Magical Express possible day after checkout

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, or you can just walk up to the airport counter.

 

[kmchisholm]

Thanks - I actually found a shuttle for $17. You all helped me realize the value of spending that vs headache of trying to buck system.

 

[strmtroopr96]

We actually just did this. We flew down just for the 24 hour event at the MK on 5/23. We arrived at Pop Century on Thursday night so only spent 6 hours at the resort before heading to MK for the next 20+ hours. I was planning on checking out at about 4:30 am on the 23rd but our ME packet hadn't arrived yet so chose to come back a few hours later instead. Around 10:30 am I came back to get my ME stuff left on the door, check out, and drop off our bag to be held until the next morning. Then we enjoyed the MK until about 3:30 am on 5/24 before heading back to Pop to catch our 5:25 am ME bus back to the airport for our flight home. When I originally booked our ME the night before heading down to Florida, I just gave them the date and flight number for my return trip. They told us that there was no problem using it the day after check out. Once in Florida, we were never questioned about any of it and encountered no issues.

So yes technically we had checked out Friday morning but didn't use ME until Saturday morning and had no problems doing so. The whole process was just as smooth as any other time we have used ME.

 

[seashoreCM]

deleted

 

[madelyn]

We are having an issue trying to use Magical Express the day after checkout. After an 8 night stay at DVC Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House, we check out on Sun, March 22nd, yet our flight departs Mon, March 23rd at 5:20a. We were expecting Magical Express to pick us up 3 hours before departure, so about 2am Monday morning. 6 of us are staying in the 2 bedroom at Jambo House and my sister, who does not depart until the afternoon of Mon, March 23rd has a studio unit for her last night. At first the DVC person who replied to my Magical Express online request did not book Magical Express and reminded me that a studio only occupies 4 persons. I tried to explain the situation and the next DVC agent replied via email that we would have to be transported before midnight so it would be on the day of our check out or we had to get our own transportation. There are 5 of us so I think a taxi or Uber will be cheaper than a Mears shuttle for all of us. I called DVC to verify that at least our arriving transportation by Magical Express was made. He explained that he could not override the check out date and he made the reservation but it defaulted to our check out date of March 22nd and when he input our flight, it scheduled our pick up time for 2am Sunday morning. He gave me the Magical Express phone number and they said it was too early to schedule the pick up time and I had to call them back a week before or just request it at the resort guest services. But it is still sounding like they must pick us up before midnight on the 22nd and we will spend 5 hours waiting at the airport.

 

[bumbershoot]

We are having an issue trying to use Magical Express the day after checkout. After an 8 night stay at DVC Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House, we check out on Sun, March 22nd, yet our flight departs Mon, March 23rd at 5:20a. We were expecting Magical Express to pick us up 3 hours before departure, so about 2am Monday morning. 6 of us are staying in the 2 bedroom at Jambo House and my sister, who does not depart until the afternoon of Mon, March 23rd has a studio unit for her last night. At first the DVC person who replied to my Magical Express online request did not book Magical Express and reminded me that a studio only occupies 4 persons. I tried to explain the situation and the next DVC agent replied via email that we would have to be transported before midnight so it would be on the day of our check out or we had to get our own transportation. There are 5 of us so I think a taxi or Uber will be cheaper than a Mears shuttle for all of us. I called DVC to verify that at least our arriving transportation by Magical Express was made. He explained that he could not override the check out date and he made the reservation but it defaulted to our check out date of March 22nd and when he input our flight, it scheduled our pick up time for 2am Sunday morning. He gave me the Magical Express phone number and they said it was too early to schedule the pick up time and I had to call them back a week before or just request it at the resort guest services. But it is still sounding like they must pick us up before midnight on the 22nd and we will spend 5 hours waiting at the airport.

Obviously DME has policies about the "day"; what is a hotel day, etc. A hotel "day" starts when computers switch over at about 6, and it kind of makes sense if it goes to that same time the next day.

I've found that DVC CMs are absolutely the worst at figuring out the reality of DME. They just do not understand the concept, and when I had a reservation for the 1st but needed the bus to pick me up early on the 2nd after our midnight-landing flight got in they insisted that I meant I needed to be picked up after midnight on the 1st. It was so annoying. And this is something like the reverse of that situation.

I have NO idea what is actually allowed by the computers, but I would stop dealing with DVC for it. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/airport-transportation-reservation/ That's a way to all but do it for yourself, and it seems to go to actual DME people. If they won't allow it, then it can't be done, IMO. But at least you'll KNOW.

You could easily have a resort stay that ended at checkout on the 15th of a month, and that day has MK open to 2am. You can go there and be involved in all resort perks of that day, and THEN leave for the airport...so I actually sort of think you can do this, since you're leaving on the "hotel day". Hard to explain to some DVC call center person, though.

