Walt Disney World: Disney's Magical Express?

Question

I'm wondering your opinions on the Disney Express. I've heard that it is not the best transportation device from Orlando's Airport to a Walt Disney World Resort. Please tell me about your personal experiences or someone elses personal experience. But, all I want is your opinion. Thanks :)

Please tell me about if any of ya'll have ever got ya'll's baggage late as soon as you've arrived. Tell me about the "pro;s" and "con's" about the Express. Thanks :)

Answer 1

I've not used it myself, however, I've collected some information on message boards and things like that of some of the goods and the bads. So, here you go:

The biggest pro is also one of the biggest con. With Magical Express you don't have to handle your luggage. Once you leave your home airport you don't have to handle the luggage until it is delivered to your room when you get to the resort. However, this can also be very bad. All of your luggage is in the control of someone else. if the airline loses it or anything like that, you won't know right away and may have a little hassle. Not sure if you have ever been on a cruise or not, but when you get to the port they take your luggage and then deliver it to your room later in the day. I've been on many cruises and almost every single time I get someone elses luggage at my door, or I get mine really late. Just remember, a cruise is a limited, somewhat small number of rooms that luggage needs to be delivered to. Disney is much larger, has more resorts, etc. So, there is a lot more possiblity for error.


It's nice that you are picked up and taken to your resort, without having to deal with your luggage and you don't have to pay anything. However, Magical Express has been trying to tweak things all along. Lost luggage is one of the biggest problems. For the most part people get their luggage, but it may just be a little late, in some cases it may not come for a day or so. In very few cases it really does get lost.


Some of the stories I've heard: A group went to Disney for a wedding and for some reason chose to put the dresses and suits in the luggage, of all bags, the bags with the wedding dress and a few other important pieces went missing. They didn't get it back in time for the wedding (more goes along with the story as far as what Disney did, but I won't get into that now) Another one a family went to Disney, including two young children to Disney. When they arrived their luggage didn't show up right away. Not too worried they went to the parks, assuming it would arrive later. I think it was 2 days later when it finally showed up. Of course, they didn't have enough diapers and things in their carry on for the two young children and had to get a taxi to go to the store to get more. There are many more stories like this..... Lesson, don't forget to bring anything important, medicines and such in a carry on bag, you may want to bring some extra close as well.


Disney (Magical Express is just Mears doing all the transfers, but under Disney's coverings and things like that) has done pretty well at getting a lot of the problems fixed, but still problems may happen. Another problem is that it can be pretty slow. I think they can stop at up to 5 resorts or something. When you are excited and want to get to the park, this can be pretty annoying. I would say it takes around 2 hours to get to your resort. Don't forget, if you take Magical Express back to the airport, allow plenty of time to get back since it can take a little while. I think Disney says 3 or maybe 5 hours to get back, but I'm not 100% sure.


There are a lot of people that use Magical Express all the time and love it. I personally have not been daring enough to take it. To me it is worth it to spend a little extra money and get a private transfer. It is quick and easy and most companies even allow you to go to a grocery for a few minutes. Yes, you have to deal with your luggage a little more, but not too much, and that way you don't have to worry about it getting lost. When I am on vacation I just want to relax and have a good time, not worry about my luggage being lost or sitting a bus for several hours waiting to get to my resort. So, in my situation I feel it is worth the money.


I think that there are a lot of mixed reviews on Magical Express, and whether or not you want to do it is completely up to you and how good you feel it will be. If you are already on a tight budget, I would say try Magical Express, there are much better things to spend your money on. However, if you can afford it, I would definitely go with a private transfer.



Hope this helps!

Answer 2

We've been very pleased with Magical Express. It saves us a lot of money because we don't rent a car. We use Magical Express to and from the airport and we use Disney transportation from the hotel to all the parks. It's great! It's also nice not to have to lug all the luggage around. We've used the service on three trips and each time our luggage arrived in our room about 2-3 hours after we got to the hotel. Just make sure you remember to put the stickers they send you on your luggage and you're all set! If you're going to swim at the hotel while waiting for your bags, remember to put your swimsuit in your carry-on. Or, you could just go right to the parks and when you come home that night the luggage will be there.

Answer 3

I've heard both. It was a breeze, luggage right on time, great experience. And I've heard, it was ok, but the luggage was hours late! For the most part, I think it has been around long enough that the bugs are now worked out. Of course, there are always exceptions.

The best advice I have heard is keep a bag with anything you might need when you get there. For instance, if you are planning to check-in and spend the day at the hotel, you might want to bring swimsuits for the pool. Be sure to keep any medicines or things of that nature with you. If your bags arrive right on time, great. If you are the exception and they run late, you'll have what you need to get by.

