Arrival after midnight with Magical Express to POFQ?

[frannn]

We are renting a car, but DD25 will be arriving halfway into the trip via ME. Her flight lands about 12:30 AM. We have never taken ME ourselves, have never stayed at POFQ, and have never arrived that late. So, is there anything we should be aware of that will help everything to go smoothly (because- the faster she gets into the room and gets settled, the earlier we can get to MK the next morning, LOL!)? I read the ME will not take her bag that late, so that stinks. We don't know where to direct her to ME and how long it should take her to get to the resort. Is it a better idea for us to go to the airport to pick her up? I would think not, but not sure. Will she have to go the front desk to check into our room, or should her magic band already be good to get her into the room? She will be on the same reservation as we are. TIA!

 

[hiroMYhero]

After she picks up her luggage, she needs to go down one level to the DME/Shuttle area.

If you decide to pick her up, you can wait in the Cell Phone lot and as soon as she gets her luggage, you can pick her up at the Arrival Level of the terminal. All she has to do is pick up her luggage and exit out the door on that level.

I think it would be faster to pick her up than for her to have to wait for DME. And, her MB will open the room door - with Direct to Room check-in, you no longer need to stop by the Front Desk if you complete online check-in before your arrival.

 

[PACVII]

She should not use the luggage tags for the magic express to deliver bags to her room. Going to need to do it the old fashion way and go pick up her bags and take to the magic express herself. They do not deliver that late so if you need your bag for that night or early next morning going to need to bring it along with you on magic express. I would also add about one hour or a little more from the time you land to be at the room. Even knowing the trip from airport to resort is 30 minutes they may not pull out till they have a loaded bus and make other stops. Should think about that. It maybe close to 2 when she finally gets into the nice soft comfy disney bed.

 

[geenerbell]

I thought ME didn't run after 10pm.

 

[illinidp]

I thought ME didn't run after 10pm.

DME won't transfer your luggage for flights scheduled to arrive after 10 pm but they run 24/7.

 

[smbowtie]

Important, make sure that she doesn't put the yellow DME tags on her bags. If she does she won't see her bags until some time during the day. They won't be on the luggage carousel.

 

[Sleepy425]

We got in to MCO around midnight and it took them forever to decide to let our bus leave. I don't know if it was a fluke, but I assume they have so few buses running late at night so they go longer between departures.
That said, I would still have her take ME. No point in you being up late driving to and from the airport and paying tolls when Disbey will transport her.
Oh and make sure she is on the right side of the airport. The first time we took ME we couldn't find it. I think we were on the A side, and it is on the B side (someone correct me if I have it backwards).

 

[dpswift]

I would have her use ME. It will likely take more time but the convience for you is worth it. She can rest on the plane.
We had to wait a bit when we rode that late and they stopped at more hotels. Her ME tickets should give her directions on getting to the terminal

 

[kiford]

Oh and make sure she is on the right side of the airport. The first time we took ME we couldn't find it. I think we were on the A side, and it is on the B side (someone correct me if I have it backwards).

You are correct. I make that mistake at least every second time we go. I always remember that it's down a level but forget to go to B first and then go down a level. I suggest she take DME. She can always nap on the bus even when it's waiting. There's no sense in everyone having to stay awake late. As for luggage, I've usually found MCO to be pretty prompt in getting luggage out (or maybe I'm just used to Pearson Airport in Toronto taking foreeeveeerr to get them out) and there won't be too many flights that late so it shouldn't take long.

 

[msmama]

If it were me, i would probably try to put everything i would need the following day in my carry on and still let them handle my luggage. I wouldn't really want to be traipsing around the airport by myself.

In my experience, the later it gets the fewer busses they have running (and they don't let them leave until they are mostly full) so she may have to wait a long time. Still probably better than you going to get her though.

I would guess that most 25 year olds have done late nights followed by early mornings before.

 

[Aerinha]

ME is never faster. After waiting for the bus to load she will have to wait for it to make other stops unless she is lucky enough to be the first stop. Pick her up if you are comfortable driving at night. With all her traveling she might appreciate getting to the hotel faster and not having to sit on the bus forever with Disney videos playing nonstop.

