Can you show up at ME with a hotel reservation and get a ride?

[Donna M]

With all these storms in New England I am making tentative plans for a change in arrival date. I have a rental for Sunday but may change to fly in on Sat. because snow is in the forecast (and our snows are coming in feet lately!) Since I will be staying on Disney property, will they transport us without an advanced reservation? Does anyone have the ME phone number?

 

[Alesia]

No.

Just go ahead and make a reservation. It's not a big deal if you don't show up.

 

[Amanda999]

Hi - yes, you can show up at Magical Express and get a ride to your resort (I'm assuming you will have a Disney resort reservation on that day, and either a drivers license or MagicBand on you (they scan the MB to find you; mine failed but they still took me - I had my confirmation number with me for the resort reservation)). FYI The buses from MCO to the resorts aren't 'reserved' like they are from resort to MCO (where, if you don't have a reservation, they still will take you but only if there's space - i.e., you could be taking a taxi in that case). The buses leave when full; they aren't waiting for 60 particular people who made reservations.

To call ME directly: 866-599-0951. It will only take you a minute to call now and make a reservation - its way faster/easier than calling WDW reservations.

And, you didn't ask, but if you check bags and want them to get them (and deliver them to your room): give the person at ME check in your baggage claim tickets (you got from the airline). I asked this specific question yesterday - at the above number - because I hadn't received my yellow ME luggage tags. No problem at all he said. (And, when I mentioned I was concerned about my bag spinning around the carousel alone, he said MCO has tons of cameras and plain clothes security people in that area.)

So, its all good! I'm right outside Boston (have 3' of snow on the ground, another blizzard coming tomorrow and another foot of snow, but my flight to Disney isn't until Monday), so feel for you.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You will be fine. My flight was over booked I took a bump to the next flight which was the next day. I showed up at DME and had no problems getting on the bus.

 

[siskaren]

Hi - yes, you can show up at Magical Express and get a ride to your resort (I'm assuming you will have a Disney resort reservation on that day, and either a drivers license or MagicBand on you (they scan the MB to find you; mine failed but they still took me - I had my confirmation number with me for the resort reservation)).

Not true. Like Alesia said, you need a reservation with DME, not just a resort reservation.

You will be fine. My flight was over booked I took a bump to the next flight which was the next day. I showed up at DME and had no problems getting on the bus.

I'm assuming though that you had a DME reservation. The OP doesn't.

 

[Alesia]

Hi - yes, you can show up at Magical Express and get a ride to your resort (I'm assuming you will have a Disney resort reservation on that day, and either a drivers license or MagicBand on you (they scan the MB to find you; mine failed but they still took me - I had my confirmation number with me for the resort reservation)).

You got lucky. DME is specifically forbidden from taking guests that do not have DME reservations.

 

[keishashadow]

You will be fine. My flight was over booked I took a bump to the next flight which was the next day. I showed up at DME and had no problems getting on the bus.

my oldest DS's family was in the world last week. their daughter got sick and they were unable to go into the parks one day, so they decided to extend their trip.

they had booked via orbitz and found the hotel (AoA) was fully booked due to cheerleaders. They then booked the additional day directly thru CRO and were issued a different reservation number.

DIL did have a MDE res for the initial res but didn't make one for the add on date. they were told to drop their bags the day of check out and present themselves 3 hours prior to flight time, and had no issue.

Now, I'm wondering if the CM might have taken it upon herself to book the new day's MDE back to airport or not.

 

[tjmw2727]

You do need an advance DME reservation, it is tied to your resort reservation so it can't be prior but it is not tied to your flight arrival or departure time since flights can be canceled or delayed.
Take 5 minutes and make the DME reservation for the flight you think you will be taking and then your all set no worries.

Also - you didn't clarify in your OP but if your flying in a day prior to your resort reservation you won't be able to use DME until your resort reservation actually starts.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If you go back to the history of DME you will learn that due to the hissy fit's thrown by other transport options in Orlando you do have to have a reservation to ride the bus. Do they always enforce this? Apparently not based on posts on here. But if they do your only defense is going to be standing there saying that they told me I could on the DiS. Probably not the best plan
Just like the person who shows up for a flight with the oversize luggage and gets it on for free once. That doesn't mean you're going to get away with it every time

it's safer to assume they will enforce the rules and plan for that, then to assume there's going to be an exception made for you

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's probably moot anyway. After the next storm - Tuesday/Wednesday - we're supposed to be in a calm weather pattern

 

[Donna M]

A

It's probably moot anyway. After the next storm - Tuesday/Wednesday - we're supposed to be in a calm weather pattern

Another storm is coming in next Sunday, 5-8 inches, a week after tomorrow's blizzard and that's when we are booked to fly. If SW issues a travel advisory, then I want to get out of here Sat. Our rental car starts Sunday.

