Transportation to Disney
If you plan on staying at one of the official, owned-by-Disney hotels and resorts (this does not include Shades of Green, any of the Good Neighbor Hotels, or the Swan and Dolphin hotels located at Disney’s Boardwalk) you can take advantage of a nice perk called the Magical Express!
This is a Disney bus that takes you from the Orlando International Airport to your hotel, all at no cost to you. So if you plan on staying On Property (OP) and doing only Disney things for the entirety of your vacation, this means you won’t have to pay for a rental car or taxi/Uber to get you to and from the airport, nor will you have to pay parking costs. And trust us, all that can really add up quickly!
How it Works
Well, if you read the 10 Questions to Answer before you book your Disney Trip article (and filled out the Questionnaire) then you already know to tell your Disney Travel Advisor that you’d like to take the Magical Express. (Haven’t read the article or filled out our free questionnaire? You should do that now or sometime in the near future.)
If you are booking the vacation yourself, you will have to call (866) 599-0951. This is the direct line to the Magical Express and give them your flight info and what resort you’ll be staying at. You’ll also need to update the information on your My Disney Experience. Even easier, you can use a Disney Travel Advisor instead and they will take care of that for you (did we mention Travel Advisors are free?!?). But it’s important to make note of this when booking because of what happens next. Click HERE to get your no obligation, free quote now! *This is an affiliate link and we may receive a referral fee if you decide to use their services, but this will be at no extra cost to you. To see our full Disclosure Policy, click the preceding link.*
Once Disney knows that you’ll be taking the Magical Express they will send you magical luggage tags! Okay, they aren’t actually magic, but it sure seems like they are. Because once you put those bad boys on your luggage and check your bags at your local airport, they will “magically” end up in your room, at your resort, within three hours of your arrival! You won’t even have to think about them when you debark in Orlando.
Be sure to pack anything you’ll need right away, into your carry-on. You won’t need to worry about your bags, but you’ll also not have access to them until later. If you plan on heading straight to a park upon arrival, don’t forget things like sunscreen, Magic Bands, and other park necessities. To see what you should pack in your Park Bag, click HERE.
**Take note, this portion of the service only works if your flight comes into Orlando between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (local time). Otherwise you will have to grab your bags from the baggage claim with the rest of the non-magical people. Also note, the luggage tags are only available if you book your stay at least 2-3 weeks before your flight is scheduled to depart. If you miss that window, you’ll have to save your baggage claim numbers to let Disney know when you arrive in Orlando.**
Moving on…get it? Moving on, traveling, bags? Sorry, not sorry for the pun. They come free of charge here on Dole Whip Wishes and Castle Dreams.
When you arrive at Orlando International airport, be advised, it is huge! There are three levels (1-3) and two sides, A & B. If you can’t walk long distances, contact the airport ahead of time for assistance, because it may not seem like it on the map, but it can be a long trek from start to finish.
You’ll come in from your gate and take a tram to the main terminal. (This is what always makes us feel like we’ve finally started our vacation!) The gates come in on Level 3, either Side A or Side B. Magical Express Check-In is on Level 1 of Side B. So if you’re on Side A, you’ll need to make your way over to Side B. If you have to collect your own luggage, do that first. Then find the check-in area. Once on Side B, make your way down to Level 1 and over to the far right. That’s where you’ll find it. And if you need even more help, there are signs everywhere in the airport to guide you!
** Please note, if you arrive on Side A, you cannot cross over to Side B from the lower floors so you will need to cross over to Side B before going down to Level 1.**
Some other things to keep in mind:
- Guests must be at least 16 years of age to travel on the Magical Express without a parent or guardian.
- Car seats (or other child safety seats are not recommended for use on the Magical Express. Not all of the busses have seat belts. And if they do, they might not work properly with the safety seat. You can either hold small children in the lap of an adult, or they can ride in their own seat. You can store the car seats in the storage compartments under the bus.
- If you are traveling from outside of the United States, you will have to claim your own bags and take them through customs with you. Once you are through customs, you can proceed down to the Magical Express Check-In area.
- If your driver assists you with your bags and/or does an otherwise incredible job, plan to give them a tip. They do their best to make the experience as magical as possible. And a little gratitude goes a long way.
The Return Trip
Heading back to the airport is just as easy. You’ll receive a notification (usually in your room) notifying you to check-in at a certain time using the Resort Online Check-In. Typically, this will be for about three hours before the time of your flight. You’ll bring your bags down to the resort’s Airline Center. Or you can call and they will come get them for you, a tip is expected for this though too, so be ready for that.
A lot of people like to schedule a later flight and spend one last day in the parks. This is absolutely an option. As long as you keep an eye on the time. And you just need to drop your bags off at the resort’s baggage claim. They will hold them for you (carry-ons and all) until you return. Again, make sure you give yourself ample time to travel back to the hotel in time to make your Magical Express Check-In.
For guests who are flying on a non-participating airline, you can actually use the Magical Express to return to the airport. But you will have to carry your bags to the bus and then again to the check-in counter of whatever airline you are flying. But still, it’s free to use and you can’t beat that!
And that wraps things up for how to use Disney’s Magical Express! We hope you found that informative. If you have any other questions we can help you answer, or you would like help planning/booking/improving your next Disney vacation click HERE for your free vacation quote or email us at dolewhipandcastle@gmail.com.
We’ve also got lots of great Disney content on our YouTube channel Dole Whip and Castle. Be sure you check it out and subscribe if you like what you see! We’ve got lots of great Copycat Recipes from Disney. If you love Disney food. And some Tips and Tricks for visiting the parks. Along with some fun Disney Crafts you can make at home!