Magical Express if 1 person leaving half way during free dining trip?

[Matthews4Disney]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I need some advice. We have a 9 night trip booked in September during Free Dining. My mom is going with us, but she just found out that she has a meeting for which she must return home early and miss the last half of our trip.

I don't think it makes sense to change our reservation b/c the only savings would be a few dollars going from a 10 day ticket to a 5 day ticket. Well, that wouldn't work anyway b/c everyone has to have exactly the same ticket, etc. I certainly don't want to book two back to back ressies b/c we would not get free dining on the second half and we would lose the savings of the multi-day tickets.

Also, it looks like we will be able to use her extra dining credits. I've booked lots of TS meals for the first part of the trip so she can experience lots of great places, but we will surely be left with some extra CS and snacks.

Now the question comes about Magical Express. Will she be able to take Magical Express back to the airport on a different day than we will? How would I arrange this? Would we just notify them a day or two before at the front desk?

If anyone has experienced this during free dining the past two years, I would sure appreciate some advice! We don't have a problem getting a taxi for her to go back, but I would feel safer with her traveling on Disney transportation.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[zurgswife]

yes, She can take ME on a different date then the rest of the group. Just call ME and make her a separate ressie.. My family has don't it before.

 

[Matthews4Disney]

yes, She can take ME on a different date then the rest of the group. Just call ME and make her a separate ressie.. My family has don't it before.

THANK YOU! BTW, I love your family picture...that is so cute!

 

[goofy4tink]

When we stayed at BCV two years ago, my dh had to leave 4 days before my dd and I did. Not only that, but two days after he left, dd and I moved over to POR for the final two days!! DME did it all perfectly!! The only 'issue' was mine...I forgot to give dh his return voucher!! He had a little issue with the bus driver, but they did let him on the bus finally!!! To be on the safe side, just head to the front desk the day before your mom has to leave, tell them she needs to be picked up the next day, give them her flight info. They will give her a time to be at the bus stop. Then, be sure you give her her return voucher!!! Shouldn't be any problem at all.

 

[Matthews4Disney]

When we stayed at BCV two years ago, my dh had to leave 4 days before my dd and I did. Not only that, but two days after he left, dd and I moved over to POR for the final two days!! DME did it all perfectly!! The only 'issue' was mine...I forgot to give dh his return voucher!! He had a little issue with the bus driver, but they did let him on the bus finally!!! To be on the safe side, just head to the front desk the day before your mom has to leave, tell them she needs to be picked up the next day, give them her flight info. They will give her a time to be at the bus stop. Then, be sure you give her her return voucher!!! Shouldn't be any problem at all.

Great, thank you! I forgot our entire Magical Express booklet last fall. I was just sick with worry, but thankfully they printed tickets for us at the ME desk at the airport. It sounds like I don't need to make any special arrangements beforehand, but a day or two before she is to leave, just go to the desk and inform them.

Thanks for your help!

 

[cassie]

I had a 10 day stay and my companion had to leave at 7 days. We had no problem with me and I got to use his extra ts vouchers

 

[gigi1313]

while you have solved the transportation part of the issue, you've got another problem you may not be aware of... that's that your mom would be a "phantom" guest for the days after she leaves... which is a problem many have shared disney is cracking down on... for the nights your mom is not there, she will not be entitled to any DDP credits, so there won't be extra credits for you to "use up"...

are you all staying in one room? if mom will have her own room, then it's simple, her ressie is for her dates only... if you're in the same room, you are faced w/making two separate ressies, one w/your mom up 'til her departure date, and one w/out your mom, for the entire length of your trip...

if you were not traveling during free dining, it likely would not be a big deal, but during free dining, disney is paying attention to these things (or so i have read over the past two years, moreso last year than the first year)... i would hate to have you compromise your vacation because of an oversight...

 

[goofy4tink]

Could be, but there have been instances where people have taken DME back to the airport in order to meet someone, and then rent a car for the return. They haven't reported any issues with the DDP. I don't think that Disney is tracking who is coming, and going all that stringently. As long as the plan has been paid for, the credits are lumped together, I don't think it's going to be an issue.

 

[happymommy]

If you're concerned about the dining credits, why not just book her a mears shuttle (cheaper than a taxi) to the airport on her departing day, or rent a car for a day and drive her? Or a taxi is about $50. Then you could just skip ME entirely.

 

[Matthews4Disney]

Thank you all for your advice. She is staying in the room with us, so I can't make two ressies and keep free dining on the second, since we check in the last day of FD. Plus, that would really increase our ticket costs.

I think that, just to be safe, we will not use ME for her return to the airport. How would I go about booking a Mears shuttle, and where would she get on it? When would I book it - now or when we are there?

Thanks again to all for the great advice!

 

[gigi1313]

Could be, but there have been instances where people have taken DME back to the airport in order to meet someone, and then rent a car for the return. They haven't reported any issues with the DDP. I don't think that Disney is tracking who is coming, and going all that stringently. As long as the plan has been paid for, the credits are lumped together, I don't think it's going to be an issue.

but the plan is not PAID for, it's during FREE DINING and yes, it's been reported that disney *does* check that stringently during FREE DINING...