Originally Posted By bloona Hi all. We have a choice of using the Magical Express this Fall when we come to Orlando. We are flying to Orlando International Airport and staying at Pop Century. We are using Alamo car rental. What I want to know is, we have to say what would be the best Alamo to pick our car up from, there are three quite close to our hotel, but the one at the Swan closes at 4pm, which will be too early for our flight. Plus will Patrick have to get a taxi, or will there be a courtesy bus or something from the hotel? Anyone used the Magical Express? thank you in advance, we have always driven from the airport.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Bloona, either use Magical Express or get a car. I wouldn't bother doing both - waste of time as it is more trouble to get from Pop to any of the car rental areas.
Originally Posted By marc66 We used Magical Express and were happy with it. We dropped off our luggage in Baltimore, landed in Orlando, boarded the bus and didn't see our luggage until we got to All Star Movies. Really cool. Sometimes it takes 3 hours for your luggage to appear in your room. It did for us.
Originally Posted By bloona That's what we have always done, but we've gone to Sanford Airport the last few visits to Orlando, because of how we had to pick up cases twice at Orlando International Airport (pick them up, walk round a corner, put them back on a conveyor belt walk a bit then wait another hour to pick them up again) We might have been unlucky previously, but it taken hours to get through the airport before. So the fact that doing this we only have to collect the cases once(not sure why we have to get them once but thats what it says) then we can get the bus to our hotel appeals. Oh and without the kids having to wait outside the car rental place either, and after a 10 hour flight theyre not at their most patient (or me.....lol)so Patrick can go by himself to go get the car. That appeals too. Oh we're flying with Virgin Airways this year by the way, and they dont fly to Sanford Airport. Im really excited about flying FROM this airport by the way, because there's soooooooooooooooo much more to do/see there when youre waiting for your flight home (dont want to think bout flight home though ) ta again
Originally Posted By bloona lol, it took me so long to type the answer to question one, Id got two more answers...lol I wouldnt go without a car Dave though. We're not patient enough to use others transport...want to set off NOW!...lol
Originally Posted By bloona Waiting three hours for luggage is fine, means I dont have to unpack straight away!..lol
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I would take the Magical Express with the kids and the luggage - let Patrick pick up the car at the airport and meet at the hotel..
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Maybe have each person throw a change of clothes in their carry on that way if you have to wait a bit for your luggage you can at least all shower/bathe - after a 10hr flight it would probably be a welcome necessity!! A swim suit maybe for a swim too...
Originally Posted By bloona We usually all just go straight to bed...lol.I always have a spare set of clothes for the kids in the hand luggage anyway, cos both kids get travel sickness (oh joy) so despite being an expert vomit catcher now, its a good plan just in case. (Last flight they filled 7 sick bags between them as we landed, people were handing their sick bags to us. (well me, chief sick bag holder)) Good tips though, thanks
Originally Posted By bloona oh just thought, cant go straight to sleep, will be waiting for luggage and Patrick.....mmm
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Okay so pack some jammies as the sickies will definately need a bath...lol
Originally Posted By bloona good point...lol.. Right, my bed is calling. (10.25 pm here, school for kids tomorrow.) night all x
Originally Posted By jonvn The only issue with Magical Express is that your luggage will arrive basically the next morning. Don't put anything in there you need right away. Otherwise, if you are going to rent a car, don't bother with it. It's for people who use the bus to go to WDW. If you are renting a car, put your luggage in your car.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< So the fact that doing this we only have to collect the cases once(not sure why we have to get them once but thats what it says) then we can get the bus to our hotel appeals. >>> bloona, your post was very confusing, until I realized that you were coming from outside the US and that Orlando was your port of entry. The reason you have to pick up your bags once on an int'l arrival even when using DME is because you have to personally take your bags through Customs inspection. Mickey isn't going to do this for you and get caught with your contraband! Once Customs inspection is complete, then you put them back on a conveyor for transport to the main terminal where you reclaim them. If this last step took an hour once, I wouldn't let that dissuade you unless it's something that happens every time. Using DME is going to add a lot of overhead as well that you don't have with a rental car, and it might just be a wash in the end.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I would say, don't bother with one or the other as they both take time as an international arrival. Superdry is right, you still load and unload luggage like before, then go downstairs and queue for the bus, then go to the resorts. If you must do both, there is a way you could save money. Take DME to the hotel then pick up the car when you need it (maybe the next day), then drop it off a day early and take DME back to the hotel. This way you could save a couple of days on the car and insurance. I can understand wanting a car after the terrible experience we had with buses in 2006. The way I feel these days, I doubt I will ever bother staying on site again at WDW or DLP.
Originally Posted By Mr X **I would take the Magical Express with the kids and the luggage - let Patrick pick up the car at the airport and meet at the hotel..** That was exactly my advice as well. Plus, Patrick can take the car and go party downtown for a while before getting back to the hotel while you all get "settled" (Patrick, I'm on your side bro ).
Originally Posted By Mr X **Take DME to the hotel then pick up the car when you need it (maybe the next day), then drop it off a day early and take DME back to the hotel. This way you could save a couple of days on the car and insurance.** That's not a bad idea at all! And Dave, I think I've been writing pretty much forever here on LP about my opinion that, even if you stay in a Disney hotel, you should rent a car anyway. I usually get scolded with some retort such as "that's not magical", or "I don't want to drive on vacation!", or "I'm not going off property" (that last one is irrelevant though, even if you stay on property a car is preferable imho. Even with a car, I use Disney transportation as well. But I think the psychological aspect of HAVING a car if you get tired of the buses is helpful as well...you can always go back and get the car right?
Originally Posted By Mr X **The reason you have to pick up your bags once on an int'l arrival even when using DME is because you have to personally take your bags through Customs inspection.** Yup...magical express will not help you here! The first time I returned from Asia and had to collect my luggage (six months worth! Ugh!) before my connection it really blew my mind. Collect, lug (sometimes pretty far!), re-check...collect again at final destination. All I could think was "geez, they couldn't come up with a better system than THIS!?". Sadly, that's just the way it is.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Nope, I agree. I think not having a car is why my taste left from our last experience is so bitter. Those buses sucked harder than a........n industrial vaccuum cleaner.
