One of the bigger perks of staying on Disney property during your vacation is being able to use Disney’s FREE shuttle service to and from the Orlando International Airport. Disney will have multiple buses stationed at the airport ready to whisk you away to your resort once your plane lands. You don’t even need to stop at the baggage claim to pick up your checked bags. Disney will take care of all of that for you.
What’s the catch you might be asking? Well Disney might have some ulterior motives in doing this. It’s in Disney’s best financial interest if you don’t have your own vehicle while on a Disney World vacation. There is a better chance that you will stay on their property to eat, shop, and less chance for you to go to that “other” theme park down the road and get your Harry Potter on 😉
So let’s get down to the details behind this complimentary service. Only guests who are staying at a Disney owned and operated resort can take advantage. This means no go for the guests at the Swan, Dolphin or Shades of Green. Also, this service is only for guests arriving and/or departing from the Orlando International Airport. And yes, you can use Disney transportation for only one-way if you need it.
How Do I Book Magical Express?
The easiest way to set this up is when booking your hotel reservation online or through your travel agent. But, you will need to have your flight already booked and the information ready. If you don’t have your flight booked yet then you can call back later 866-599-0951 to schedule your transportation. You will just need to have your flight AND resort confirmation info ready. If for some reason your flight gets changed by you or the airline or if weather delays happen or if you miss your flight call the Magical Express reservation line and give them the heads up.
Magical Express Documentation
Guests who make their Magical Express reservation at least a month in advance will get their Magical Express voucher booklet and luggage tags in the mail. What is a voucher you might be asking yourself? Well, basically a voucher = your Magical Express ticket. It will get scanned at the airport and then you will be directed to the right bus to get to your resort. So make sure you pack your voucher in your carry-on luggage. If you misplace your voucher or you didn’t book transportation a month in advance of your vacation, no worries! There is a Magical Express Desk located in the airport by the buses and can look up your resort confirmation number and print you new vouchers when you arrive. The Magical Express Desk is located on Level 1. Just follow the signs for Baggage Claim B and take the elevator/escalator down to Level 1. After that just follow the Magical Express signs pointing you the right way. They are everywhere (See the map below)
Now on to the luggage tags! If anyone has ever taken a cruise (Disney or otherwise) then you should be familiar with this process. Just put your Magical Express luggage tags on your bag and hand them over to your local airport to be checked. Then you’re done! There is no need to stop at the Orlando baggage claim to pick them up. You won’t see them again until they get delivered to your resort room up to 3-5 hours after you land in Orlando. Disney’s official claim is 3 hours but some guests have seen up to 5 hours for delivery time. I just want to make sure you know the range before choosing this option.
Of course there’s no need to put the luggage tags on if you only have carry-on bags.
Also, this part of Magical Express is completely optional. If you aren’t wanting to part from your checked bags for a few hours than no worries. First thing is do NOT put the luggage tags on your bags. Obvious right? They get sorted behind the scenes at the airport. Bags with luggage tags don’t show up on the baggage carousel. So this decision needs to be made before you check your bags at your home airport. After you land in Orlando just head to baggage claim like you normally would and grab your bags and make your way over to the Magical Express buses and the driver will load your luggage underneath the bus.
Hours for Magical Express
Magical Express runs 24 hours a day. No matter what time your flight lands there will be a bus ready to take you to your resort. BUT the luggage delivery service for Magical Express only runs until 10pm. If your flight lands after 10pm either scheduled or delayed then you will need to pick up your own bags from baggage claim and take them over to the Magical Express buses.
Magical Express Buses
Once you get to the Magical Express check-in desk and have shown your vouchers you will then move over to the appropriate line for the bus that goes to your resort. The wait to get on the bus can be up to 20 minutes but as little 0 depending on how long ago the last bus left for your resort. Once your bus arrives, the driver will be standing waiting for any bags you want loaded underneath the bus. Just hand over your bags and climb aboard. Just a side note, car seats are NOT allowed in the seating are of the bus (nothing to attach a car seat to anyway). You will need to hand this over to the driver to be stored underneath. There is a bathroom located in the back of the bus in case your little one can’t make it to the resort.
Are We There Yet?
The actual time to drive from the airport to the Disney property is about 30 minutes. BUT, each bus will be making stops at 3 to 4 resorts during their run. So, it will depend on how many stops are before yours to know how long your ride will take. Generally though the range will be 35 to 75 minutes till you arrive at your resort once the bus leaves the airport. If this seems too long then just keep in mind that a cab will cost you about $75 for a one-way trip from the airport to your resort. Time vs. Money …the age-old question 🙂
There’s No Place Like Home
Ok so your magical vacation is done and it’s time to head back to the airport. Now what? The day before you are scheduled to head home, a Magical Express paper will be slid under your door that will tell you what time your bus ride back to the airport is scheduled for. Generally, it will be about 3 hours before your domestic flight departs (4 hours for international). You will meet your bus right out in front of your hotel lobby. Keep hold of that paper that was under your door. It has a scan-able code that will be your proof to get on board.
As for your luggage, Disney offers a simple solution for your return trip as well. At your resort lobby area there is a desk called Resort Airline Check-In. They are open from 5 am until 1 pm. This is a similar service to what curb-side check-in is at your airport. You can check your bags in at the desk and they will put your airline’s tags on it and then deliver it to the airport. All done! They will even check you in and print your boarding pass. It’s awesome! (You don’t even need to take a Magical Express bus to take advantage on of this service.) The only downside is that not all airlines participate in this service. Currently these airlines are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United and US Airways. Everyone else will need to check there bags with their airlines at the airport. You can drop your bags off up to 12 hours prior to you flight and up until 3 hours before your flight.
So if your flight doesn’t leave until later in the evening. Go ahead and check out of your hotel and check your luggage at the Resort Airline Check-In desk. You can also leave your carry-on bags with Bell Services. Then hit the parks for one more day of fun! Just remember to be back at your resort about 15 minutes before your scheduled Magical Express departure time.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure you pack any necessary paperwork, medication, swimsuits in your carry-on to tide you over till your luggage arrives
- If you need extra luggage tags just call Magical Express and they will send you more. Generally you are sent 2 tags per guest.
- Magical Express buses only pick up and drop off guests off at their own resorts. No pick-up or drop-off at the parks either.
Special Needs
- Magical Express buses can help with wheelchair needs but you will need to let the Magical Express booking team know ahead of time.
- Only service animals are allowed on buses. No pets.
Helping You with Your Disney World Vacation 