We took our first trip to Disney World in November. We weren't sure about taking the Magical Express, but decided since it was free we should. We were staying at the Contemporary Resort.Arrival: Once we arrived at the airport, it was very seamless getting checked in for the Magical Express. Unfortunately, our hotel was the last stop and we were on the bus for over an hour. But, it wasn't too bad. HOWEVER, when we got to the hotel they told us that our luggage would show up in 3-5 hours! Everything I read and the Disney people I spoke to said that it would be only 3 hours. Our bags did not show up until 11pm. (We had arrived at 6pm.) So that was a bit aggravating. Still, we got over it very quickly.Departing: The entire return trip on the Magical Express was TERRIBLE! Our departure time was for 10:50, approximately 3 hours before our flight. My family (and a lot of other people) were waiting on the bus. It showed up almost 20 minutes late! (There were no previous stops, the bus was empty.) And the bus was a Mears bus. It was old and dirty. Then the bus driver took a long time to load our luggage. It seemed that the bus was full, but we had to stop at another resort. We were there for over 25 minutes! There was only one family getting on the bus and one member was an older gentleman in a wheelchair. We felt so bad for this man and his family. First, they tried loading him onto the bus, but the driver parked too close. She had to move the bus. Then when they got him on the bus, she could not get his wheelchair secured. It seemed she did not know how to use the straps to do this. Finally, this man's sons had to move him to a seat for the trip. After all of this fiasco, we arrived at the airport only an 1.5 hours before our flight. If we travel to Disney again, we will probably arrange for different transportation to our resort.
The trip to the resort was painless and fast, and the driver even slowed down some so you could get a picture of the entrance gate (though the sun was reflecting off the glass so that unfortunately didn't work). I expected the same with the luggage service, but it is most definitely not. Your luggage is supposed to arrive at MAX 3 hours after you check in to the resort. It has been six hours since I've been here and it doesn't look as if my luggage is coming anytime soon. I called after the 3 hours were up, and a cast member told me it should be to my room within the hour, but that definitely didn't happen. Based on other reviews, if you get in in the morning or around noon, you should be fine, but if you get to Disney in the afternoon, you're much better waiting the 10 minutes to pick up your suitcase at the baggage claim, instead of staying up worrying that your baggage is lost or that you won't be able to get dressed in the morning because your luggage seemingly disappeared.
We go to WDW a lot & have never come across a bus driver like the one we had this trip, January 2013. After a dinner at the Hoop Dee Doo theater we boarded the station 4 bus to Coronado springs. We had the coolest, best bus driver named Nelson. He made the trip back fun. Everyone on the bus talked to him & each other. The crowds were horrible at the parks this trip, so it was nice to be in a more friendly situation where everyone talked & laughed together. It was all because of Nelson! He created a great environment & was a super guy. Thanks Nelson! The Texas family with 3 boys thought you rocked!!