Magical Express not arriving by plane

[TAKitty]

We are arriving to Orlando by rental car and dropping it off. I would like to take ME to our hotel. How do I arrange this without a flight? We will, however, have airfare back to MI. Thanks!

 

[briar_rose_59]

As far as I know this wouldn't be possible. It's my understanding that you must be flying into one of the participating airports (if there are more than just MCO/OIA).

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We are arriving to Orlando by rental car and dropping it off. I would like to take ME to our hotel. How do I arrange this without a flight? We will, however, have airfare back to MI. Thanks!

Earlier this month, we rented a car and visited family before our WDW stay. I returned the car at Orlando International Airport (because it was a lot cheaper than a one-way rental) on our check-in day at WDW and took DME to our Disney resort.

The number for DME Guest Services at 1-866-599-0951. A DME Guest Services rep explained to me that I could use DME to travel from MCO to our WDW resort on our resort check-in day, regardless of how I arrived at MCO.

Of course, most guests arrive by air. But you can also arrive at the airport by rental car, hotel shuttle, private car, taxi, rental car courtesy shuttle, MCO Hyatt elevator, or any other way.

If the reservationist with whom you are making DME reservations insists on flight information, just supply a flight number for an arrival on your resort check-in day at the approximate time you plan to arrive at the airport. You're not cheating.

 

[salmoneous]

Officially, if you are just dropping a car off at MCO and not arriving on a flight, you don't get ME to Disney. Unofficially, if you give them a flight number for a plane arriving at the right time, it's not like they check or anything.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

As far as I know this wouldn't be possible. It's my understanding that you must be flying into one of the participating airports (if there are more than just MCO/OIA).

You must be traveling from Orlando International Airport to a Disney-operated WDW resort at which you (and every member of your traveling party) have a reservation. However, you do not need to arrive at the airport on an airline flight.

Disney's Magical Express does not serve any airports (or train stations) other than Orlando International Airport.

 

[briar_rose_59]

Disney's Magical Express does not serve any airports (or train stations) other than Orlando International Airport.

Ahh, thanks for the info got confused between my last WDW trip and my last cruise.

 

[TAKitty]

Thanks! I am arriving to MCO. I have used ME dozens of times, and I had thought about just supplying flight info even though we are not using it. I will try the honest way first. We are visiting my grandparents in Fort Myers before our WDW trip.

Thanks for your help again!

 

[CleveRocks]

Officially, if you are just dropping a car off at MCO and not arriving on a flight, you don't get ME to Disney.

I used to think (and post) this, too, but I've been corrected numerous times. The ONLY criteria for using DME are:

• being named on a reservation at a Disney owned-and-operated resort

• riding from MCO to the resort you have the reservation at, on the check-in day

• riding from the resort where you had a reservation to MCO, on the check-out day

Actual flights aren't necessary, but "phantom" flight information helps make the process easier for entering everything into the computer, and so on.