Any reason why we would be denied DME?

[Mr_P_Bear]

My wife won a trip to WDW from Family Fun Magazine but it didn't include airfare. When she won the trip we had to book the details through a travel agent and we will be staying at ASMo starting November 12. Well, We bought our plane tickets but we didn't call for DME until now. She called them today and they referred her back to our travel agent. She called them and they told her that we would be riding a shuttle.

Is there any reason why would be denied DME if we are staying on property? Did we wait too long to set it up with them? DW seemed fine with it but in my head I had planned to live and breathe Disney once I got off the plane. By the way, we're flying American airlines so I wouldn't figure that there would be a problem.

 

[Uncle Remus]

No idea, AA is one of the participating airlines.
Does your TA have an explanation?

 

[Mr_P_Bear]

DW was supossed to call them back and find out but I haven't heard from her. She's at work and busier than I am I guess.

From reading some things on the board it looks like that we could bring our room confirmation information with us and use DME without the tags. Just pick up our own luggage and take it to the DME check in.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the contest. Since it seems to be unusual, and generally unheard of since we could check ourselves in, I'm now hoping for something special like a limo or something.

 

[safetymom]

You need to set it up before you get to Orlando airport. Have your agent call the special DME number and have her get you entered into the system. Then you can just walk up to the counter with your luggage.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just my opinion, but safetymom didn't emphasize You need to set it up before you get to Orlando airport enough so I'm repeating it.
Now, I wouldn't be surprised if by "shuttle" the Travel Agent means Magical Express and just doesn't realize it (scary, I know) but your wife should call back and insist that they reserve you transportation on DME.

 

[BillSears]

I don't think you were denied DME. Disney told you that you had to set it up through your travel agent since the travel agent controls the reservation. The travel agent said they booked you on a shuttle. No one said you couldn't ride DME instead they said they've made other arraingements, which may actually turn out to be DME in the end.

I think you need to clarify this with your travel agent and ask specifically if the "shuttle" is DME. If it's not then ask them to please rebook it on DME.

 

[safetymom]

Just my opinion, but safetymom didn't emphasize You need to set it up before you get to Orlando airport enough so I'm repeating it.
Now, I wouldn't be surprised if by "shuttle" the Travel Agent means Magical Express and just doesn't realize it (scary, I know) but your wife should call back and insist that they reserve you transportation on DME.

Thank you for making that point. It has been a long day and I didn't emphasize it.

 

[Mr_P_Bear]

I just got off the phone with the wife and she said that the Travel Agent told her that the room/tickets/food was booked as a Funjet package and it told her that we would have a shuttle.

Right now I see two plans to get back to the ME. I saw that we can go to the official DME web site: www.disneymagicalexpress.com and use our room reservation information to book it ourselves (have that info at home) or try our luck with the Travel Agent again to convince them.

My wife isn't too worried since it's not like Mickey will be driving us or anything but I want to experience it all (I also don't give up easily).

 

[safetymom]

I would try arranging DME yourself. Also is your Funjet shuttle free? Because if you are paying for it I would ask to have it dropped if you are taking DME.

 

[Mr_P_Bear]

I would try arranging DME yourself. Also is your Funjet shuttle free? Because if you are paying for it I would ask to have it dropped if you are taking DME.

Well, I have a receipt from the Travel Agent when we booked the trip that said the room, tickets and food was paid in full so while I cannot say for certain that we would have to pay for the shuttle, it seems unlikely.

We didn't pick the agent ourselves. When she won the trip the person she talked to directed us to them. We live just outside of Austin in Round Rock and the Travel Agency is called Round Rock Travel (or something like that). I'm guessing that the people who gave away the trip picked them because of the name.

I don't know if they have that much experience in booking Disney Trips.

 

[safetymom]

But does the receipt mention transportation? If it comes with the trip then I would ask for the details of that program just be sure they did arrange travel. You can't just show up at the DME booth without a reservation.

 

[CleveRocks]

It's entirely possible that your TA has no idea what DME is, and booked you on a some other form of paid transportation. This wouldn't matter to you because it's not coming out of your pocket, but you'll miss out on the free automatic luggage delivery.

Then you can just walk up to the counter with your luggage.

C'mon, safetymom, I know you know this by now! As long as you have a DME reservation, even if you don't have your DME luggage tags you can STILL take advantage of the automatic luggage delivery. You skip baggage claim, go to the DME Welcome Center, and they'll ask for your baggage claim ticket numbers and a description of your checked bags (they'll show a photo array of every piece of luggage known to man, and you just play a matching game!). They'll dispatch a CM to pull your bags from the baggage claim carousel and take them "behind the scenes" to join up with the rest of the DME luggage.

No idea, AA is one of the participating airlines.
Does your TA have an explanation?

Regarding the arrival leg of your trip, when you fly into MCO, there's no such thing as "participating airline" or "non-participating airline." Airline only matters for the return trip, the trip back home. When you fly into MCO, EVERYBODY is eligible for the DME automatic luggage delivery (as long as they're named on the reservation at a WDW owned-and-operated resort).

 

[Mr_P_Bear]

You can't just show up at the DME booth without a reservation.

Yeah, I must have skipped over that at first glance. When I get home I'm going to pull up my room reservation and try to register myself for the ME. If that works we can call back the Travel Agent and let them know to cancel the travel they made. If it doesn't work then I need to talk to the Travel Agent about getting switched over to ME.

 

[safetymom]

Maybe I need to take a nap. The point I was trying to make is that DME is free so why not take that.

CleveRocks, I was assuming he wouldn't get the tags in time. Long day.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Regarding the arrival leg of your trip, when you fly into MCO, there's no such thing as "participating airline" or "non-participating airline." Airline only matters for the return trip, the trip back home. When you fly into MCO, EVERYBODY is eligible for the DME automatic luggage delivery (as long as they're named on the reservation at a WDW owned-and-operated resort).

Oh cool, thanks for the tip.
Just got back a few weeks ago, used DME
and would use it again...if it went to Vegas

 

[seashoreCM]

Is your travel agency really giving you a hard time about telling you how you get from the airport to the resort and how much extra (if anything) that will cost? Let alone where in the airport terminal building to go to meet/catch it?

It is possible that the package price includes transportation between airport and resort and no refund is permitted for taking something else. But do find out before you start your vacation.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[goofy4tink]

As someone has already mentioned, your TA could actually be talking about DME but just not know it. I would talk to them again, asking if it is the transportation that is provided by Disney. I would ask point blank if it is DME..if the TA says no, it's a different type of shuttle, then tell them you are entitled to DME. If they won't book it for you, book it yourself. You could call DME directly and ask them if you are already in their system.
I wish more TA's were Disney conversant...sometimes they just have no idea what we are talking about!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh cool, thanks for the tip.
Just got back a few weeks ago, used DME
and would use it again...if it went to Vegas

Um, well, if you stay at the Venetian... for $20, one of the DME service providers (don't remember if it's ASIGS, or if it's BAGS Inc) will allow you to check your luggage through from the hotel to your home airport...

 

[Mr_P_Bear]

Thanks everyone for the help. Last night I got our room reservation out and booked it through the web site and everything worked.

I'm glad that minor emergency is over now.