Disney's Magical Express/RAC - What "Participating Airline" Really Means!

[beachgrl001]

Originally Posted by CleveRocks

When I used DME and flew Spirit Airlines last May (2005), I used a skycap to help the 6 of us get our luggage to the Spirit counter. The skycap used the elevator and beat us to the counter. I'm not quite sure how he did this, and if it was "kosher" than he did this, but he had all of our stuff up at the counter and the ticket agent waved us to come on up to our luggage and check in, even though there was a small line waiting for service. Maybe he waited in line for us and held our place for us? I don't know, but he more than earned his tip!

Are there alot of skycaps around when you are dropped off of ME? (or luggage carts that you can rent) I am traveling w/o my DH (non participating airline) So I will only have DS13y/o to help me with the bags...

[stepdisney]

Not sure where to post this. It is about magical express. We are arriving at Orlando airport but will not be checking in to AKL until 4 days after. We want to ride the ME back to the airport but how will be get from the airport to Universal. Is it possible to ride one way? What do we do with the luggage tags? How would we handle the information if we arrive in orlando earlier than our reservations state for check-in at the Disney resort?

Finally, if we have to rent a car while we are at Universal, can we drop it off somewhere ON Disney's site after we have arrived rather than drive all the way back to the airport and taking the bus to our resort? Confusing?? Hopefully someone knows what I mean.

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by stepdisney

Not sure where to post this. It is about magical express. We are arriving at Orlando airport but will not be checking in to AKL until 4 days after. We want to ride the ME back to the airport but how will be get from the airport to Universal. Is it possible to ride one way? What do we do with the luggage tags? How would we handle the information if we arrive in orlando earlier than our reservations state for check-in at the Disney resort?

You can take DME one way, in either direction.

You will receive luggage tags when you make a DME reservation, but the luggage tags will be totally useless to you. I suggest throwing them out, unless you want to put them in a scrapbook. DME luggage tags are used only for the trip from airport to resort (it's how DME knows where to deliver the bags to). There's no such thing as DME tags used for the trip from resort to airport. So like I said, throw them out when you get them.

To get from the airport to Universal, I'd suggest booking a car service. It'll be better service than a taxi, for approximately the same price. Or rent a car if that would be useful for you.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by beachgrl001

Are there alot of skycaps around when you are dropped off of ME? (or luggage carts that you can rent) I am traveling w/o my DH (non participating airline) So I will only have DS13y/o to help me with the bags...

I've not really noticed. But, I believe others have said that there are more skycaps in the drop off areas lately. Get that 13 y/o to work lugging bags!!!

Originally Posted by stepdisney

Not sure where to post this. It is about magical express. We are arriving at Orlando airport but will not be checking in to AKL until 4 days after. We want to ride the ME back to the airport but how will be get from the airport to Universal. Is it possible to ride one way? What do we do with the luggage tags? How would we handle the information if we arrive in orlando earlier than our reservations state for check-in at the Disney resort?

Finally, if we have to rent a car while we are at Universal, can we drop it off somewhere ON Disney's site after we have arrived rather than drive all the way back to the airport and taking the bus to our resort? Confusing?? Hopefully someone knows what I mean.

You can book DME before you travel down, or you can wait until you check in at your WDW resort to do it. If you choose to do it beforehand, you can pretty much toss out the yellow tags you get...they will be meaningless to you. If you wait to book until you get to WDW, just talk to the front desk...they will be able to book your return to MCO.

I would book a round trip towncar service from MCO to your Universal resort, then from that resort to the WDW one. It should cost about $115, plus tip.
Or, if you are comfortable driving yourself, pick up a rental car. If you rent through either Alamo or National, you can return the car to either the Dolphin or the Car Care Center (which is close to MK)..the CCC will shuttle you to wherever you need to get back to.
There are also a myriad of rental car companies in the DTD area...some will get you back to your resort as well.

