Adding guest at check-in, but need transportation from MCO

[Stacy_C]

We are a party of 3 on our WDW reservation, but will need to add a 4th guest at the time of check in. What are the options for getting the 4th guest from MCO to Pop Century with the rest of us? Is Magical Express a possibility for him at all? We will be arriving after 10:00 pm, so we will be getting our own luggage, so no worries about yellow tags. TIA.

 

[Alesia]

DME is not an option. He can pay to take the Mears shuttle.

 

[seashoreCM]

There is (or was) a Mears counter close to the Magical Express welcoming area. Mears does not make shuttle reservations to Disney's resorts but will take walk-up customers.

Any chance you can add the 4'th person to your room prior to arriving in Orlando?

Then you can reserve Magical Express for him.

Don't cut it too close or else:

1. Your plane might land too fast for you to complete both of those tasks,
and/or,
2. Cell phone and wifi service might not be working forcing you to use the six dollar a minute Airfone in the seat back.

 

[tjmw2727]

Assuming you booked a package and the 4th person doesn't want/need all the same entitlements as the rest of the party is the reason you can't add them now:
(if its a room only just add the 4th guest now!)

If your arriving prior to the 4th person add them when you check in and reserve DME on the spot if there is enough time. They can then check in at the DME desk and have a voucher printed.

If you are arriving on the same day and meeting at the airport I would just reserve a town car for the 4 of you and save some time and hassle - probably be about 60 +/- one way.

Otherwise just have the 4th person use the mears shuttle, its walk up only reservations once they arrive and about 35 pp one way IIRC.

 

[Stacy_C]

Assuming you booked a package and the 4th person doesn't want/need all the same entitlements as the rest of the party is the reason you can't add them now:
(if its a room only just add the 4th guest now!)

If your arriving prior to the 4th person add them when you check in and reserve DME on the spot if there is enough time. They can then check in at the DME desk and have a voucher printed.

If you are arriving on the same day and meeting at the airport I would just reserve a town car for the 4 of you and save some time and hassle - probably be about 60 +/- one way.

Otherwise just have the 4th person use the mears shuttle, its walk up only reservations once they arrive and about 35 pp one way IIRC.

Yes, the 4th person does not want all of the package entitlements that the rest of us have. If he does the Mears walk-up, I'm assuming it will be a different bus than a Magical Express bus...? It confuses me a little since Magical Express is provided by Mears, correct? Any light you can shed on this?

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes, the 4th person does not want all of the package entitlements that the rest of us have. If he does the Mears walk-up, I'm assuming it will be a different bus than a Magical Express bus...? It confuses me a little since Magical Express is provided by Mears, correct? Any light you can shed on this?

Yes DME is run by Mears but as a separate service. I don't think it will be a DME bus but rather a generic Mears bus and a shared ride to your WDW resort among other offsite hotels. Way back when DME first started guests did report being put on a DME bus when purchasing a ride via Mears to a Disney resort but I haven't heard any reports of that lately.

If you all really want to ride together I would just spend an additional 30 dollars and hire a town car, I like Florida Tours and Tiffany Town car.

 

[Stacy_C]

Yes DME is run by Mears but as a separate service. I don't think it will be a DME bus but rather a generic Mears bus and a shared ride to your WDW resort among other offsite hotels. Way back when DME first started guests did report being put on a DME bus when purchasing a ride via Mears to a Disney resort but I haven't heard any reports of that lately.

If you all really want to ride together I would just spend an additional 30 dollars and hire a town car, I like Florida Tours and Tiffany Town car.

Sounds great! Thank you so much for your help!

 

[sharadoc]

If the Dining Plan is an issue, you can only add that 3 days or longer from check-in so you could try to add them 2 days in advance. I don't know if they would make you add tickets if you don't add dining.

 

[goofy4tink]

It is possible the 4th person could be put on the DME bus with you. Nothing is certain though!
When that 4th person arrives at MCO, they should just go to the Mears counter. You pass by it on the way to the DME area. If they are put on a DME bus, you can then all go together to the DME area.
If they get put on a regular Mears bus, they can just meet you at the resort.

 

[totallytigger]

We had this same situation a couple years ago. My college age DD could only join us for a portion of our trip. We were on a pkg with tickets and dining--so we were told to wait and add her 1-2 days prior to check in and then notify DME. I guess this happens somewhat frequently.

 

[CarrieR]

Just FYI, I was the "fourth" on a room package last August and the only way they were able to add me at checkin was if they added me to the entire package. We checked at the desk three separate times and in the end I stayed in the room "illegally" (I had an AP and wasn't keen on buying another ticket!!) Luckily I was in town for a convention and didn't need airport transport, but just FYI that you might have issues.

 

[tjmw2727]

Just FYI, I was the "fourth" on a room package last August and the only way they were able to add me at checkin was if they added me to the entire package. We checked at the desk three separate times and in the end I stayed in the room "illegally" (I had an AP and wasn't keen on buying another ticket!!) Luckily I was in town for a convention and didn't need airport transport, but just FYI that you might have issues.

That is unfortunate and definitely not the norm - sorry it happened!

My sister often stays with us and doesn't want/need the same entitlements we have as she is a Fl resident and AP holder. Over the past 5/6 years (2+ trips per year) we have been able to add her after check in without her having to have any entitlements. We have also added my other sister who just doesn't want to visit the parks as much as we do and she was able to use DME both ways as she arrived 2 days after we did and left the same day we did. We have had to pay the additional adult fee but that was expected. It was explained to me that once we checked in and accessed the package then it was completed (He may have even said "exploded?" ) and no longer a package, this meant the CM could add the additional guest.

Most recently for reference were November 15 and April 16.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think the 'issue' is when you add that 4th person. Most people have the addtl person arriving at some point after the original checkin. So, they aren't there for the entire stay. But, if everyone is checking in the same day, it could be an issue. You might be able to have that addtl person pay for Mears, ride to the resort, stay one night, illegally. Then add them the next day.

 

[CarrieR]

I agree that it's not the norm, as we've added people late before. But three separate trips to the desk said it couldn't be done. In the end, it saved me $50 (extra person fee) so I couldn't complain too much! Just wanted the OP to be aware it might be an issue!

(We tried both day of and day after checkin, too. Friends arrived Fri night, I moved over on Saturday after my conference wrapped up.)