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

[graygables]

Due to a complicated situation, my parents are coming in the day before we get back from our cruise. My dad doesn't need the park tickets that come with the room package, so we just listed him on my room (the day after they arrive) and put my teen DD in w/ my mom's ressied (b/c she DOES need the ticket), but she will be on the cruise with me. My TA and I both have tried and tried, but DME will not permit my dad to ride the day they arrive b/c he is not explicitly listed on that particular room reservation. Even after explaining the situation, DME would not budge. In fact, I was told that I was "taking advantage of the system" How very UNmagical of them!!!

So, I got my parents a one way towncar b/c it just wasn't worth the headache of dealing with it anymore. Just so everyone knows, they are really cracking down and the CM did say it wouldn't be long and they will be charging for the service.

 

[safetymom]

They won't be charging for the service until after the 5oth anniversary celebration ends. No announcement has been made with WDW's decision regarding charging for the service. Have you tried calling again and see what that CM says?

 

[Mojomanny]

There has been no ANNOUNCED decision. I am sure Disney already knows what they plan to do.

I firmly beleive that they will continue it as a no charge service until they have killed a large number of smaller van, sedan and limo companies. Then they and Mears will begin charging at a rate far higher than the current marketplace would allow them.

Somewhat similar methodology to how Microsoft works. Add "benefits" for free, kill the competition, then spin the benefits out as a seperate product.

Nobody asked, just my opinion.

 

[safetymom]

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

 

[graygables]

They won't be charging for the service until after the 5oth anniversary celebration ends. No announcement has been made with WDW's decision regarding charging for the service. Have you tried calling again and see what that CM says?

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.

 

[kaytieeldr]

A cab would probably be cheaper than a town car;
Mears for your dad would be cheaper still (and will actually turn out to be the DME bus, most likely even the same one your mom is on) Have your mom request extra DME tags in advance;
And DME is free until either October 6, 2006 or December 31, 2006; a rate had not been announced yet for when it becomes a pay service

 

[safetymom]

A cab would be about $50 before tip.

 

[graygables]

A cab would probably be cheaper than a town car;
Mears for your dad would be cheaper still (and will actually turn out to be the DME bus, most likely even the same one your mom is on) Have your mom request extra DME tags in advance;
And DME is free until either October 6, 2006 or December 31, 2006; a rate had not been announced yet for when it becomes a pay service

Since they are close to 70 years old, I decided to spring for the extra service involved with a town car and they can't split up, my mom gets befuddled easily.

 

[dcgrumpy]

He could have just bought a ticket from Mears at the airport and been allowed on the bus.


oops sorry, i see someone else already mentioned this

 

[seashoreCM]

Won't your teen DD run into problems because she too is not listed on the proper room ressie?

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

 

[graygables]

Won't your teen DD run into problems because she too is not listed on the proper room ressie?

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

No, she's with me on the cruise and we have a rental. It's a VERY complicated trip!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

There has been no ANNOUNCED decision. I am sure Disney already knows what they plan to do.

I firmly beleive that they will continue it as a no charge service until they have killed a large number of smaller van, sedan and limo companies. Then they and Mears will begin charging at a rate far higher than the current marketplace would allow them.

Somewhat similar methodology to how Microsoft works. Add "benefits" for free, kill the competition, then spin the benefits out as a seperate product.

Nobody asked, just my opinion.

Exactly!

Disney is NOT a stupid company, and they have some method to their madness, and beleve me, it involves more profit for the mouse

 

[philaround]

Due to a complicated situation, my parents are coming in the day before we get back from our cruise. My dad doesn't need the park tickets that come with the room package, so we just listed him on my room (the day after they arrive) and put my teen DD in w/ my mom's ressied (b/c she DOES need the ticket), but she will be on the cruise with me. My TA and I both have tried and tried, but DME will not permit my dad to ride the day they arrive b/c he is not explicitly listed on that particular room reservation. Even after explaining the situation, DME would not budge. In fact, I was told that I was "taking advantage of the system" How very UNmagical of them!!!

