Magical Express - is this permitted?

[CJK]

Some friends want to book the Magical Express on their arrival and departure days. However, they aren't actually flying home on their departure day. They want to take the shuttle to the airport, to pick up a rental car. They compared prices, and found it significantly cheaper to rent from the airport instead of from a location on Disney property. Can they book the shuttle back to the airport to pick up their car, even though they aren't flying that day?

 

[vinotinto]

How much are they saving? It takes a while for ME to get to the airport. It stops at different hotels and the airport is not that close. To me, this sounds like a huge waste of time.

 

[CJK]

I thought so too, but they are set with the decision (if the Magical Express is possible when they don't fly out that day). I don't know the cost difference.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Yes, of course. If they know what time they want to leave the resort, they should find a flight that leaves MCO about 3 hours after that time and give DME that flight information. If you are staying onsite, you are entitled to DME on arrival and departure day to and from MCO. It doesn't matter if they will actually fly or not.

 

[CJK]

Thank you!

 

[jaiminee krikit]

We did this last summer. It was easy, and it honestly wasn't that time consuming. We just found a flight about 3 hours before we wanted to be at the airport and used that flight number and time when we called Magical Express. We were going to Port Canaveral for a couple of days, so the airport wasn't out of our way. It saved us about $100.

 

[goofyernmost]

Never used it, but, wouldn't they have to have a flight time and number to have a pickup scheduled? Seems like anyone could just get a ride to the airport if they didn't. (not that I think that there would be massive numbers doing that anyway. Plus don't they take the luggage to the airline? With no airline, where would the luggage go? Just asking... I don't know.

 

[Alesia]

Never used it, but, 1. wouldn't they have to have a flight time and number to have a pickup scheduled?

2. Seems like anyone could just get a ride to the airport if they didn't. (not that I think that there would be massive numbers doing that anyway.

3. Plus don't they take the luggage to the airline? With no airline, where would the luggage go? Just asking... I don't know.

1. No, they'll just need to give them a time that they want to leave.

2. Well, yeah. Anyone who's staying on-site is entitled to a round trip on DME.

3. They will just take their luggage on the bus.

 

[siskaren]

Anyone who's staying at a Disney resort is entitled to one round trip on Magical Express and not everyone who uses Magical Express actually puts their luggage on the bus - I would assume most use RAC. And goofy4tink has said that you don't even need to have a flight time to book the return trip - ME is used to people taking a return trip without a flight.

 

[CMNJ]

Never used it, but, wouldn't they have to have a flight time and number to have a pickup scheduled? Seems like anyone could just get a ride to the airport if they didn't. (not that I think that there would be massive numbers doing that anyway. Plus don't they take the luggage to the airline? With no airline, where would the luggage go? Just asking... I don't know.

Yes they would have to give a flight # and time but Disney doesn't check to verify you are actually booked on that flight. As for the luggage a lot of people use Resort airline checkin (which is separate from magic express) so they don't have to take their luggage with them to the airport on the bus but this is not required. The magical express buses can hold luggage underneath so they could simply bring it with them to the bus.

 

[Chip_Dale]

Not all airlines offer RAC. If you fly international you need to take your luggage with you

 

[supersnoop]

They compared prices, and found it significantly cheaper to rent from the airport instead of from a location on Disney property.

Make sure they double check the taxes and fees. There's usually a hefty tax and facility charge for airport rental cars which might now show up as part of the rate.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Not all airlines offer RAC. If you fly international you need to take your luggage with you

RAC is available to all travelers, domestic and international, as long as their airline is a participating airline.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/f...ort-airline-check-in-international-travelers/

 

[goofy4tink]

Anyone who's staying at a Disney resort is entitled to one round trip on Magical Express and not everyone who uses Magical Express actually puts their luggage on the bus - I would assume most use RAC. And goofy4tink has said that you don't even need to have a flight time to book the return trip - ME is used to people taking a return trip without a flight.

Thanks for noticing and remembering!!!! You are absolutely 100% correct.

Yes they would have to give a flight # and time but Disney doesn't check to verify you are actually booked on that flight. As for the luggage a lot of people use Resort airline checkin (which is separate from magic express) so they don't have to take their luggage with them to the airport on the bus but this is not required. The magical express buses can hold luggage underneath so they could simply bring it with them to the bus.

No, you do not have to provide a flight number. And RAC has nothing to do with this discussion.

Not all airlines offer RAC. If you fly international you need to take your luggage with you

Again, RAC is not pertinent to this discussion.

RAC is available to all travelers, domestic and international, as long as their airline is a participating airline.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/f...ort-airline-check-in-international-travelers/

Why is everyone mentioning RAC??? The people want to ride the bus back to the airport to pick up a rental car. They aren't checking bags!!!!!

Long story short...yes, you can book DME back to MCO if you don't have an outgoing flight. I've done it many times. I wouldn't actually book the return to MCO before arriving at my resort. Instead, I would call DME and tell them what time you need to be at the airport. Then, they can schedule a bus pick up time that gets you there.

 

[CMNJ]

Never used it, but, wouldn't they have to have a flight time and number to have a pickup scheduled? Seems like anyone could just get a ride to the airport if they didn't. (not that I think that there would be massive numbers doing that anyway. Plus don't they take the luggage to the airline? With no airline, where would the luggage go? Just asking... I don't know.

No, you do not have to provide a flight number. And RAC has nothing to do with this discussion.


Again, RAC is not pertinent to this discussion.



Why is everyone mentioning RAC??? The people want to ride the bus back to the airport to pick up a rental car. They aren't checking bags!!!!!

Long story short...yes, you can book DME back to MCO if you don't have an outgoing flight. I've done it many times. I wouldn't actually book the return to MCO before arriving at my resort. Instead, I would call DME and tell them what time you need to be at the airport. Then, they can schedule a bus pick up time that gets you there.

Didn't realize that you didn't have to give them a flight # since they always ask when I have set it up. As for RAC I think everyone was responding to the PP I just quoted-I know I was. I was simply pointing out that you could bring your luggage on the bus if you wanted to head right on your way from MCO that RAC and ME are separate and using one does not require using the other.

 

[china mom]

We fly standby so we never actually have airline tickets. We just look for a flight and then call DME the night before. We do give a flight number just because they ask (they like to use that to look up your flight time) but it is often just one we have picked at random based on when we would like to get to the airport. We bring all of our own luggage with us to the bus stop and it goes under the bus.

So, no, they don't check anything and you don't need to actually be flying out anywhere.

 

[bumbershoot]

Why is everyone mentioning RAC??? The people want to ride the bus back to the airport to pick up a rental car. They aren't checking bags!!!!!

I think it's to show "they allow this in these circumstances, so therefore this other thing is allowed".

Didn't realize that you didn't have to give them a flight # since they always ask when I have set it up

Some CMs need you to have a flight number. Others don't.

 

[goofy4tink]

Because the OPs friends are not flying home that day, RAC is a moot point.
I made the comment because sometimes posters go way off track and good info gets lost!!
As far as going back, without a flight goes..sure, you can find a flight that allows you to return to MCO at the time need to be there. But, in all reality, DME doesn't really care. Many have just called and explained their situation, and the DME rep assigned a pick up time that gets the guest to MCO when they need to be there.

 

[brockash]

Some friends want to book the Magical Express on their arrival and departure days. However, they aren't actually flying home on their departure day. They want to take the shuttle to the airport, to pick up a rental car. They compared prices, and found it significantly cheaper to rent from the airport instead of from a location on Disney property. Can they book the shuttle back to the airport to pick up their car, even though they aren't flying that day?

Yes, that's no problem.