 

[seashoreCM]

... DIL did have a DME res for the initial res but didn't make one for going home for the add on date. they were told to drop their bags at the resort airline check in stand the day of check out and present themselves 3 hours prior to flight time, and had no issue.

Very dangerous. If the next Magical Express bus was fully spoken for, guests without reservations may be denied boarding and might not get to the airport on a yet later bus in time to catch their plane.

Very important to have a confirmed reservation on DME back to the airport. Normally this is on a paper delivered to your room the morning before the day you will leave. If this paper is not so delivered or has a mistake, it is necessary to arrange for the corrected reservaion that morning before day of leaving Disney and pick up the paper as soon as it is available, possibly mid-afternoon.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hi - yes, you can show up at Magical Express and get a ride to your resort (I'm assuming you will have a Disney resort reservation on that day, and either a drivers license or MagicBand on you (they scan the MB to find you; mine failed but they still took me - I had my confirmation number with me for the resort reservation)). FYI The buses from MCO to the resorts aren't 'reserved' like they are from resort to MCO (where, if you don't have a reservation, they still will take you but only if there's space - i.e., you could be taking a taxi in that case). The buses leave when full; they aren't waiting for 60 particular people who made reservations.

To call ME directly: 866-599-0951. It will only take you a minute to call now and make a reservation - its way faster/easier than calling WDW reservations.

And, you didn't ask, but if you check bags and want them to get them (and deliver them to your room): give the person at ME check in your baggage claim tickets (you got from the airline). I asked this specific question yesterday - at the above number - because I hadn't received my yellow ME luggage tags. No problem at all he said. (And, when I mentioned I was concerned about my bag spinning around the carousel alone, he said MCO has tons of cameras and plain clothes security people in that area.)

So, its all good! I'm right outside Boston (have 3' of snow on the ground, another blizzard coming tomorrow and another foot of snow, but my flight to Disney isn't until Monday), so feel for you.

Hope you're all nice and cozy...this weather is just nasty. I am soooooo over this winter.
Anyway......Disney/DME has a very specific contract with MCO that states that every guest that rides the DME bus must have an existing reservation. So, it's always best to just make the call and reserve...even the day before.
As for those security cameras....I'm sure they do. But, if your bag looks like a thousand other bags, there's little they can do to look for a specific person. If there are 35 look-a-like black bags, and someone walks up the baggage claim when there are only 2 black bags going around, and they grab one, or two, and walk away, what's to say they aren't the owners of said bags? Just playing devil's advocate!!!

Very dangerous. If the next Magical Express bus was fully spoken for, guests without reservations may be denied boarding and might not get to the airport on a yet later bus in time to catch their plane.

Very important to have a confirmed reservation on DME back to the airport. Normally this is on a paper delivered to your room the morning before the day you will leave. If this paper is not so delivered or has a mistake, it is necessary to arrange for the corrected reservaion that morning before day of leaving Disney and pick up the paper as soon as it is available, possibly mid-afternoon.

Most of us are assuming that the CM made a reservation for this poster. I have yet to see a driver allow guests on the bus without a reservation...either on paper or on the MBs.

 

[keishashadow]

Very dangerous. If the next Magical Express bus was fully spoken for, guests without reservations may be denied boarding and might not get to the airport on a yet later bus in time to catch their plane.

Very important to have a confirmed reservation on DME back to the airport. Normally this is on a paper delivered to your room the morning before the day you will leave. If this paper is not so delivered or has a mistake, it is necessary to arrange for the corrected reservaion that morning before day of leaving Disney and pick up the paper as soon as it is available, possibly mid-afternoon.

Did you catch where I indicated they were instructed to follow this procedure by the CM when they booked the add-on day to their existing vacation?

They were told by the CM they didn't need to make the replacement reservation (for the date after their original one).

