booking magical express using SWA vacation package

[ferfer76]

Just a quick question if anybody has experience with this. I didn't realize that I had to book the magical express ahead of time until I read on these boards. I do not get the SWA packet mailed to me until 20 days prior to trip and don't want to wait that long to book the magical express. I called Disney and they explained I would have to call Southwest to book magical express for me. Does anyone know if I have to book this myself or is automatically booked for me with my flight? I tried calling them and they are closed and this is driving me nuts.
Thanks so much for any info you have!

 

[BeenDISedTwice]

I booked through my travel agent an airfare/hotel/park package. She does the same steps as if I had done it myself on disney's website. Airfare is SWA ticketless confirmation, which is booked and charged seperately from the Disney Package on my credit card. I have a DME transfer from MCO to WDW scheduled for the arrival day and vice versa for the end of the trip. Transfers, Hotel and Park Admission info should be in a confirmation letter you received either through your travel agent or directly from Disney Travel Co, Inc.

I'm assuming you booked a airfare/hotel/park package through SWA? More information about what you booked would help in understanding if you need to reserve DME or if it was already done for you by SWA. The reason DME told you SWA has to contact them is they have all the confirmation information and can get the ball rolling compared to if you don't get the stuff yourself till 20 days prior to trip DME might not have enough time to send you luggage tags and transfer vouchers via postal mail.

In the event you are not already scheduled for a DME transfer to the World and back, then try and have SWA contact DME. If you end up having to call DME yourself to make reservations after you get the SWA stuff 20 days prior to trip the only downfall is you might not receive special yellow luggage tags in the mail before you leave and you'll have to get the transfer vouchers reprinted at the DME desk at the airport. If you don't get the yellow luggage tags prior to leaving you'll have to pick up the luggage at the airport yourself and bring it with you on the DME.

When you call to make a reservation DME just needs to know number of passengers, your flight details, etc. so they schedule a place for you when you'll be arriving or can plan to include you on a later bus ride if your flights arrival is delayed. DME runs 24/7 and is Free. They'll send you a packet with vouchers and luggage tags via usps mail before you leave home (hopefully before you leave). I should be getting some stuff shortly from my TA for my trip in July. Good Luck!

 

[CleveRocks]

You booked your trip through a travel agent. That travel agent happens to be Southwest. Any time you book a reservation through a travel agent, that travel agent "owns" your reservation and you DON'T "own" your reservation. As a result, you can't make any modifications to your reservation any more than I can make changes to YOUR reservation, because you do not own that reservation, Southwest does.

DME is NOT automatic. You absolutely can't assume that they made a DME reservation for you. Get in touch with them ASAP and make sure they make DME reservations for you!!!

You can always try it yourself ... it might work, it might not. But don't call the main Disney number! Wait until you are 60 days away from your trip and call DME directly at 866-599-0951. They don't have access to reservation info until it's 60 days from arrival day.

But your first step needs to be to call your travel agent and ask (and then DEMAND if necessary) to have them make DME reservations for you. After they do that, make sure you look at your itemized itinerary. It wouldn't be shocking if they booked you some sort of airport transportation that you have to pay for, since they would get a commission on that. If you do have any other sort of transportation, make sure that gets canceled and your account gets credited.

 

[ferfer76]

Thank you both so much for the information! I did book through SW vacations, the entire package tickets and all. I will give them a call tomorrow and see what they have to say. I won't assume they did because they probably didn't and I don't want to miss out on magical express and be forced to find other transportation when this is free. This is my second trip but first onsite and I am really looking forward to the magic! Thanks again for the info, I will also call dis 60 days in advance.

 

[bradk]

worst case, as long as you're in the system with a reservation, i don't think they'd deny you.

i booked a trip yesterday that starts tomorrow. i just called DME to set it up. because there's no way i'm getting any sort of info from DME, they will print me a round trip voucher at the DME welcome desk that I can use. i will also either need to claim my luggage myself and bring it to the bus or I can supply DME with the claim tag and they will claim it for me and deliver it to the room.

as it is, DME used to come under fire for 'actively' seeking clients at the airport. that led to a lot of changes in the program. they used to be allowed on L3 but are no longer.

