GENERAL INFORMATION Disney's Magical Express is an airport transportation service available to select Walt Disney World Resort Guests that offers hassle free transportation to and from the Orlando International Airport for Guests and their luggage. The magical part of this service is that if Guests utilize the Disney's Magical Express luggage tags provided to them, they do not have to claim their luggage when they arrive at the Orlando International Airport. Disney's Magical Express claims the luggage on their behalf and delivers it to their Walt Disney World Resort room. All Walt Disney World -owned and -operated resorts offer this service for Guests arriving at the Orlando International Airport with the exception of Disney s Vero Beach Resort and Disney s Hilton Head Island Resort. This service is also not offered for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Shades of Green, and Downtown Disney Area resorts. Disney s Magical Express is not available for Guests arriving at other Central Florida airports. HOW IT WORKS Pre-Arrival Disney s Magical Express requires a reservation for the service and it must be selected prior to arrival into the Orlando International Airport. To ensure seamless service, please make your Disney s Magical Express reservation at least 30 days in advance of your arrival date. Several weeks prior to your arrival, you will receive an Airport Transportation Booklet containing general information and special bar coded luggage tags which you will attach to your luggage before departure. Guests are strongly advised to pack essential items in a carry-on bag (e.g. medications) or anything they would like to have immediate access to upon arrival into Orlando, such as a change of clothes or swimsuit for the kids. Arrival Upon arrival at Orlando International Airport, you will be greeted by a Disney representative who will direct you to the Disney Airport Welcome Center in Terminal B. 1
Disney representatives will be located on Level 2 of both sides of the main terminal to direct Guests to the Welcome Center. At the Welcome Center, the Disney representative will ask the Guest how many bags they checked with the airline and will also confirm their outbound flight information if they are utilizing Disney s Magical Express for transportation back to the airport from their resort. Guests will board a themed motorcoach to their resort that may make up to 3 stops before arriving at their resort. The approximate travel time is 45-75 minutes. Luggage is pulled behind the scenes and delivered separately to the resort. The guest does not have to be present in the room to receive the luggage. The luggage delivery from the airport to the Resort may take up to 3 hours after the Guest has checked into the resort. Departure Guests will receive a transportation notice the day prior to check-out advising of the motorcoach pick-up time based on the provided outbound flight information. This will generally be 3 hours prior to their scheduled flight departure time for domestic flights and 4 hours prior for international flights. Guests are responsible for bringing their luggage to the motorcoach pick-up location so that their luggage will be transported with them to the airport on the motorcoach. Additionally, Guests who are flying domestically on participating airlines may take advantage of our Resort Airline Check-In service. FREQEUNTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is the cost for Disney s Magical Express? Disney s Magical Express is a complimentary service offered to select Walt Disney World resort Guests during Disney s Happiest Celebration on Earth event. Do Guests have to fly on a participating airline in order to take advantage of Disney s Magical Express? No Guests flying on any air carrier may utilize Disney s Magical Express. Can Guests book Disney s Magical Express upon arrival at the airport? No In order to utilize Disney s Magical Express, a reservation for the service must be booked prior to arrival. We recommend providing information at least 30 days prior to arrival. What are the hours of operation for the Disney Welcome Center? 2
The hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., but those hours will be extended to meet the flights of all Guests who have booked Disney s Magical Express, even if a flight is scheduled to arrive after 11 p.m. The Welcome Center will also closely follow arrival information for flights that might be delayed. Will there be signs at the airport directing Guests to the Disney Welcome Center? No The airport will not allow Disney to post directional signs. We will have Cast Members located on Level 2 on both the A and B sides of the airport if Guests need directions. Can Guests book Disney s Magical Express while on property? Yes Guests should contact their Resort Front Desk for assistance. Can Guests book a luggage-only transfer? No To utilize Disney s Magical Express, Guests must participate in both the motorcoach transportation and the luggage transfer services. Who do Guests contact when they have a change to their flight information? Before arriving to the Walt Disney World Resort, Guests may call the same number used to make their room reservation. While at their Walt Disney World resort, Guests should contact their Resort Front Desk for assistance or call 1-866-599-0951. What if Guests do not receive their Airport Transportation Booklet prior to leaving home? If the guests has a Disney s Magical Express reservation, but do not receive the booklet before departure to the Walt Disney Resort, the guest is still eligible to participate in the service. Once the guest arrives at Orlando International Airport, they should proceed to the Disney Welcome Center (Side B, Level 1). The guest does not need to claim their luggage. Will the motorcoaches accommodate wheelchairs? Yes However, Guests need to indicate this at the time of booking. Will Disney s Magical Express provide wheelchairs at the airport upon arrival? No If Guests need wheelchair assistance upon arrival to Orlando International Airport, they should arrange this directly with their airline. Can Guests traveling with a crated animal use Disney s Magical Express? Service animals are permitted to travel on the motorcoach with their owner; but unfortunately, no other pets are permitted to ride on the motorcoach with Guests. Guests wishing to travel with their pets will need to make other transportation arrangements. 3
