Magical express

[hardly]

If I stay 1st night on arrival at a Disney hotel, can I get the magical express from the airport.

[Thorpy]

Yes, the qualification for magical express is a check in on that day. We often use it and then also use the free (tip the driver) shuttle to the car place a couple of days later. Saves getting a big car, saves driving tired or in dark if delayed. Also reduces the cost of car itself, and you don’t get the same sales pitch you do at the airport.

[hardly]

If I book using travel republic, and stay at a Disney hotel 2 nights on arrival, will I still get magical express transport, has anyone then hired a car from a Disney location, say using Andy, and what were the car hire experience like, new car or older car, clean or dirty, haggling etc.

[sky13]

Yes you can get magical express no matter how you book your Disney hotel (direct with Disney or via a third party), though you will need to book the magical express either by phone or online.

Not sure about car hire, sorry, but I remember reading that there is a car centre somewhere around the Swan/Dolphin?

[Merryweather17]

There are 2 car hire options, one is at the Dolphin and the other is the car care centre that is near the MK parking lot, this one may give you a better choice of vehicles and rental companies though I can't be sure as we used Alamo both times. The companies offer free shuttle from the disney hotels, it is quick and easy we did it for the first time the other year and were impressed with the ease of collecting from car care centre and drop off at the Dolphin.

[jim jehosofat]

Car care centre is Alamo and National, one owns the other, can't remember which way round though! If you collect at the Dolphin your only choice will be to take the car you're offered, whereas at the CCC you can usually well if you don't like the car they give you. Both locations can be booked with Andy.

[Thorpy]

We've used both in the past. We used the Dolphin because we knew we could get a normal Disney bus to the studios, then boat over to the Dolphin. After we discovered the shuttle bus to the car care, we started to take that option instead as it's easier with car seat. The payphones in the lobby had a free dial option to book the bus. The room phones might have a free option as well, but we didn't dare try it out, especially when we walked past the alternative regularly.

[matt987106]

we always used the Dolphin, go upstairs, pick up paperwork, ( ZERO selling of options ) go to to pick up the car

last trip we tried the DCC option, it worked well, guy did say i needed some insurance that was $150 for the 3 weeks, i was tired and wanted to get away, so foolishly took it

[sheluk]

We’ve picked up from both and would pick the DCC between the two for more options if somethings wrong. Our pick up at the Dolphin was a nightmare - waiting for ages then they said they couldn’t accommodate our car type so we literally ended up with an old bangar and had to go to DCC the next day to swap.

Well just be picking up from the airport next time. Where we can choose our car and hopefully do online check in so it’ll be relatively quick.

[alvin_purple]

We collected the car from the car care center and returned it to the airport. No issues and would do the same. Booked through Andy.
It's worth booking the shuttle from the Disney hotel the day before.
Wasn't sure how much to tip. It was a short drive with no luggage so just tipped $5.