Arriving to OIA driving from another airport, then using Magical Express?

[paulimapi]

We are flying to the Ford Lauderdale Airport for some reasons, so our idea is to rent a car there and drive to the OIA, return the car and use the Magical Express to get to Disney World. We've made the reservations for the ME but it asks us for flight info and we are not arriving at that airport. Does anyone know how this might work out?

 

[dudspizza]

We are flying to the Ford Lauderdale Airport for some reasons, so our idea is to rent a car there and drive to the OIA, return the car and use the Magical Express to get to Disney World. We've made the reservations for the ME but it asks us for flight info and we are not arriving at that airport. Does anyone know how this might work out?

Just give them any flight that arrives about the time you anticipate arriving at MCO. You don't have to be flying into MCO to use ME, but it makes it easier.

Duds

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We are flying to the Ford Lauderdale Airport for some reasons, so our idea is to rent a car there and drive to the OIA, return the car and use the Magical Express to get to Disney World. We've made the reservations for the ME but it asks us for flight info and we are not arriving at that airport. Does anyone know how this might work out?

You also asked this question in another thread. I answered it there, but I'll answer it again here. (It was off-topic in the other thread anyway.)

Three different different solutions to consider:

• Instead of using an online form, talk to a human being at Disney's Magical Express (DME) Guest Services at 866-599-0951. They should be able to make a reservation for you regardless of how you're arriving at Orlando International (including by rental car).
• Look for a flight that arrives around the time you expect to arrive at Orlando International and provide that flight information, even though you won't be on it. It's not really cheating. DME is a service to get you from the Orlando International to your WDW resort. It has nothing to do with how you arrive at the airport.
• Look into changing your car rental reservation to return your car at a location in or near WDW. Arrive at your resort by car. Then, at your leisure, return your car to a local location near WDW; they'll take you back to your resort. You may even want to keep your car for a full week if you can get a good weekly rate and you're first spending a number of days around Fort Lauderdale. Cancel your arrival day DME reservation. Make a DME reservation only for your check-out day.

I think the third choice is the best choice. You're paying for a one-way car rental anyway, so there may not be much price difference. It should save you a lot of time.

 

[dudspizza]

You also asked this question in another thread. I answered it there, but I'll answer it again here. (It was off-topic in the other thread anyway.)

Three different different solutions to consider:

• Instead of using an online form, talk to a human being at Disney's Magical Express (DME) Guest Services at 866-599-0951. They should be able to make a reservation for you regardless of how you're arriving at Orlando International (including by rental car).
• Look for a flight that arrives around the time you expect to arrive at Orlando International and provide that flight information, even though you won't be on it. It's not really cheating. DME is a service to get you from the Orlando International to your WDW resort. It has nothing to do with how you arrive at the airport.
• Look into changing your car rental reservation to return your car at a location in or near WDW. Arrive at your resort by car. Then, at your leisure, return your car to a local location near WDW; they'll take you back to your resort. You may even want to keep your car for a full week if you can get a good weekly rate and you're first spending a number of days around Fort Lauderdale. Cancel your arrival day DME reservation. Make a DME reservation only for your check-out day.

I think the third choice is the best choice. You're paying for a one-way car rental anyway, so there may not be much price difference. It should save you a lot of time.

And #3 would allow them to go to their Disney resort first to unload the car. They could then return it to many of the onsite car rental agencies. Best is to use National or Alamo since they are at the Car Car Center. National is also at Dolphin. The CCC location will shuttle you back to your hotel.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

And #3 would allow them to go to their Disney resort first to unload the car. They could then return it to many of the onsite car rental agencies. Best is to use National or Alamo since they are at the Car Car Center. National is also at Dolphin. The CCC location will shuttle you back to your hotel.

Other major companies, such as Hertz, Budget and Avis, provide similar shuttle service. The only difference is that their locations are either on-site at WDW Hotel Plaza hotels near DTD or just off-site in nearby hotels (such as Hertz in Gaylord Palms) or freestanding locations (such as the Hertz facility on 192 near Animal Kingdom).

National/Alamo can be a good choice, but other companies can also be a good choice. In some cases they may be closer to your WDW resort than the CCC is.

The best car rental company depends largely on who has the best rate for your particular dates and needs.

 

[declansdad]

There is a Hertz at Shades of Green as well.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There is a Hertz at Shades of Green as well.

Does the Hertz location at Shades of Green offer shuttle service to WDW resorts the same way that the locations at Gaylord Palms and on 192 do?

 

[declansdad]

Does the Hertz location at Shades of Green offer shuttle service to WDW resorts the same way that the locations at Gaylord Palms and on 192 do?

That I do not know. I would love to know as we are scheduled to pick up at car there on the 28th and we are staying at Pop Century.

 

[seashoreCM]

Renting a car at another airport, say, Sanford, and driving to Orlando Int'l Airport to catch Magical Express will work fine, you don't have to be precise returning the car and going to the DME welcoming area at the reserved hour.

But all this seems like more trouble than it is worth compared with keeping the car and driving all the way to Disney.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Renting a car at another airport, say, Sanford, and driving to Orlando Int'l Airport to catch Magical Express will work fine, you don't have to be precise returning the car and going to the DME welcoming area at the reserved hour.

But all this seems like more trouble than it is worth compared with keeping the car and driving all the way to Disney.

OP is renting at Fort Lauderdale (FLL). Presumably, that's not because the airport is more convenient for a WDW vacation, or because the price of tickets is substantially lower. I assume OP has a reason to be in Southern Florida before the WDW portion of the trip.

I agree that a one-way rental to a car rental location in or near WDW is more convenient than going to Orlando International (MCO) and then using DME.

I have used DME a few times after returning a car at Hertz at MCO. I flew into MCO and rented the car at MCO. With the rate that I had, it was much cheaper to return the car at MCO and use DME to go to WDW than to do a one-way rental to a Hertz location near WDW.

OP is doing a one-way rental in any case.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Does the Hertz location at Shades of Green offer shuttle service to WDW resorts the same way that the locations at Gaylord Palms and on 192 do?

Yes it does, for both drop off and pick up (I've used it). However, when I used it, there was only one employee working there, so it was a bit of a wait.

OP: I agree, might as well take your rental car to WDW, and drop off nearby. It'll be much easier to upack your car right in front of the resort than at the rental car return at the airport, and then lug all your stuff to the DME location at the airport.