DME cracking down on the rules...decided on a towncar.

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I think you did the right thing. Sometimes peace of mind costs! Just make sure they have the phone number of the towncar co. in case they don't show up. My mother is the same age and I think the DME would be too stressful for her. Good choice!

Lori

 

[pdarrah]

Separate arrival days probably won't effect the connecting rooms. We just got connecting rooms WITHOUT asking! DH, DS & I arrived on Oct 19th. DM & DF arrived on Oct 20th. We had separatate reservation numbers, but the reservations were "linked" - without our asking, we think it is because we booked the room for them using an AP discount. We were at POR and I sent a fax the day before DH, DS & I arrived requesting a specific bldg (actually asking to be in one of 3 buildings that we prefer for their location - their choice which one). When we arrived, we were told that they hadn't been able to put us in our prefered location because they didn't have connecting rooms available! We said "Huh? We didn't ask for connecting rooms!" Anyway, we ended up out in the back of beyond and when DM & DF arrived the next day, they were in the connecting room. Connecting rooms didn't matter at all to us - DM & DF were only there for one day and we spent most of that day at the MK (MNSSHP) anyway. If we ever do this again, I'll edit my fax to specify that we don't CARE if we have connecting rooms.

pdarrah

 

[tjmw2727]

FWIW I think you made a great decision, even if they could have used ME from what you have explained they will be much better off in a towncar with personal service.

I used ME and my experience was less than ideal, we stood in the queue for almost an hour waiting to board the bus. I know this is an exception but not one you would want your parents to experience.

I have used the TT service you mentioned and they were wonderful. Now you can relax and not worry about trouble with ME.

TJ

 

[lsteadman]

I'm confused too.

If someone isn't listed on a WDW resort reservation, then the person is not entitled to use DME, nor would there be anything to which to tie the DME reservation.

That's not a matter of "cracking down on the rules." It's simply how Magical Express works.

Well said Horace! Well said!

 

[canwegosoon]

Yes, my TA and I both spoke w/ several people, even supervisors, but no dice. We even asked if my dad could just use my DDs ticket (she won't be there), but was told no. They said it had something to do with airport security and the bus manifest had to match the passengers on the bus, but I think it just boils down to computer programming not being flexible. I'm out $65 for a one-way towncar for them, but just decided it was worth it to help them have a seamless vacation. I just wanted to warn people that they really mean it when they say that you must make advance ressies and everything has to be spot on, there is no flexibility like there used to be.

BTW, the CM said, "late next year", which I took to mean after the HCOE is over, they will start charging for DME.

How much would it be to get a ticket for you DAD...is it less than $65???

 

[punkin]

And the problem with that is???? That is how big business works.

The problem is that it is an antitrust violation. If you provide a service at a charge lower than it costs you to provide it in order to drive off competition, someone will sue you for treble damages under the antitrust laws.

 

[safetymom]

WDW is not doing to to drive off competition. They are doing it to provide clean, safe, easy, for now free transportation to the resorts. Of course they are glad to keep them on property also.

If it was an antitrust problem something would have been said by now. The airport authority also echoes the fact that DME has been good for the airport and its customers.

 

[DrTomorrow]

The problem is that it is an antitrust violation. If you provide a service at a charge lower than it costs you to provide it in order to drive off competition, someone will sue you for treble damages under the antitrust laws.

Well, sort of. I remember booking a WDW package (back in my days of pre-DIS ignorance) that came with a free photo at Disney Marketplace. Of course, "free" is definately lower than it costs them to provide it, but I don't remember seeing a raft of photogs suing WDW over it.

This is, perhaps, why you can only get DME as part of a room; it's a service provided by WDW Resorts (much like hotel limos picking up whales at McCarren in Las Vegas), skirting any potential class actioners....

 

[graygables]

How much would it be to get a ticket for you DAD...is it less than $65???

