Can I do this with Magical Express?

[angiejg]

We don't arrive until 11:00 pm. Can I stay at a hotel near the airport, taking the shuttle to get there, then go back to the airport the next morning and hop on Magical Express to Disney? I don't want to go that late at night and spend $150 for a Disney room that we would check into at midnight or later. Is it possible to catch it the next morning or is that breaking the rules?

 

[goofy4tink]

You can most certainly do this. Many, many people do it as well. Just be sure to leave those yellow DME luggage tags off your bags...otherwise who knows where they'll end up!! Go to baggage claim and get your checked bags and take them to your airport hotel with you. When you return to MCO the next morning, take your bags to the bus with you. Your bags will be loaded underneath the bus you will be on.

 

[Cherinva]

Yes, I've done that before....Just make sure that Magical Express knows what you are doing and that you are signed up with them for the next day...we did this last December, and got to ME around 8am.....we were the ONLY ones on the bus to our resort..it was cool.

 

[ccgirl]

As a PP mentioned, be sure to leave the luggage tags off and get your own bags.

 

[holyschmolly]

Yes, I've done that before....Just make sure that Magical Express knows what you are doing and that you are signed up with them for the next day...we did this last December, and got to ME around 8am.....we were the ONLY ones on the bus to our resort..it was cool.

What flight info do you give ME?

TIA!

 

[john398]

Since OP is arriving after 10 I dont think ME would get thier bags anyway would they?

 

[skelooch]

I think I would collect my bags and just take the ME the night of my arrival so that I'm not wasting a half day the next day getting back to the airport, then taking ME to my resort, getting checked in and perhaps not being able to get into the room till 4pm.

For whatever the difference is in the airport hotel and the Disney hotel I think it would be worth it to be able to get up in the morning and be at Disney and able to spend the full day in a park or whatever.

 

[angiejg]

I can get a free night somewhere near the airport. I was worried about the room I would get at that late a time. Do you think it makes a difference? Good point about all the trouble with hauling luggage and back and forth if I could just be there when we wake up. Hmmm.... now I have to think about that. Is it worth saving $150 for that extra night????

 

[goofy4tink]

I think I would collect my bags and just take the ME the night of my arrival so that I'm not wasting a half day the next day getting back to the airport, then taking ME to my resort, getting checked in and perhaps not being able to get into the room till 4pm.

For whatever the difference is in the airport hotel and the Disney hotel I think it would be worth it to be able to get up in the morning and be at Disney and able to spend the full day in a park or whatever.

I can get a free night somewhere near the airport. I was worried about the room I would get at that late a time. Do you think it makes a difference? Good point about all the trouble with hauling luggage and back and forth if I could just be there when we wake up. Hmmm.... now I have to think about that. Is it worth saving $150 for that extra night????

I just checked to see what the going rate for a value is the beginning of June...about $155ish. Is it better to be onsite that first day, or is it okay to travel from MCO to your regular resort early that morning??? Up to you. BUT.....if you can get a free night at an airport hotel, I say go for it. If you decide on a value for that first night, then you will spend about 15-20 mins at baggage claim getting your bags, then down to DME, with about an hour or so before getting to your resort. So, now it's about 12:30am!!! Then, up early the next day, and either take a cab, with your luggage to the regular resort, or have Disney move your bags and you head to a park, but you'll have to have your park passes in hand to do that.

If it were me, I would stay at an airport hotel, get up the next morning, head back to the airport by 7:30, head down to DME and get on a bus. You should be at your resort by 9am. And you'll be more rested that way.

As far a what info to give DME?? Just tell them you'll be arriving by 7:30ish. If you want to, you can find info for a flight that arrives around that time and give that to them. They really don't need specific flight info unless you are checking bags and allowing DME to get your bags to your resort. But you aren't doing that...you will have the bags in hand. All DME wants to know is a ball park number of people to expect at any given time so they can dispatch enough buses.

 

[CleveRocks]

What flight info do you give ME?

TIA!

You don't give them any flight information.

