[mickey]

Walt Disney World announced an innovative new service today called "Disney's Magical Express" which offers complimentary airport shuttle, luggage delivery and airline check in for Disney hotel guests.

Beginning May 5, 2005, guests of Disney hotels using Disney's Magical Express service can check their bags at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim at Orlando International Airport (OIA) and board state-of-the-art motor coaches to the Walt Disney World Resort - as their bags "magically" appear in their room upon check in. The round-trip service, which is available and complimentary during Disney's Happiest Celebration on Earth event (which also begins May 5, 2005), is designed to give Disney hotel guests the stress-free vacation they want.

With Disney's Magical Express service, a family of four can save more than $80 (based on round trip shuttle or taxi transportation, plus tip, for two adults and two children).

"We are extremely excited to add Disney's Magical Express to the extensive list of ways we make Disney guests' vacations easier and more enjoyable," said Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort. "In essence, this benefit provides a hassle-free experience for our guests from the airport to our hotel room door and back again."

"Disney's Magical Express service will set new standards for convenience, value and comfort for guests traveling between the airport and Walt Disney World Resort," Weiss added. "Orlando International Airport is one of the premiere airports in the world. We believe Disney's Magical Express will not only transform the airport experience for Disney hotel guests, but will further enhance the world-class status of OIA and drive additional visitation to Central Florida."

How Disney's Magical Express service works:

* Disney's Magical Express must be booked at least 10 days prior to arrival through disneyworld.com, Disney Reservation Center by calling 407-W-DISNEY or a travel agent beginning Jan. 2, 2005. The service commences May 5, 2005.

* Guests check their specially-tagged luggage at their departure airport.

* Upon arrival in Orlando, guests bypass airport baggage claim and go directly to the Disney Airport Welcome Center.

* Guests board state-of-the-art motor coaches that take them to their Disney hotel.

* A team of Disney representatives at the airport will pick up guests' luggage and transport it to their hotel room.

Disney's Magical Express service makes guests' return to OIA hassle-free as well. This convenient system lets guests flying with participating airlines avoid airport check-in lines by enabling passengers on domestic flights to check their luggage and receive a boarding pass before ever departing their Disney hotel. As an added benefit, guests with flight departures later in the day no longer have to worry about their luggage after they check out of their hotel. They can simply check their luggage at the Resort Airline Check-in Desk and then enjoy the last day of their stay.

In addition to partners at Orlando International Airport, Walt Disney World developed this innovative service in conjunction with private and public sector leaders including: the Mears Transportation Group, the largest provider of ground transportation to the Walt Disney World Resort; BAGS Inc., the provider and innovator in off-airport passenger check-in services for the hotel, convention, cruise and airline industries; ARINC Incorporated, a leading global provider of technology systems for airports and airlines; the Transportation Security Administration; and airline partners including: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Song, United Airlines and Ted. Walt Disney World hopes to add other air carriers to the resort airline check-in service in the near future.

Disney's Magical Express is also added to the long list of premier benefits that are afforded to guests staying at Disney hotels. This includes the recently-announced Extra Magic Hours, where each day one of our theme parks opens one hour early or stays open up to three hours after regular park closing for guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. **

"Disney's Magical Express adds even more value to a Walt Disney World vacation," Weiss said. "And with the myriad of new attractions and shows premiering this spring in conjunction with the Happiest Celebration on Earth - our global celebration marking 50 years of Disney theme park magic - the timing couldn't be more perfect."

Walt Disney World guests can book Disney's Magical Express starting Jan. 2 along with the new Disney's Magic Your Way tickets and packages.

** Valid theme park admission and resort identification required.

[mickey]

OK, a couple more items of information:

1. This service is available to anyone staying at a Disney Hotel for no extra cost. The Swan, Dolphin, Downtown Disney Hotels and Vero Beach/Hilton Head are not included.

2. Pick up time is 2 3/4 hours prior to your flight departure.

3. This service will be free to Disney resort guests during the Happiest Celebration on Earth. No pricing has been announced for after the celebration.

4. You do not have to book your flights through Disney. The transfers have to be booked at least 10 days in advance of your arrive. You just need to provide Disney with your flight information. They will mail out special luggage tags for you.

