I don't want it to seem like I am gaming any system, but I had a question about Magical Express.
My wife and I have an on-site reservation. We will be renting a car at MCO and will be driving it to the parks. If I sign up for Magical Express will they collect my bags and take them to the hotel room even if I never check in for the bus service at the airport?
In reality, they probably will, but that's against the rules and
would be considered "gaming the system."
Why: Magical Express is not run by Disney, it's run by Mears. There's a separate company called Bags, Inc. that's in charge of the luggage portion. Disney pays both Mears and Bags for their services based on passenger counts as tallied by Mears. So, for example, if you sign up for Magical Express but never get on the bus, Disney isn't going to pay Mears for your fare. But if you're sending your luggage with Bags and then not being counted in the passenger counts, Bags is doing work for which they're never going to be paid.
One viable option is that you (or your wife) could pick up the car and drive while the other one rides Magical Express. Or, you could cancel your car reservation at MCO and pick it up at one of the many on-site Disney locations instead. What we've done in the past is taken Magical Express when we land, take a Disney bus to the parks the first morning, then one of us goes to the Dolphin or one of the other car rental pickup locations on that day's mid-day break to pick up the vehicle.
Why? Does your car not have a trunk? Or is lifting your bags off the luggage carousel too much for you?
Baggage claim at MCO is a pit of misery. Even if I'm renting a car, I'll Magical Express my way to the resort and pick up the car on property for the sole reason of avoiding MCO baggage claim.
