Walt Disney World - Disney's Magical Express Free Airport Shuttle Bus

Disney's Magical Express (DME) is a no-cost shuttle service available to guests flying in and out of Orlando International Airport (MCO) and staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. The service is not available to guests of the Swan and Dolphin hotels, Shades of Green Military Resort, or the Downtown Disney Resort area hotels - these hotels are not actually owned by Walt Disney Corporation. This service provides a significant cost savings as you do not have to pay for a shuttle, town car service, taxi, or other ground transportation to take you to Walt Disney World (WDW). Once at the resort, you can use Disney park transportation to go to and from the theme parks, water parks, Downtown Disney, and other Disneyworld hotels; saving the expense of a rental car for most people. Even if you do need a rental car to visit a non-Disney attraction like Sea World, you can rent a car from Disney World for a day or two. The buses are clean and air-conditioned and are the easiest way to start your Walt Disney World vacation.

You must already have a Walt Disney World hotel reservation to make your Magical Express reservation

As soon as you have your airline information, call your Travel Agent (Me, for example!) or 407-W-DISNEY (934-7639) to make your Disney Magical Express. A minimum of ten days advance notice is required but the sooner you make your reservation, the better. Wheelchair transport, if required, is available but must be requested when you make your reservation.

Disney will send luggage tags and an instruction booklet to you about 3 weeks prior to your arrival. Be sure to skim through all the information. We received a coupon for a free Disney Magical Express trading pin with our booklet once.

The luggage goes by separate truck and may take up to 3 hours to arrive in your room so pack any items you will need immediately - medications, a change of clothes, swimsuits - in a carry-on.

Attach your Disney Magical Express Luggage tags to your bags before checking them in at your airport. You can check your bags all the way through to the Resort hotel.

When you arrive, you will usually go directly to the Disney Airport Welcome center which is currently located in Terminal B, on the first floor in the main terminal. You do not need to go to the baggage claim area.

Disney's Magical Express (Airport Shuttle Service) - New luggage procedure for late night arrivals. As of March 30th, luggage service will no longer be available for arrivals to Orlando International Airport after 10:00PM. Collect your luggage at baggage claim and take with you to the Disney's Magical Express check-in desk.

International travelers with Orlando International Airport as their first point of entry will be given instructions on their flight about the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process. You will claim your luggage and complete the entry procedure. Once you are able to pass through to the main terminal, a Disney representative will meet you to assist you in getting to the Disney Magical Express area. You may transfer your luggage to the Baggage Claim area and have Disney bring it to the resort or you may want to keep it with you.

Greeters at the Disney Airport Welcome Center will assist you with check-in and direct you to the appropriate line or queue for your resort. Each bus travels to only four Disney resorts so you will not have to stop at every hotel on Disney property before getting to yours.

If you are carrying a child safety/car seat, it will be stowed beneath the bus - they are not allowed on the bus.

Unaccompanied Children must be at least 16 years old to travel on the Disney Magical Express buses without an adult.

Disney has contracted with Mears Transportation Group to provide this service. The bus drivers are not Walt Disney World employees and tipping is permitted so you may want to have some small bills available, especially if they have assisted you with luggage. You will not have to tip the Walt Disney World bus drivers who take you to and from the parks.

Once at your WDW resort, proceed to the hotel check-in desk. Your luggage will arrive in approximately three hours. You do not need to be present when it arrives, it will be placed in your room.

On the day before check-out, notification will be left in your room advising you of your shuttle pick-up time and place. Pick-up time is generally about 3 hours prior to your flight time.

Luggage is not picked up from the room. You will need to carry it to the check-in area or you may request Bell Services / Luggage Assistance from the resort front desk.

Are you flying domestically on American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, or United (including TED) airlines? If so, you can check your bags for the flight right there at the resort Check-In desk, located in or near the lobby. Check-in is available from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM daily. You must check the bags at least 3 hours but no more than 12 hours prior to departure. Each adult passenger must present a valid government-issue photo ID at check-in, just as you would at the airport. Your entire party must be present at check-in. You can check seat assignments and will receive your boarding passes, allowing you to avoid the lines at the airport.

Baggage fees must be prepaid to use the resort airline check-in service - talk to you airline about their prepayment proceedures.

You will be departing from your resort area even if your hotel check-out time is earlier than your Magical Express departure time. If you have a later flight and have time to continue enjoying Disneyworld prior to departure, you may store your luggage at the hotel luggage services area. Just allow enough time to return to the resort and collect your bags before departure.

The bus driver will ask what airline you are using. There are four drop-off points at the airport for your convenience.

Again, you may want to have some small bills available to tip the driver.