Using Magical Express for the first time

[tink33]

Hi! We are flying this year to Disney for the first time in many years. We normally drive from the Northeast. The last time we flew we had to use the Mears shuttle. It made multiple stops ( including non Disney hotels) and took a while to get to the Disney resort we were staying at. My question is... Do we need to go to our resort first or can we get off at first resort the Magical Express stops at and take a bus to Magic Kingdom? I'm not sure if our Magic Bands will work without checking in at our resort first. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[71dsp]

We've used DMR on both of our prior trips. I'm sure that some trips are shorter and some longer, but in our case we waited no more than 15 minutes in the airport, boarded our bus, and (even with stops at other resorts) were disembarking at our resort just over an hour after our plane touched down in Orlando. (Granted, we travel carryon-only, so we save some time bypassing baggage claim. Anyone using their yellow Magical Express luggage transfer tags would also save themselves that stop.) Also in both cases (arriving at 10:00am and 2:00pm) our rooms were ready when we got there, meaning we were able to check in, unpack, freshen up, and catch a bus to the Magic Kingdom in less than an hour. Two hours from plane landing to Cinderella Castle -- not bad!

On most of our trips, we didn't have to wait long for the bus. This past October trip was the exception. I think we waited 30 minutes, give or take 5 minutes, for a bus because the line was quite long and we didn't make the same bus as the people first in line.

A couple in line next to us (different bus) realized they left a carry-on bag so the husband went to go get it. Meanwhile, one child started to melt down, and the other quickly followed suit. Then their bus arrived and she had to get the stroller, kids, and luggage out of line. There were lots of sympathetic looks, but it was so crowded. You could see everyone in their line thinking "wow, I feel really sorry for her, we should...oh look, the bus is here!" Hope that her husband was able to retrieve the luggage and they made it on the bus without too much trouble.

 

[tink33]

No problems so far, and we've used Magical Express on every trip. We make sure all of our luggage is labeled with Disney's labels and our own labels with phone numbers, etc.

Hope I didn't just jinx our upcoming trip.

I'm sure you didn't jinx us. I'm going to split our clothes between the suitcases so we have clothes incase a suitcase to two going missing.

 

[Brian & Jill]

Thank you all! The bring your luggage to you makes me nervous. Anyone else have problems getting their bags?

We have never had a problem with them losing our luggage and we to have always used the Magical Express.
If it was me I would say give it a try,but there again I am somewhat of a gambler,ultimately it's up to you.

 

[71dsp]

I'm sure you didn't jinx us. I'm going to split our clothes between the suitcases so we have clothes incase a suitcase to two going missing.

We put a one day supply of clothes in one of the carry on bags, just in case. All of our toiletries are in the checked bags, but we figure if that stuff gets lost, we'll go buy new stuff, clothing is a bit more difficult.

 

[Greg Eng]

We are from the northeast as well. Best thing to do is take ME to your resort. The resort will hold your bags until your room is ready for check-in. You could go to baggage desk to check your carry-on bags to be held until later so you could go straight to the parks. Example: We took a direct flight from Hartford, CT into Orlando leaving at 6:00 a.m. and arriving MCO at 8:50. By the time we deplaned, checked-in with Magical Express, we arrived at our resort around 10:15. With the new Magic-Bands no paperwork is required. They will just scan your bands. Be sure not to pack them away in luggage. They recommend to wear them on your flight down to Disney. Although we were just as eager to get to the parks, we wanted to alleviate ourselves of the bags so we didn't have to lug them around. We were eating lunch at the House of Blues (Downtown Disney) by 11:00. Disney transportation is very efficient and reliable.

 

[Rob562]

One thing to keep in mind about the DME luggage service is that they're not always the reason for delayed bags getting to you. It's most-often the *airline's* fault. If the airline doesn't get the bag to Orlando, there's no way that DME will have the bag to bring it to you. The same thing would happen if you didn't tag the bag with the yellow tag and you were standing there at the luggage carousel waiting for your bag to come out.

The nice thing about the DME luggage service is that if the airline *does* misplace your bag, DME acts on your behalf as your agent to get the bag to Orlando and bring it to your hotel. Many times Guests don't even realize that a bag was mis-handled by the airline because they've checked in and gone to the parks. They never realize that that third suitcase didn't arrive until 3 hours after the first two were placed in the room. They just see all three suitcases sitting in their room when they get in from the parks that evening.

If you didn't tag the bags and a bag was delayed by the airline, you'd be standing at the luggage carousel, wait a long enough time to convince yourself that your bag isn't coming, go find the baggage office, wait for the employee, fill out a form and arrange for the airline to bring it to your hotel. With DME they deal with all that while you're blissfully unaware on the bus headed to your hotel.

-Rob

 

[tink33]

Magical Express sounds so much better than the last time we took the Mears shuttle in 2001. It made 4 stops to non Disney hotels first then it went to the Disney hotels. Ugh!!

 

[Rob562]

Magical Express sounds so much better than the last time we took the Mears shuttle in 2001. It made 4 stops to non Disney hotels first then it went to the Disney hotels. Ugh!!

DME will make 4 stops at most, though typically only 3. (And if they have to go to Disney hotels that aren't close to each other due to operational reasons, they'll typically only be 2 or 3 stops)

-Rob

 

[wendysue]

Thank you! It sounds like Magical Express is faster than Mears. My husband is worried about being on the bus for hours. I know we probably won't be able to get into our room. Our flight gets in at 10 am. I read it can take up to 3 hrs to get your luggage. Unless you get it from baggage claim and not use the yellow luggage tags they send you. Will they put it in our room? Sorry for so many questions. Is sounds like the best plan is to check in then go to the parks. We are staying at A o A.

We were there just this past week. Our flight landed at 2:00, and we went directly to the ME bus. We got right on, and our bus only went to POP and Art of Animation, so we were checked in and into our room by 3:15. Our luggage was delivered at 4:15. I was very surprised, as it usually takes a couple hours.

 

[CMBmommy]

It's on the terminal b side FYI. I walked to A and had to go all the way back!