DME - Would you do this?

[Rpsemont]

Here's the Scenario
DH and I Arrive 11/4
BIl and DD arrive 11/7
BIL depart 11/9
DH, DD and I depart 11/13 or 11/14

We will be renting a car for all or part of our stay. Just haven't been able to snag the low rate I want so trying to cover some alternative bases.

BIL will probably definitely need departure transportation because we'll be heading to PORT for DCL and he doesn't fly out until later that night

Should I make arrangements now for DME for all, and then call and cancel if we decide not to use? At least that way, we'd have our tags. Or should I really try to fine tune our plans and if necessary only call the 10 days in advance.

 

[debster812]

Personally, I would reserve DME, and then call to cancel if you turn out not to need it. I'd rather have it in place, and not need it, than have to scramble 10 days out.

But that's just me, and I do seem to suffer from a touch of travel planning OCD.

 

[CleveRocks]

There is ZERO downside to having DME reservations in place and then not using all or part of them.

One quick thought -- if your BIL has round-trip DME reservations but only ends up using the ride for the way back to MCO from the resort, it might be good to let DME know this -- I don't know this to be fact, but I'll assume that if you have round-trip reservations and you don't use the first leg, they might cancel the return leg.

Anyway, no possible harm in just making the reservations now.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would go ahead and book DME, just to have it all set. When I flew to WDW last Nov I had DME all booked, round trip. But, I ended up flying my ds's cat down, so he met me at MCO and dropped me at BW on his way back to Tampa (with cat in tow!). I did call DME and told them that my plans had changed and I would only be using them for the return. Just wanted to be safe!! It all worked quite well.

 

[zurgswife]

Definately book DME and cancel as needed

 

[MariDisney]

There is ZERO downside to having DME reservations in place and then not using all or part of them.

One quick thought -- if your BIL has round-trip DME reservations but only ends up using the ride for the way back to MCO from the resort, it might be good to let DME know this -- I don't know this to be fact, but I'll assume that if you have round-trip reservations and you don't use the first leg, they might cancel the return leg.

Anyway, no possible harm in just making the reservations now.

Don't know the official policy on this, but on our trip two weeks ago, we reserved DME just in case we didn't rent a car. We did end up renting, so didn't use the DME luggage tags (obviously) and didn't actually cancel the reservation. Anyway, on our last day, we did get info at our room with pick up time, etc. for our return trip to the airport (which, of course, we also didn't use). So, in our experience, even if you don't use the first leg, they didn't cancel the return.

 

[Rpsemont]

Thanks for all your advice. I suppose my only problem now if that I've actually only booked 3 of 8 (ow) tickets. So I'm not sure when everyone is arriving or departing! . I told DH I might order us DME tags and he said do whatever you want, but I'm not taking a bus! We're really spoiled. Almost all or our trips we've gotten very good rental car rates with National Emerald Aisle. He's totally spoiled with getting luggage, and walking out to the car.