I have personally not done it because we have driven the last few times, but I would give it a try if it were me. Hope you have a great trip!

Answer 4

The Magical Express is a inexpensive way to travel to your resort if you are staying on Disney property. My experience has been when staying at the value resorts, your wait for transportation may be a bit longer than if you are staying at the high-end resorts. Taking a cab or a limo to the resorts can be quite expensive; it is about a 40-50 minute ride, depending on traffic and which resort you are going to. It can take quite a long time to get your bags; several hours, during busy times. During our last visit, my son and I packed one bag with changes of clothes, etc, and picked that bag up before we boarded the Magical Express. We had everything we needed to clean up before heading out to enjoy a park and get a bite to eat, and when we returned a few hours later, our bags were in our room. If you are hoping to get your luggage as soon as you get to your room, you will be disappointed. The pros - transportation is included in the package, it is easy to find, and you don't have to deal with your luggage. The cons - you may have a 5-20 minute wait from the time you arrive at the Magical Express area until you board a bus, and it can take several hours to get your luggage. It is a good way to go if you plan ahead.

Answer 5

I have used the Magical Express services many times (about 10 times now) and have always had a great experience. I also sell Disney vacations (for a living) and have never had a complaint from any of my guests about their services.

One of the best features (as a mom) is the baggage handling. It is always a hassle to try to pick up luggage at Baggage Handling at the airport with kids especially younger kids. You just go right to the check in for Magical Express at the airport and your luggage is picked up and delivered right to your room. You may want to pack a day bag depending on your flights. You do not want to have to wait around for your luggage to actually start playing on your Disney World vacation.

Have fun!

Answer 6

You'll want to contact Disney Reservations at (407) W-DISNEY and make sure that THEY have you scheduled for Disney's Magical Express. If you don't have your Disney Reservation Number, they'll have to look it up by your name and address. Whenever you book through a third party site (Orbitz, Travelocity, etc), you'll want to call and make sure that Disney knows your flight information so they can book you a seat on the correct Magical Express. Have a magical trip!

Answer 7

The Disney Express is inexpensive but with you should check out the Disney World Vacation Packages because you can get your transportation taken care of through Disney World resorts.

Answer 8

We have used the Magical Express
Positives: Door to Door Drop OFF, storage for luggage until check in or luggage in room when you return from the park. Not renting a car, not paying for or waiting for taxi.

Negative: time you have to check luggage in before Flight, last time we could have taken an earlier flight, but our luggage was already on the plane. There was no way to predict that the earlier flight had empty seats, so it was certainly not Disney's Fault. So in short, no negatives.

Answer 9

I have personally not used it but many of my friends and family have. THey have all said great things about it. YOu get off your plain and right on a bus there is no waiting in line for luggae and all that good stuff. ON the ride to the hotel they show disney info movies so you can see whats going on in the parks. Once you get there you go and check in while they unload your luggage and store it. It usually takes a couple hours to get your luggage, but they do take it right to the room for you. I would suggest taking it, its free and included with you room pacakge. You can't beat free transportation!! I would just suggest putting a few things in your carry on depending on what time your arriving, if your getting there in the afternoon, I would put your swim suit or things for the park in your carry on so you can check in and go! If your getting in late at night I would put a pair of pj's in there then you can get ready for bed while you wait for your luggae. Disney provides a small tolietry items like shampoo and body wash so your good there.

Either way I think it is a really good deal and you cant beat it!!

Enjoy your trip no matter what you choose!

Answer 10

I, like you was very apprehensive about the Disney's Magical Express. In March my husband and I used it and it worked great. We landed in Orlando and you just go to the Disney's Magical Express check in counter. They direct you where to go get in line. And they take you on a bus to your resort. You don't even have to get your luggage from baggage claim. They do that for you. We got to our resort,we stayed at the All Star Movies resort, in about an hour. We got checked in and about 2 hours later we got our luggage delivered right to our room. It was wonderful. When leaveing they have a baggage check in right by the door and depending on your airline your using you can check your baggage right there and get your boarding pass. We did just that. We checked out of the hotel at 9am and didn't have to get back to the hotel to catch the Magical Express until 3pm so we had the rest of the day to do what we wanted and we didn't have to lug our luggage around with us. You don't have to let them get your luggage you can go to baggage claim and get them yourself if you want. But I really recommend you letting them get it for you. If you don't mind waiting a few hours for it. It worked great for us. So I wouldn't worry and just let Disney take care of you. Have fun.