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18 April 2007: AirTran Airways joins Disney's Magical Express Resort Airline Check-In
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- AirTran Airways becomes
an official participating airline for Disney's Magical Express Resort
Airline Check-In Service on May 5.
With Disney's Magical Express, guests of Disney hotels check their bags
at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim at Orlando International
Airport (OIA) and board state-of-the-art motor coaches to Walt Disney
World Resort -- while their bags are delivered directly to their resort
room -- after check-in. The complimentary round-trip service between
Orlando International Airport and Disney hotels is designed to give
Disney hotel guests the stress-free vacation they want.
AirTran is among a growing list of airlines that add another magical
dimension to the service by enabling passengers leaving Orlando on
domestic flights to check their luggage and receive a boarding pass
before departing their Disney hotel, thus avoiding airport check-in
lines. Participating airlines in addition to AirTran currently offering
this additional service are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines,
Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Northwest
Airlines and United Airlines/Ted.
7 April 2006: Magical Express to remain complimentary
It was announced today that Magical Express will continue beyond 2006, and will also remain complimentary.
13 October 2005: Changes to Magical Express
As of November 1st:
To take advantage of this free service, you must add a reservation for
the Magical Express on your room / package reservation PRIOR to your
arrival to Florida. The Disney Welcome Center at the Orlando
International Airport will no longer be able to provide this service to
guests who have not made an advance reservation. It is recommended that
you book at the same time you book your room, and provide your flight
information at least 30 days (or more) prior to your arrival to ensure
the timely arrival of your Travel Documents. Remember you must add
Disney's Magical Express through your original booking location only;
meaning if you book your room with a travel agency you must contact them
to add or change your DME.
Disney will no longer have Magical Express Greeters on the third level
of the airport (the level you enter the Main Terminal from your plane.)
Our DME Welcome Center is located on level 1, Side A in the main
terminal. We will have some Greeters on level 2 on both A and B sides of
the airport to help lost Guests.
If you arrive at the airport after 11 PM or before 6 AM (due to a flight
delay or it's your originally scheduled arrival time) you will be asked
to claim your own luggage and it will travel with you to your Resort to
ensure timely delivery. Otherwise the delivery of your luggage to your
room is estimated to arrive within 2 hours from your arrival at the
airport. You are always advised to pack a day bag with medications and
maybe a change of clothes to start your reservation, as you will not
have immediate access to your bags.
23 March 2005: Disney's Magical Express step-by-step
(Thanks to JPVondrake)
FOR YOUR ARRIVAL:
- Before you leave home, you tag all your checked luggage with
bag tags provided in your "Disney's Magical Express Welcome
Package" that will arrive about 10-15 days prior to your
arrival. (you get 2 tags per person, the maximum allowed baggage
on domestic flights)
- Once you arrive at Orlando International Airport and pass
through security you will be greeted by a Disney Cast Member.
- The Cast Member will escort you to the Disney Welcome Center
at the Airport to register your family and then its on to your
motorcoach. (NOTE: you don't go to baggage claim at all
regardless of the airline you choose)
- The motorcoach will make up to 4 stops (max) at Disney
Resort Hotels. During the way, you will be entertained by a
video presentation.
- Once you arrive at your Disney Resort Hotel you disembark
the motorcoach, and check-in at the front desk of your resort
and get your resort IDs (Key to the World Cards)
- If your accommodations are ready you will be given your room
assignment, otherwise feel free to drop off any carry-ons you
have with bell service and start having fun in the parks!
- When you go to your room your checked baggage and carry-on
items will be waiting for you in your room.
- Estimated time from Airport to Front Desk? 45 mins or less.
- Estimated time for your bags to arrive? In most cases the bags will beat you to your room.
FOR YOUR RETURN HOME:
- The day before you check-out you will find a card in your
room with your Magical Express departure time. This departure
time will be about 2 hours, 45 minutes before your flight time.
- *** If you are flying on Delta, Song, Continential, American
Airlines, United Airlines, or Ted, bring your baggage to the
lobby, and get your boarding pass and check your luggage in the
lobby at the Airline Check-In Desk when you check out of your
room. If you flying with any other airline simply skip this
step.
- At the scheduled time, be in the lobby with your baggage
and/or carry-ons to board the Motorcoach.
