Magical Express AND a rent a car

[Wonderwoman1982]

Question: For upcoming June trip, we're renting a car to have while there, but we ALSO want to take advantage of the Disney Magical Express, so we don't have to pick up our baggage from baggage claim.

Do you think it'd be a problem for me OR my husband to get the rental car, and let the daughter and her friend (they're 18 and 19 yrs old) use the bus service, so our baggage can be transported by Disney?

I called the car rental company, and they won't pick us up from the resort due to it being like 26 miles away. So, the only way for us to pick up the car will be FROM the airport. I'm just not clear that Disney will pick up all our baggage if one of us isn't on the bus. Hopefully what I'm wondering is clear and makes sense!

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Yes, you can do that. When we go in larger parties, we have a couple of us peel off to get a rental and the rest of the party takes ME.

 

[pigletto]

In February dd, ds and I rode the Magical Express and my husband picked up the rental car. We've been renting cars for so many trips that the kids missed the excitement of riding on the M.E. and watching the Welcome video

There were 3 of us, and we had 4 suitcases brought straight to the room with no problems. Just make sure to tag everything with the M.E. tags. It might be a problem if the amount was excessive or something but we had no problems.

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

Thanks guys! One more thing...

Coming into the resort area with a rental car, will we have to pay to enter?? Or will we get some kind of documentation ahead of time that'll allow us entry at no cost??

 

[pigletto]

No paying to enter. You'll just tell the guard at the gate that you are checking in. You'll probably have to show I.D. and then proceed to the registration area

 

[gmeh1]

Question: For upcoming June trip, we're renting a car to have while there, but we ALSO want to take advantage of the Disney Magical Express, so we don't have to pick up our baggage from baggage claim.

Do you think it'd be a problem for me OR my husband to get the rental car, and let the daughter and her friend (they're 18 and 19 yrs old) use the bus service, so our baggage can be transported by Disney?

I called the car rental company, and they won't pick us up from the resort due to it being like 26 miles away. So, the only way for us to pick up the car will be FROM the airport. I'm just not clear that Disney will pick up all our baggage if one of us isn't on the bus. Hopefully what I'm wondering is clear and makes sense!

What resort are you staying at? They do have car rental companies on Disney property and the Car Care Center will pick you up. You daughter and friend should have no problem taking the ME.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There's "sticky" at the top of the Transportation that you should read: Sticky: Car rental locations for WDW...

The short summary is that you can be picked up at your Disney resort by a car rental company, and there are many different options.

The advantage, compared to renting and returning at the airport, is that you only have to pay for a car for the days when you need a car, not for your entire stay.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm not sure what rental company is '26 miles away' but there are plenty of much closer companies. For instance...Alamo/National is right at the Dolphin. Budget is at the Doubletree in DTD and can come get you at your resort if needed, and then return you there when you return your car.
Other car rental companies are located in the DTD area...some with shuttle services.

 

[wdwrich]

By "26 miles away" do you mean that you are renting from an agency at or near the airport?

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

Yes, I am renting from an agency at the airport.. I mapped it, its only 18 miles, not 26.. But I'm not switching to a closer place, because my rate is incredibly cheap compared to the other agencies. I've worked it out though, hubby will get the rental, and I'll take the bus with daughter and friend.

 

[winthropf]

It may be good idea to have a copy of your reservation showing the confirmation number for the resort reservation. You will probably not be asked, but that is the best way to show that you are actually checking in if questioned on it.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

It may be good idea to have a copy of your reservation showing the confirmation number for the resort reservation. You will probably not be asked, but that is the best way to show that you are actually checking in if questioned on it.

Huh?

The family members using Disney's Magical Express must have Disney's Magical Express reservations. And the only way to make Disney's Magical Express reservations is to have Walt Disney World resort hotel reservations.

So I don't understand the point of having "a copy of your reservation showing the confirmation number for the resort reservation."

 

[brettb]

Huh?

The family members using Disney's Magical Express must have Disney's Magical Express reservations. And the only way to make Disney's Magical Express reservations is to have Walt Disney World resort hotel reservations.

So I don't understand the point of having "a copy of your reservation showing the confirmation number for the resort reservation."

I think winthropf is referring to driving to the resort. Having a copy of the reservation (or even just the number) can help sort things out if their name isn't on the the guard's list for some reason. Or if the reservation isn't under the name of the folks in the car, etc.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think winthropf is referring to driving to the resort. Having a copy of the reservation (or even just the number) can help sort things out if their name isn't on the the guard's list for some reason. Or if the reservation isn't under the name of the folks in the car, etc.

Won't be an issue. The only time it 'might' be an issue is if you were trying to drive into BW and it was Food and Wine time. Otherwise, anyone can drive into a resort. No need to have a resort reservation...and if you are asked your name, you can give it as well as the name of the person the reservation is under. But that usually doesn't happen.

 

[prplcrzy]

Check and see what the rental car price would be if you didn't pick it up at MCO and got it on Disney property. I did this, thanks to another DISer, and saved over $500 on my rental car. We'll take DME to the resort and then get the rental car on property.

I did it so we drop the car off at MCO so we won't be using DME on the way home.


Nancy

 

[tinkerbellmamma]

Has anyone just used the Magical Express for the luggage? What I mean is can your bags travel alone and the whole family goes in the rental car? Or is it like the airplane where bags can't travel without a guest?

 

[gmeh1]

Has anyone just used the Magical Express for the luggage? What I mean is can your bags travel alone and the whole family goes in the rental car? Or is it like the airplane where bags can't travel without a guest?

someone has to be on the ME bus, it is not a luggage delivery service. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788