Latest we can catch Magical Express to MCO?

[stephmarty]

We are planning to check out of POR on a Saturday, but we don't fly home until Sunday morning. The plan is to store our luggage at the resort, spend Saturday at the parks, then take Magical Express to the airport that night. We'll then transfer to the free airport shuttle for a hotel by the airport, where we'll stay that final night.

Does anyone know the latest we can catch the Magical Express? Will we need to provide flight info? Thanks for the advice!

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes, you will need to provide flight info. Trips TO MCO are on assigned busses. Simply make up (or look up) a flight departing about 3 hours after you want to leave WDW.

 

[seashoreCM]

To make the reservation process go more smoothly, be prepared to submit a flight number. I suggest not making one up but rather go look one up. The reservationist CM may or may not ask for it.

Finalize the Magical Express reservation and get the confirmation paper the morning of the day before checkout if not before.

 

[LoveToDisney]

I think you can use your REAL information because you can choose your time to head back to the airport as long as it is at least 3 hours before your flight. One time, it was during a super busy travel time and we wanted more time at the airport so I had the reservation set an hour earlier than usual. They said no problem....we could go back to the airport anytime we wanted as long as it was reserved and at least 3 hours before our flight.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There is no need to provide a fictitious flight number, despite what you may read on this forum. It provides no advantage to you or Disney, and it's likely to result in a pickup time that's not really when you want it.

Call Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 1-866-599-0951. Have your room reservation information available. Tell the DME reservationist the approximate time you want to be picked up at your resort. Just explain that you want to go to the airport on the evening of your check-out day, even though your flight home is not that evening.

I did this when I wanted to take a very late motorcoach back to the airport to stay at a hotel there before a morning flight. I asked for a 10:00 p.m. DME motorcoach pickup. I didn't have to provide a fictitious 1:00 a.m. flight (if there even are any 1:00 a.m. flights). No problem. The DME reservationist only warned me not to miss my pickup, because there probably wouldn't be a later one.

Keep in mind that Disney has empty DME motorcoaches heading to the airport in the evening to meet arriving flights. Although there are very few departing flights late in the evening, there are still plenty of arrivals (with the aircraft then parked at the airport overnight).

 

[Missytara]

I think you can use your REAL information because you can choose your time to head back to the airport as long as it is at least 3 hours before your flight. One time, it was during a super busy travel time and we wanted more time at the airport so I had the reservation set an hour earlier than usual. They said no problem....we could go back to the airport anytime we wanted as long as it was reserved and at least 3 hours before our flight.

Go back and read the OP again. They are staying at the airport on their final night, so their flight isn't leaving until the next day. You were leaving the same day.

So they need to choose a flight that departs about three hours before the time period they want to leave. So if they want to arrive at the airport for to check-in to the hotel at 6:00 pm, they need to pick a flight that departs around 3:00 pm.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Horace Horsecollar really says it better than I. You can leave anytime you want on the ME as long as it is beyond the 3 hour limit and you have it reserved. The benefit of staying onsite is transportation to the airport. You can go back to the airport anytime you want and you don't have to make up a fictional flight plan.