What do Guests do if they miss their flight into Orlando? What happens to the Guest s luggage if it should arrive on another flight before the Guest arrives? Guests are advised in their Airport Transportation Booklet to call Disney s Magical Express Guest Services if they experience flight delays on their day of arrival. Disney Representatives will retrieve their luggage and confirm the Guest s arrival before transferring it to their resort. How is delayed luggage handled? Disney s Magical Express tracks all tagged luggage. When Guests arrive at the Disney Welcome Center, they will provide the number of items checked with the airline. This information is used to confirm that all of the luggage has been received by the airline. Where are the motorcoach drop-off locations at the airport for Guests traveling back to the airport? There are motorcoach drop-off locations in all four quadrants of the airport (Gates 1-29, 30-59, 60-99, and 100-129). Are car seats allowed on the motorcoaches? No Car seats are not permitted on the motorcoaches and must be stowed underneath the motorcoach. Do international Guests have to claim their luggage? If the Orlando International Airport is the first point of entry into the United States, Guests will follow the U.S. Customs & Border Protection process and claim their luggage upon disembarking the airplane. Once they have completed this process they will proceed to the Disney Welcome Center located in the main Terminal building on the A side on Level 1. Their luggage will be transferred to the Baggage Claim area, where Disney will collect it if tagged with Disney s Magical Express luggage tags. If Guests have already completed the U.S. Customs & Border Protection process in another U.S. city or before entering the U.S., they will proceed directly to the main Terminal building; and Disney will claim their luggage. RESORT AIRLINE CHECK-IN SERVICE Resort Airline Check-in is a service offered to Guests staying at select Walt Disney World resorts departing on participating airlines from the Orlando International Airport. This service allows Guests to check their luggage and receive their airline boarding passes at their Walt Disney World resort. At this time, the service is only available to those Guests flying domestically on the following airlines: 4
American Airlines Continental Delta Air Lines/Song Jetblue United/Ted How it Works A valid government issued ID and Key to the World Key are required to participate. All members of the party must be present. Guests can check-in up to 12 hours prior to their flight departure time, but no less than 3 hours prior. Frequently Asked Questions Is there a cost for Resort Airline Check-In? Resort Airline Check-In is a complimentary service offered to select Walt Disney World resort Guests during Disney s Happiest Celebration on Earth event. Which resorts offer Resort Airline Check-In? Resort Airline Check-In is offered at all Walt Disney World -owned and -operated resorts with the exception of Disney s Hilton Head Island Resort, Disney s Vero Beach Resort. Resort Airline Check-in is also not available at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin or the Downtown Disney Area resorts. Is the Resort Airline Check-In service operated by the Walt Disney World Resort? No A third-party company approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operates the Resort Airline Check-In on behalf of the participating airlines. What are the hours of operation for Resort Airline Check-In? Seven days a week, 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. If Guests cannot check-in during these operating hours, they will need to check in directly with their airline upon arrival at the Orlando International Airport. Do Guests have to utilize Disney s Magical Express transportation service to participate in the Resort Airline Check-In? No This service is available to select Walt Disney World resort Guests who are flying domestically on participating airlines departing from the Orlando International Airport. They may take any transportation back to the airport they choose. Can Guests departing for an international destination utilize Resort Airline Check-In? 5
At this time, the service is only available to Guests flying domestically (including Puerto Rico). Guests flying internationally will need to check in directly with their airline at the Orlando International Airport. What services can be provided to Guests at the Resort Airline Check-In Desk? The Resort Airline Check-In desks can provide some of the same services as the airline ticket counters at the airport, including checking seat assignments, and verifying flight information and status. The Resort Airline Check-In Desks cannot make any changes to flight arrangements or make new flight reservations. How does the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) contact Guests if questions arise during the luggage screening process at the airport? The TSA will contact the guest via the air carrier. 6