Anyone have any problems with Disney Magical Express?

[Lilo's Mom]

My DH and I are flying into Orlando on May 31st to attend a wedding. Our reservation at POR is for June 5th. When I called to give my flight information for Disney Magical Express and tried to explain to them that we are renting at car AT THE AIRPORT (not offsite) and will be returning it to the airport on June 5th, therefore I would like to use the Magical Express service on that day, not the 31st, I was told that I can't use the service on any day other than the day I fly in. When I asked why that is I was told that it was because the service picks up your luggage and loads it in the bus. If I am not flying they can't get my luggage. I told the operator that people must occasionally carry on their luggage, are they told they can't use the service? Then I was told that the other issue is that my luggage would not have passed through security, so they would have no way of knowing if it was alright or not. I realise that I know I am not a terrorist and that they don't know that, so I offered to let them go through the bags... This got me transferred to someone else.

Next operator told me that once you return a rental car, you can't just walk in the airport. Really? How about people that are flying home, they walk through the airport. Got transferred again

Now I am on operator number three, who agreed with me that what I am saying is logical, but since I don't have a incoming flight time they can go by, that scheduling would be difficult at best. I asked what happens when flights are delayed, doesn't scheduling change? So where I am now is the rental car is due back at 9 am, and the last person I talked to is going to see if she can arrange for us to be picked up at 10:00am from the airport. If this can be done, I am told that we can't be late or they can't take us to POR. Is it just me or are they making it much more difficult than it should be?

 

[goofy4tink]

Sorry you're having such a problem. DME is set up for those needing transport on the day of arrival. There have been those on these boards that for one reason or another, have needed to use DME the following day. So, what they have done is to make reservations with DME using a flight number for that day, rather than their actual day of arrival. So...if you arrive May 31, but need DME on June 5, find a flight that arrives around 9 am, tell DME you are arriving on that flight. Then, do NOT use those yellow tags. When you get to MCO to return the car, head directly to DME area, with your bags and check in with them as usual. Your bags will go under the bus you are riding on.
Or.....you can change your car drop off to the Car Care Center on-site by the MK. You could go to POR, drop off the bags, checkin, and then take the car back to CCC and they will shuttle you back to POR.

 

[Lewisc]

Two people on my bus paid Mears and was transported on my DME bus. One person returned a rental car to MCO. He wasn't entitled to ride for free since it wasn't his resort check in date.

You spending too much time trying to answer an irrelevant question, the reason why is irrelevant. It may have something to do with the agreement Disney has with the airport. The cynics, including me, think one of the reasons Disney has DME is to discourage car rentals.

THAT SAID you want to be picked up at MCO on 6/5 and you're checking in at POR on 6/5? You want to use DME on your check in date. NO PROBLEM just give Disney a flight that arrives around the time you expect to dropping off your rental car.

It might be easier to rent with National/Alamo and drop it off at WDW.

 

[clkelley]

If you get nowhere, then do this. Look up the flight arrivals for the day you are checking into your Disney resort. Give them an airline and a flight # that approximates the time you want to drop off your rental car. (It absolutely does not matter which one).

Drop off the car and show up at the Magical Express desk with your luggage and your Magical Express voucher (or your Disney resort confirmation sheet).

You should be fine!!

They do not verify who is on what flight!! They only take the incoming flight numbers so they can do an approximate job of personnel and bus scheduling.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Here's one more option. Since you're going to be somewhere in the area on June 5, is it possible for you to drive to PO-R very early, check in, leave your luggage with Bell Services if your room isn't ready, and then drive the car back to the airport? Maybe keep your carry ons with you so it at least looks as if you flew in, or not? The suggestion to drop off the car at the Car Care Center is a good one if you're renting from National/Alamo, but you'd need to see if there's an additional fee for returning the car to a different location.
Oh, and just my opinion - but some of the 'reasons' you've been given regarding why you can't do this are just plain funny... I especially liked that one about you can't just walk into the airport after returning a rental!

 

[Lilo's Mom]

I think I will wait a day and call back and give them some bogus flight information. Hopefully that will get me on the bus!

BTW Rhonda, I worked customer service at Marshall Fields for 10 years, and before that managed a movie theatre. I have often toyed with the idea of writing a book about my experiences. I even have a title...."What time does the Midnight Show Start?"

One of my favorite Marshall Fields experiences involved a woman that wanted to return a Lamb Cake that she bought at the bakery. Every return had to have a reason, so I asked her why she wanted to return the cake....drumroll please......

Because it was too cute to cut it's head off!

 

[seashoreCM]

Simple.

You are entitled to DME transportation from MCO to your Disney resort on check in day and back to MCO on check out day.

To avoid problems with getting ready for pre-dawn flights some guests will check out the day before, take ME that evening, and stay at an airport hotel for that last night.

To estimate the number of people arriving each hour and also to ensure that the service is running until all planes have arrived each evening, Disney uses your flight number.

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