30pm will work fine. You likely won't wait to get on a bus. Do the online check-in at the resort so your magic bands will just work when your room is ready.

 

[MattyBear]

From what I've seen it looks like they used to send ID tags (for your name and address) for your luggage. Do they not send that anymore?

 

[tigger731]

From what I've seen it looks like they used to send ID tags (for your name and address) for your luggage. Do they not send that anymore?

Last year my Disney tag was in the bottom of the box my magic band came in

 

[Rob562]

From what I've seen it looks like they used to send ID tags (for your name and address) for your luggage. Do they not send that anymore?

Those are only sent for people who booked a package reservation. If you have a room-only reservation, no decorative luggage name tags. (Which are totally separate from the yellow paper tags for the luggage transfer service)

-Rob

 

[correcaminos]

1:30pm will work fine. You likely won't wait to get on a bus. Do the online check-in at the resort so your magic bands will just work when your room is ready.

That wasn't our experience wit ME. Busy time meant for long lines. We never use it now because of how miserable it was.

Just as an aside, we did online check in a couple weeks ago and still had to check in. Something got hosed, which I find happens about 30% of the time.

 

[Tyaloo]

I have always called Disney directly to add my flight info for Magical Express. WDW prep school says you can do it on the website too (different from the app), through this link - does anyone do it it this way?

I think I'm going to try it and avoid the long distance charges when I call!

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/airport-transportation-reservation/

 

[Tuvalu]

I have always called Disney directly to add my flight info for Magical Express. WDW prep school says you can do it on the website too (different from the app), through this link - does anyone do it it this way?

I think I'm going to try it and avoid the long distance charges when I call!

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/airport-transportation-reservation/

I do it this way all the time. Works like a charm!

 

[Tyaloo]

I do it this way all the time. Works like a charm!

@Tuvalu awesome - thanks! It seems so much easier!

 

[Tuvalu]

@Tuvalu awesome - thanks! It seems so much easier!

It is!

 

[becca_]

I do it this way all the time. Works like a charm!

Do you know if you can do this if you are resort hopping? Starting at Coronado Springs T-Sun, Beach Club Sun-Mon. Or would I have to call?

 

[Tuvalu]

Do you know if you can do this if you are resort hopping? Starting at Coronado Springs T-Sun, Beach Club Sun-Mon. Or would I have to call?

You book two separate online reservations, one for DME arrival (CSR) and another for departure (Beach Club). I've done it twice this year.

 

[becca_]

You book two separate online reservations, one for DME arrival (CSR) and another for departure (Beach Club). I've done it twice this year.

Many thanks!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Many thanks!!

You're welcome!