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Disney's Magical Express: Transportation and More!

Disney World can be described in one simple word: magical.  This magic goes far beyond parks and rides; Disney's cast members want your entire visit to be so carefree and convenient, that it all feels like magic!  One of my favorite benefits for onsite guests is how easy it is to transport luggage.

Disney's Magical Express
Included with your resort stay is a feature called Disney's Magical Express (see? it even has the word "magical" right in the title!).  These are buses that efficiently transport guests back and forth between Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World property.  It is available at no charge- and it couldn't be easier, both for you and your luggage.

Before you depart for your vacation, have Disney’s Magical Express service added to your reservation by your travel agent, and you will receive transfer vouchers and yellow tags in the mail.  Each person on the reservation will have a yellow tag for their bag.  Put these on your luggage prior to checking it at your departing airport. Carry-on bags do not need them.  These tags will let Disney’s Magical Express know which bags to pull and where to deliver them.  This luggage service is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm.  Guests arriving outside of this time window will need to pick up their luggage at baggage claim and transport it on the motor coach with them.  Please keep in mind that if you have any medications, valuables or personal items you will need immediately upon your arrival, you should pack them in your carry-on bag.  Don't forget to also keep your MagicBands in your carry-on, as they will get you on Disney's Magical Express and be your key to the world upon arrival. We also recommend putting a swimsuit in your carry-on bag if you plan to hit the pool when you arrive! If you have booked a last minute trip or made changes to your travel plans and haven’t received your vouchers and tags, simply save the baggage claim stubs when you check your luggage at your home airport.  Once you have arrived at Orlando International Airport, you can stop at the Magical Express desk and give them your reservation information.  They will assist you in getting transfer vouchers and your luggage delivered for you.

Your vacation begins the moment you walk out of your home and take that first step toward Orlando.  After you put the special yellow Magical Express tags on your checked bags, you won't have to carry them again until you get back to that same airport!

Close your eyes and imagine this:
Make sure to put the yellow DME tag on your bag
  1. You arrive at your home airport and turn your luggage over to the airport employee at baggage claim.  
  2. You get ready to board the plane for your magical trip to Disney World, knowing that each piece of checked luggage had the Magical Express tags on them. 
  3. Upon arrival at the Orlando International Airport, you skip the crowded baggage claim area, put on your MagicBands and go right to the Disney's Magical Express departure area. 
  4. You board your motorcoach and have a relaxing ride to your resort of choice.  
  5. The wonderful staff at Disney’s Magical Express will grab your luggage and deliver it directly to your room within a few hours. 

Orlando International Airport can be quite confusing for first time visitors and weary travelers.  Have no fear however, Disney’s Magical Express is quite easy to find.  Once you take the fun monorail ride from your airline’s terminal to the main terminal, head to level 1 of the B side.  There are plenty of signs to help you out, as well as employees who can direct you.  Once you get to level 1 on the B side of the main terminal, all the way down to the end is where you will find Disney’s Magical Express.  Here you will find Cast Members ready and willing to assist you.  If you have your MagicBand and your tags were put on your checked luggage, you do not need to stop at the desk.  Simply have a Cast Member scan your MagicBand and they will direct you to your resort’s line.  If you don't have a MagicBand, ask a Cast Member for assistance. Soon enough, you’ll be loaded on your bus and on your way!


During the approximately 30 – 40 minute ride to your resort, a welcome video will play on the television screens set throughout the bus.  Here you will get a good look at all of the wonderful things you get to look forward to on your vacation.  It’s a great way to pass the time on the bus ride, but an even better way to get everyone excited!   And while every good thing must come to end, there is another video which plays on your way back to Orlando International Airport at the end of your vacation.  It’s not nearly as exciting, especially when Mickey and the gang begin to sing, “Now it’s time to say goodbye… “  - yeah, talk about being dropped off back into the real world!

Once you arrive, go start enjoying the parks, the pool, or Disney Springs, and your luggage will arrive soon, but it's likely you've beaten it there, so make sure anything you need for the first few hours of your trip is packed in your carry-on luggage.  All you need to do is unwind and start enjoying your vacation.

Are you switching resorts?  That's easy too.  Don't even think about hauling your luggage around; simply press the bell services button on your room phone, and a cast member will show up to magically transport it to your next resort. 

Call bell services for assistance with all that luggage!
After you have had a wonderful vacation filled with excitement and entertainment, you can pack up your bags and leave them inside the room next to the door.  Just as if you were switching Disney resorts, you'll make a call and have them bring your luggage down to the airline check-in located in or near the lobby of your resort.

You may think that this is where the magic ends, and you'll now have to shuffle your bags back through the airport and wait in the airline lines again, while reality starts to set in.  Not so fast!  You can check your luggage right at your resort, and watch it be magically whisked away, and sent ahead to the airport to be loaded onto your plane.  You won't need to touch it again until you retrieve it from luggage claim at your home airport.

Keep in mind that the resort airline check-in desk has limited hours (5 am to 1 pm) and your luggage needs to be checked at least a few hours before your flight.  It also may not be available for all airlines.  On your final day, just plan accordingly.  If you have a late flight, bell services can store your carry-on items so you're free to enjoy the day until your Magical Express bus arrives, which will be scheduled approximately 3 hours before your flight.

What a wonderful, hassle-free (and magical!) way to begin and end your vacation!

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