[mickeyspal]

Love using Magical Express. Great expierience and plan on using it again this December.

[tea]

I have heared very good thing about it and I like that we don't have to worry about the luggage - for some reason I hate standing around waiting for our bags and also standing on line to check them in

We are using it for our upcoming trip and cannot wait - just got the luggage tags!!!

[Glampire31]

I have used it every time I went and it was a really good experience from my point..... All we had was our carry on bags and a backpack.... When we got to our room our suitcases were waiting for us.

I would recommend it to others.

[Monique]

I absolutely love ME!! I've used them at least 6 times now and will be using them again in November. For us it's just another exciting part of getting us to WDW!! They are the best and are very timely in getting your luggage to you.

[WishUponAStar]

We LOVE Magical Express, it's so fast, easy, and convenient! Not to mention FREE, which is always a wonderful thing!

[bethishooked]

Just make sure you keep your boarding pass for the trip home. Last time we used it, there was another family who didn't have their boarding pass. The resort took care of it, but there was a little panic in the air for the family.

It is hard to find the terminal when you use it for the first time. We arrived at 2:30am (long rain delay) and there was no one to be found to ask for directions once we went downstairs. After a little wandering, we finally saw it in the distance.

[Schultzie]

We just used it for the first time in August, and it worked out very well! DDad loved not having to drive all over. Also, it is difficult to find the counter in the airport. We wandered a little before we found it. The booklet you get has directions, but once you get to that level (I think level 1) go all the way to the right to the super long lines. There is a small hanging sign with directions to it, but it isn't very obvious. It was convenient and faster than expected. Disney definitely knows how to make life easier

[nicatene1]

We used Magical Express on our last trip....one way. We had all intentions of using it both ways, but when we got to the Orlando airport we went to the line and it was LONG!!! I started getting nervous about the amount of people in our line and thinking that they would then be ahead of us in the check-in line at the hotel. I also got nervous about the amount of people and what this meant for me in terms of getting my luggage. So we hopped in a cab and by the time we were getting the key to our room the line of people were just starting to arrive. It was nice. We did use it to go to the airport after check-out and I actually liked it. I thought it was very comfortable. We are trying to decide if we will use it for our upcoming trip and I still think we will get a town car upon arrival just in case it's a long line again!

[emperisse]

I think it depends on when you go -- DH and I went during value season (january), and it was really, really light, so the lines for ME were non-existent. I love getting into the Disney mode before we even arrive, and the drivers and CMs at the counter are very helpful and nice. It's free, it's Disney, and allows you to let Disney take care of you, even when it comes to the luggage. I too am a control freak, but if you're not going when there are huge crowds, I think you're safe to depend on Disney to get you to and from the airport without too much hassle and stress.

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by nicatene1

We used Magical Express on our last trip....one way. We had all intentions of using it both ways, but when we got to the Orlando airport we went to the line and it was LONG!!! I started getting nervous about the amount of people in our line and thinking that they would then be ahead of us in the check-in line at the hotel. I also got nervous about the amount of people and what this meant for me in terms of getting my luggage. So we hopped in a cab and by the time we were getting the key to our room the line of people were just starting to arrive. It was nice. We did use it to go to the airport after check-out and I actually liked it. I thought it was very comfortable. We are trying to decide if we will use it for our upcoming trip and I still think we will get a town car upon arrival just in case it's a long line again!

I saw the same thing as you, but didn't panic.

I got into that H-U-G-E line. It took all of 5 minutes from the time I got into the line until the time I was walking away after being served. It was a huge line, yes-indeedy ... but they had 14 cast members behind the counter serving guests, plus two CMs who were apparently managers, floating about to help wherever they could. Long line, short wait.

The other thing you need to keep in mind is that a long line at the airport has no relationship to a long line at your resort check-in. WDW has 27 resorts. It's not like everyone in line at the airport was going to your resort!

The irony is that you could pay for a taxi or a car service and then arrive at the resort just as a DME bus dropped off a bunch of people, so you could possibly be in line behind a bus-full, anyway.

The OTHER thing to keep in mind is that even if a bus holds 50 people, all 50 people aren't going to your resort. Let's say it's evenly divided among 3 resorts (it could be 4). That means 16 or 17 people get off at your resort. Let's assume it's not 16 or 17 solo travelers. Let's assume 4 parties of 4. That means that when you get off the bus and you are the LAST person off the bus you will still only be in line behind 3 other parties. Being 4th in line isn't so bad, is it???

I'm not arguing, I'm just trying to offer some perspective ... I feel badly that you paid $50 or $60 due to being nervous ... I'd hate for others to do the same, so I'm trying to explain away some of the "nerves."

[nicatene1]

Originally Posted by CleveRocks

I saw the same thing as you, but didn't panic.

I got into that H-U-G-E line. It took all of 5 minutes from the time I got into the line until the time I was walking away after being served. It was a huge line, yes-indeedy ... but they had 14 cast members behind the counter serving guests, plus two CMs who were apparently managers, floating about to help wherever they could. Long line, short wait.

The other thing you need to keep in mind is that a long line at the airport has no relationship to a long line at your resort check-in. WDW has 27 resorts. It's not like everyone in line at the airport was going to your resort!

The irony is that you could pay for a taxi or a car service and then arrive at the resort just as a DME bus dropped off a bunch of people, so you could possibly be in line behind a bus-full, anyway.

The OTHER thing to keep in mind is that even if a bus holds 50 people, all 50 people aren't going to your resort. Let's say it's evenly divided among 3 resorts (it could be 4). That means 16 or 17 people get off at your resort. Let's assume it's not 16 or 17 solo travelers. Let's assume 4 parties of 4. That means that when you get off the bus and you are the LAST person off the bus you will still only be in line behind 3 other parties. Being 4th in line isn't so bad, is it???

