DME in the middle of our stay

[seidelhd]

My family is driving down to WDW in April and staying at the Poly. In the middle of the week, I have to fly home for work for 2 days. I'd love to be able to use Magical Express to get to the airport and then back to the Poly 2 days later. I may have a carry on bag, but can also just have them transport me.

Evidently, DME only works for the beginning and end of your reservation. Has anyone ever been successful at arranging this? I'd love to avoid having to pay for a cab/Uber/shuttle to/from MCO.

 

[Alesia]

I'm not sure where you got the idea that DME only works for the beginning and end of your reservation, but it's completely incorrect.

Everyone staying onsite is entitled to one round trip. Just call DME at (866) 599-0951 and make a reservation.

 

[tjmw2727]

You can do this - just call DME directly (not the reservation line) and give them your flight information. I apologize but I don't have the # handy.

As long as you are a resort guest on the day you want transport and have an advance DME reservation DME will transport you from and to the airport (even if it is in the reverse order !). We have had guests arrive later in the reservation, leave early etc. and it has always been fine.

 

[seidelhd]

I got that idea from speaking with a Disney customer service agent who spoke with a DME agent about 30 minutes ago and told me this. She said that was their policy. I'm not sure why it would matter, as I'm a resort guest and only asking for one round-trip for myself. I'll try calling them directly. Thanks for the phone number.

 

[tjmw2727]

I got that idea from speaking with a Disney customer service agent who spoke with a DME agent about 30 minutes ago and told me this. She said that was their policy. I'm not sure why it would matter, as I'm a resort guest and only asking for one round-trip for myself. I'll try calling them directly. Thanks for the phone number.

That is disappointing and definitely wrong info! I would try the DME number provided; I am pretty confident you will get your reservation made correctly through DME directly. Worst case is to make it when you get there as you have a couple days to do it - but this really shouldn't be necessary.

FWIW I have called DME many times and always got professional courteous service despite the unusual nature of some of our requests! Good Luck

 

[Alesia]

I got that idea from speaking with a Disney customer service agent who spoke with a DME agent about 30 minutes ago and told me this. She said that was their policy. I'm not sure why it would matter, as I'm a resort guest and only asking for one round-trip for myself. I'll try calling them directly. Thanks for the phone number.

Never trust anything a regular phone CM tells you.

 

[bumbershoot]

I got that idea from speaking with a Disney customer service agent who spoke with a DME agent about 30 minutes ago and told me this. She said that was their policy. I'm not sure why it would matter, as I'm a resort guest and only asking for one round-trip for myself. I'll try calling them directly. Thanks for the phone number.

I ha a CM who wouldn't do both parts of my reservation because he said I can't take one airline in and another airline out.

Both of our cms were wrong.

 

[goofy4tink]

Disney truly doesn't care when you arrive and when you leave. As long as you have an active resort reservation on the days you want to use DME, you are entitled to a ride to and from the airport, to/from your WDW resort.
I would make two reservations....one for your trip back to MCO, then one for your return to your resort. DME is usually very accommodating.

 

[Minnesota!]

It can be done. Just book them separate, if there are any issues.

 

[nkereina]

As mentioned, as a Disney resort guest, you are entitled to one trip FROM the airport on DME and one trip TO the airport on DME. You can use those trips whenever you want. But if you are coming back after two days, is that a separate resort reservation or will your family/friends still be staying there and you'll be coming back to the same reservation? If it's one reservation and you just have to leave for a few days in the middle, I'm thinking you would not be able to use DME when you come back and then again when you leave since you'll have already used your two trips. If it's a separate reservation you have when you come back, then its no problem.

 

[tjmw2727]

As mentioned, as a Disney resort guest, you are entitled to one trip FROM the airport on DME and one trip TO the airport on DME. You can use those trips whenever you want. But if you are coming back after two days, is that a separate resort reservation or will your family/friends still be staying there and you'll be coming back to the same reservation? If it's one reservation and you just have to leave for a few days in the middle, I'm thinking you would not be able to use DME when you come back and then again when you leave since you'll have already used your two trips. If it's a separate reservation you have when you come back, then its no problem.

The OP mentioned they are driving down so they won't be using DME to arrive or depart with the family, instead she will need to fly back in the middle of her stay. As mentioned the OP will be able to use DME to go to the airport and return from the airport in the middle of her stay.

I like the idea of making two separate one way reservations OP - this will simplify things.

 

[nkereina]

The OP mentioned they are driving down so they won't be using DME to arrive or depart with the family, instead she will need to fly back in the middle of her stay. As mentioned the OP will be able to use DME to go to the airport and return from the airport in the middle of her stay.

I like the idea of making two separate one way reservations OP - this will simplify things.

Oh ok, I missed that. OP, you should have no problem then!

 

[seidelhd]

Just an update. I called and spoke with a DME Cast member directly yesterday. She stated that DME is ONLY valid for check-in and check-out days. The small print on the back of the DME flyer that came with the luggage tags confirms this. She did check with a supervisor, however, and I was granted an exception "just this time." I pressed her on the policy (being nice in my tone, but making it clear that this was ludicrous). She said they did not want it turning into a "shuttle service." Clearly it is not, as I am needing it for April 6 and April 8.

Anyway, the phone call took about 15 minutes, most of it on hold. I asked to speak with the supervisor myself, but since she was granting me this "favor," I did not complain further.

