Disney's Magical Express And Disney Cruise Line Transports Are Not The Same

A general confusion that exists for guests who are familiar with traveling to Walt Disney World is that transportation to/from Port Canaveral for a Disney cruise is the same as Disney's Magical Express service.  Yes, they both use buses, sometimes the exact same buses.  Yes, they are both owned and operated by Mears.  Yes, the buses have bathrooms and show cartoons/movies.  And, yes, they both have check-in counters at Orlando International Airport that are actually adjacent to each other.

So, with all of these commonalities, it is understandable how prospective guests think that they are one in the same.  But there are some significant differences.

Disney's Magical Express is FREE to guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort.  Disney Cruise Line transports or transfers are $35 per person per trip or $70 round-trip.

Disney's Magical Express transports guests to/from Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney World Resort.  Disney Cruise Line transports transport guests from airport to port, port to airport, port to resort, and resort to port.

Disney's Magical Express operates all day every day.  Disney Cruise Line transports operate only on days Disney ships are in port either embarking or disembarking and only those mornings and early afternoons.  All guests must leave the ship no later than 9:00 am and all guests must be on the ship by late afternoon, limiting the hours the transports are needed.

For us a typical sea/land vacation includes the use of both Disney Cruise Line transports and Disney's Magical Express.  When we stay at the Hyatt at Orlando International Airport prior to sailing, it is convenient for us to make our way downstairs at the airport and board a bus to the port--the bus being Disney Cruise Line transports.  If we are heading to Walt Disney World Resort after disembarking from the ship, we again us Disney Cruise Line transports to take us from port to resort.  And, then, when we check out of our resort to head back to Orlando International Airport, Disney's Magical Express whisks us away in true Disney style.

Cruise to Resort--Using Disney Transports

On our grand Summer 2011 family vacation, we let Disney transport us from the moment our plane touched down in Orlando.  We used Disney transports to get us from the Hyatt at Orlando International to Port Canaveral—click here to read more—and were transported on a lovely Disney Cruise Line bus, operated by Mears. 

We then used Disney transport to go from Port Canaveral to our Walt Disney World Resort.  We thought we would once again be transported in luxury on a Disney Cruise Line bus.  But that didn’t happen.  Here’s the story:

After disembarking the ship with Key to the World Cards, Passports, and Custom forms in hand, we headed down the escalator just after exiting the ship, to the big luggage room.  I quickly found a porter and told him our bags were in the “red Mickey” section.

Off we went to secure our bags.  Found them!  The porter loaded them on his oversized two-wheeled hand cart and we zig-zagged through the queue to customs.  It was great to visit with our porter. . . how many days do you work at the port?  How long is your day?  He said the crew of porters work every day any ship, for any cruise line, is in port.  He said they arrive quite early, say 4:00 am, and start taking bags off the ship so that when the first guests disembark between 7:00 and 7:30 am, the luggage is in the luggage room.

We made it through customs without any issues and them outside the port terminal.  I explained that we were headed to a Disney resort and it was confirmed by a code on our Key to the World Cards.

A Disney Cruise Line Cast Member then directed us to a white van.  Huh?  The beautiful Disney Cruise Line busses were loading right beside us.  There were already 4 guests in the van and we were next.  The porter and van driver quickly loaded our bags. 

Well, since I had anticipated riding in the Disney Cruise Line bus, which had a restroom, I had waited to use the bathroom until after we got through the disembarkation process.  Now, I was looking at an hour and a half ride without a bathroom.  Nope, not going to make it. 

The van driver directed me to a security guard.  I then had to go through the metal detectors at the entrance to the port terminal, up the stairs and use the restroom.  I was the only guest on that floor of the building!  I quickly made my way back down the stairs and to the van.  A Disney Cruise Line bus was already pulling away from the port terminal. 

By the time I returned to the van, it had been decided that I would ride in the front, next to the driver.  We would make the ride to Orlando stopping at 3 resorts—Pop Century to drop off two of our passengers, Caribbean Beach to drop off 2 more, and we would be the last stop at Port Orleans French Quarter.

Another issue. . . on the Disney Cruise Line bus, movies would be playing.  The boy would be somewhat entertained.  No movies on the van. He was able to entertain himself with his DS. I was three rows in front of him in our white van!