5. Guests flying on American, Delta (including Song), Continental, and United (including Ted) can use the luggage check in option. Guests on other airlines can still use the express, but they will have to pick up their luggage in Orlando, and deliver it to the shuttles. It appears more airlines will be added prior to the May 5 starting date, so keep watching.

Let me know if you have any specific questions, I have a lot of answers.

[painted_lady1]

It sounds too good to be true, lol. We live in New England and we like to take a non-stop to Orlando, so we usually have to book through Southwest, which was the only airline offering non-stop flights. Delta used to have non-stops, but don't offer them now. So a 2 and 1/2 hour trips then becomes a 5 or 6 hour trip. You use two days just for travelling.

But anyway, unless these airlines start offering non-stops and cheaper prices, in the end you will be paying for these services. Because Southwest is still the cheapest way to go, and although I would rather have assigned seating, they are the best for non-stop service and reasonable flights.

Just my opinion..........lol, and thanks for the info..........take care

[SnazzyCMB]

I live in New England too, minutes from BDL, and we take Delta Song, nonstop to orlando. We've done it twice in the past and intend to do it twice this year too. Our flight usually lands us in MCO around 10:30 am, but noon we are in the parks playing! That's a whole extra day! And, on our last day, we check out at 11am (or whenever check out is), leave our luggage with the bellhop, and play in the parks until 4pm-ish. Get our towncar, and go to the airport for a 6pm-ish flight...home around 8-9pm, planning our next trip to WDW by midnight! haha. Delta song rates are pretty much the same as southwest too, so it might be worth looking into.

[pepperland]

Also flew to Orlando last Jan on Delta song from Bradley, Great Airline! Eveyone had inflight TV's We opted to get the meal on the plane which was not too bad (Prices range from $4- $6.00 depending on what you wanted ) This is way better than Southwest for about the same price . We are flying down to Tampa this year again on Delta Song in a few weeks visiting the family for a few days then heading over to pay(and I mean pay LOL) hommage to the mouse








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[BuzzLightyear]

sounds awesome.............now if they could just ad a grocery stop.....

[jo-jo]

No grocery stop is part of Disney's plan for you to spend more money for food at the parks. Save 80 dollars on transportation, spend 200 on food. Many will think this is still great just to save the hassel. And I might be one of them.

[Sungold]

Whoever thought of this is a genius! My main worries on a Disney vacation are just that...the luggage hassles, and the transportation to & from the resort. The Tiffany Town Car service we used last time was very reliable, but this sounds even better. BTW, I live in Troy, NY, and am only about 80 or so miles from Bradley Airport...I will check out that Delta Song for next time. We have Southwest in Albany, but I don't believe it is non-stop. Thanks for the tip!

Pam

[keljen]

Sounds like a great Idea and we flow from Boston to Orlando in October non stop on Jet Blue and found it to be one of the best flights we've taken in some time

[Dopey]

I love that concept. A whole new way to vacation.

[dznygrl]

This is fantastic! Wow, what a great bonus for them to add for Disney resort guests! I will definitely be using this option...we are heading out May 10th, so it looks like we might be one of the first to use it.

I wonder if they will add Alaska Airlines for the express check-in...? We really don't have any other airline options from up here. But if not, even the $80 + tip saved on towncar makes this service more than worth it!

Thanks for posting that Mickey! If you weren't such a great wealth of Disney information, I probably would never find out this kind of stuff!

[Cinderellafifi]

This is an awesome concept! I would definitely use it!

[ilvminnie]

Is this regardless of how you book your vacation? So even DVC guests can use it?

[Montana Daisy]

Hi
I was wondering if this service is permanent,or only going to be on during the 50th Anniversary Celebration starting May 5 and going for 18 months?
We may be going to WDW in Dec 2006 and I am sure we would use Magical Express.
Montana Daisy

[mickey]

Originally Posted by Montana Daisy

Hi
I was wondering if this service is permanent,or only going to be on during the 50th Anniversary Celebration starting May 5 and going for 18 months?
We may be going to WDW in Dec 2006 and I am sure we would use Magical Express.

While Disney hasn't really elaborated on that point, the speculation is that the Magical Express will be free during the 50th celebration, and after that, there will be a charge similar to the current Mears transfers. I wouldn't be surprised if they extended it to the end of 2006, so keep watching.

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