- The motorcoach will make up to 3 other stops (max) at Disney
Resort Hotels before heading for the airport. On the journey
back you will again watch an entertaining video presentation.
- Once you arrive at the airport, get your boarding pass and check your luggage (if you need to), then go through security and then on to your flight home, thinking about all the great memories you have made.
Notes:
- If you are on an international flight and Orlando is your
first port of entry you and your luggage will need to go through
customs first. After customs, return your baggage to the airport
and Disney will claim your luggage to deliver to your Resort
room.
- If your flight changes anytime before you disambark, contact
the Disney Reservation Center to update your flight information.
If your departure flight changes once you arrive, contact the
resort front desk to update your flight information.
- If you flight is delayed for any reason, Disney is watching
your flight status and will reschedule your Motorcoach
assignment as to not delay your transfer once you do make it to
Orlando.
- If your luggage is delayed or lost, Disney will assist you in filing any claims with the airport.
11 March 2005: Magical Express bus sighting (Thanks to s25843)
This Magical Express bus was spotted at Orlando International yesterday.
28 December 2004: Announcement
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Dec. 28, 2004) -- Walt Disney World
announced an innovative new service today called "Disney's Magical
Express" which offers complimentary airport shuttle, luggage
delivery and airline check in for Disney hotel guests.
Beginning May 5, 2005, guests of Disney hotels* using Disney's
Magical Express service can check their bags at their hometown
airport, bypass baggage claim at Orlando International Airport (OIA)
and board state-of-the-art motor coaches to the Walt Disney World
Resort -- as their bags "magically" appear in their room upon check
in. The round-trip service, which is available and complimentary
during Disney's Happiest Celebration on Earth event (which also
begins May 5, 2005), is designed to give Disney hotel guests the
stress-free vacation they want.
With Disney's Magical Express service, a family of four can save
more than $80 (based on round trip shuttle or taxi transportation,
plus tip, for two adults and two children).
"We are extremely excited to add Disney's Magical Express to the
extensive list of ways we make Disney guests' vacations easier and
more enjoyable," said Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World
Resort. "In essence, this benefit provides a hassle-free experience
for our guests from the airport to our hotel room door and back
again."
"Disney's Magical Express service will set new standards for
convenience, value and comfort for guests traveling between the
airport and Walt Disney World Resort," Weiss added. "Orlando
International Airport is one of the premiere airports in the world.
We believe Disney's Magical Express will not only transform the
airport experience for Disney hotel guests, but will further enhance
the world-class status of OIA and drive additional visitation to
Central Florida."
* Disney's Magical Express service will not be available to guests
of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels, the Shades of
Green and the seven hotels near Hotel Plaza Boulevard.
How Disney's Magical Express service works:
Disney's Magical Express must be booked at least 10 days prior to
arrival through disneyworld.com, Disney Reservation Center by
calling 407-W-DISNEY or a travel agent beginning Jan. 2, 2005. The
service commences May 5, 2005.
Guests check their specially-tagged luggage at their departure
airport.
Upon arrival in Orlando, guests bypass airport baggage claim and go
directly to the Disney Airport Welcome Center.
Guests board state-of-the-art motor coaches that take them to their
Disney hotel.
A team of Disney representatives at the airport will pick up guests'
luggage and transport it to their hotel room.
Disney's Magical Express service makes guests' return to OIA
hassle-free as well. This convenient system lets guests flying with
participating airlines avoid airport check-in lines by enabling
passengers on domestic flights to check their luggage and receive a
boarding pass before ever departing their Disney hotel. As an added
benefit, guests with flight departures later in the day no longer
have to worry about their luggage after they check out of their
hotel. They can simply check their luggage at the Resort Airline
Check-in Desk and then enjoy the last day of their stay.
In addition to partners at Orlando International Airport, Walt
Disney World developed this innovative service in conjunction with
private and public sector leaders including: the Mears
Transportation Group, the largest provider of ground transportation
to the Walt Disney World Resort; BAGS Inc., the provider and
innovator in off-airport passenger check-in services for the hotel,
convention, cruise and airline industries; ARINC Incorporated, a
leading global provider of technology systems for airports and
airlines; the Transportation Security Administration; and airline
partners including: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta
Air Lines, Song, United Airlines and Ted. Walt Disney World hopes to
add other air carriers to the resort airline check-in service in the
near future.
