Magical Express One-Way

[SandTals]

Hi All!

It's been ten years since our last WDW trip, and we're trying to figure out a few logistics. We're planning on flying into MCO and taking the ME to our resort. However, we then plan to rent a car at the end of our trip and drive up to Nashville to visit family. My question is, would ME take us back to MCO if we don't have return flight plans, or are we better off just getting an Uber or taxi back to the airport?

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the (probably) silly question.

 

[trixiedust23]

In 2017, I added a SW flight number for return trip to MCO. I left my family at hotel, took ME to MCO, rented a car and returned to hotel to pack up. Worked for us!

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes to all.

You can utilize DME to return to the airport to pick up a rental.
You can not utilize DME to return to the airport even if you used it to get to the resort.
You should look at all the various rental car agencies near WDW before committing to having to go to the airport.

If you do need DME to get you back to the airport to catch a rental, when you call to make a reservation, tell them what time you want to be there (or pick a flight leaving three hours after you want to to be there). Tell them you're not taking a flight.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Every resort guest is entitled to use Magical Express between MCO and their WDW resort once in each direction during the time span of their reservation, so you can schedule a return trip to pick up the rental car. I would call DME directly rather than using the online reservation form or calling the Central Reservation number (DME direct number is 866-599-0951). Have your reservation number handy.

By calling DME directly to arrange transportation back to MCO, you will not need flight information and can request a pickup time to correspond to your car rental pickup plan. I usually allow 1 hour between resort pickup and car rental pickup when I schedule, since DME times can vary +/- 15 minutes compared to my requested time.

 

[SandTals]

Thank you all! Great advice. I appreciate it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You should look at all the various rental car agencies near WDW before committing to having to go to the airport.

Magical Express will take you to the airport to pick up a rental car, but @sam_gordon is right. Plenty of car rental locations at or much, much closer to WDW. Renting a car nearby saves so much time.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you rent from a location other than MCO then you do not have to pay airport facility fee's or sometimes its called a Customer Facility Charges on your rental which can range from $2.5 to $4 a day. I know Alamo charges $3.95 a day for this fee. Also look at flights on Southwest from MCO to Nashville run $82 one way. Would be faster than driving and paying a drop off fee which can be a couple $100 dollars depending on the rental car company.

 

[SandTals]

If you rent from a location other than MCO then you do not have to pay airport facility fee's or sometimes its called a Customer Facility Charges on your rental which can range from $2.5 to $4 a day. I know Alamo charges $3.95 a day for this fee. Also look at flights on Southwest from MCO to Nashville run $82 one way. Would be faster than driving and paying a drop off fee which can be a couple $100 dollars depending on the rental car company.

I hadn't considered the airport fees! Thanks for mentioning that. And I'll definitely take a look and see if I can catch a cheap flight for four to Nashville. I don't mind driving with a three year old, but if it can be avoided and cheaper, then I think it's a no-brainer! Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

I hadn't considered the airport fees! Thanks for mentioning that.

But do check all the prices before making a decision. I've never found airport fees to be that bad, and I personally have never booked a one-way rental car with a dropoff fee. I've made errors in transportation-booking by not taking ALL factors into account before making a decision, though.