I'm not arguing, I'm just trying to offer some perspective ... I feel badly that you paid $50 or $60 due to being nervous ... I'd hate for others to do the same, so I'm trying to explain away some of the "nerves."

I feel badly that I paid $50 or $60 too!!
When we went for Magical Express we waited in lines that were divided into resorts. They were taking some from each resort for each bus. We were staying at Pop Century and that line was incredibly long. Much, much longer than any other resort. It seemed as if the wait would be pretty long.
I would hate for others to do as I do, because I tend to be a bit nuts!
I am not the best traveler and once I land I do not linger. I need to get to where I am going in the fastest manner possible. Once at my destination I am fine....much calmer. My poor DH is so laid back and would wait forever, but hates flying. I love flying, but can't hang out after! They say opposites attract.

[copcarguyp71]

I will chime in on this one. I know that my opinion is in the minority but I am of the "get there ASAP" line of thinking.

The last time we used ME we waited for 25 minutes before busses were ready for boarding and then the bus made three other stops before getting to Wilderness Lodge.

With the car service there is less hustle and bustle and your luggage gets there right with you and not 3 hours behind...yes I know you can pack clothes in your carry-on but I have had lost/delayed luggage in the past and vacation for me as a small business owner who beats his head against the wall 51 weeks out of the year has to be a serious check-up from the neck-up. Waiting in lines and worrying about luggage is not for me but some may not mind and for them I say definitely use ME but dollar for dollar the fact that the relaxation and connecting with my family cannot start quickly enough is worth the premium I pay. It is the one luxury that I allow myself for the vacations...we also use a car service for the trip to and from the airport at home. I will however use ME for the trip back to Orlando airport since I will be in no particular hurry to get back home

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by nicatene1

When we went for Magical Express we waited in lines that were divided into resorts. They were taking some from each resort for each bus. We were staying at Pop Century and that line was incredibly long. Much, much longer than any other resort. It seemed as if the wait would be pretty long.

Thanks for responding!

I just wanted to clarify for others reading this ...

WHen you use DME at the airport, the first thing you have to do is check-in at the counter. After you do that, they send you to your bus queue. There is not one line for each of the 27 different resorts. Rather, there are up to 6 or 7 queues, and each queue is for several resorts.

Each queue represents ONE bus. They decide which resorts are going to ride together. When people board bus #100 (I'm just making up a number), they don't pull people a few people from each queue to fill that bus. Rather, when people board bus #100 it is people ONLY from that queue. Thus, even though there are a lot of people in that line, they're all getting on the bus!

I can imagine that if you're at the back of a line and can't see what's going on up front, you might assume they're taking a few people from each line, and then reason that it'll take forever if it'll be only a few people from each line ... but it just doesn't work that way.

Let me just draw a picture so others can understand. Let's say there are the following queues:
1) Pop Century, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs Resort
2) Caribbean Beach Resort, BoardWalk Inn, Yacht Club
3) Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Fort Wilderness Campground
4) Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Polynesian

When it comes time to load a bus, they are NOT going to take some people from queue #1, then some people from queue #2, etc., all on one bus. When it's time to load a bus, they will take everyone from queue #1, period (as long as they all fit!).

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by copcarguyp71

I will chime in on this one. I know that my opinion is in the minority but I am of the "get there ASAP" line of thinking.

The last time we used ME we waited for 25 minutes before busses were ready for boarding and then the bus made three other stops before getting to Wilderness Lodge.

With the car service there is less hustle and bustle and your luggage gets there right with you and not 3 hours behind...yes I know you can pack clothes in your carry-on but I have had lost/delayed luggage in the past and vacation for me as a small business owner who beats his head against the wall 51 weeks out of the year has to be a serious check-up from the neck-up. Waiting in lines and worrying about luggage is not for me but some may not mind and for them I say definitely use ME but dollar for dollar the fact that the relaxation and connecting with my family cannot start quickly enough is worth the premium I pay. It is the one luxury that I allow myself for the vacations...we also use a car service for the trip to and from the airport at home. I will however use ME for the trip back to Orlando airport since I will be in no particular hurry to get back home

I'm a huge fan of doing whatever makes you feel best, so I'm glad you found that for yourself.

One thing you said made me scratch my head, however. You wrote, "yes I know you can pack clothes in your carry-on but I have had lost/delayed luggage in the past ...." It is precisely BECAUSE OF the airlines delaying and losing luggage that makes packing a well-stocked carry-on such a necessity. If the airline delays your luggage (flying it to MCI [Kansas City] instead of MCO, for example), having a carry-on with your first 24 hours of supplies is a life-saver. I'm very very surprised that as a fellow "experiencer" of lost/delayed luggage that you downplay the importance of a well-stocked carry-on.

My devotion to a well-stocked carry-on has nothing to do with DME ... I've done it for years and I do it no matter where I fly. It just so happens that it fits very well into the DME model ... I don't sit and worry about my checked luggage because I know I'm taken care of for at least my first 24 hours in Orlando.

[copcarguyp71]

Oh believe me we pack our carry-on luggage like our life depended on it! If possible we try to only use carry ons. It works OK for the caribbean vacations where all you need is bathing suits t-thirts and tidy whities but for Disney we usually need to check at least one bag.

Like I said the less links there are in a chain the less likely there will be a weak one. We also only travel on direct flights. If anyone hasn't noticed I am seriously paranoid about starting a much valued vacation on a bad note.

"I am serious....and stop calling me Shirley!"