Uber or Magical Express?

javamoma · May 18, 2019

I've never used ME, I normally rent a car or bring my own. We want to make it to the resort fast after our flight so we can get settled in for MNSSHP. Is ME pretty efficient? Does it take a long time to get your luggage? Should we just Uber it? Please share your experiences with ME.

Thanks! :thanks:

SaintsManiac · May 18, 2019

Luggage delivery can take 3 hours. You can always get your own bags.

We thought about taking Lyft last time, but ME was really quick. If you walk up and the lines are crazy you can always call Uber/Lyft instead.

disneyAndi14 · May 18, 2019

We use ME all the time, we have picked up our luggage and had it delivered. The ride, It usually takes a minimum of an hour and sometimes over 90 minutes total. Lyft and Uber would probably be quicker except ME is such a part of the Disney experience. I love taking it to the resort.

javamoma · May 18, 2019

Thanks for your replies. That helps. From MCO, if we get our luggage, should it take an hour or hour and a half to get to Beach Club using ME?

Disneypro1 · May 18, 2019

Get your luggage and take it with you on bus. They will store it underneath. And then you’ll have it right when you get dropped off at the resort. Just don’t put the tags on them for ME. We always use magical express and the longest I have ever waited for a bus to POP or POFQ is maybe 15-20 min. I suppose if it is super busy you can use lyft. I have never.

Kae · May 18, 2019

ME let them take your bags. Have what you need for the party? And to go to bed. stash Carry on bags with bell services if your rooms not ready.

100acreHiker · May 18, 2019

We've done both ways--there's no doubt taking a Lyft or Uber is generally quicker. On one hand, I've been at the first resort stop and I've been at the 3rd stop, so unless you know the order and know you have time to spare, take the lyft if you are worried about time.

SaintsManiac · May 18, 2019

javamoma said:
Thanks for your replies. That helps. From MCO, if we get our luggage, should it take an hour or hour and a half to get to Beach Club using ME?

I always plan for 90 minutes and only one time did it come close. That time it was an hour.

AngiTN · May 18, 2019

javamoma said:
Thanks for your replies. That helps. From MCO, if we get our luggage, should it take an hour or hour and a half to get to Beach Club using ME?

It's 30 min drive
Figure 15 to 20 min to walk down and get bags
Another 5 or so to request an rideshare. So takes about an hour for rideshare
Add about another 30 to use ME

_19disnA · May 18, 2019

We were just at Disney and used Magical Express. Thought it worked out great. You board a bus based on resort and don't have to worry about driving. Using any kind of taxi/on-line taxi service will involve an additional cost, Magical Express is free when staying at Disney. Luggage showed up a couple of hours after we arrived which worked out well with our plans.

Lacoccinelle · May 18, 2019

The Beach club was the last hotel on that ME last time we stayed there. I think it was BW, YC, then BC if that makes a difference.

AngiTN · May 19, 2019

Lacoccinelle said:
The Beach club was the last hotel on that ME last time we stayed there. I think it was BW, YC, then BC if that makes a difference.

The odd quirk about this grouping is sometimes BW is first, BC last, other times, YC is first, with BW last. I'm not sure what they use to determine which stop they make first when they put the same 3 resorts on the bus together.

grannyminnie · May 19, 2019

If you use ME and are staying at the Grand Floridian, does the bus make other stops? I'm also considering using something other than ME, maybe even a car service, simply to avoid the waiting around for ME. Last trip, it seemed FOREVER from our arrival til we got to the Poly!! FOREVER! :crazy2:

Eastern · May 19, 2019

I am usually happy with ME but last time it took longer than usual. We were waiting in line for a bit, maybe 20-30 minutes? Then when we finally boarded, Caribbean Beach was with us as well as BWI & BC (we were staying at YC) and we were the last stop. (there may have been another resort as well, I don't remember. but when I heard who was getting dropped off I knew we were in for a long ride) On some stops, only 1 or 2 people got off. So I understand why they kept us waiting, they were trying to fill the bus, but it was aggravating. It took us at least hour and a half, maybe longer.

grannyminnie · May 19, 2019

I didn't time our wait, but between the walk from the gate (SW), the train, the walk to ME, the wait to be checked in, AND even to wait for a bus to appear outside, it seemed like an eternity~ Probably just because we were so ready to be at the Poly.
Anybody have any suggestions for good town car services if I don't do a ride share?

terri33inne · May 19, 2019

What time do you land?

Keep in mind that baggage claim & ME are on opposite sides of the airport, so once you land;

you take the tram to the main terminal
go down an escalator or elevator to baggage claim
wait for your bags
bring your bags back up to the main terminal, walk across, and go back down 2 levels to get to ME.

In terms of waiting for ME I've experienced walking on to a bus, and leaving right away, and I've also sat on a bus for about 45 minutes waiting to leave (this was the ONE time I used ME for an evening flight arrival).

I've done ME, and a car service (never Uber or Lyft), and it is always dependent on what time I land. If my flight gets in after 5pm/6pm I'm using a car service (the one we use is about $60-$70) one way. If I'm getting in any earlier in the day I use ME, and let them handle my bags. I make sure I have anything I'm going to need right away in my carry-on.

Have fun! We love MNSSHP!

disneygolfer1985 · May 19, 2019

grannyminnie said:
If you use ME and are staying at the Grand Floridian, does the bus make other stops? I'm also considering using something other than ME, maybe even a car service, simply to avoid the waiting around for ME. Last trip, it seemed FOREVER from our arrival til we got to the Poly!! FOREVER!

I’m pretty sure GF shares with another resort. I can remember which one, but I know it is last. We will be going there for thanksgiving and plan on taking ME. With an 18 month old, we figure it is the easiest option.

AngiTN · May 19, 2019

grannyminnie said:
If you use ME and are staying at the Grand Floridian, does the bus make other stops? I'm also considering using something other than ME, maybe even a car service, simply to avoid the waiting around for ME. Last trip, it seemed FOREVER from our arrival til we got to the Poly!! FOREVER!

There are no standard routes. They are always changing based on need
When we've stayed in other MK area resorts yes they have stopped at GF

kaytieeldr · May 19, 2019

disneyAndi14 said:
The ride, It usually takes a minimum of an hour and sometimes over 90 minutes total.

The entire timeline, from stepping into the terminal at the gate to stepping of the bus at your resort, is typically 70-90 minutes.

javamoma said:
Thanks for your replies. That helps. From MCO, if we get our luggage, should it take an hour or hour and a half to get to Beach Club using ME?

Getting one's own luggage adds 15-30 minutes to the above timeline. Longer if the luggage is misdirected or if there's lightning in the vicinity.

100acreHiker said:
so unless you know the order

Typically, there's.no standard routing or grouping.

grannyminnie said:
Last trip, it seemed FOREVER from our arrival til we got to the Poly!! FOREVER!

And yet, you made it to the resort, enjoyed your trip, and made it home, all as scheduled

.

eco-muse · May 19, 2019

I think it all depends on timing (and a bit of luck). Sometimes, the bus was already at the airport and we simply got on and went straight to the resort. Other times, we've waited a bit at the airport (20-ish minutes) before the bus arrived, and made stops at multiple resorts before arriving at ours.

Between those options (Magical Express or Uber/Lyft), I'll always go with Magical Express. It's free, Disney-themed, free, (usually) convenient, free, and the competition has too much bad press for me to trust them. Oh, and it's free (you can't say that about too many things at Disney, so it's worth repeating

).

Uber or Magical Express?

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