Magical Express-latest time

[leelee9878]

Has anyone arrived at the airport and been able to show your Disney reservation and get on the bus? We may try to fly standby tomorrow morning to get on an earlier flight, if we do that then we won't have a rental car until around 5 (picking up at SOG), but if we don't we will cancel that reservation at SOG and pick up a car at the airport. Just trying to see if they will let us on ME without prior reservation, I know we would have to bring our own bags which is fine.

 

[vicki_c]

Not that it's never happened in the past, but the requirements are that you reserve in advance. It's part of the requirements imposed on Disney by the airport.

 

[Kimberle]

I would call ME directly and ask them. Perhaps they can put your flight into their system so you'd be "on the books".

 

[goofy4tink]

Nope. You have to have an active WDW resort reservation, and you have to have previously made a reservation for DME.

 

[leelee9878]

Nope. You have to have an active WDW resort reservation, and you have to have previously made a reservation for DME.

I do have an active resort reservation, just not DME. I just called and the agent told me since I am flying standby to just show up at the counter and show them my resort reservation and they can accommodate me since they have buses running all the time. I asked her if I should make a reservation just so something is on the books and she said no need. Hoping she is accurate.

 

[Lewisc]

The official rule is (was?) you had to make a DME reservation prior to arriving at MCO. There isn't any issue if you make a reservation but decide not to use it. I'd call back and just say you want to make a DME reservation. Don't confuse the CM by talking about standby. Give them a flight number you might be taking.

Based on previous posters DME seems to have some latitude, at least if your rental car isn't available or your car service driver is a no-show.

 

[leelee9878]

The official rule is (was?) you had to make a DME reservation prior to arriving at MCO. There isn't any issue if you make a reservation but decide not to use it. I'd call back and just say you want to make a DME reservation. Don't confuse the CM by talking about standby. Give them a flight number you might be taking.

Based on previous posters DME seems to have some latitude, at least if your rental car isn't available or your car service driver is a no-show.

Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to call back and make a reservation just in case they give me a hard time.

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to call back and make a reservation just in case they give me a hard time.

It's not about giving you a hard time. Unless something has changed contractually DME is only allowed to transport guests who made a reservation prior to arriving in MCO. Same rule applies to car service companies.

DME has buses running all the time. Your reservation isn't for a specific bus at a specific time. Your reservation complies with contractual requirements.

 

[seashoreCM]

Make a Magical Express reservation for the earliest date you might get to Orlando. The hour does not ahve to be accurate.

You can give DME the flight number of a flight you think you will be standing by for.

If you don't succeed in standing by until the next day, call DME from the airport to tell them of the change in date.

 

[leelee9878]

Thanks everyone, I made a reservation for the time I am hoping to arrive.

 

[goofy4tink]

I do have an active resort reservation, just not DME. I just called and the agent told me since I am flying standby to just show up at the counter and show them my resort reservation and they can accommodate me since they have buses running all the time. I asked her if I should make a reservation just so something is on the books and she said no need. Hoping she is accurate.

Did you call DME directly? If they were the ones that told you to 'just show up, with your resort reservation number in hand' then things are either changing or they gave you bad info.
The contract DME/Disney has with MCO is that DME will allow no walkups to board the DME buses. All bus riders must have a prior reservation.
You obviously have done the smart thing and called to be put into the system.

 

[leelee9878]

Did you call DME directly? If they were the ones that told you to 'just show up, with your resort reservation number in hand' then things are either changing or they gave you bad info.
The contract DME/Disney has with MCO is that DME will allow no walkups to board the DME buses. All bus riders must have a prior reservation.
You obviously have done the smart thing and called to be put into the system.

I called the number for magical express on the website, not sure if this was them direct or not. So I'm not sure who gave me the information so we can determine if it was bad info or not.

 

[LBIJim]

In December 2011 my wife and I had no DME reservation and we were able to take it. Just showed our Disney hotel confirmation to the CM. No problems, no questions asked, no admonishments about not having a reservation.

We always rent a car, but on that trip we didn't need it for the first few days, so on a lark we approched the DME area and were accommodated without hassle. Of course we had to handle our own luggage. We rearranged our car rental after we checked into the hotel.

I don't know if this was blatant disregard for whatever policies they have with the airport, or fell into one of the possible 1001 exceptions to the policy. or whatever.

