Hi Leanne!
Disney's Magical Express complimentary airport transportation is just one of many
benefits of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. You are correct that when departing Walt Disney World Resort via Disney's Magical Express, your motorcoach will depart for Orlando International Airport
approximately 3 to 4 hours prior to your scheduled flight. Guests will receive a Transportation Notice delivered to their resort hotel room the day before departure with the time of their Disney's Magical Express reservation. You will need to show your Transportation Notice to the driver to board the motorcoach.
Unlike Disney's Magical Express motorcoaches departing
from the airport that run on a somewhat continuous basis, those going
to the airport are scheduled based upon guests' flight times. If you miss your scheduled motorcoach, there may not be another bus scheduled to pick up guests at your resort for several hours. It is also very possible the next bus could already be at capacity with guests who have reservations for that departure time. So while it is
possible to contact Disney's Magical Express if you miss your bus to see if you can be accommodated on another bus, to be honest I wouldn't chance it. Personally, I would rather have a very early departure than worry about missing my flight.
I recommend being at the designated pick-up location 15 minutes before your scheduled Magical Express departure. The time on your Transportation Notice is when the motorcoach is scheduled to leave for the airport, not the time it boards.
Please let us know if you have additional questions.
Anne Marie