Disney's Magical Express, Explained
Disney's Magical Express is a complimentary transportation and baggage delivery service available to guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort. It gets you to your resort, and then luggage is delivered to your room about 2-3 hours after your arrival, so that you can start enjoying the parks without having to stop at baggage claim.
It can be booked with any resort package or room only reservation (the key is staying at a Disney Resort hotel) up to 10 days in advance of your arrival flight. The booking process is fairly easy using Disney's web site.
You need to have the following information before you can book:
Airline
Flight numbers of arrival and departing flights
Original/connecting city
Destination city on your departure from Disney
Disney will also confirm flight times.
If you've booked your Magical Express more than a month before your flight, then about 21 days before your flight, Disney will send luggage tags and a packet of information explaining what to do.
What to do ahead of your flight:
Book your magical express either online or by calling Disney
Put your luggage tags on the bags you plan to check. Tip: Put the luggage tags on the bags you will check immediately so you don't lose them.
Put your magical express information in your carry on bag.
Put your magic band in your carry on bag.
Upon arrival at the airport, you will proceed directly to the transportation and Cast Members will pick up your checked bags, which will be transported to your resort separately.
What to do upon arrival at the Orlando International Airport:
Do not pick up your bags from the baggage carousel (unless it's after 10 pm... more on that later)
Go directly to Level 1/ Terminal B
Follow the signs/ waving Mickey hands/ masses of people in Disney gear toward the far right side (facing the doors) where you will see Cast Members waiting and several lines.
Scan your Magic Band. If you don't have your Magic Band, show the Cast Member at the Welcome Services desk your paperwork Disney sent you.
The Cast Member will direct you to a line based on your resort. Depending on the time of day, this line can be quite long. You will board buses on that resort route in order.
What to expect upon arrival at Walt Disney World:
A video and music will play on the ride getting you excited to arrive at Walt Disney World
The bus may stop at several area Disney resorts
The ride overall, may take an hour or more (sometimes less)
Upon arrival at your resort, you can check in and see if your room is ready
Go play at the parks or wander the resort!
Your luggage will arrive inside your room about 3 hours after you arrive. You don't have to be there to receive them which means you can play as long as you want to.
A couple tips:
The line for Disney's Magical Express at the airport has sometimes been the longest line I've been in all vacation (and that says a lot for Walt Disney World), especially if you are arriving at a peak time of day. So use the bathroom before getting in line, maybe get a beverage and snack, and put your patience cap on. While the line is not always long, it's better to be prepared. I have experienced everything from walking on the waiting bus to waiting for 2 and a half hours.
If you are arriving in the evening, you may wish to grab your own bags and take them with you (you can stow them under the bus). Otherwise, an 8 pm arrival may mean you are up until 11 pm or later waiting for your bags.
If you are arriving after 10 pm in the evening, you must take your own bags as Disney does not offer bag service after 10 pm.
Example of using Magical Express for arrival:
Say my flight arrives at Orlando International at 10 am...
I put my Magical Express tags on my checked bags and make sure my magic bands are in my carry on.
I check-in at my home airport and wave goodbye to my bags.
I arrive in Orlando at 10 am.
I bypass baggage claim and follow the signs to Transportation (lower level, terminal B).
I do the pee of happiness (this is a thing) before getting in line
I head all the way to the right until I see Disney Cast Members and signs
I scan my magic band. The smiling Cast Member directs me to a line.
I wait between about 20 minutes to a couple hours until it's my turn to board
I watch the videos and cheer when I see the Walt Disney World sign and get off when the bus driver announces my resort. It's probably at least 11 am, if not nearing noon at this point.
I see if my room is ready. If not, I leave my carry ons with bell services and head out. I typically have a great FastPass+, an ADR for dinner (neither earlier than about 3 hours after flight arrival), and maybe plans to see fireworks at a park. There is nothing like Magic Kingdom fireworks on arrival evening.
At some point in there, I get a text that my room is ready.
After doing the things I want to, I finally return to my resort at about 9 - 10 pm.
I check in (or not if using rapid check in on the MyDisneyExperience app).
When I get to my room, my bags should have arrived and are sitting inside my door.
Departing Disney on the Magical Express & Resort Airline Check-in
The Magical Express also offers you complimentary transportation back to Orlando International Airport. Here's what you need to know:
The day before departure, Disney will slip Magical Express return information under your door. This time, you are assigned a bus time, which is typically 3 hours before your departure if flying domestic and 4 hours before your departure if flying internationally.
You do have to bring your own bags to the bus. But if you want to play in the parks before your departure, you can leave your bags with bell services.
Some airlines offer resort check-in, meaning that upon arrival at the airport, you will be able to bypass the check in line completely. If the airline is listed below, check in at the resort, leave your checked bags with the check-in clerk, and pay any excess luggage fees ahead of time by calling (407) 284-1231.
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines (U.S. Domestic Flights Only)
JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
United Airlines
Resort airline check-in is available from 5 am to noon, and works just like regular airline check in, except it's usually in your resort lobby. You need to present a valid ID, etc, and will receive your boarding pass, which means upon arrival at the airport, you can head straight to security.
You must check in no later than 3 hours before your flight if checking in at the resort.
If your flight is before 8 am, you will need to check in at the airport. If your flight is in the evening, it's a good idea to take advantage of resort check in, if offered, before noon, leave your bags, and put your boarding passes somewhere safe. Return from the parks for your Magical Express pick up time (and remember to allow at least an hour to get to your resort from the park).
If your airline does not offer resort airline check in, then you will load your checked bags onto the bus, and pick them up at the airport. Then, proceed to the check-in counters like you usually would.
Example of using Magical Express for Departure
Say my flight with Delta is at 7 pm on Monday...
On Sunday, I will receive my Magical Express pick-up time. It's probably going to be something between 3 pm and 4 pm.
Because I fly Delta, my airline offers resort check-in, but only if I do it before noon.
I plan to be in the Magic Kingdom until the last possible moment, so...
When I'm packed and ready to head out, I check out of my resort, and then go to the airline check-in counter with my bags and ID. Say I do this at 7 am because I want to head to the park - that's OK!
I receive boarding passes. Because I want them safe, I put them in my park bag for the day so I have them on me.
I take my other carry-ons to bell services and ask them to hold them for me. I receive a bag claim ticket.
I go to the Magic Kingdom, arriving by 8 am.
I play all day until about 2 - 3 pm (depending on my Magic Express time).
I allow at least an hour to get from the park to the resort. Because I'm a worrier, I end up allowing more like 2 hours.
I arrive back at my resort at about 3 - 4 pm and collect my bags from bell services.
I board the next Magical Express bus, and ride for 40 min to an hour to the airport. This trip, unlike the first one, is silent. :-(
Upon arrival, because I already checked in, I get out my boarding pass and head directly to security.
I see my checked bags for the first time since this morning upon arrival at my destination airport.
Magical Express is just one of many perks of choosing to stay on property. What do you think of Magical Express? Comment on our Facebook page, and if you like this blog, share with a friend.