 

[CleveRocks]

worst case, as long as you're in the system with a reservation, i don't think they'd deny you.

But by the letter of the law of their contract with the airport, they MUST deny you DME service if you don't have a DME reservation. In your case, you made a last-minute DME reservation, so you're covered. But they are specifically not permitted to accommodate walk-ups.

 

[ferfer76]

you have a good point on that! As long as there is something in the system. I am going to make totally sure mine will be in the magical express system though especially if they have changed the rules for walk ups. My trip isn't until Sept, so I have lots of time. I am jealous you are going tomorrow! Have a great time on your trip!

 

[gigi1313]

when you book thru swavacations, you get to a screen that looks like this:



Southwest Airlines Vacations offers the following optional features for your vacation package. Select the options you would like to add to your itinerary below.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transfers
Transfers offer transportation between the airport and your hotel or your hotel and some other destination activity. Information on the transportation provided can be optained by clicking the link for each transfer. Add transfers to your itinerary by selecting from the options below.


Option Price Guide
Disney's Magical Express .00
Decline to receive the previous free item. .00
Roundtrip Hotel/Kennedy Space Center Xfers - 1 Day 27.72
Roundtrip Hotel/Kennedy Space Center Xfers - 2 Day 55.44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

you just have to be sure that the radio button next to DME is selected... i just did a trial of it, and it is pre-selected... you actually have to change it to "decline to receive the previous free item" if you don't want DME... therefore, DME should be automatically reserved for you if you book thru southwestvacations.com

 

[ferfer76]

Gigi, thank you so much for checking that out. I just checked my reservation confirmation and the magical express is listed on there, whew . I will call SWA tomorrow and just make sure if I have to do anything else or not but at least I know its on there. I really appreciate that! Thanks so much for checking!
-Jennifer

 

[gigi1313]

y/w... i know i had priced vacays thru them before (never actually booked it that way) and i was sure it was there... which is why i did the look-see... glad i could put your mind at ease

 

[bradk]

and hey! good to know they don't charge you for turning down a free item.

 

[BeenDISedTwice]

I think I'm going nuts. I just inputted into SWA Vacations website all the same stuff as my own vacation itinerary and came up $200 less. The only exceptions were standard room instead of preferred at POP and a later flight on SWA. Looks to me like SWA airfare is cheaper for people booking vacations through them instead of just plain airfare alone to Orlando. It's also possible I messed up a variable somewhere and am completely wrong and the costs are identical.

 

[DJT]

I think I'm going nuts. I just inputted into SWA Vacations website all the same stuff as my own vacation itinerary and came up $200 less. The only exceptions were standard room instead of preferred at POP and a later flight on SWA. Looks to me like SWA airfare is cheaper for people booking vacations through them instead of just plain airfare alone to Orlando. It's also possible I messed up a variable somewhere and am completely wrong and the costs are identical.

I don't think you're wrong on that. I found that to be the case in March when I booked with SWA Vacations. It was quite a bit cheaper, close to the amount you stated. In fact, it was so much cheaper doing it that way that I couldn't believe it so I actually called SWA Vacations to make sure it was true. They assured me it was true so I booked it. It was a very good deal for us.

Donna

 

[dcgrumpy]

you can also book DME online http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/reservations/dme/index?CMP=BAC-DMEVanityUS&bhcp=1

 

[ferfer76]

Yeah, I have always had good luck with SWA. I have never booked a vacation package but my sister has to vegas and said it worked out great. The only thing with SW is the seats are not assigned but you can check in online 24 hours in advance to make sure to get an A ticket otherwise you might not be sitting with your family. I like the SWA employees, they are fun and very laid back.... the planes are nothing fancy though. The only thing that is driving me nuts is they don't send the package of info until a month before my trip... and I want it now! My trip for two people 4 nights staying at CBR with 4 day parkhopper tickets and free dining is $1600. but 500 of that is just park tickets.

 

[ferfer76]

thanks for the magical express booking site! I could at least try it!