Last minute changes and Magical Express?

[kcpinwdw]

Currently I am booked to arrive 8/19 in the evening and have magical express set to bring us to the beach club. Then I found out 8/19 is photopass day and now I want to arrive a day earlier--- but I will only do this if I can secure a same-day flight change in the 24 hours window once that option is available. Ideally would fly in evening prior, 8/18. My plan would be to book my hotel as soon as my change is confirmed, which is likely to be hours before my flight leaves. BUT I am thinking of booking through hotwire because the rates for a one night stay on property are MUCH lower than my AP rates for some reason... I see Coronado for $118, for example. Can I walk up to ME and board with just a hotwire reservation that may not be linked to MDE? (I also plan on tagging my luggage to beach club and just having overnight stuff in my carry on, and meet my bag once I get to my "real" resort). My other hotwire reservations have been a PITA to link and I don't know if I will get Disney's confirmation number in time to link them. To complicate things I think the flight I would most likely arrive on gets in at about 1230 in the morning... better to suck it up and just book last minute hotel through Disney? Will any of this effect my yellow-tagged luggage arriving at beach club sometime on 8/19? Thanks, travel experts!

 

[Alesia]

I also plan on tagging my luggage to beach club and just having overnight stuff in my carry on, and meet my bag once I get to my "real" resort).

DO NOT do this. If your luggage arrives the day before your reservation, it's going to end up in storage somewhere and finding it could be problematic.

As long as you have an onsite reservation, you can take DME, but you need to pick your luggage up and take it with you.

 

[kcpinwdw]

DO NOT do this. If your luggage arrives the day before your reservation, it's going to end up in storage somewhere and finding it could be problematic.

As long as you have an onsite reservation, you can take DME, but you need to pick your luggage up and take it with you.

Is that true even if it's technically the same date? My reservation at BC starts 8/19 and our flight lands and 1230am on 8/19.

 

[Gracie09]

Is that true even if it's technically the same date? My reservation at BC starts 8/19 and our flight lands and 1230am on 8/19.

Yes - reservations don't turn over to the next day until about 6 am

 

[Alesia]

Is that true even if it's technically the same date? My reservation at BC starts 8/19 and our flight lands and 1230am on 8/19.

It's the same calendar day, but a different business day. I don't know what will happen to your luggage, but I definitely wouldn't risk it.

 

[kcpinwdw]

I may not be able to do it, then, I have my five year old twins and I don't think I can carry our luggage and the stroller with them in it by myself. Bummer.

 

[Gracie09]

I may not be able to do it, then, I have my five year old twins and I don't think I can carry our luggage and the stroller with them in it by myself. Bummer.

Get a red cap to help you move your luggage from baggage claim to magic expression you have to tip him/her but worth it.

 

[kcpinwdw]

That is a good idea, do you think they are around still at 1230 am?

My real question is whether or not magic express would even let us on with just a confirmation from hotwire, rather than a linked reservation to my account. If not it would be worth it to just book through Disney, even if it will cost more for a value.

 

[Alesia]

That is a good idea, do you think they are around still at 1230 am?

My real question is whether or not magic express would even let us on with just a confirmation from hotwire, rather than a linked reservation to my account. If not it would be worth it to just book through Disney, even if it will cost more for a value.

Yes, but you will need to call DME and make a reservation first. Do that right after you book your room and you'll be fine

 

[bumbershoot]

I may not be able to do it, then, I have my five year old twins and I don't think I can carry our luggage and the stroller with them in it by myself. Bummer.

Just hire a porter. Easy. They will be there.

After making the Hotwire reservation contact dme and set it up.

 

[scrapquitler]

Currently I am booked to arrive 8/19 in the evening and have magical express set to bring us to the beach club. Then I found out 8/19 is photopass day and now I want to arrive a day earlier--- but I will only do this if I can secure a same-day flight change in the 24 hours window once that option is available. Ideally would fly in evening prior, 8/18. My plan would be to book my hotel as soon as my change is confirmed, which is likely to be hours before my flight leaves. BUT I am thinking of booking through hotwire because the rates for a one night stay on property are MUCH lower than my AP rates for some reason... I see Coronado for $118, for example. Can I walk up to ME and board with just a hotwire reservation that may not be linked to MDE? (I also plan on tagging my luggage to beach club and just having overnight stuff in my carry on, and meet my bag once I get to my "real" resort). My other hotwire reservations have been a PITA to link and I don't know if I will get Disney's confirmation number in time to link them. To complicate things I think the flight I would most likely arrive on gets in at about 1230 in the morning... better to suck it up and just book last minute hotel through Disney? Will any of this effect my yellow-tagged luggage arriving at beach club sometime on 8/19? Thanks, travel experts!

If your flight arrives that late at night, you have to pick up your own luggage at the baggage carousel. The cutoff for baggage is either 10:00 or 10:30 PM>

 

[Alesia]

If your flight arrives that late at night, you have to pick up your own luggage at the baggage carousel. The cutoff for baggage is either 10:00 or 10:30 PM>

Duh! I got wrapped up in the details and forgot the most important point - you can't use DME luggage delivery if your plane lands after 10:00 pm anyway.

 

[bumbershoot]

Duh! I got wrapped up in the details and forgot the most important point - you can't use DME luggage delivery if your plane lands after 10:00 pm anyway.

I think we all did. Thank you scrapquilter for pulling that out into the light.

 

[kcpinwdw]

Thanks, I didn't realize that, I just thought it went the "next" day. So if we change I will find a helper and tip him well... I appreciate all your input!