So, I got my parents a one way towncar b/c it just wasn't worth the headache of dealing with it anymore. Just so everyone knows, they are really cracking down and the CM did say it wouldn't be long and they will be charging for the service.

I am completely confused here. Are you saying that your Mom and Dad will be checking into a Disney hotel under your Mom's name and your daughter's name? Will the front desk even allow someone to check in under someone else's name? This sounds like a disaster in the making.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I am completely confused here. Are you saying that your Mom and Dad will be checking into a Disney hotel under your Mom's name and your daughter's name? Will the front desk even allow someone to check in under someone else's name? This sounds like a disaster in the making.

Whenever we check in, I go to the desk alone while DH entertains the kids even though all the names are on the reservation.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

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.

 

[graygables]

Here's the situation: Me and 3 DDs going on DCL on 12/8-11, Mom & Dad coming in on 12/10. Mom and teen DD are the only ones who need MYW passes included w/ the room package (me and the other 2 already have ours), Dad is going to meet with WDW folks to tour their telecommunications so he doesn't need admission. So, Mom and teen DD are on her package in her room, Dad is on my room only ressie which doesn't begin until 12/11. "Officially", there are 2 people on the 12/10 room, so 2 people should 'qualify' for DME, only the names don't match and that's where they are getting "picky". When my parents went in August to pick up my CPer, there was a similar glitch (CPer forgot to list Dad in the room) and DME transported him anyway on my mom's ressie.

When I arrive and check in, we will sort out the room key situation w/ the desk (it's just a matter of giving my Dad a room key for their room, or making sure we have connecting rooms, like I've requested). I was just pointing out that DME isn't as flexible as it was earlier in the year (and they were very snotty about the whole thing).

Dad's not really a Disney person (but I'm working on it!) and my mom has some brain misfiring issues, so trying to explain to him that he has to pay to ride the free bus isn't going to cut it and I can't risk them being seperated. Hailing a cab isn't Dad's style, either, so the town car it is. I don't mind, especially if QS is a great as I've been hearing...I want their trip to get off on the right foot.

 

[seashoreCM]

Anyone want to correct me?

An alternative that simplifies things for Mom and Dad -- Keep Mom and Dad on the room ressie with admission tickets. They ride Magical Express normally. They get the admission tickets and all. Teen DD is put back on your room ressie without admission tickets. When you arrive, Dad hands DD his totally unused ticket. Unused tickets are transferable. When DD uses that ticket her finger scan gets recorded and the ticket is now permanently hers.

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

 

[graygables]

Anyone want to correct me?

An alternative that simplifies things for Mom and Dad -- Keep Mom and Dad on the room ressie with admission tickets. They ride Magical Express normally. They get the admission tickets and all. Teen DD is put back on your room ressie without admission tickets. When you arrive, Dad hands DD his totally unused ticket. Unused tickets are transferable. When DD uses that ticket her finger scan gets recorded and the ticket is now permanently hers.

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

Tried that. The ticket is issued on the room key, so when Dad is given his key at check-in, w/ his name, it's nontransferable. I asked if they could just get seperate media rather than using the room key and was told no.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't think the DME desk checks photo id. Just have your Mom go up to the desk alone with both DME vouchers. Two guests, two vouchers with one name matching. Shouldn't be a problem. The driver just scans the vouchers.

I thought all guests on a reservation, even in different rooms, are required to have the same package. If you have separate reservation numbers you might not get connecting rooms.

That said a towncar might be easier for your parents.

 

[seashoreCM]

Anyone want to correct me?

Maybe "I'd better" correct myself.

If you hand over a brand new ticket with your name already on it for someone else to use, and if the turnstile misfires on day #2 and rejects the finger scan, then the CM will ask for a photo ID. Life now becomes complicated.

But in your case, when Dad takes his ticket, you and Mom "had better" turn him into a Disney lover so he would use the ticket sometime in the future.

With different arrival dates, getting connecting rooms could be complicated also. It might be necessary for Mom and Dad to switch rooms when you arrive, although this does not split the package into two separate shorter packages requiring two admission tickets per person.