Disney’s Magical Express is a free service for Disney World resort guests. Simplified, it is a shuttle between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and your Walt Disney World resort. In reality, it is much more than that, and a huge money saver.

Requirements for Disney’s Magical Express

Disney has very few requirements that you must meet to use the Magical Express:

• You must be staying at a Disney World resort
• You must have an advance reservation for the Magical Express

That is it! A few points of clarification might be in order:

• The Magical Express is only available if you have a reservation at a Disney resort, so if you are staying at the Swan, Dolphin, Shades of Green or any of the Downtown Disney resorts, you are not able to use the Magical Express. Just one of the many perks or staying on Disney property.
• The Magical Express only serves MCO. Many people fly into Sanford airport, but the Magical Express does not go there, so you are on your own.

That is it. Just make sure your reservation is booked well in advance. Either your travel agent or Disney can make the reservation for you when you make your Disney reservation, or you can call the Magical Express directly at (866) 599-0951. It is very likely the Magical Express folk will tell you to contact your travel agent, so try them first.

How to use the Magical Express

The Magical Express is a fairly painless, easy to use system. Just make sure your reservations have been made.

About 3 - 4 weeks before you travel, you will receive your Magical Express documents in the mail, either from your travel agent or from Disney directly. Inside the documents will be some instructions on how to use the Magical Express, where to pick it up, and some special yellow luggage tags. Make sure you read through all the instructions carefully, they are important. You will also want to confirm the information printed in the documents to make sure your names and flight information is listed correctly, and update Disney if it is not.

When you arrive at your home airport, put one of the yellow luggage tags on each suitcase you plan on checking with your airline. No need to put them on any checked luggage. These luggage tags do two things: they let Disney know that they need to be picked up once they arrive in Orlando, and second, they tell Disney where you are staying, so your luggage makes it to your resort, and eventually, your room. Once the yellow luggage tags are attached, you can check in your luggage with your airline.

Once you arrive at MCO, head directly to the Magical Express Welcome Center, located on the B side of the terminal, down on level 1. If you are familiar with the Orlando airport, you know that the terminal is long and skinny. Most domestic flights exit near the Hyatt hotel, where the big fountain is right outside security. Of course, this is the wrong side of the airport, so don’t go to level 1 just yet, use the moving walkways to get to the other side of the terminal, then head down to level 1 (remember, B side), it should be right in front of you as you exit the elevators.

Check in with the Welcome Center. You will need your blue documents, as your vouchers are located in there. If you happen to be flying on one of their partner airlines (more below), you just need to check in. If you are not on a partner airline, you will need to tell the Cast Member how many bags you had checked in, so they can go find them.

Once checked in, you will be guided to the bus loading area, and will put on the bus headed for your resort. Most buses serve 2 or 3 resorts, so you may be the first stop, or the last, but there will never be more than three stops before your resort. The bus will deliver you right to the main entrance of your resort, where you can debark and check in for your Disney World stay.

Your luggage will magically show up at your resort, and will be delivered to your room. You do not need to be present to get your luggage, so you can head straight to the parks, your luggage will be there when you get back.

The entire process, from stepping off of your plane until you are checking into your resort usually takes about 60 minutes, though it could be a bit longer depending on traffic, the resort you are staying at or just about anything else that could slow you down. I have never had it take longer than 75 minutes, so still pretty quick.

Returning home on the Magical Express

Remember the talk about partner airlines above, here is where they really come into play. Disney has partnered with several airlines, and possibly could add more in the future. The current partners are:

• AirTran
• Alaska Airlines
• Continental
• Delta Air Lines
• JetBlue
• Northwest
• United Airlines
• US Airways

If you are not flying on one of these airlines, then you are not on a partner airline.

Disney resort guests who are returning to MCO, and flying on one of the partner airlines listed above, can check in for their flights at their resort, including checking luggage and receiving any boarding passes. Check in can be done the day of your flight, not before. Please note with the change in excess bag fees at most airlines, including all the partner airlines, we strongly suggest checking with the Resort Check In desk a few days before your departure to confirm policies and to make sure that there are not any additional steps you may need to take.

If you are not on one of the partner airlines (Southwest, for instance), you will not be able to use the resort check in, so no need to worry about it.

