Disney’s Magical Express

Tuesday’s Tip- Take Advantage of Disney’s Magical Express

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Did you know that Disney has a fleet of comfortable motor coaches that transport guests from Orlando International back and forth from the Disney resort daily?  The best part is that this service is included as part of your Disney Vacation Package!

Using Disney’s Magical Express is simple and saves you from the expense and hassle of a rental car.  When you book your trip be sure to add “ground transportation.”  You can add this option even if you haven’t booked your flights yet, just adding the flight information at a later date.

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Mouskaholic’s official perks of using Disney’s Magical Express

  1. It’s FREE!!!
  2. No need for a rental car, you can take it to and from the airport, and use additional Disney transportation while on property.
  3. No need to stop at baggage claim, they provide magic tags that let them know that your luggage should be delivered right to your resort!!
  4. Motor coach drivers will assist you with loading your carryon items and unload them for you at the resorts.
  5. No worrying about navigating Disney’s massive property, the motor coach takes you right to your resort and drops you off at the guest check in location!
  6. They are modern and very comfortable motor coaches.
  7. The ride can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour (depending on traffic) BUT they have videos playing for entertainment!  It’s a fun mix of information about the parks, resorts, and Disney cartoons 🙂

One more amazing perk that can make your vacation even more hassle-free is booking with a Disney Travel Professional!  Ashley at Charming Travels LLC can help you plan your trip, assist with booking fast passes, dining reservations AND get you set up with Disney’s Magical Express.  Her services are also FREE of charge!  Contact her today for your free no-obligation quote- ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com

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Tuesday’s Tips- Take an Uber!

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Disney makes getting from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to your resort a piece of cake with Disney’s Magical Express.  With this free service you’ll be taken from the airport straight to your resort on a Disney themed motor coach.  You won’t even have to worry about going to baggage claim!  Disney takes care of that for you as well!  Put the special tags on your bags, and they will be magically delivered to your resort after your arrival.

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While these awesome perks are magical indeed, they’re designed to keep you on property.  A magic bus that eliminates the need for a rental car?  Yes perk, but also convenient for Disney to keep you (and more importantly your $$$) in their parks, stores and restaurants.  (I’m certainly not complaining either… “All magic comes at a price.”)

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There have been plenty of Disney trips that we have taken where we’ve been very content to stay right on Disney property and keep our adventure there, however there are sometimes where it is also nice to get off property to visit other theme parks, and restaurants.  While I’m a dedicated “mouskaholic”  I also very much enjoy the magic of Harry Potter.

Because of my devotion to this other magic, I have visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. (Shhhh… don’t tell the Disney Gods lol!)  We had a few options for getting from Disney to Universal for us, taking an “Uber” was the most economical, and quickest option.  If you purchase your Universal tickets through at travel agent, they have the option of selling you tickets that include round trip transportation from the Disney Resort to the Universal resort via Mears Motorcoaches.  This isn’t a bad option, but it is time consuming because the bus makes stops at multiple resorts, AND costs $26 per person for the roundtrip transfer.  For a family of four you’re looking at $104.00 extra just to get from Disney to Universal.  Another option is renting a car… If you’re on a week long trip you’re looking at at around $150.00 – $200.00 (depending on car type and size) for a week long car rental.  If you’re only plan is to head to universal or off property once or twice this is definitely not the most economical plan.  You could head to the “Disney Car Care Center” and rent a car just for the day, but getting there means taking time out of your valuable vacation time to do so.

So what is the most economical solution that I’ve found?  Ride-sharing Apps!  I personally have only used Uber, but I know that Lyft is also available in the Orlando Area.  Ride-sharing apps base their fares on a combination of mileage and time spent in travel, rather than basing in on per person.  So with an UberX you can transport up to 4 people for one low price.

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Here is the price (without a surge) going from Disney’s All Star Music Resort to Universal Studios

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So for $17.24  you can transport 1-4 individuals to Universal (one way).  So even at the round trip price of about $35.00, that’s still considerably less than round trip for two on the Mears motor coaches ($52.00 round trip for 2), and about the same price as a one day car rental, just without the hassle of heading to the Disney Car Care Center.

Here are some other approximations of cost to other popular orlando destinations (Estimates are done from the All Star Music Resort to the destination)

One of my favorite places to eat off of Disney Property is Giordano’s Pizza!  It’s deep dish Chicago style STUFFED pizza, and it’s AMAZING (FYI, they also deliver).  An uber to Giordano’s is approximately $11 bucks

Giordano’s Stuffed Pizza

 

An Uber to the Orlando Eye= $14.00

An Uber to Orlando Premium Outlets= $12

An Uber to Seaworld= $13.50

To use Uber you just need to download the app to your smart phone, and sign up with a valid credit card.  If you’re interested in getting up to $15 off your first ride enter this code when you sign up- ashleyf1931ue 

Happy Riding!

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Do you want more travel tips, and help planning your magical vacation to Disney World, Universal, or SeaWorld?  Contact Ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for all of your central Florida travel needs!  She specializes in Disney and central Florida locations, and her planning services are free of charge!

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ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com

 

Departure Day!!!

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Today is the day we've planned for!!!

Today is the day we’ve planned for!!!

Today we are departing for Walt Disney World!  Each day of our vacation I will keep you updated as to what we are doing, which park we’re going to, where we are eating, and what we are riding!  Make sure you check out my facebook page  ( https://www.facebook.com/mouskaholic ) for the most current photos and posts!

So today’s itinerary-

12:45 Flight from hometown via Airtran Airways

3:05- Arrive at Orlando International Airport and head towards the “Disney Magical Express” (See not below if you are unsure of what Disney Magical Express is!)

4:00- **** (Time subject to bus availability and lines!) Board Disney Magical Express for Port Orleans Resort.

5:00- Check in to the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort

5:30- Quick boatride to Downtown Disney (This is a MAYBE!  We may also just relax by the pool!!!)

7:25- Dinner at Boatwrights Dining Hall (Located at Port Orleans Riverside Resort)

9:00- Bedtime!!!

Tomorrow we will be doing our first day in the park, and will be at Animal Kingdom!

 

What is the Disney Magical Express?  If you’re staying on Disney Property and flying into MCO, you can take advantage of this FREE bus service.  Some of the perks of this service- 1) Did I mention that it’s free? 2) You get to skip baggage claim!  When you book your vacation and your Magical Express they will send you special luggage tags.  These tags identify your luggage as a WDW guest.  It will be picked up by a cast member and deliver STRAIGHT TO YOUR ROOM!!!! 3) It makes your day more magical! No worries about renting a car, it takes you straight to front lobby of your hotel!

I greatly enjoy Disney’s Magical Express!  If you have more questions about this service, please let me know!