Fooling (Not Cheating) Magical Express?

[Cosmic]

We're camping at Fort Wilderness for two weeks. Sister-in-law's family is staying at the campsite with us for part of their trip, and Shades of Green for part of their trip. I listed them on the reservation ahead of time so they could get custom MagicBands and 60-day FP+; Disney only lets you list people for the entire trip. Sister-in-law is getting a rental car at MCO and won't be using DME in either direction. Now, a friend wants to stay at the campsite for one night, so the kids can hang out and they can get a cheaper flight (different day). Friend's family can't go on the reservation, because then it would be over the max capacity of 10. We won't ever have more than 10 people staying at the site; we want to do it by the book as much as possible. Friend's family will be moving to POR after one night at the campsite.

So, the question is can the friend's family use DME vouchers and/or an extra MagicBand linked to sister-in-law's family? The only hitch I could see is that sister-in-law's family will have FP+ reservations and park time all around this hypothetical DME trip, but I don't really think Disney's system will really know or care. I really hope this doesn't turn into a flame war... we're driving all the way to and from the Fort, sister-in-law won't be using DME, and friend's family won't be using DME on their arrival day at POR because they'll be coming from the Fort. Disney "owes" us all DME trips, so I don't think we're cheating the system.

 

[Kaytie]

Not on the reservation, no DME.

 

[maxiesmom]

They owe the people on the reservation DME trips, they don't owe friends and family not on the reservation a trip.

 

[goofy4tink]

Disney owes those on a reservation rides, to and from the airport, on DME. Since they're getting a free night's lodging, I would tell them to pay for a ride to FtW. Once you get into switching MBs and such, you stand the chance of something going wrong. Each person riding the DME bus has to have a MB, that is then scanned, twice, when riding to WDW via DME. At least that has been my experience.

 

[Cosmic]

Disney owes those on a reservation rides, to and from the airport, on DME. Since they're getting a free night's lodging, I would tell them to pay for a ride to FtW. Once you get into switching MBs and such, you stand the chance of something going wrong. Each person riding the DME bus has to have a MB, that is then scanned, twice, when riding to WDW via DME. At least that has been my experience.

International guests don't even get their bands until they check in... they can still use DME, can't they?

 

[Alesia]

International guests don't even get their bands until they check in... they can still use DME, can't they?

Yes. They need to show the DME paperwork and ID

 

[goofy4tink]

International guests don't even get their bands until they check in... they can still use DME, can't they?

As Alesia noted.....international guests get paperwork they have to show. If there's no paperwork, then the guest will need to be matched to a resort reservation, each person in their party listed on said reservation, then they need to show ID to prove they are who they are.

 

[Cosmic]

Yes. They need to show the DME paperwork and ID

As Alesia noted.....international guests get paperwork they have to show. If there's no paperwork, then the guest will need to be matched to a resort reservation, each person in their party listed on said reservation, then they need to show ID to prove they are who they are.

Thanks, guys. I realize it's wrong, but IMO it's only "wrong". It was worth a shot.

 

[goofy4tink]

You're free to try whatever you want....we just want to be sure everyone has the official info, and any possible repercussions if you try to go around that info. Many go around, some with good results, some with not so good results. Up to each person to do what they feel is best for them.

 

[Cosmic]

You're free to try whatever you want....we just want to be sure everyone has the official info, and any possible repercussions if you try to go around that info. Many go around, some with good results, some with not so good results. Up to each person to do what they feel is best for them.

The alternative is probably going to be the friend guilting the wife into picking her up at the airport in our car. As much as I don't like that, I don't want to be worrying about what might go wrong. Better to do the sure thing.

 

[mom2rtk]

The alternative is probably going to be the friend guilting the wife into picking her up at the airport in our car. As much as I don't like that, I don't want to be worrying about what might go wrong. Better to do the sure thing.

"Friend guilting"?

Is that a thing?