Some follow-up questions/comments-
1) She did not give me a confirmation number but told me it is "in the system." I don't see this on my online reservation info. Should I be concerned?
2) If I were not allowed to use DME, what would be my best/cheapest option to get to MCO from on-property? Uber? I'm not thrilled with the idea of being picked up 3 hours prior to my flight, but you get what you pay for.
3) While I was on hold, I was thinking about the DISUnplugged Podcast story about the anticipated $15 resort fees to help cover DME, MagicBands, and Wifi. If I was paying $15/day and they were not going to let me use DME, I would have been furious.

 

[marsh0013]

Just an update. I called and spoke with a DME Cast member directly yesterday. She stated that DME is ONLY valid for check-in and check-out days. The small print on the back of the DME flyer that came with the luggage tags confirms this. She did check with a supervisor, however, and I was granted an exception "just this time." I pressed her on the policy (being nice in my tone, but making it clear that this was ludicrous). She said they did not want it turning into a "shuttle service." Clearly it is not, as I am needing it for April 6 and April 8.

Anyway, the phone call took about 15 minutes, most of it on hold. I asked to speak with the supervisor myself, but since she was granting me this "favor," I did not complain further.

Some follow-up questions/comments-
1) She did not give me a confirmation number but told me it is "in the system." I don't see this on my online reservation info. Should I be concerned?
2) If I were not allowed to use DME, what would be my best/cheapest option to get to MCO from on-property? Uber? I'm not thrilled with the idea of being picked up 3 hours prior to my flight, but you get what you pay for.
3) While I was on hold, I was thinking about the DISUnplugged Podcast story about the anticipated $15 resort fees to help cover DME, MagicBands, and Wifi. If I was paying $15/day and they were not going to let me use DME, I would have been furious.

This is ridiculous. I guess you're going backwards, maybe that's what's throwing them off, but still, it shouldn't matter. We have a 1 week reservation in May and my mom and brother are leaving in the middle of the week. I had no trouble setting up their DME to take them back to MCO in the middle of our reservation. I did this through DVC, but still. We've also had people join us mid-reservation and had no problem setting up their DME to drop them off to us even though our resort reservation had started a few days before.

 

[tjmw2727]

That is unfortunate and I am really sorry your having a hard time! I have actually done this so many times in the middle of the reservation, folks have arrived late, left early and a few other scenarios that I cant believe your getting a run around. After all it IS a shuttle service!!!
I am so curious - where exactly did they say this small print is - I have a few old packages and luggage tags I can look at as I have never seen this.

You won't see anything on your online account (even "traditional" reservations won't show) so don't worry about that. There is an option to dial DME from your room I would probably do that a day or two prior to the day you want to leave or maybe just stop at concierge and ask them to print your voucher in advance.

Not sure what your cheapest option is other than DME but a town car will run about 125 r/t plus tip.

Hope this works out for you!

 

[siskaren]

Not sure what your cheapest option is other than DME but a town car will run about 125 r/t plus tip.

For one person, Mears shuttle would be the cheapest option.

 

[Alesia]

Just an update. I called and spoke with a DME Cast member directly yesterday. She stated that DME is ONLY valid for check-in and check-out days. The small print on the back of the DME flyer that came with the luggage tags confirms this. She did check with a supervisor, however, and I was granted an exception "just this time." I pressed her on the policy (being nice in my tone, but making it clear that this was ludicrous). She said they did not want it turning into a "shuttle service." Clearly it is not, as I am needing it for April 6 and April 8.

Anyway, the phone call took about 15 minutes, most of it on hold. I asked to speak with the supervisor myself, but since she was granting me this "favor," I did not complain further.

Some follow-up questions/comments-
1) She did not give me a confirmation number but told me it is "in the system." I don't see this on my online reservation info. Should I be concerned?
2) If I were not allowed to use DME, what would be my best/cheapest option to get to MCO from on-property? Uber? I'm not thrilled with the idea of being picked up 3 hours prior to my flight, but you get what you pay for.
3) While I was on hold, I was thinking about the DISUnplugged Podcast story about the anticipated $15 resort fees to help cover DME, MagicBands, and Wifi. If I was paying $15/day and they were not going to let me use DME, I would have been furious.

Did you call DME directly or did you call CRO and tell them that you needed DME?

What the CM told you was just plain incorrect. That's really surprising (but certainly not impossible) if you called the direct DME number.

 

[seidelhd]

Did you call DME directly or did you call CRO and tell them that you needed DME?

What the CM told you was just plain incorrect. That's really surprising (but certainly not impossible) if you called the direct DME number.

As I said above, "Just an update. I called and spoke with a DME Cast member directly yesterday." I called the direct, toll-free number posted above. I'm just posting as an update; I"m sure it will be fine, but I have had 2 CM tell me they don't do this. Perhaps they recently changed their policy?

On the back of the DME service notification that I received, it states in the tiny print Important Terms and Conditions, "Complimentary transportation services provided by Disney's Magical Express are associated with a Walt Disney World Resort reservation and include a one-way ground transfer between the Orlando International Airport and your Walt Disney World Resort hotel on the day you check-in and a one-way ground transfer from your Walt Disney World Resort hotel to the Orlando International Airport on the day you check-out."

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

My family is driving down to WDW in April and staying at the Poly. In the middle of the week, I have to fly home for work for 2 days. I'd love to be able to use Magical Express to get to the airport and then back to the Poly 2 days later. I may have a carry on bag, but can also just have them transport me.

Evidently, DME only works for the beginning and end of your reservation. Has anyone ever been successful at arranging this? I'd love to avoid having to pay for a cab/Uber/shuttle to/from MCO.

My DH did it several times. We drive down all the time and when we stay long he usually goes back home to work. He did it every time - twice last year. Once during Easter break and once in July. We actually made the reservation while we were in the resort. It was no problem either time. Since we drove we hadn't used MDE before.
I am sure it will work.