Magical Express Expert Needed

[maymlee]

Our family has a reservation at Pop Century on 20 - 27 Nov (2 adults & 1 Child). We will be taking Magical Express to & from MCO. My step son (26 Years Old) has decided to join us for three days 20 - 23 Nov from a different city. So I called WDW to add him to our reservation, I was told by the CM that I have to add him for the whole week at $10 plus tax/day, the system cannot just add him for the three days. However, the CM suggested my step son just take a one way Mears shuttle from MCO ($20.00) and add him to the reservation when he arrives, that way he will not be charged for the $10 per day room fee. Then he can take Magical Express bus back to MCO on the 23Nov since he will be on our reservation.

I need to confirm if this is true or not, as everyone on this board knows it all depends on the CM you get and how knowledgable they are.

I am willing to pay the $10 day additional adult fee for the three days while my step son is there but not for the full week. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[clkelley]

Add him the day before he arrives. Then have the desk call DME to make his reservation.

 

[vicki_c]

clkelley's idea is better, but just for your info - the CM was correct as well, they just missed the part about adding him before he arrives but after you arrive and that will allow him to ride ME. But the CM's way would work as well.

 

[seashoreCM]

Since he is arriving on the same day you are, you need to add him to your room in advance so you can make his DME reservation in advance.

Can't you put him on your room reservation now and delete him halfway through your stay when he leaves?

 

[vicki_c]

I didn't catch that the son was arriving on the same day - that is more problematic I think - I don't think you will be able to do what clkelley suggested. There won't be enough time to get him an ME reservation if he is arriving not long after you are - I'm not sure, it might have to be done a day ahead or so.

I think the CM's suggestion might be your only option.

(And Seashore, I do not believe you can do what you are suggesting - remove the from your reservation partway through, but I'm not sure about that. Maybe you can if there's no tickets & dining involved.).

 

[Lewisc]

Do you have a room only reservation? It'll cost $70 to add him for the week. It will cost $50 if you pay for Mears ($20) and $30 add him for 3 nights.

You said your son is coming from a different city? You're not going to be together on the bus. Have him walk over to nearest Mears counter and pay for a transfer.

 

[crashbb]

Add him the day before he arrives. Then have the desk call DME to make his reservation.

Doesn't work, since he is arriving the same day that they are. He will, however, be able to take DME back to the airport.

 

[seashoreCM]

You said your son is coming from a different city? You're not going to be together on the bus. Have him walk over to nearest Mears counter and pay for a transfer.

OT: Coming from a different city is not a problem in itself. He could even arrive at a different hour. If you were able to get him on your room reservation and your DME reservation it would streamline things if you sent him copies of the room reservation and DME paperwork.

 

[maymlee]

OP here, we only have a room only reservation. Yes, my step son will be arriving the same day as we are but only at a later time.

If I add him to our reservation in advance, can I take him off on the day he leaves?? Or I will have to keep him on my reservation for the full 7 days?

Thank you for everyone's response and suggestions.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't think you can remove him. You may be able to split your reservation into two reservations.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Keep in mind that if you split your reservation into two reservations that you may have to switch rooms in the middle of your stay. The room assigner will try to keep you in the same room but there are no guarantees that this will happen. For me, the cost of paying for him to be on the reservation for the extra 4 days past when he leaves is more than worth the peace of mind of knowing that I definitely won't have to move, but only you can decide how much the peace of mind is worth to you.

Really think about how much all this is worth to you. It's an extra $40 to just put him on the reservation and use DME. Is that worth $40 to you? You'll have to pay for transportation for him to Pop if you don't put him on the reservation right away so really, it's only $20 since Mears will cost $20. Is having everything smoothly in place ahead of time and throughout your whole trip worth $20 to you?

 

[tjmw2727]

Since you have a room only reservation you should have no problem removing him when he leaves as the charge is assessed per night.

We have done a couple "moms trips" with various people arriving and leaving at different times and I have never had an issue removing an over 18 guest from the room 1/2 way through the trip.

If I were in your situation I would add him now and reserve DME for everyone. Then when you check in let them know when he will be leaving, hit the front desk again at some point the day he leaves and remind them. Finally, check your bill before leaving and if necessary have the additional adult charge removed if there is any.

The front desk CMs actually at the resorts have more flexibility and more options than the reservation CM's.

 

[clkelley]

Yep, I didn't catch he was arriving the same day. Yep, add him in advance, then remove him once he leaves.

I've done that before. I had to call billing research at the end of the trip, but they did correct it.