You tell them exactly what you're doing, and around when you want to return to the airport to get a ride to your Disney resort, and they'll make the arrangements.

HOWEVER, make sure you make these arrangements with DME directly at 866-599-0951. The people answering those phones are DME cast members, experts in how DME works. They'll take care of you. The second HOWEVER is you need to wait to make these arrangements until you're no more than 60 days away from your trip. DME reservations are only possible if you have a Disney resort reservation, and the DME folks don't have access to the resort reservations data that is more than 60 days into the future. So they can help you, but they can't help you any earlier than 60 days before your arrival.

Please don't bother calling 407-W-DISNEY about this matter. More than likely, if you call there the reservation agent will give you the very wrong information that you can't use DME on the day after you fly into Orlando. Yes, you could research MCO flight information and tell them a white lie of a flight number that arrives around the time you want to leave the airport ... that would work, and it wouldn't do any harm, but it's an unnecessary step for you, it's effort you simply don't need to put out.

 

[goofy4tink]

You don't give them any flight information.

You tell them exactly what you're doing, and around when you want to return to the airport to get a ride to your Disney resort, and they'll make the arrangements.

HOWEVER, make sure you make these arrangements with DME directly at 866-599-0951. The people answering those phones are DME cast members, experts in how DME works. They'll take care of you. The second HOWEVER is you need to wait to make these arrangements until you're no more than 60 days away from your trip. DME reservations are only possible if you have a Disney resort reservation, and the DME folks don't have access to the resort reservations data that is more than 60 days into the future. So they can help you, but they can't help you any earlier than 60 days before your arrival.

Please don't bother calling 407-W-DISNEY about this matter. More than likely, if you call there the reservation agent will give you the very wrong information that you can't use DME on the day after you fly into Orlando. Yes, you could research MCO flight information and tell them a white lie of a flight number that arrives around the time you want to leave the airport ... that would work, and it wouldn't do any harm, but it's an unnecessary step for you, it's effort you simply don't need to put out.

Hey....you arguing with my very good advice??? I agree with what you say. BUT...there seem to be a ton of people who are much happier to give DME flight info. For some reason they are very uncomfortable about making reservations with DME, with no flight info when arriving the day before they want to use DME...not sure why, but that seems to be the prevailing feeling.

 

[mcd2745]

How about the reverse of this? I have to assume it is possible as well. We are taking an early morning flight out the day after we check out of WDW (Beach Club). The flights were so expensive for our check-out day, but we found a cheaper flight the next morning. Doesn't make sense to stay and pay the extra night in the Beach Club and have to leave there 4:30am. So we want to take DME to MCO, then go to an airport hotel (using the hotel's shuttle from/to MCO). Not sure yet of the exact time we'll want to leave the Beach Club, but when that's decidedcan I call DME and request a pick-up time without giving them flight info?

 

[goofy4tink]

How about the reverse of this? I have to assume it is possible as well. We are taking an early morning flight out the day after we check out of WDW (Beach Club). The flights were so expensive for our check-out day, but we found a cheaper flight the next morning. Doesn't make sense to stay and pay the extra night in the Beach Club and have to leave there 4:30am. So we want to take DME to MCO, then go to an airport hotel (using the hotel's shuttle from/to MCO). Not sure yet of the exact time we'll want to leave the Beach Club, but when that's decidedcan I call DME and request a pick-up time without giving them flight info?

Yes, you can do that as well. As long as your resort room reservation is active you are good to go. DME will want some kind of info though. They will need to have a time to pick you up. You can reserve your ride back to MCO when you are actually at BC. Figure out what time you are leaving and then reserve DME. But they will want to know a day before travel time.

 

[mcd2745]

Yes, you can do that as well. As long as your resort room reservation is active you are good to go. DME will want some kind of info though. They will need to have a time to pick you up. You can reserve your ride back to MCO when you are actually at BC. Figure out what time you are leaving and then reserve DME. But they will want to know a day before travel time.

Thanks.


Anyone know if there is some kind of luggage storage area at MCO? If I don't have to schlep all the big luggage from and back to MCO while we just basically crash at the airport hotel for what will be less than 12 hours, that will be great.

