Are we crazy to try this with Magical Express

[D L and K's Mom]

We will be flying in to MCO at 12:05am on Christmas Eve. There will be me, DD 3, DD 15, DS (special needs) 16, DH, MIL, and SIL. We have a van rented with NATIONAL. Our plans are to have DD 15, ME, MIL and SIL go on ME. DH, DS 16 and DD 3 will go in the van to POR. We will take some of the luggage with us because we will not all fit into the van with the wheelchair and car seat etc. After we check into the hotel and dump everything we will all be able to fit into the van to go to the parks because there will not be luggage. We plan on sending all luggage ahead to the airport from POR on the way back so we can all ride in the van to MCO for our flight home. What do you think?? Is this crazy? Any other suggestions? We have thought about MEARS but we need a van to go to and from the parks as the bus is not a great option for DS. I think this will work out ok if the people taking ME take their luggage with them?? Any thoughts??

 

[goofy4tink]

That should be very doable...many have done this exact thing.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I howe so I just have visions of all 7 of us squished into the van with suitcases, diapers, car seats, strollers, wheelchair with Christmas Carols on the radio playing....Silent night as we drive off to WDW!!!

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

We are doing this as well, in December. I am renting from an offsite place (best price I could find so far), so I will go deal with that while DH and the kids and the luggage go on Magical Express.

We did this last summer too now that I think about it. Three of us got the van, hit Costco and met up with the other 9 at POR.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Oh, and you don't have to bother with any of the luggage. ME will take it all. Only one person in your party has to be on the ME bus for the entire parties luggage to go. You are sending half of them, so you are fine.

And how are you sending the luggage ahead of you going back to MCO? If none of you are going to use ME?

 

[D L and K's Mom]

On the last trip we didnt have ME at all and POR took our luggage right when we checked in for our flight (down at the desk) we went to print out our confimation and they tagged and sent the luggage to the airport for us! It was GREAT. We spent the day in DTD and then headed to MCO . When we got home to Rochester our luggage was waiting for us. EASY

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

OH, I see, you are checking in at the hotel. Never have the chance to do that since we usually use SW.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I have to say it is so nice to be able to check them at the hotel. We check them and just take a small carry on bag with us. We can go right to the kiosk at the airport since we have already gotten our boarding pass and have no luggage!!!i love it!

 

[CleveRocks]

And how are you sending the luggage ahead of you going back to MCO? If none of you are going to use ME?

On the way back to MCO, Disney doesn't care whether you ride the DME bus or not. Resort Airline Check-In and DME are actually two separate entities.

The OP is planning to check the luggage in at POR's Resort Airline Check-In desk on their departure day from WDW. I assume she's flying a "participating" airline, because that's the only way Resort Airline Check-In can work. It has to do with the airline, not the resort.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Yup We are flying DELTA. It was very smooth and easy last trip.

 

[eternallydisney03]

i have a question for you guys. my ME tags just came in the mail... however, they are only for our return trip! not our arrival into MCO.. does this have something to do with the fact that our first night is room-only reservation and our package starts the next day? room-only res's still get to use ME, right??

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

The only ME tags I ever got were for the trip THERE. You don't get any or need them to go home. And the voucher is for both, going and leaving. What do they say that tells you they are for your return trip?