Can't use ME if not flying?

[mjc2003]

For our upcoming August trip my wife is flying in a few days early for business, and has to rent a car to drive to Tampa for 2 days. She is returning the car on Aug 25th at MCO, and I just called to set up ME. I was told we cannot do this. The CM (not friendly at all, by the way) told me that if I can't give a flight number my wife cannot set up ME.

Does this make sense? Not the end of the world if she has to take a cab, just thought this was odd.

 

[dzorn]

Yes she can give ME a flight time that would approximate when she would arrive back with the rental car. They don't check the flight log.

Denise in MI

 

[wehavesix]

I've only used ME once when I arranged for my son to use it. We always drive down but he was joining us from his home in another city. I don't remember giving them a flight number. I don't think I even knew it. All I remember the cm wanting to know was his name, the date needed, and the resort. I'm not positive but I think I was asked for his eta. Not real sure about the eta being a requirement though. It may be that I asked about there being a problem if his flight was late.

 

[OKW Lover]

Yes she can give ME a light time that would approximate when she would arrive back with the rental car. They don't check the flight log.

Absolutely correct. The OP should just look up a flight (doesn't matter what airline) that arrives about the time you want to go from the airport to WDW. Call ME back and give them that flight information so their computer is happy.

 

[mjc2003]

Absolutely correct. The OP should just look up a flight (doesn't matter what airline) that arrives about the time you want to go from the airport to WDW. Call ME back and give them that flight information so their computer is happy.

Great idea...sometimes the answer is indeed staring you in the face!

 

[paults]

For our upcoming August trip my wife is flying in a few days early for business, and has to rent a car to drive to Tampa for 2 days. She is returning the car on Aug 25th at MCO, and I just called to set up ME. I was told we cannot do this. The CM (not friendly at all, by the way) told me that if I can't give a flight number my wife cannot set up ME.

Does this make sense? Not the end of the world if she has to take a cab, just thought this was odd.

why not have your DW rent from alamo/nat at MCO then drive to Tampa and then drive to your resort, check in, leave her bags and then drop the car off at the S/D or Car care center at Disney. No need for DME at MCO

 

[keliblue]

we have picked a random flight number and used ME after returning our car, Usually after doing the universal part of our trip

 

[Sammie]

I am sorry to be the downer but if lots of people do this, the buses will be overcrowded with people not flying in.

I would not do it.

 

[dzorn]

I am sorry to be the downer but if lots of people do this, the buses will be overcrowded with people not flying in.

I would not do it.

A lot of poeple do do this already. If you call DME directly and not disney they should be able to set it up without a flight time, but it is just easier to give them a time.

Denise in MI

 

[mjc2003]

I am sorry to be the downer but if lots of people do this, the buses will be overcrowded with people not flying in.

I would not do it.

Not sure I see any particular reason why lots of people would start doing this. Either way, I appreciate your position.

 

[mjc2003]

why not have your DW rent from alamo/nat at MCO then drive to Tampa and then drive to your resort, check in, leave her bags and then drop the car off at the S/D or Car care center at Disney. No need for DME at MCO

Good suggestion, unfortunately my wife falls under the bureaucracy of a large company that makes the arrangements, and the agreement they have restricts her from picking an agency that would be convenient for her. Go figure.

 

[Sammie]

A lot of poeple do do this already. If you call DME directly and not disney they should be able to set it up without a flight time, but it is just easier to give them a time.

Denise in MI

If that is the case, then no problem.

If one does call and they say, No, I'm just not in favor of circumventing that.

 

[dzorn]

If that is the case, then no problem.

If one does call and they say, No, I'm just not in favor of circumventing that.

We actually did it for my sister. Disney could not do it before arrival and had us call DME from the hotel and they could arrange it. We arrived a few days before her.

Denise in MI

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I am sorry to be the downer but if lots of people do this, the buses will be overcrowded with people not flying in.

I would not do it.

If they make reservations then there won't be overcrowding. AFAIK the only requirement Disney has is that you have a hotel reservation. You could even go to the ME desk at Orlando and arrange for it - no flight required. I think the MS computer system is what requires flight info to be entered- not Disney.

 

[Nancy]

A lot of poeple do do this already. If you call DME directly and not disney they should be able to set it up without a flight time, but it is just easier to give them a time.

Denise in MI

Not only that but you don't even have to have a spot reserved ahead of time.

My Mom was able to walk up to the desk when she arrived, gave her information and took the ME. At that time they took her return flight information. That is what ME told her to do since it was a last minute flight.

 

[SamiL]

I am sorry to be the downer but if lots of people do this, the buses will be overcrowded with people not flying in.

I would not do it.

If you've got a DVC reservation or Disney resort reservation aren't you paying for it whether you fly in or not? If Disney knows you're coming won't they be able to provide an adequate number of buses? I don't see the problem. Maybe I'm missing something.

 

[disneynutz]

If you've got a DVC reservation or Disney resort reservation aren't you paying for it whether you fly in or not? If Disney knows you're coming won't they be able to provide an adequate number of buses? I don't see the problem. Maybe I'm missing something.

The purpose of Disney providing ME is to keep Guests who fly from renting cars and maybe spending time off property. In their mind if you aren't flying, they aren't paying.

Bill

 

[SamiL]

The purpose of Disney providing ME is to keep Guests who fly from renting cars and maybe spending time off property. In their mind if you aren't flying, they aren't paying.

Bill

That's what most of us assume, and it's probably correct. But I don't think Disney has stated that is its purpose. As far as the marketing is concerned they're doing it as a convenience to their guests. If we want to take it as face value then there is no problem.

If they start telling us outright that the service is provided to keep us on property then, hey, by all means let's honor that. But if they say they're trying to make our vacations more convenient then let's allow them to do that, whether we're driving a car or flying in.

(none of this is meant to be mean-spirited, by the way, please don't take it as such. I just don't see the harm in the OP's use of ME to get back to property.)

 

[disney_bob]

Regardless of the "purpose" of ME, just drop the car off at the car care center at WDW. They have shuttles that will take you to your hotel. Its quicker and will cause less drama amongst posters =P

 

[SamiL]

*sigh* it's really not meant to be drama. Can't we joke around and be light hearted without people getting all weird. Why does it all have to be so serious. It's really not a big deal.