Comments on: Wheels Down At MCO: Three Tips For Faster Magic http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/ Disney World News, Tips, Crowds and Attraction information from The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:57:34 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Cynthia http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/comment-page-1/#comment-3224 Cynthia Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:42:39 +0000 http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=4541#comment-3224 Have you heard any issues with parties that had requested adjacent rooms during the reservation process? We are bringing the grandparents along for our trip in 3 weeks. Curious if the online registration accounts for special requests such as the adjacent rooms or refrigerators and if people have found those requests satisfied when they got there. Have you heard any issues with parties that had requested adjacent rooms during the reservation process? We are bringing the grandparents along for our trip in 3 weeks. Curious if the online registration accounts for special requests such as the adjacent rooms or refrigerators and if people have found those requests satisfied when they got there.

]]> By: Jennifer Harris http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/comment-page-1/#comment-2903 Jennifer Harris Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:04:33 +0000 http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=4541#comment-2903 Just letting you know about our online check-in experience. We used online check-in at POFQ...so did almost everyone else on our Magical Express bus!! The online check-in line was at least 4x that of the regular check-in lines. Also there was one online check-in line and several of the regular lines. This made my son very anxious, he kept wanting to move to another line!! I assured him that mom had made a great choice and I told him to pick someone in one of the other lines and we'd race that guy. Our line moved much quicker than the others and we barely beat that guy we had been racing. (so I'd say we would have reached a cm at about the same time online check-in or not) However, my own check-in process seemed much quicker than past experiences. The cm had my packet ready, my room was even ready at 10:30am! However, the cm told me I had a balance due and could she just put that on the card which I had attached to my room. I was under the assumption that I had authorized the final balance charge during my online check-in process. She assured me that my card had not yet been charged the balance and she was right, when I got home I did only see the one final room charge she had made and then the room charges at check-out! Also, I did not need to hand her my card, only my ID. Just letting you know about our online check-in experience.
We used online check-in at POFQ…so did almost everyone else on our Magical Express bus!! The online check-in line was at least 4x that of the regular check-in lines. Also there was one online check-in line and several of the regular lines. This made my son very anxious, he kept wanting to move to another line!! I assured him that mom had made a great choice and I told him to pick someone in one of the other lines and we’d race that guy. Our line moved much quicker than the others and we barely beat that guy we had been racing. (so I’d say we would have reached a cm at about the same time online check-in or not) However, my own check-in process seemed much quicker than past experiences. The cm had my packet ready, my room was even ready at 10:30am! However, the cm told me I had a balance due and could she just put that on the card which I had attached to my room. I was under the assumption that I had authorized the final balance charge during my online check-in process. She assured me that my card had not yet been charged the balance and she was right, when I got home I did only see the one final room charge she had made and then the room charges at check-out! Also, I did not need to hand her my card, only my ID.

]]> By: R http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/comment-page-1/#comment-2267 R Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:23:08 +0000 http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=4541#comment-2267 Fwiw, I used online checkin at Coronado Springs back in late September. The online checkin line when we arrived was much longer than the regular checkin line (which was nearly empty). Plus, they had only two CMs working the online line, but several assigned to regular check-in. I was not impressed, and probably wouldn't check in online again. I just didn't see any benefit. Fwiw, I used online checkin at Coronado Springs back in late September. The online checkin line when we arrived was much longer than the regular checkin line (which was nearly empty). Plus, they had only two CMs working the online line, but several assigned to regular check-in. I was not impressed, and probably wouldn’t check in online again. I just didn’t see any benefit.

]]> By: Janet Sala (FigmentRules) http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/comment-page-1/#comment-2265 Janet Sala (FigmentRules) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:31:39 +0000 http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=4541#comment-2265 Commando Style, solo trip: 1) front of plane, carry on 2) car rental--emerald aisle (national) Depending on when my plane lands: 3a) very late dinner (i.e., I caught a flight after work.) - or - 3b) straight to park (having an annual pass means no parking fee or ticket to pick up. That's the magic my way! ;-) ) 4) check into hotel Commando Style, solo trip:
1) front of plane, carry on
2) car rental–emerald aisle (national)
Depending on when my plane lands:
3a) very late dinner (i.e., I caught a flight after work.)
- or -
3b) straight to park (having an annual pass means no parking fee or ticket to pick up. That’s the magic my way! ;-) )
4) check into hotel

]]> By: John Berg http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/comment-page-1/#comment-2255 John Berg Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:12:29 +0000 http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=4541#comment-2255 Good advice Henry. The codes at Mousesavers have saved my family alot of money as well. keep up the good work!! Good advice Henry. The codes at Mousesavers have saved my family alot of money as well. keep up the good work!!

]]> By: Robert Cooke http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/comment-page-1/#comment-2251 Robert Cooke Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:11:22 +0000 http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=4541#comment-2251 I would also suggest arriving at off-peak times. Touching down in MCO at midnight meant we had zero wait for the Magical Express, and, in fact, the bus for our hotel left as soon as we boarded! Definitely the way to go! I would also suggest arriving at off-peak times. Touching down in MCO at midnight meant we had zero wait for the Magical Express, and, in fact, the bus for our hotel left as soon as we boarded! Definitely the way to go!