 

[Missytara]

Thanks.


Anyone know if there is some kind of luggage storage area at MCO? If I don't have to schlep all the big luggage from and back to MCO while we just basically crash at the airport hotel for what will be less than 12 hours, that will be great.

No, you must claim your bags or they go to lost and found.

 

[ToyStory]

One question I didn't see asked was are you on the dining plan? If you stay at a Disney hotel that night then you will have those meal credits.

Our last trip we arrived at MCO late and got to the hotel around midnight. It was nice to upack our things that night. We got to bed around 1:30 am. We got up around 8:00 am had breakfast and went to Animal Kingdom that day and stayed at the park until 5:00 pm and had ADR's at Boma at 6:00 pm. After dinner we called it a day and went back to our hotel, Coronado Springs.

 

[kaffinito]

You don't give them any flight information.

You tell them exactly what you're doing, and around when you want to return to the airport to get a ride to your Disney resort, and they'll make the arrangements.

HOWEVER, make sure you make these arrangements with DME directly at 866-599-0951. The people answering those phones are DME cast members, experts in how DME works. They'll take care of you.

Now that was a helpful tip! I just got off the phone with DME and made sure that my travel arrangements were in place. I was a little concerned since I leave soon and haven't received any DME info in the mail. Thanks!

 

[cepmom]

How about the reverse of this? I have to assume it is possible as well. We are taking an early morning flight out the day after we check out of WDW (Beach Club). The flights were so expensive for our check-out day, but we found a cheaper flight the next morning. Doesn't make sense to stay and pay the extra night in the Beach Club and have to leave there 4:30am. So we want to take DME to MCO, then go to an airport hotel (using the hotel's shuttle from/to MCO). Not sure yet of the exact time we'll want to leave the Beach Club, but when that's decidedcan I call DME and request a pick-up time without giving them flight info?

Yes, you can do that as well. As long as your resort room reservation is active you are good to go. DME will want some kind of info though. They will need to have a time to pick you up. You can reserve your ride back to MCO when you are actually at BC. Figure out what time you are leaving and then reserve DME. But they will want to know a day before travel time.

we are doing the same thing...checking out of Beach Club on a Friday and staying at an airport hotel (on points) and flying home Saturday AM.

So I don't need to give them any flight info for Friday night? I was trying to find a flight out late Friday night and use that flight info for or DME reservation but it will be much easier if I can just make a reservation once we arrive at the Beach Club! Do I just give them the time we want to leave the Beach Club? I'm not sure yet what time that will be, but leaning more towards the later end of the day (6:00ish?)

 

[gigipris]

Yes, you can do that as well. As long as your resort room reservation is active you are good to go. DME will want some kind of info though. They will need to have a time to pick you up. You can reserve your ride back to MCO when you are actually at BC. Figure out what time you are leaving and then reserve DME. But they will want to know a day before travel time.

Do you know if DME (to MCO) still running after 10:30 as I want to stay until the park closes and then spend a night in an airport hotel.

 

[CleveRocks]

Do you know if DME (to MCO) still running after 10:30 as I want to stay until the park closes and then spend a night in an airport hotel.

DME is a 24/7 operation. However, it also is not a private limo service. While you don't need to be flying out of MCO to get a ride to MCO, they won't give you a ride there at, say, 2 a.m., if there are no flights until hours and hours after that.

The DME ride has to be from your resort and not from a park. So if a park closes at 10:30, figure you're back at your resort anywhere from 11 to 11:30, so you're talking about maybe a midnight DME pick-up time. And DME pick-up times, for people flying, are about 3 hours before flight time. It's doubtful there are any 3 a.m. departures from MCO, and therefore it's doubtful they'll want to send a bus just for you at that time.

I'm just guessing at this. I mean, I know the policies, but I don't know with 100% certainty that my conclusion is correct. It would be an excellent question to ask DME. Call them directly at 866-599-0951. DO NOT call the main Disney number, they'll have no idea how to help answer this question.