Magical Disney Express - Need some info.

We don't frequently use DME either, but my experience so far...

What is the expected wait time to load up on the MDE, as well as getting to your resort? Typical times, I mean, in your experience.

Disney's official position is that if you are the first person to board a bus, you will depart from the airport in 30 minutes or less. I think we've usually waited around 15 minutes on average. Last May, we were staying at OKW. I rented a car and took one guest with me. DH used the bus and took another guest with him so that we could use the luggage transfer service. I waited maybe 5 minutes to get the car. We stopped at the most conveniently located Publix for 15 minutes or less to pick up water. DH beat us to the resort by 15 minutes or more. I really didn't think it was possible. I was so sure that the rental car had to be faster. I wouldn't plan an ADR around it, but after renting a car for several trips, I was shocked.

How long after your arrival at the resort before your luggage shows up? Do you need to be there in the room to receive the luggage?

This has varied over several trips and a lot of the trips that we've used DME express on were short, so we did carry-on only. When we have used DME, it's never taken so long that I've felt inconvenienced by the wait. If I recall, I don't think that you need to be present, but if you do, they would leave your bags at Bell Services and then just call to retrieve them.

What is the order at which the MDE stops from Resort to Resort? We'll be at Boardwalk Villas

At BWV, I THNK we were dropped off first. Because Swan & Dolphin aren't DME eligible, the only other places that the bus should stop would be Beach Club, Yacht Club, and maybe Caribbean Beach. For the park buses, the order varies and the loop includes BWV, Swolphin, Beach Club, and Yacht Club. If you're staying for a week or more, I'd figure out where the last bus leaves from for each destination and board there. For sure when coming home, if mobility is not a concern, just get off at the first stop and walk to your resort. It must take 20 minutes or more to make all of the resort stops. Unlike SSR or OKW which have multiple internal stops, shared buses for the Boardwalk area resorts have to enter and exit off the main roadways multiple times, making them significantly slower in traveling between resort stops. When we were there last April, Boardwalk was the first stop when traveling to MK and the last stop when traveling to DTD. If going to DTD in the evening around dinner time, consider walking/boating over to Beach Club and boarding there. You'll ride the bus longer, but you'll avoid multiple full buses coming through and being unable to allow anyone to board at Boardwalk. Obviously for Epcot and DHS, it doesn't matter--walk or take the boat. It's better anyway. I can't remember where the AK bus started. We only went there one time from BWV.

Last trip, we waiting around 5-10 min to load bus after being checked in at the airport kiosk.

Bus ride was around 30-40 minutes.

We also were headed to The Boardwalk and they dropped in this order:

1.) Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk, Coronado Springs

I think it depends on the number of people and where they are headed resort wise. I think they typically keep you in your resort area.

We went mid May and arrived at MCO around 9:20AM....just to give you perspective.

It was really, really fast! We were checked in, mugs filled, and in Animal Kingdom by 11:30!

Our bags were delivered to the room while we were at the park, not sure what time, but we got back around 6PM and they were in the room. Very easy!

A lot of it depends on timing. 2005 (early Oct) and 2010 (late Sept) our timing was perfect and we walked right onto the bus and it left within 5 minutes. In 2012 (1st week of Dec), we had to wait for about 1/2 an hour to board and then it was another 10 minutes or so before the bus left because they were making sure the buses were completely full.

Not sure about the order for the Epcot resorts because we've always stayed at WL (the order was Poly, GF, WL fwiw), but we're staying at the Yacht Club next month, so I'll try to remember to take note and revisit this thread if no one else has answered. Honestly, I didn't mind stopping at the other resorts, because you got a little glimpse of them and the bus was mostly empty by the time we were dropped off so you weren't brushing by as many people.

You don't have to be in your room for your luggage. Our room was ready for all of our trips, so I don't know if that's a factor or not in the delivery. In 2005, the luggage was delivered just after we got to the room. In 2010, it was actually waiting in the room for us. And in 2012, I'm not sure when it was delivered. It was sometime between our arrival at 1:30ish and when we stopped back in the room before dinner, around 4:30-5. I believe they say to allow 3-4 hours for the luggage delivery. I HIGHLY recommend having a carry-on with anything you'll need the first day (medications, bathing suits, change of clothes) just in case.