You're giving the friend a free place to stay. Expecting you to give up vacation time to also pick them up at the airport seems pretty cheeky to me.

 

[Cosmic]

"Friend guilting"?

Is that a thing?

You're giving the friend a free place to stay. Expecting you to give up vacation time to also pick them up at the airport seems pretty cheeky to me.

Oh friend guilt is a thing with my wife. They're splitting the cost of the site for the night (~$40), but I would gladly forgo it if I wasn't responsible for getting them there from MCO. But then they really are staying for free, and I'm sort of paying for their ride from the airport. I already told my wife I want no part of navigating one of the busiest airports in the world and dealing with potential traffic on the way there. But wife guilt is definitely a thing; I'm doing my best to dig in my heels, though.

 

[mom2rtk]

Oh friend guilt is a thing with my wife. They're splitting the cost of the site for the night (~$40), but I would gladly forgo it if I wasn't responsible for getting them there from MCO. But then they really are staying for free, and I'm sort of paying for their ride from the airport. I already told my wife I want no part of navigating one of the busiest airports in the world and dealing with potential traffic on the way there. But wife guilt is definitely a thing; I'm doing my best to dig in my heels, though.

Too much drama for me for a vacation. Now I remember why I only vacation with my immediate family.

 

[tjmw2727]

Oh friend guilt is a thing with my wife. They're splitting the cost of the site for the night (~$40), but I would gladly forgo it if I wasn't responsible for getting them there from MCO. But then they really are staying for free, and I'm sort of paying for their ride from the airport. I already told my wife I want no part of navigating one of the busiest airports in the world and dealing with potential traffic on the way there. But wife guilt is definitely a thing; I'm doing my best to dig in my heels, though.

They can pay for a mears shuttle ride upon arrival, grab a taxi, lift or uber or book a town car in advance. If I were your wife - in this situation: I would give them the details in writing probably via email so they are clear. IE "unfortunately your airport transportation isn't covered so your options are ... mears, towncar, taxi, and lyft/uber, etc." (personal pickup isn't one of those options!)

IMHO your vacation time is worth more than $ and taking an extra 2 hours to go to the airport is not something I would do unless it were someone who truly couldn't manage like my 86 yo mother in law.

 

[bumbershoot]

I already told my wife I want no part of navigating one of the busiest airports in the world and dealing with potential traffic on the way there

Huh. I wouldn't think twice about heading to mco to pick up a good friend. A short time on 4, a ride in an easy toll road, I believe there's even a cell phone lot. Once the friend knows where she is she calls, I'd go, then head back. Perhaps with a stop at the store on the way.

 

[KrazeeK120]

navigating one of the busiest airports in the world

Are you talking about MCO? It's not one of the busiest airports in the world. (It's 41st...I looked it up). You'll be fine.

In case anyone was wondering, the busiest airport in the world is, unsurprisingly, Hartsfield-Jackson.

 

[charmed59]

With their POR reservation aren't they allowed to use ME and just head in a day early?

 

[Alesia]

With their POR reservation aren't they allowed to use ME and just head in a day early?

No. You can only use DME within the dates of your onsite reservation.

 

[Cosmic]

Are you talking about MCO? It's not one of the busiest airports in the world. (It's 41st...I looked it up). You'll be fine.

In case anyone was wondering, the busiest airport in the world is, unsurprisingly, Hartsfield-Jackson.

41st is pretty high out of however many hundreds there are in the world. Also, I'm guessing MCO has a very large portion of their passengers with Orlando as a destination, as opposed to a place like Atlanta that gets huge numbers as a hub with lots of connecting flights.

 

[KrazeeK120]

41st is pretty high out of however many hundreds there are in the world. Also, I'm guessing MCO has a very large portion of their passengers with Orlando as a destination, as opposed to a place like Atlanta that gets huge numbers as a hub with lots of connecting flights.

Fair enough, but the times I've driven around the airport, it hasn't been that bad. Driving through Atlanta is scarier than watching the Exorcist.