Not having expected this turn of events, I asked our driver how this happens.  He said that the van is typically there and fills up first, early, to get guests to the Walt Disney World Resorts.  He was surprised that the big bus filled up first and took off.  He told us that riders on the van had to be over 6 years old.  Okay, we met that requirement.

It ended up being a lovely drive/ride.  Our driver allowed me to take the following pictures from the front seat of the van. 

We saw parts of Orlando that we hadn’t seen before and possibly would not have seen from riding in the bus.  We made it to our stop, Port Orleans French Quarter before 10:00 am.

Disney continued to transport us using Disney Transportation to/from the parks—busses, boats, and monorails.

Disney’s Magical Express transported us from our resort to Orlando International for our return flight home.  Yeah, there’s a story with this one too, but I’ll save it for another time.

Disney does its best to transport guests in a safe, timely, and efficient manner which is another reason we keep coming back.  There’s no added cost of rental cars or car services when traveling to Disney.

Click here to read about our last night on board the DisneyDream.

On Our Way to the Disney Dream!

 There is a giant aquarium in the center of the food court

at Orlando International Airport.

The day had finally arrived!  We were on our way to Port Canaveral to board the Disney Dream! 

 The Cruise Line Check-in is near the Magical Express

Check-in for transport to the Walt Disney World

Resorts.

After a great night at the Hyatt, we got up early, checked out of the hotel, left our tagged luggage in our room, and headed to the enormous food court at Orlando International to grab some breakfast.  We got breakfast to go, as we were making our way downstairs to Level 1, B side of the airport to check in at Disney’s Magical Express Counter for transport via Disney transfers to the Port.

 The husband has our cruise book that was mailed to us

prior to our cruise and Tinker Bell bus group has been stapled

to the book to indicate which bus we will be taking to the port.

Here’s where things were different from the last time we had done this:

• Your whole party will need to make their way to the check-in counter.  Previously, just one person from your group needed to check-in with the paperwork.  Reason being—your pre-boarding photo that will be attached to your Key to the World Card on the ship will be taken at the counter.
• Show your passports and provide any cruise line paperwork.  All the paperwork that you did on-line, printed, and signed will be turned in at this counter.
• Other than to grab a Personal Navigator at the port terminal or register your child for kids’ clubs and/or get the bracelet, there will be no reason to use a registration desk at the port.

 Our Group Boarding Number.  2!  It doesn't get much 

better than this!

We received our boarding ticket—Tinker Bell!  We would be on the first bus out of the airport to the port!  We had checked in about 8:15 am and would be on the bus leaving at 9:30 am. 

We also received our boarding group number card.  We were in group 2!  This means that when passengers began boarding the ship around 11:45 am, we would be in the first groups called to board! (Note:  The group number card is handed to you separately and you will need it to board the ship, so don’t lose it!)

 Having some breakfast while we wait to board our bus.

Getting breakfast to go paid off, as we will be on the 

first bus to the port.

Getting from the airport to the port was a breeze with Disney transfers.  Using Disney transfers means that you are paying Disney to transport you to and/or from the port.  You may be picked up and dropped off either at Orlando International Airport or a Walt Disney World Resort. The fee is usually $69 per person round trip.  A town car service will run about $210 (plus gratuity) for round trip airport/port and return.  For a 1-2 travelers, Disney transfers is the best way to go.  For a group of 3, it is a wash, but for groups of 4 or more, hiring a service will be more economical, but there will be other things, such as luggage handling, that would not be included.

 Here's our Disney Cruise Line bus!

Carry on luggage can go below.

I held onto my shoulder bag as it had snacks, money, etc.

Soon it was time to line up for the bus.  Have a photo ID ready to show again at this point, such as Passports.  You won’t need to show them again at the port or prior to boarding the ship, so after you have them checked one more time at this point, you can put them away.

Note:  We were using cash for our shipboard account.  We did not give the cash for our account at the bus check-in counter, or at the port registration desk.  We were told, and given a letter, to wait until we were on board.  Actually, Disney fronts your account up to $300 until you deposit cash into your account on the ship.  I’ll explain more when sharing about this when sharing our first day on board.

 We made it!  We are on the bus to the port.

We are on our way!

Happy, Happy, Happy!

Who will be the first to spy the Dream?