Jim

 

[goofy4tink]

In December 2011 my wife and I had no DME reservation and we were able to take it. Just showed our Disney hotel confirmation to the CM. No problems, no questions asked, no admonishments about not having a reservation.

We always rent a car, but on that trip we didn't need it for the first few days, so on a lark we approched the DME area and were accommodated without hassle. Of course we had to handle our own luggage. We rearranged our car rental after we checked into the hotel.

I don't know if this was blatant disregard for whatever policies they have with the airport, or fell into one of the possible 1001 exceptions to the policy. or whatever.

Jim

It did, in fact, violate the contract Disney has with MCO. I'm not saying you did anything wrong....DME CMs did.
This is one of the problems we seem to run into all the time. There is supposed to be a set policy out there. So, when someone asks a question, we answer it, in accordance with that policy. Then, Disney decides to let something 'go', which then has guests posting all over boards that they were allowed to do something that most others weren't allowed to do. Then, other posters see that info, and figure the policy has changed and they make plans based on that info, only to find out that no, the policy hasn't changed and 'sorry, but you can't do that' happens.
Drives me nuts!!!!! Make a policy Disney and stick to it.

 

[sam_gordon]

It did, in fact, violate the contract Disney has with MCO. I'm not saying you did anything wrong....DME CMs did.
This is one of the problems we seem to run into all the time. There is supposed to be a set policy out there. So, when someone asks a question, we answer it, in accordance with that policy. Then, Disney decides to let something 'go', which then has guests posting all over boards that they were allowed to do something that most others weren't allowed to do. Then, other posters see that info, and figure the policy has changed and they make plans based on that info, only to find out that no, the policy hasn't changed and 'sorry, but you can't do that' happens.
Drives me nuts!!!!! Make a policy Disney and stick to it.

Out of curiosity, do we have any reports of someone just "showing up" at the DME desk and being turned away?

 

[LBIJim]

It did, in fact, violate the contract Disney has with MCO. I'm not saying you did anything wrong....DME CMs did.
This is one of the problems we seem to run into all the time. There is supposed to be a set policy out there. So, when someone asks a question, we answer it, in accordance with that policy. Then, Disney decides to let something 'go', which then has guests posting all over boards that they were allowed to do something that most others weren't allowed to do. Then, other posters see that info, and figure the policy has changed and they make plans based on that info, only to find out that no, the policy hasn't changed and 'sorry, but you can't do that' happens.
Drives me nuts!!!!! Make a policy Disney and stick to it.

I assure you it wasn't my intention to stir up trouble by posting about my experience. I apologize.

I agree that Disney should stick with their policies. Over the years, however, they seem to have been so loosely enforced that one wonders if there are really any policies at all. Not just with DME, but in the parks, hotels, restaurants, etc.

We weren't trying to "get" something undeserved and were fully prepared to walk away without argument if the CM had said "sorry, we cannot accommodate you without a prior reservation." But she didn't even blink an eye when we approached with our hotel confirmation.

It's my understanding that DME is not actually operated by Disney, but rather subcontracted out to Mears or another provider. I'm not sure if the welcoming CMs are Disney or Mears employees.

Jim

 

[goofy4tink]

Out of curiosity, do we have any reports of someone just "showing up" at the DME desk and being turned away?

Yes, we have, but not for awhile. We had reports that those that showed up, without a prior reservation, were sent over to the Mears counter where they paid for transport and then returned to the DME area where they were put on the appropriate resort bus. A win-win for Mears!

I assure you it wasn't my intention to stir up trouble by posting about my experience. I apologize.

I agree that Disney should stick with their policies. Over the years, however, they seem to have been so loosely enforced that one wonders if there are really any policies at all. Not just with DME, but in the parks, hotels, restaurants, etc.

We weren't trying to "get" something undeserved and were fully prepared to walk away without argument if the CM had said "sorry, we cannot accommodate you without a prior reservation." But she didn't even blink an eye when we approached with our hotel confirmation.

It's my understanding that DME is not actually operated by Disney, but rather subcontracted out to Mears or another provider. I'm not sure if the welcoming CMs are Disney or Mears employees.

Jim

No apology is needed!!! My issue is with Disney, not with you! They are too loosie goosey for me!! Either have a set policy or don't, but don't change the policy at your whim!!
Yes, DME operations is contracted out to Mears. Mears has always had a 'deal' with Disney. Doesn't matter who is actually manning the counters or such. They are Disney representatives....they wear the uniform. They need to adhere to policy.