Can you take Magical Express on a non arrival day?

[insoin]

I have a question and I'm just wondering this because I thought I have heard in the past that you can do this but I wanted to ask the people on here. If I arrive in Orlando and rent a car for a few days early and do things around town, and return to the car to the airport prior to the start of my Disney vacation, can you then take Magical Express from the airport to WDW?* Or is Magical Express tied to an airplane arrival that day?* Would it be easier to just rent a car at the airport and then drop it off at WDW, as long as it's from a company that is at both locations?*

 

[WizardLarz]

Options:

1. On your arrivail day take grab your luggage and take DME to BoardWalk. Walk over to Swan & Dolphin and get Alamo rental then return when starting your Disney vacation.

2. Get Alamo rental at MCO and return at Swan & Dolphin or WDW CCC; the will be a fee for not returning at MCO.

3. Get rental at MCO, Return at MCO, Set UP DME for that day using an airline arrivail time that suites your needs.

 

[LWQuestie]

Are you staying offsite for a few days, then staying on property? From what I understand, you are allowed one MCO->Resort and one Resort->MCO trip, regardless of the day within your WDW resort reservation.

How will you be dealing with luggage moving from the first hotel to the second?

 

[a1tinkfans]

I have a question and I'm just wondering this because I thought I have heard in the past that you can do this but I wanted to ask the people on here. If I arrive in Orlando and rent a car for a few days early and do things around town, and return to the car to the airport prior to the start of my Disney vacation, can you then take Magical Express from the airport to WDW?* Or is Magical Express tied to an airplane arrival that day?* Would it be easier to just rent a car at the airport and then drop it off at WDW, as long as it's from a company that is at both locations?*

You'll pay extra fees to get a rental at MCO (basically any airport)
I have in past and will again, for upcoming trip, take ME on a day I am not flying it. I let DIsney know and they notate my reservation as such.
We happen to like to fly in late at night, we stay over at HYATT in MCO and then next morning, we make our way to ME Refreshed and ready to hit the parks after check in. It just works for us .
You can def rent at MCO and return to either Dolphin or CCC on Disney property with National.
**OH, we do not use the ME tags on arrival, we pull our own luggage!

BY the way, whenever I mention HYATT, I always like to mention that those UNused DELTA skymiles can pay for Hyatt with no cost depending on the amount of miles you have. OR you can use miles and the rest with a CC. I learned that HERE on the Dis from a VERY thoughtful person, so just paying it forward, as they say....AMAZING, a FREE night at the Hyatt, we Love it!!
Good Luck!!

 

[insoin]

What we would like to do is for a few days before our WDW stay we want to see some other things in Orlando. We would stay offsite at a hotel for a couple of days. So what we would do is fly in and get our bags, and get a rental car. Spend a few days doing some stuff prior to heading to WDW, then return to MCO and take ME to WDW if that is allowed.

Thanks for the help.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Compare prices. While yes, you can take Magical Express from MCO to WDW on or after the day your reservation starts, if the price to return the car to either the Car Care Center, the Dolphin, or a Hotel Plaza Boulevard location (depending on company) is cheaper than or close to what you'd pay to return it to the airport, it's WAY more convenient to just drive to your Disney resort, check in, get your luggage to your room, then have just the driver go return the car.

 

[bookwormde]

Your ME trip needs to be during your reservation time frame, it does not have to be the first day for all guests. I do not think you can use ME befeor your first day, even if you do not have luggage.

bookwormde

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, you can do that. The one thing I would suggest is this....before returning to MCO to return the car, head to your WDW resort, with your luggage. Drop your luggage off and anyone who wants to stay at the resort. Then, drive back to MCO and return the car and take DME back to the resort. Yes, it can be a bit more driving, but it's so nice not to have to lug those bags around.
Or, you can return the car to a rental office that is closer to WDW. Alamo/National are at the S/D and the CCC (by the entrance to MK and they offer shuttle service back to your resort), Budget is located at the Doubletree at DTD, also has a shuttle to take you back. Other companies are located in the DTD hotels.

 

[kristenhh]

We happen to like to fly in late at night, we stay over at HYATT in MCO and then next morning, we make our way to ME Refreshed and ready to hit the parks after check in. It just works for us .

This is exactly what I was thinking of doing, but didn't want to miss out on Magical Express. Thanks!

 

[dudspizza]

Yes, you can do it. You are allowed 1 trip to WDW and 1 trip to MCO.

To make things easier, I have given the DME people a flight arriving on the day I want to take DME as to not confuse them.

Duds

 

[insoin]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and help. Gives me some things to think about and different ways to do what is needed. You all are great at giving good advice.

Scott

 

[twinklebug]

We happen to like to fly in late at night, we stay over at HYATT in MCO and then next morning, we make our way to ME Refreshed and ready to hit the parks after check in. It just works for us .
...
**OH, we do not use the ME tags on arrival, we pull our own luggage!

This is what I'm planning on doing in July instead of spending an extra 19 points for BLT for a night we'd be checking in after 10pm.

Question: Although we see the hotel rooms all above us, how do we get to the Hyatt Front desk from the main terminal?

 

[woz1971]

Thanks to A1tinkfans suggestion it appears that I have enough sky miles for a room on Friday, Nov. 26th before free dining starts on Saturday the Nov. 27th. I have had these points for years and could never find a way to use them - thank you so much