As I noted in earlier post, DIL didn't ask whether the CM was handling switching/making new MDE reservation for them. They were simply told to drop their bags & then 'show up' at a specific time i.e. 3 hours prior to flight time.

consensus appears here would likely concur that the CM handled the rebooking for them. If so, a nice extra effort imo In this sort of instance, how many would realize they had to rebook their MDE?

 

[keishashadow]

duplicate post, sorry

 

[maxiesmom]

Did you catch where I indicated they were instructed to follow this procedure by the CM when they booked the add-on day to their existing vacation?

They were told by the CM they didn't need to make the replacement reservation (for the date after their original one).

As I noted in earlier post, DIL didn't ask whether the CM was handling switching/making new MDE reservation for them. They were simply told to drop their bags & then 'show up' at a specific time i.e. 3 hours prior to flight time.

consensus appears here would likely concur that the CM handled the rebooking for them. If so, a nice extra effort imo In this sort of instance, how many would realize they had to rebook their MDE?

I think they were going into more detail so someone else didn't take it to mean that they could just show up for whatever DME bus happened along on the way back to the airport. You definitely need reservations going back to the airport, as you are counted and placed on a specific bus.

 

[Lewisc]

.Disney/DME has a very specific contract with MCO that states that every guest that rides the DME bus must have an existing reservation. So, it's always best to just make the call and reserve...even the day before.
.

I thought the requirement was for a DME reservation prior to arriving at MCO. You might be able to call before boarding your flight. That said DME is free. There is no big deal if you're a no show. The OP should call and make a DME reservation as "backup"

It sound like, based on PP, the DME CM can make exceptions, particularly for reasons like my driver was a "no-show", the rental agency doesn't have to car I want or I got on a later (or earlier) flight and my car service/rental car reservation doesn't work.

You won't get on the bus without a voucher, bar code on a confirmation letter or magic band. Mears (and the other company) are compensated per passenger.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Oh my... I missed the hysterical part about the security at MCO. Sorry, but it made me laugh out loud! Trust me there's NO SUCH THING! They MIGHT stop someone who them KNOW comes in and steals but...

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...20140309_1_airports-baggage-carousels-luggage
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Luggage-Theft-a-Persistent-Problem-at-Airports-247189891.html
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ggage-thefts-police-arrest-two-orlando-police

And so on... There's NOTHING to stop someone who knows what they look like they are doing from just hauling off your luggage... And how do I know this? I once got to a hotel, opened my suitcase and "opps" it wasn't mine!

 

[goofy4tink]

I thought the requirement was for a DME reservation prior to arriving at MCO. You might be able to call before boarding your flight. That said DME is free. There is no big deal if you're a no show. The OP should call and make a DME reservation as "backup"

It sound like, based on PP, the DME CM can make exceptions, particularly for reasons like my driver was a "no-show", the rental agency doesn't have to car I want or I got on a later (or earlier) flight and my car service/rental car reservation doesn't work.

You won't get on the bus without a voucher, bar code on a confirmation letter or magic band. Mears (and the other company) are compensated per passenger.

Absolutely! As long as you have a reservation, to ride the bus, made prior to walking up to the DME checkin podium, you're good to go. If there is any chance, however slight, that you might want to take the bus, you should just make a reservation before leaving home. There isn't a cost, and no one cares if you don't show up to ride the bus. At least you have that option.....going both ways!

 

[seashoreCM]

Did you catch where I indicated they were instructed to follow this procedure by the CM when they booked the add-on day to their existing vacation?

They were told by the CM they didn't need to make the replacement Magical Express reservation back to the airport (for the date after their original one).

As I noted in earlier post, DIL didn't ask whether the CM was handling switching/making new MDE reservation for them. They were simply told to drop their bags & then 'show up' at a specific time i.e. 3 hours prior to flight time.

Yes, I caught it squarely, but ...

What would happen if something went wrong? Say the bus driver would not let them on and they had no written confirmation and the CM who instructed them was nowhere to be found?

Even if they had not booked an add-on day, they would still need a confirmed DME bus reservation back to the airport (here, on their original check out day).

OT: How many times over the years had a CM, particularly over the phone, tell a party that they could park hop by just "showing up" at the second park with their non-hopping (or base) multi-day ticket and the CM or system would dutifully click off another day from the pass to admit them? (Does not work.)

This subject bears repeating because, unlike if/when being denied park hopping, the world will end if you miss your DME bus.