The night before you are scheduled to depart for home, you will receive a Magical Express letter in your office, with information on your return bus time, and where you should meet it. Your return should be scheduled for about three hours before your flight time. Whether you used the resort check in or not, make sure you are a few minutes early for your time. If you did not check in at the resort, Disney will put your luggage on your Magical Express bus, and you will fetch them as you get off at MCO.

Why should you use the Magical Express

Well, to save time and money, of course. That is why you are here at MouseMisers, isn’t it? The Magical Express is efficient, convenient, and most important, free. Any tales of lost luggage or long delays have long been resolved.

Alternatives to the Magical Express

There are times when the Magical Express just does not work. There are a few alternatives:

Town Car: Think Limo, but cheaper. A town car company will provide a car and driver for you, and will pick you up at MCO luggage claim and help you out to the car with luggage. Most will also make a stop at a grocery store for you if needed. A town car is great if you want a more personalized service or need the grocery stop. A town car will run you about $100 - $150 for the round trip, more if you want a limo or a 10 passenger van. If you are looking for a great town car service, we highly recommend Quicksilver, we have personally used them many times.

Rental Car: a rental car is great if you want flexibility, whether you plan to visit anything off Disney property (people voluntarily leave Disney?) or if you have a split vacation with a stay outside of Orlando. Rental cars used to be cheap in Orlando due to the volume, but that is not really the case any longer. It is tough to find a rental car for under $200 for a week, much more for anything other than a compact car. We used to rent a car each trip, but we went two trips in a row where our car never left our resort parking lot. I was paying $500 each trip to have the car just in case we might need it, and I found out I was much better off not having one. The Disney bus system is fantastic, so unless you plan on driving off property quite a bit, a rental car probably isn’t your answer.

Was there anything we missed? If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments below.

Walt Disney World has announced some changes to the current Advanced Dining Reservation system, as well as an announcement of an upcoming online system to debut this Fall.

The Walt Disney World Resort will release a new reservation booking system for dining, recreation and tour reservations in late October 2008. The new reservation system will replace our current Dining Reservation System and will allow you to book multiple dining reservations in one experience, while associating reservations to your Walt Disney World Resort room reservations.

In the future, Guests will be able to make dining reservations online at disneyworld.com with this new reservation booking system. The launch date for this enhancement will be announced at a later date.

As a result of the system upgrade, effective July 29 through late October 2008, Guests will be able to book dining reservations up to Jan. 25, 2009 arrivals.  In late October, booking processes will return to normal, allowing Guests to book up to 180 days of arrival.

The system upgrade will not impact Victoria and Albert’s Restaurant, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and Chef Mickey’s Restaurant. Those three venues will continue to observe the normal booking processes throughout the system cutover.

Note: Any and all dates listed above are subject to change without notice.

So, dining reservations will stay as normal until July 29, 2008. At that time, basically everything stops in time, with the exception of the three restaurants listed above, which will retain their 180 day booking window. If you are traveling after January 25, 2009, you will need to wait until October to book your dining reservations, with the exception of those three restaurants, of course.

This is an exciting change, that guest and travel agents will not be able to book dining reservations online. No more calling Disney at 7 AM to get that coveted Cinderella’s Royal Table time slot. It will be interesting to see how the system is implemented, and if you will be required to have an existing Disney World reservation to use it, and if it will limit the number of reservations you can have at one time. I hope Disney takes their time to prevent any possible misuse of the system before it is launched.

Travel Dates: August 3 - September 27, 2008

Walt Disney World has released specially priced room only discounts for the travel dates above, available to the general public. These discount are also available as a Magic Your Way package if you are interested in adding park passes or either of the Disney Dining plans.

Some Sample nightly rates:

• Value resorts, standard room: $69
• Value resorts, preferred location room: $81
• Moderate resorts, standard view room: $109
• Moderate resorts, king bed room: $125
• Animal Kingdom Lodge, standard view room: $149
• Beach Club, standard view room: $249
• Polynesian, garden view room: $269
• Saratoga Springs, studio: $179

These prices are the nightly price, and do not include the 12.5% room tax. Weekday and Weekend nights appear to be the same price. Only the nights that fall within the travel dates above will be discounted.

