When staying at an on-property Walt Disney World Resort hotel, there are many exclusive benefits - including access to Disney’s Magical Express which is a convenient and money-saving perk, getting you to and from Orlando International Airport in Disney style!
What is Magical Express?
It’s Walt Disney World’s complimentary motorcoach service to and from 29 of Walt Disney World’s hotels - from Value to Deluxe resorts. With this free service, on-property guests don’t have to worry about paying an additional expense to secure a ride-sharing or private car service.
How do I reserve Disney’s Magical Express?
To reserve your place on Disney’s Magical Express, notify Disney (or your Beyond Imagination Vacations travel agent) of your confirmed flight information - airline, flight number, arrival/departure times - to add to your Walt Disney World hotel stay or hotel/ticket package. After you've made your reservation, Disney will send you information about Disney’s Magical Express - including luggage tags - about two to three weeks prior to your departure.
Ideally, you want to add Magical Express to your hotel stay/package no later than 10 days prior to your arrival.
Yikes! It’s my arrival day. What I am supposed to do?
First, be sure that your MagicBands - another benefit of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel - are packed in your carry-on bag or are firmly secured on your wrist. Your MagicBands will be scanned by Disney Cast Members at the Magical Express area of Orlando International Airport to confirm your reservation. You don’t want them in your checked luggage!
Next, attach the yellow Magical Express tags to the baggage you plan to check in with the airline. By placing these tags on your luggage, Disney representatives will know that your bags are to be transported directly from the airport to your Disney resort.
After you land at Orlando International Airport, you’ll head to Disney’s Magical Express area located in the Ground Transportation Area on Side B, Level 1. If you arrive on an airline that lands on Side A of the airport, simply cross to Side B before proceeding down to Level 1. Because it takes about three hours for checked luggage to arrive at your hotel from the airport, you may want to handle the luggage yourself. If that’s the case, do not attach the yellow tags to your checked luggage. Instead, you’ll head to Baggage Claim at Orlando International Airport, grab your checked luggage, and then take your luggage onto the Magical Express yourself.
If you arrive into Orlando between 10 pm and 5 am, you are required to collect your luggage at Baggage Claim on Level 2 and bring it with you to the Disney's Magical Express location.
Regardless of what time you arrive or if you handle your own luggage, Disney Cast Members will direct you to the line for boarding onto the bus to take you to your resort after scanning your MagicBands. Magical Express is not non-stop, making stops at other Disney resorts; however, you will be entertained with Disney cartoons, programming taking you behind-the-scenes at Disney resorts and theme parks, and interviews with guests just like you! Trust us - riding on the Magical Express builds the anticipation for getting your Disney vacation started!
You should plan for a total of 90-120 minutes from the time you enter the boarding line at the Magical Express area of the airport to being dropped off at the entrance of your resort.
Yikes! It’s my departure day. What I am supposed to do?
The night before check out of your Walt Disney World resort, you’ll find an envelope with instructions hanging on your hotel room door knob or slipped underneath your hotel door. It’s about the saddest thing you’ll ever see. The informational packet will specifiy the time you should be at the Magical Express pick-up area for your specific hotel - ranging from three to four hours prior to your flight departure. Please do not be late. If you miss your pick-up time, you may miss out on the Magical Express service to Orlando International Airport.
On the departure leg of your Magical Express trip, you will not use MagicBands to confirm your spot. The Magical Express driver will ask for the paperwork you received the day before.
If you fly on a participating airline, you are automatically enrolled in the Resort Airline Check-In service when arriving through Disney’s Magical Express. This service allows you to obtain your boarding pass and check your luggage at your Disney Resort hotel, bypassing airport check-in. If your flight is after 12 p.m., your boarding pass will be delivered to your room on the morning of your departure.
Why use Magical Express?
Simply put, it’s a free add-on of your Walt Disney World hotel stay/package. It’s a super convenient, safe and fun way to get to and from your on-property hotel from and to Orlando International Airport. Sadly, it’s not so fun on the trip back to the airport.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue to explore other benefits of staying on-property at Walt Disney World Resort.