What is the expected wait time to load up on the MDE, as well as getting to your resort? Typical times, I mean, in your experience.

Usually, it is 45-60 minutes from the time we board the MDE to when we get to the resort. We stay at Pop though and usually only have one stop at AoA or even sometimes they stop at Pop! first.

How long after your arrival at the resort before your luggage shows up? Do you need to be there in the room to receive the luggage?
I am not sure how long the luggage takes. I have heard anywhere from 2-4 hours depending. We are never in the room as we always head right out the MK and when we get back our luggage is magically there!

What is the order at which the MDE stops from Resort to Resort? We'll be at Boardwalk Villas
I have no experience with this, so I will let everyone else answer this one.

Agreeing with others we usually only wait about 10 minutes before being on our way and we're usually at our resort within 45 minutes. It's a fun 45 minutes though, watching the movies and cartoons!

No clue on the order, but I think the average time of luggage drop off is 3 hours? We usually pack essentials in a carry-on so that when we arrive we can head right to a park and find our bags in the room when we return that evening.

The only thing I can tell you about the order of resorts is I am always the last one dropped off and the first one picked up.

Based on my experiences...

What is the expected wait time to load up on the MDE, as well as getting to your resort? Typical times, I mean, in your experience.

It typically takes us about 15 to 20 min from the time we get in line to the time we leave, and about 45 min to an hour til we are at the resort.

How long after your arrival at the resort before your luggage shows up? Do you need to be there in the room to receive the luggage?

I don't know how long it typically take (I think they tell you to plan on 3 hours) but I know you don't have to be in the room because they have always dropped it off for us while we were at the parks.

What is the order at which the MDE stops from Resort to Resort? We'll be at Boardwalk Villas I think this might change from trip to trip. Eeyore said above that on her trip Coronado was dropped off last but on my last trip to Coronado I was dropped off first.

MDE operates under a rule that they must depart no later than 30 minutes after the first guest boards. Whether you wait 30 minutes or one minute is the luck of the draw. And that does not count any time you may wait behind the velvet rope waiting for a bus to arrive. BWV is usually the first to drop off unless they stop somewhere like CB or CS first.The normal drop off order is BW, YC and BC

When we stayed at Coronado (2012), it was paired with AKL, so it seems that there may indeed be some flexibility in which resorts are included in you ME loop.

We are using the Magical express for the first time also and you all answered so many of the questions I had. However I have one more for you. On the very sad day that you leave do we take our bags with us or does Disney handle that? How does the return trip work? Ok that was two not one but I bet you all can help me out!

All resorts have an airline check-in desk (for most airlines). You can check your bags and get your boarding pass. If you are not checking any bags, you can leave your luggage with luggage services until your departure time.

Edit - adding link

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/resort-airline-check-in/

Just make sure to have your luggage packed well in advance for the return trip...

It's been a while since I used Magical Express, but I seem to recall having to be _at_ the airline/luggage check-in something like 3 or 4 hours in advance of my flight.

And for some reason, I recall there being a small window of time in which they accepted luggage, with a large number of guests utilizing the service. Then again, this was a handful of years ago, and at one of the discount resorts. They may have since modified the process.

What is the expected wait time to load up on the MDE, as well as getting to your resort?

There's been times when we've walked right on, and a few times where we've had a wait. Never come close to 30 minutes though. Getting to BWV is anywhere from 35-50 minutes I would say. It flies by.

How long after your arrival at the resort before your luggage shows up?

We've actually gotten our luggage at baggage claim then went to ME (never put the yellow tags on). At BWV, its a very short walk from the bus to your room and the luxury of having your stuff right away is better for us. So in short, I can't answer this.

What is the order at which the MDE stops from Resort to Resort?

Believe BWV is first.