To book your Walt Disney World vacation, please contact our wonderful sponsor Mouseketrips, who specializes in making your Disney vacation special. Make sure you ask for code DDH!

Travel Dates: August 3 - September 27, 2008

Walt Disney World has released a specially discounted Magic Your Way package for the travel dates above. This is a standard Magic Your Way package, with a discount on the room only portion of the package. Standard additions to the Magic Your Way packages are available, such as the Disney Dining and Deluxe dining options. 

If you happened to book the Free Disney Dining package previously available for some of these dates, under  most circumstances, the free dining is a better offer. If you are booked at a value or moderate resort, no need to do any math. If you are staying at a deluxe or DVC resort, it is possible that this new discount may save you more money than the free dining. In many cases, this discount will save you more than $100 per night at a deluxe or DVC resort, and depending on your family breakdown, may be a better deal. 

Availability is extremely limited, and you must book this package by July 27, 2008.

To book this package, please contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips, and ask for code DCT for the Magic Your Way package, DDK for a Magic Your Way package with Disney Dining and DDN for a Magic Your Way package with Deluxe Disney Dining.

Travel Dates: September 1 - December 11, 2008

Disneyland has released their annual fourth night free promotion for Disneyland Good Neighbor resorts. Stay three consecutive nights or longer on a Disneyland Resort package including park passes, and receive a fourth night free at select Disneyland Good Neighbor hotels.

Travel must be booked by December 9, and completed by December 15. Limit of one free night per package. Availability is limited, so act quickly.

Please note that as of right now, the three Disneyland Resort hotels are not included in this offer. It is possible that they may be included sometime in the future, but as of right now, only a select few Good Neighbor hotels have been included. Currently, here are the resorts and dates available:

• Doubletree Guest Suites - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08
• Portofino Inn and Suites - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08
• Anaheim Marriott Hotel - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08
• Crowne Plaza - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08
• Hyatt Regency Orange County - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08
• Anaheim Fairfield Inn - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08
• Best Western Pavilions - 9/1/08 through 12/14/08
• Best Western Raffles Inn and Suites - 9/1/08 through 11/20/08 and 11/30/08 - 12/14/08
• Best Western Stovall’s - 9/1/08 through 12/14/08
• Clarion Hotel Anaheim - 9/1/08 through 11/20/08 and 11/30/08 - 12/14/08
• Motel 6 Anaheim - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08
• Jolly Roger - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08
• Quality Inn and Suites - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08
• Courtyard by Marriott - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08
• Holiday Inn Anaheim Resort - 9/1/08 through 11/20/08 and 11/30/08 - 12/14/08
• Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites - 9/1/08 through 11/20/08 and 11/30/08 - 12/14/08
• Hotel Menage - 9/1/08 through 12/11/08

For more information, or to book your Disneyland package, please visit our great sponsors Mouseketrips.

Travel Dates: August 3 - September 27, 2008

Walt Disney World has released room only discounts for Florida Residents for August and September, 2008. You must check in during the travel dates listed above, and you must present proof of Florida residency at check in to get the discount.

Some sample nightly rates:

• Value resorts, standard room: $64
• Value resorts, preferred room: $76
• Moderate resorts, standard view room: $104
• Moderate resorts, water view/king bed room: $115
• Wilderness Lodge, standard view room: $144
• Beach Club, standard view room: $244
• Polynesian, garden view room: $259
• Grand Floridian, garden view room: $304

These prices are the nightly price, and do not include the 12.5% room tax. Weekday and Weekend nights appear to be the same price.

To book your Walt Disney World vacation for Florida Residents, please contact our wonderful sponsor Mouseketrips, who specializes in making your Disney vacation special. Make sure you ask for code FKK!

Travel Dates: August 3 - September 27, 2008

Walt Disney World has released room only discounts for Annual Passholders for the August and September 2008. You must check in during the travel dates listed above, and you must present a valid annual pass at check in to get the discount.