Congressman John L. Mica (FL-7), Chairman of the U.S. House
Subcommittee on Aviation, called Disney's announcement "welcome
news."
"Not only does resort airline check-in provide a convenience for the
traveler, it also helps to expedite and improve security checks by
reducing congestion during the busiest times," Mica said. "By
combining Walt Disney World Resort's destination volume and
operational expertise with BAGS' innovative processes and exclusive
technology, a new industry model will be established."
Disney's Magic Your Way
Disney's Magical Express is the newest addition to Disney's Magic
Your Way program, an exciting new plan, which allows Walt Disney
World guests to create their own tickets and vacation packages for a
customized vacation. Starting Jan. 2, Walt Disney World Resort
guests will be able to purchase tickets to the various theme parks,
attractions and other entertainment offerings that are tailored to
the length of their vacation and the interests of their group -- and
allow them to save more per day based on their length of stay. Under
Magic Your Way, a family of four will be able to enjoy a
six-night/seven-day Walt Disney World vacation -- including a stay
at a Disney Value hotel, with theme park tickets -- for as little as
$1,500.
Disney's Magical Express is also added to the long list of premier
benefits that are afforded to guests staying at Disney hotels. This
includes the recently-announced Extra Magic Hours, where each day
one of our theme parks opens one hour early or stays open up to
three hours after regular park closing for guests of select Walt
Disney World Resort hotels. **
"Disney's Magical Express adds even more value to a Walt Disney
World vacation," Weiss said. "And with the myriad of new attractions
and shows premiering this spring in conjunction with the Happiest
Celebration on Earth -- our global celebration marking 50 years of
Disney theme park magic -- the timing couldn't be more perfect."
Booking Disney's Magical Express
Walt Disney World guests can book Disney's Magical Express starting
Jan. 2 along with the new Disney's Magic Your Way tickets and
packages. Guests can log onto the new disneyworld.com, call the
Disney Reservations Center at 407-W-DISNEY or contact their travel
agent.
** Valid theme park admission and resort identification required.
What People Are Saying About "Disney's Magical Express"
"At Orlando International Airport, we pride ourselves on delivering
the best passenger experience possible. Recently, we were ranked by
J.D. Power and Associates as the second best airport in the world
for customer service. This new initiative is the wave of the future
for our business and will further strengthen our leadership position
as one of the world's top airports."
-- Bill Jennings, Executive Director, Greater Orlando Aviation
Authority
"We are witnessing a revolution in the airline industry. As always,
Walt Disney World is taking the lead in providing their guests an
unparalleled vacation experience. The future of passenger services
is landing squarely in the lobby of each Disney hotel."
-- Craig Mateer, President, BAGS Inc.
"Mears has been providing transportation for the Walt Disney World
guest for more than 30 years. During that time, we have had the
opportunity to participate with Disney in several innovative guest
transportation services. This new service is further evidence of
Disney's commitment to exceed its guests' expectations in all
aspects of their vacation experiences."
-- Chuck Carns, Chief Executive Officer, Mears Destination Services
"ARINC has been championing the benefits of off-airport check-in
technology for some time. We are delighted to be part of Disney's
efforts to introduce this new level of convenience for travelers."
-- Mike Picco, Vice President of Airport Systems, ARINC Incorporated
"We are delighted to participate in Disney's Magical Express. This
program reinforces American Airlines' commitment to giving our
passengers what they value in a practical and fast service that
offers a high level of comfort and convenience."
-- Marilyn DeVoe, Vice President of Customer Service Planning,
American Airlines
"Delta's Disney customers can now enjoy more convenient flight and
baggage check in right from their resort. As the largest air carrier
of passengers into Orlando International Airport, working with BAGS
and Disney to make this service available to customers is right in
line with Delta's focus on making travel simple, convenient and
reliable."
-- Josh Weiss, Baggage Strategy, Delta Air Lines
"United is continuously exploring new and innovative ways to serve
our customers and bring even more convenience and ease to their
check-in experience. United has had a long and excellent
relationship with Disney, and both United and Ted are pleased to be
able to partner with the Walt Disney World Resort hotels to provide
this great service."
-- Larry D. De Shon, Senior Vice President - Airport Operations,
United Airlines