There are many benefits to staying at a Disney owned and operated resort hotel at Walt Disney World but one of my favorites is the complimentary round trip airport transfers via Disney’s Magical Express. Considering the cost of taxis and other shared ride alternatives from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Disney property this benefit will save your family a significant amount of money.
When booking your Disney resort reservation with your travel specialist Magical Express transfers will be added to your reservation. When you have your flights booked just let your travel specialist know and they will update your flight information with Disney.
Included with your trip documents will be yellow bag tags noting your name, reservation and resort area as well as a booklet with instructions. Use one of these special tags on each piece of checked luggage. When you arrive at MCO you may bypass baggage claim. Disney will claim your luggage for you and deliver your bags directly to your room at your resort. Please note that this may take up to 3 hours so if you are arriving late at night you may choose to claim your own bags and take them with you on Disney’s Magical Express. Additionally, arrivals after 10:00 PM will need to take their bags with them on the bus. If this is the case simply leave the yellow tags off of your luggage and claim them as you normally would before heading to the Magical Express counter.
With or without your checked baggage head towards Disney’s Magical Express Welcome Center located on the B side of the airport, level 1. You may check in using your MagicBand or simply give the cast member your name and reservation information. Once you are checked in you will be directed to the queue for your bus. Resorts share buses based on location so each queue area will be for three or four different resorts. Everything is clearly marked and there are cast members there to help with any questions. Buses run very regularly and there is usually a very little wait, if any, for the next bus to your resort.
Once on board the large motor coach you will be shown a video with information on checking in to your resort followed by several fun, informative videos on what to expect during your visit to the Walt Disney World Resort.
Upon arrival at your resort simply check in and either head out for some fun at the parks or explore your resort. Your luggage will be delivered directly to your hotel room whether you are in the room or not so don’t worry about having to be in your room for delivery –go enjoy Walt Disney World!
The day before you depart you will receive a door hanger with your airport motor coach pick up time (usually 3 hours prior to flight time). If you are using one of the following participating airlines you may use the complimentary Resort Airline Check In Service: AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways. Your door hanger will contain instructions on how to check your luggage at your resort when using one of the participating airlines. You may use this service if your flight departs after 8 AM. There is a dedicated bag check desk at each resort. On the morning of your departure (at least 3 hours prior to flight time) take the bags you’d like to check to this counter. You will be able to check in, have boarding passes printed and check your luggage from here (you will need to pay any applicable bag check fees at this time). This service is operated by a third party so gratuities are appreciated just as they are by skycaps at the airport. Once you are all checked in you are free to go have fun before your pick up time. Disney will check any carry on’s you have until your bus picks you up. Just be sure to allow enough time to claim the stored carry on’s before your bus arrives.
If your airline does not participate in the Resort Airline Check In Service simply bring your luggage on the motor coach with you and check it at the airport. Disney will be happy to hold on to your luggage until your bus arrives if your flight leaves later in the afternoon or evening.
Meet your bus at the arranged time in front of your resort at the Magical Express drop off/pick up location. Once you have arrived back at MCO you may head straight to security if you’ve used the check in desk at the resort and have your boarding passes.
Disney’s Magical Express is a wonderful, hassle free way to begin and end your vacation to the Walt Disney World resort. And best of all it’s complimentary!
I would love to help you plan your trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise, Adventures by Disney or Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii. I’m a Destination Specialist with Travel with the Magic and my trip planning services are completely complimentary. Contact me at SusanH@travelwiththemagic.com or follow me on facebook. You can also find out more about what I do and what my clients have to say about my services here.
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