Some sample nightly rates:

• Value resorts, standard room: $64
• Value resorts, preferred room: $76
• Moderate resorts, standard view room: $99
• Moderate resorts, water view/king bed room: $115
• Wilderness Lodge, standard view room: $144
• Beach Club, standard view room: $244
• Polynesian, garden view room: $259
• Grand Floridian, garden view room: $304

Availability is very limited. These prices are the nightly price, and do not include the 12.5% room tax. Weekday and Weekend nights appear to be the same price. Also, you are able to add the Disney Dining plan onto these discounted rates by using the special Annual Passholder Dining Plan package.

To book your Walt Disney World vacation with the Annual Passholder discount, please contact our wonderful sponsor Mouseketrips, who specializes in making your Disney vacation special. Make sure you ask for code FKH!

Adventures by Disney, the new personal tour division of Disney, is offer a great special for a few of their tours this summer, a $500 credit per person on your airfare costs. 

Book a select Adventures by Disney vacation before Sept. 30, 2008 and you will receive a $500 USD* airfare credit per person when air travel is booked as part of your Adventures by Disney package. Make sure to book soon before this offer flies away!

*A credit of $500 USD per person is applied only to airfare booked between June 16, 2008 and September 30, 2008 through Adventures by Disney Travel Services, Inc in connection with a valid new booking on any of the following  2008 season Adventures By Disney vacations and departure dates: 

• Sacred Valleys 8/12, 10/11
• Emerald Isle7/27, 8/3, 8/7, 8/14, 8/21
• Knights & Lights 8/29, 9/5, 9/12, 9/25, 12/29
• Flavors of France 9/7, 10/5
• Once Upon a Fairytale 8/8, 9/19, 9/26, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18
• Roma La Costa Bella 8/16, 8/21, 9/20, 9/27
• Viva Italia 9/25, 10/2, 10/19
• Discovery Down Under 8/24, 10/11, 11/16, 11/30, 12/17, 1/24/09, 2/14/09, 3/22/09, 4/4/09
• Enchanted China 9/1.

Credit must be requested at time of booking. Credit valid on new bookings only on select airlines subject to availability and from U.S. departure cities only. Credit  will be in an amount equal to the lesser of the actual retail value of the airfare (including ticket, associated taxes and fuel surcharges but excluding baggage and excess weight fees, airport fees, departure tax and other similar fees payable directly to the airport and/or airline) or $500 USD, and may not be redeemed for cash. No compensation will be given for any unused portion of the airfare credit. Cannot be combined with any other offer or sold or transferred for commercial use. Subject to conditions, restrictions and change without notice.

Based on our experience, the airfare sold as part of the Adventures by Disney package is very competitive, often times less than you can find on your own.

To find out more about this special Adventures by Disney airfare credit, please contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips.

Disney Cruise is offering a special booking incentive for future Disney Cruises. Just book a cruise prior to June 15, 2008, and pay 50% of the normal deposit costs.

Travel Dates: September 1, 2008 - December 30, 2008

The normal deposits are $200 per person on 3 or 4 night Disney Cruises, or 7 night land/sea packages and $250 on 7 night Disney Cruises. During this promotion, you only pay 50% of the normal deposit. Please note only category 4 - 12 staterooms are available with this offer, any suites will require a full deposit.

This offer is available for new bookings only. The deferred deposit amount is due at time of final payment.  Cancellation fee based on original deposit amount (not 50% promotional deposit amount).  Subject to availability.

To book this Disney Cruise reduced deposit special, please contact our sponsor Mouseketrips.

Travel Dates: May 26 - August 2, 2008

Walt Disney World has released room only discounts for Florida Residents for the Summer of 2008. You must check in during the travel dates listed above, and you must present proof of Florida residency at check in to get the discount.

Some sample nightly rates:

• Value resorts, standard room: $99
• Value resorts, preferred room: $111
• Moderate resorts, standard view room: $149
• Moderate resorts, water view/king bed room: $169
• Wilderness Lodge, standard view room: $184
• Beach Club, standard view room: $279
• Polynesian, garden view room: $308
• Grand Floridian, garden view room: $344

These prices are the nightly price, and do not include the 12.5% room tax. Weekday and Weekend nights appear to be the same price. Some dates around July 4th may be blacked out.

To book your Walt Disney World vacation for Florida Residents, please contact our wonderful sponsor Mouseketrips, who specializes in making your Disney vacation special. Make sure you ask for code FKB!