Or...if you can afford it and are uncomfortable driving in the dark or navigating the airport, there are fairly affordable car services that will pick her up.

The orlando airport is nothing to be scared of to do alone. It is very well marked once you exit it the plane. Just follow signs to baggage claim and then ground transportation.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you'll be awake anyway, pick her up. That's my opinion.

If it were me, i would probably try to put everything i would need the following day in my carry on and still let them handle my luggage. I wouldn't really want to be traipsing around the airport by myself.

But landing that late, they won't handle her luggage. She will have to get it and take it to the bus herself.

 

[Majordis]

We got in to MCO around midnight and it took them forever to decide to let our bus leave. I don't know if it was a fluke, but I assume they have so few buses running late at night so they go longer between departures.
That said, I would still have her take ME. No point in you being up late driving to and from the airport and paying tolls when Disbey will transport her.
Oh and make sure she is on the right side of the airport. The first time we took ME we couldn't find it. I think we were on the A side, and it is on the B side (someone correct me if I have it backwards).

This was our experience as well. We arrived MCO around midnight and waited at least 30 minutes before the bus could leave. I think fewer buses run after midnight. Arrived POFQ after 2am

 

[Alesia]

If it were me, i would probably try to put everything i would need the following day in my carry on and still let them handle my luggage. I wouldn't really want to be traipsing around the airport by myself.

That's not an option.

DME doesn't have luggage service after 10:00, so even if she puts the tags on, no one from DME will pick it up. It will just go around and around on the carousel until an airport employee finally takes it to the abandoned luggage office or someone realizes that no one is coming for it and steals it.

 

[Lavitz]

I would say DME is a good option. Like someone mentioned, late night/early morning isn't something new to most 25 year olds.

Like other also said, I'd pass on the info to make sure she's on the B side before going to the lower level. First time I went to WDW I remember wasting almost 30 minutes wandering the lower level of A, figuring out what I did wrong, going back up then crossing to B side. Being the first time at WDW losing even 30 minutes was like torture.

 

[disneygrandma]

Does your daughter live near you? If so, I would just get her bag before you left home, and you take it with you & your luggage. That way, all she has to deal with is her carry-on. I would also suggest that she take ME to WDW. No sense you being out on the road that late at night, trying to navigate to MCO & back.

 

[macraven]

ME is never faster. After waiting for the bus to load she will have to wait for it to make other stops unless she is lucky enough to be the first stop. Pick her up if you are comfortable driving at night. With all her traveling she might appreciate getting to the hotel faster and not having to sit on the bus forever with Disney videos playing nonstop.

Or...if you can afford it and are uncomfortable driving in the dark or navigating the airport, there are fairly affordable car services that will pick her up.

The orlando airport is nothing to be scared of to do alone. It is very well marked once you exit it the plane. Just follow signs to baggage claim and then ground transportation.

my way of thinking.


set up car service.
she will be picked quickly and at the resort at a much earlier time than by using the ME

sometimes the money is worth the convenience and peace of mind.

 

[TowMater92]

Did something change because before they would pick up your luggage if you arrived after 10pm but you would not receive it until the next day? People use to pack a carry on with the things they would need for their first day and their luggage would arrive at their resort the next day while they were at the park.

 

[macraven]

Did something change because before they would pick up your luggage if you arrived after 10pm but you would not receive it until the next day? People use to pack a carry on with the things they would need for their first day and their luggage would arrive at their resort the next day while they were at the park.

yes, that changed last year.
i was there in october and had to be responsible for my luggage if i arrived at 10 at MCO.

if your flight arrives at 10 or after, you can not use the yellow tags for your suitcases.

you are told in the literature you receive from disney prior to your stay that you need to collect your luggage from the carousel
your bags will be loaded under the bus.
but, you have to take them to the bus, disney won't do that for you.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think DME is the worst option. I would either book her a town car service, or get her myself. DME is notoriously slow that time of night. One trip it took us over 2 hours from landing to standing at our resort's check in desk. I'd spend the money on a town car.

Also, if you think she will be hungry, have her pack something or have something in the room she can eat. Next to nothing is open in the airport that late at night, or at the resorts.