]]> By: Henry Work http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/comment-page-1/#comment-2250 Henry Work Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:17:39 +0000 http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=4541#comment-2250 That's awesome! They should totally call it that--Resort Check-in Fastpass! Thanks for sharing, Michelle That’s awesome! They should totally call it that–Resort Check-in Fastpass!

Thanks for sharing, Michelle

]]> By: Michelle http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/comment-page-1/#comment-2249 Michelle Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:57:07 +0000 http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=4541#comment-2249 We recently used the on-line check-in service at Port Orleans Riverside and were thrilled with it. I waiting in line for about a minute and walked away with my key in my hand about 3 minutes later. The regular check-in line was about 12 families long. The on-line check-in sure did feel like having a Fast Pass! (and this was with a 11am check-in) We recently used the on-line check-in service at Port Orleans Riverside and were thrilled with it. I waiting in line for about a minute and walked away with my key in my hand about 3 minutes later. The regular check-in line was about 12 families long. The on-line check-in sure did feel like having a Fast Pass! (and this was with a 11am check-in)

]]> By: Henry Work http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/comment-page-1/#comment-2248 Henry Work Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:30:01 +0000 http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=4541#comment-2248 Ha, great response, TTurner! Thanks for the tips for ME! I've only done it once, but didn't check my bags then either. Ha, great response, TTurner! Thanks for the tips for ME! I’ve only done it once, but didn’t check my bags then either.

]]> By: TTurner http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/10/29/faster-magic-mco/comment-page-1/#comment-2247 TTurner Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:05:06 +0000 http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=4541#comment-2247 I have a few tips for Magical Express. 1) Contrary to Harry's recommendation, I prefer to check in everything but the bare essentials so I don't have to lug excess bags with me for the MCO to WDW "sprint". 2) Designate a runner to head to the ME cow-maze. In my family of four, that's me. My wife and I will usually share a carry-on bag and I grab the ME booklet and charge through the terminal like OJ (the earlier version, not the white Bronco version) 3) Make sure you've got your ME booklet with you and make sure you've reviewed it recently and noted where the ME check in station is and also any changes to your flights. The CM will ask you about your outbound flights and correct them for you in the system. Pretty simple and quick to do as long as you have that info with you. 4) The cow-maze helps you aclimate to waiting in line at WDW. It usually moves pretty quickly but there is no Fast Pass option. Only one part member goes through the cow-maze at a time, which helps with line speed. 5) Matching up with the rest of your party after you get through the cow-maze and ME check in requires that your party is paying attention. While there's no reason for the rest of the party to try to que up early at the bus maze, it helps if they pay attention to when the runner finishes and move quickly to the start of the queue. I've watched other folk's vacations become derailed when Anxious Runner finds Slumbering Party lounging in the nearby couches and chairs. A good chance to see early fireworks. 5) Enjoy the bus ride. For Boardwalk, we have to make one stop at Carribean Beach (I think?) and it is must be the longest 8 minutes of the trip. Relax. There's nothing you can do to speed this part up. I'd say after checking in and buying tickets, we're usually in a park within two hours of landing. I'm sure we could get there faster by renting a car but I do enjoy not having to rent one. I have a few tips for Magical Express.
1) Contrary to Harry’s recommendation, I prefer to check in everything but the bare essentials so I don’t have to lug excess bags with me for the MCO to WDW “sprint”.
2) Designate a runner to head to the ME cow-maze. In my family of four, that’s me. My wife and I will usually share a carry-on bag and I grab the ME booklet and charge through the terminal like OJ (the earlier version, not the white Bronco version)
3) Make sure you’ve got your ME booklet with you and make sure you’ve reviewed it recently and noted where the ME check in station is and also any changes to your flights. The CM will ask you about your outbound flights and correct them for you in the system. Pretty simple and quick to do as long as you have that info with you.
4) The cow-maze helps you aclimate to waiting in line at WDW. It usually moves pretty quickly but there is no Fast Pass option. Only one part member goes through the cow-maze at a time, which helps with line speed.
5) Matching up with the rest of your party after you get through the cow-maze and ME check in requires that your party is paying attention. While there’s no reason for the rest of the party to try to que up early at the bus maze, it helps if they pay attention to when the runner finishes and move quickly to the start of the queue. I’ve watched other folk’s vacations become derailed when Anxious Runner finds Slumbering Party lounging in the nearby couches and chairs. A good chance to see early fireworks.
5) Enjoy the bus ride. For Boardwalk, we have to make one stop at Carribean Beach (I think?) and it is must be the longest 8 minutes of the trip. Relax. There’s nothing you can do to speed this part up. I’d say after checking in and buying tickets, we’re usually in a park within two hours of landing. I’m sure we could get there faster by renting a car but I do enjoy not having to rent one.

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