Mom and DD both have 3 day tix and they couldn't do the ressie w/ my dad just having a single day. It really is one of those weird, unusual instances where the details just won't "fit" into the computer. I just know that when DME first started, they were *very* flexible about the "details", but they have really clamped down since the taxi/towncar services started getting upset.

 

[jcemom]

CMs at Lobby Concierge are able to pull the ticket off the room key. We did it in September. We purchased one day tickets as part of the package to get the free dining but didn't really need them. When I was at the desk making other arrangements and got to chatting with the CM about those tickets tied to our room keys she told me she could take them off and give them to me as separate passes. She did, and handed me separate one day park tickets with no name on them. We're saving them to upgrade to APs when we need them.

 

[Santa]

I'm confused too.

Reserving Disney's Magical Express should not be a problem — as long as the person getting the DME reservation is listed on a room reservation at a Disney-operated WDW resort for the same date that the person is arriving by air at Orlando International. (The reservation can be room-only, or a package, or DVC.)

If someone isn't listed on a WDW resort reservation, then the person is not entitled to use DME, nor would there be anything to which to tie the DME reservation.

That's not a matter of "cracking down on the rules." It's simply how Magical Express works.

I agree here with one exception. Hope you can follow this.
I am an AP holder. As an AP holder I can book up to three rooms online under the Best Rate Program but each room resservation must be a seperate reservation number. Got me so far.

I will not be staying in all three rooms. I will only be staying in one room with my DW & DGD. The other two rooms will be occupied by adult family members. Two in each room.

Here is where it gets squishy.
My name must appear on the resort reservation for each room per BRP. So the two room reservations that the family members are in can only have one family member name listed on the reservation in addition to myself without an extra adult charge.

Now from what I read here is that two family members will be left to find transportation to the same resort because Disney couldn't figure out how to fix the BRP to incorporate who was actually staying in the room.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[seashoreCM]

I will not be staying in all three rooms. I will only be staying in one room with my DW & DGD. The other two rooms will be occupied by adult family members. Two in each room.

My name must appear on the resort reservation for each room per BRP. So the two room reservations that the family members are in can only have one family member name listed on the reservation in addition to myself without an extra adult charge.

Now from what I read here is that two family members will be left to find transportation to the same resort because Disney couldn't figure out how to fix the BRP to incorporate who was actually staying in the room..

I'm putting on my instant imagineer's cap.

Choice 1: Book the rooms according to the AP rules but without extra person charges. Everybody reports to the Magical Express welcoming area. First pretend that nothing is unusual. In the event the ME CM's hold anybody back, begin quietly but be prepared to get an argument at least half boiling (ME CM's will probably cave long before lukewarm) before anybody goes over to the Mears counter twenty feet to the left, buys tickets there, and is sent back to the ME area to be assigned to a bus, probably the same one you are on. If the latter does occur, everybody regroups at the resort Guest Relations to ask for reimbursement.

Choice 2: Book everybody onto the room ressies. After getting to the resort, everybody regroups at Guest Relations and you unbook your two clones from rooms #2 and #3, obtaining a refund of the extra person charge.

Now taking off I.I. hat, closing mouth, having never engaged brain. May submit revisions later on in this thread.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

 

[dcgrumpy]

I agree here with one exception. Hope you can follow this.
I am an AP holder. As an AP holder I can book up to three rooms online under the Best Rate Program but each room resservation must be a seperate reservation number. Got me so far.

I will not be staying in all three rooms. I will only be staying in one room with my DW & DGD. The other two rooms will be occupied by adult family members. Two in each room.

Here is where it gets squishy.
My name must appear on the resort reservation for each room per BRP. So the two room reservations that the family members are in can only have one family member name listed on the reservation in addition to myself without an extra adult charge.

Now from what I read here is that two family members will be left to find transportation to the same resort because Disney couldn't figure out how to fix the BRP to incorporate who was actually staying in the room.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

I had the same problem. I emailed Guest Services and they took my name off of the other reservation and added the other adult. I tried calling a few times and was told nothing could be done, but once I elmailed them and told them my dilemma, it was fixed in less than 48 hours.