Disney’s Magical Express

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magical-expresOn a recent visit to Walt Disney World Resort I made the observation that there seems to be some confusion about how Disney’s Magical Express works among those using the service for the first time. This was evident by the number of people who were trying to give the bus driver their airline boarding pass rather than their transportation voucher. So, for anyone who may be using Disney’s Magical Express transportation service for the first time, here’s what you need to know.

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When booking your Walt Disney World Resort vacation online, you will have the opportunity to select Ground Transportation: here’s where you can choose Disney’s complimentary, round-trip, airport transportation service. This service includes luggage pick-up and delivery to your resort room.


If you have already booked your airline reservations you will want to include that information at the time you add the Magical Express service to your Walt Disney World Resort reservation, otherwise, you can revise your reservation to include that information later. It is important to provide your airline reservation information in order for Disney to know when you will be arriving and departing to schedule transportation service accordingly.

magical-express  luggage-tagApproximately one week prior to your day of arrival, you will receive your Magical Express transportation voucher booklet and luggage tags. The tags will identify your luggage to baggage handlers who retrieve and deliver luggage to the Disney World resorts. You must use these yellow tags, not just the souvenir name tags that you will also receive with your resort reservation confirmation packet. The tags will include your name as well as the name of your resort. You need to make sure the yellow tags are attached to your luggage prior to checking them in at your home airport. 

transportation-voucher-3Inside the voucher booklet you will find a diagram of the Orlando airport and directions to the Magical Express check-in desk. Once there, one member of your group should get in line to check in. Everyone else in your group can sit in the nearby waiting area until further instructions are received. When checking in, you will show your Magical Express Transportation Voucher which will list the names of those in your group and your resort. The Cast Member checking you in will also ask how many pieces of checked luggage with the yellow tags you have. At that point you and your group will be directed to the “red carpet” where another Cast Member will direct you to the line for your resort.

Once on the bus it will take roughly forty-five minutes to an hour to get to your resort. If you are making dinner reservations, you will want to allow at least two hours from the time of your arrival at the airport. Buses make stops at several resorts and yours may be the last stop. Also, depending on the time of day you arrive, traffic may be a factor. Although, it will only take about an hour to get from the airport to your resort, it is a good idea to allow plenty of time; you will also need time for checking in once you arrive at your resort.

 
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On the morning prior to your day of departure, you will find an envelope has been slipped under your door. This envelope will contain a Transportation Notice. It is this Transportation Notice that you will hand to the bus driver before boarding Disney’s Magical Express bus for your return trip to the airport.Read the instructions carefully. Also, verify that everyone in your group is listed and that the date and pick-up time is correct. The pick-up time should be at least 3 hours prior to your flight departure time. If you find this time to be something less, call the number provided in the instructions immediately.    

Another piece of information that you will receive is Resort Airline Check-In instructions. If you will be flying one of the participating domestic airlines you may check your bags and receive your boarding passes at the resort prior to returning to the airport. This is a fantastic service that I would encourage everyone to take advantage of. When you use this service you can go straight to the TSA screening area upon arrival at the airport: there’s no standing in long lines waiting to check bags and get boarding passes, it’s all done.  


The airlines participating in this service are:airline-check-in-instructions1
 

  • AirTran Airways
  • Alaska Airlines
  • American Airlines
  • Continental Airlines
  • Delta Air Lines
  • JetBlue Airways
  • United Air Lines
  • US Airways


If you will be using the Resort Airline Check-In service, it’s a good idea to check your bags as early as possible: don’t wait until it’s time to board your bus back to the airport.  Before taking your bags to the Resort Airline Check-in desk, which may be located outside, in front of your resort, you must pay any applicable baggage fees imposed by the airline. You can call Baggage Airline Guest Services at (407)284-1231 between 5:00am and 11:00pm to pay the fees with a credit card. This can be done any time prior to checking your bags. This information is included on the Resort Airline Check-in instructions. Make note of the confirmation number you will be given and be sure to take this with you when you take your bags to the check-in desk.

If you pay your baggage fees by the day prior to your departure, you may also receive an envelope slipped under your door containing your boarding passes and airline luggage tags. You can attach the tags to your bags before taking them down to the check-in desk. Make sure everyone in your group has boarding passes. If you are only checking 3 bags and you have 4 people you may not have boarding passes for all 4 people. When you get to the check-in desk, ask for the missing pass to be printed.

luggageOne last thing: when the baggage handler at the Resort Airline Check-In desk begins explaining to you how the service works, that’s your cue that it’s time to tip him.
 

 

 

 

 


For more information about Disney World vacation planning, check out these articles:

  • Fastpass to Disney World
  • Disney World and strollers: rent or take your own?
  • Travel Insurance – spend a little save a lot

  • Want more help deciding which vacation package components are right for your family?
  • Visit www.momswdw.com to check out the free preview and download your copy of The Practical Mom’s Disney Vacation Companion 2010 Edition today.


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