[stepdisney]

Thanks guys. Would you book the towncar service because of the parking at Universal? We will be staying on site so we won't need transportation to Universal, however, we will be visiting aquatica and may need a car. We've never done Universal, just Disney, and we've never used a car at all at Disney. Can you rent a car for the same $115 that the town car service would cost? Will the town car service let us stop at the local walmart for water or do me need to have it delivered? Is there an additional charge for returning a car to a different location such as Disney CCC?

Sorry that I have so many questions but this is all new for us. We just jumped on the ME bus both ways the last time. It was convenient and the kids thought of it as their first & last ride. The more I think about it, the more I think a car may be useful, especially since we are unfamiliar with the universal area. If we don't like the experience, we can drive to DTD.

Thanks for your help and feel free to continue suggesting.

[beachgrl001]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

I've not really noticed. But, I believe others have said that there are more skycaps in the drop off areas lately. Get that 13 y/o to work lugging bags!!!

Oh I will!

[pskelly]

Ok I am sure this has been asked but I just cant find it, so, I have DME booked but I booked the flights on my own. Do I need to call DME and let them know the arrival and departure flight information?

TIA

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by pskelly

Ok I am sure this has been asked but I just cant find it, so, I have DME booked but I booked the flights on my own. Do I need to call DME and let them know the arrival and departure flight information?

TIA

Not really. You can, but it really doesn't make a lot of difference. They will see your tagged bags and grab them automatically. Then, when you checkin upon arrival, you will be asked about your return flight info in order to schedule your return time.
Call if you want but don't obsess over it.

[pskelly]

Thanks goofy4tink, just wanted to make sure it wasnt going to be a problem.

[wdwnomad]

Does anyone know how RAC is going to be handling passengers who have more bags than their airline's allowance? Will we be able to check-in using RAC or will we have to check-in at the airport?

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by wdwnomad

Does anyone know how RAC is going to be handling passengers who have more bags than their airline's allowance? Will we be able to check-in using RAC or will we have to check-in at the airport?

That's a good question. You have to think of RAC as 'curbside checkin'. If you went up to Delta's curbside checkin they wouldn't allow the second bag free of charge. But, RAC represents 8 airlines....I'm going to 'assume' they will hold the guest to the same restrictions the individual airlines do. But it will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

As far as I know, they cannot accept money. So extra baggage has to be checked directly with the airline.

[wdwnomad]

Originally Posted by Chip 'n Dale Express

As far as I know, they cannot accept money. So extra baggage has to be checked directly with the airline.

Thanks for the replies. I knew you weren't allowed to check in overweight luggage because they don't take cash. But didn't that mean you had to check-in at the airport with all of your bags then? Don't you need to check-in everything at once? If yes, then you would need to check-in at airport as well if you had a second bag?

I was wondering if they would change how they operate because of so many airlines starting to charge for the second bag.

[MICKEY1024]

do the ME busses only pick up at resorts at certain times, i dont see why we really need to be at the airport 3 hours before flying out, we usually just get there an hour and half to 2 hours before our flights to florida. our plan leaves at 5:30 from MCO so what time should we really be leaving All Star Movie to get to the airport???

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by MICKEY1024

do the ME busses only pick up at resorts at certain times, i dont see why we really need to be at the airport 3 hours before flying out, we usually just get there an hour and half to 2 hours before our flights to florida. our plan leaves at 5:30 from MCO so what time should we really be leaving All Star Movie to get to the airport???

Each resort has a preset time, at 30 min intervals, that the bus can come to pick up. So, for a 5:30 flight, you would be given a p/u time of about 2:30 give or take. Why? Because there are other stops to be made. It is 30 mins to MCO from WDW...so if you wanted to get to MCO on your own, and be at the airport the 2 hrs before departure as suggested by MCO, you would have to leave your resort by 3:00. With DME you leave 30 mins earlier. So..you can see that you are not at the airport 3 hrs early, just 30 mins early.

And you can not count on another bus coming along 30 mins later. The buses to not automatically go to each resort. They only go to resorts that have people with reservations for DME at that time. So..if there are no other guests at Movies going back to MCO 30 mins after your bus, then you won't have a bus to get on if you don't take the one you are scheduled for.