 

[madelyn]

Yeah bumbershoot, Saturday night/Sunday morning we will probably do the extra magic hours at MK until 3am which means not getting back to the hotel until about 4am. I read about another poster who was able to take an earlier flight, the day before she checked in and Magical Express would not transport her since her reservation didn't start until the day after. Would think that on a case by case basis, they could override and allow you to take ME when it made sense to. I would think that no matter when I check-in our check-out, I am entitled to round-trip ME transportation for the number of guests in my room. DVC gave me the phone number to ME and they confirmed that I would have to be transported before midnight. My sister does have a studio (occupancy 4) for that night so 3 of us can be included on her reservation and use ME 3 hours before our actual flight but then 2 of us will need to go before midnight. Crazy!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't think it's a case by case basis. There are things Disney can and can't do, per their agreement with the airport. Magical Express can be used inbound on or after the arrival date (including very late arrivals such as bumbershoot's experience) and once outbound on or before the date one checks out. Those are two different kinds of days. Once 11:59 PM ends, that person is no longer a resort guest. Relatively certain DME isn't allowed to transport someone on DME who's not a resort guest.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yeah bumbershoot, Saturday night/Sunday morning we will probably do the extra magic hours at MK until 3am which means not getting back to the hotel until about 4am. I read about another poster who was able to take an earlier flight, the day before she checked in and Magical Express would not transport her since her reservation didn't start until the day after. Would think that on a case by case basis, they could override and allow you to take ME when it made sense to. I would think that no matter when I check-in our check-out, I am entitled to round-trip ME transportation for the number of guests in my room. DVC gave me the phone number to ME and they confirmed that I would have to be transported before midnight. My sister does have a studio (occupancy 4) for that night so 3 of us can be included on her reservation and use ME 3 hours before our actual flight but then 2 of us will need to go before midnight. Crazy!

The problem is you're looking at things biased through what you need. The DME rules are you are entitled to a trip from the airport anytime from the day you check in until the day you check out. You're also entitled to a ride TO the airport from the day you check in until the day you check out. You check out on Saturday, so you can't ride the bus on Sunday. 'Dems the rules.

 

[madelyn]

True, guess I didn't know the rules and wish I had known before I booked the flight. We typically don't fly so early but saving over $100 per ticket for 5 tickets (returning from a Spring Break trip) is worth the inconvenience. So I guess even if I had known, I would have booked the same flight. I'm fine about departing on ME close to midnight as long as the requirement isn't that your flight has to depart before midnight which means being picked up by ME before 9pm. If that's the case, we may just have to find alternate transportation closer to our flight time. Or maybe book that Hyatt inside the airport. Found a rate that is less than $130 with tax.

 

[sam_gordon]

True, guess I didn't know the rules and wish I had known before I booked the flight. We typically don't fly so early but saving over $100 per ticket for 5 tickets (returning from a Spring Break trip) is worth the inconvenience. So I guess even if I had known, I would have booked the same flight. I'm fine about departing on ME close to midnight as long as the requirement isn't that your flight has to depart before midnight which means being picked up by ME before 9pm. If that's the case, we may just have to find alternate transportation closer to our flight time. Or maybe book that Hyatt inside the airport. Found a rate that is less than $130 with tax.

You can try saying your flight is at 2am on Sunday. That SHOULD give you pick up time ~11p on Saturday. That would be about the latest ME can pick you up. Otherwise, yes, you'll need to either leave earlier or arrange for other transportation.

 

[Missytara]

I am glad to hear about the Mears option - makes me feel better than the other rumor of $75. Do you happen. To know how I can arrange, is it just through their website?

I went through their website to do a test run and it basically told me that the shuttle was already available through DME.

I know that the Mears Counter is right next to DME and there have been many threads on someone coming in the next day, say, for just a few days and they were added when the party arrived at the resort, so they didn't have to book them a package. I don't remember the exact cost, since I have never used it, but $35.00 comes to mind for some reason.

 

[Brian Noble]

True, guess I didn't know the rules and wish I had known before I booked the flight. We typically don't fly so early but saving over $100 per ticket for 5 tickets (returning from a Spring Break trip) is worth the inconvenience. So I guess even if I had known, I would have booked the same flight. I'm fine about departing on ME close to midnight as long as the requirement isn't that your flight has to depart before midnight which means being picked up by ME before 9pm. If that's the case, we may just have to find alternate transportation closer to our flight time. Or maybe book that Hyatt inside the airport. Found a rate that is less than $130 with tax.

I would do the Hyatt in a New York Minute---even if DME would transport me that morning. The very last thing I want to do is pull an all-nighter in MK and then in the airport before flying home from a more-than-one-week vacation.

 

[Lewisc]

You can try saying your flight is at 2am on Sunday. That SHOULD give you pick up time ~11p on Saturday. That would be about the latest ME can pick you up. Otherwise, yes, you'll need to either leave earlier or arrange for other transportation.

DME asks for a flight number. Most nights there aren't any flights scheduled to leave MCO between midnight at 5a. MCO website makes it easy to search for departures during specific time windows.

Buses go back to MCO, generally empty, to meet arriving flights. Posters who've called and asked for a late pickup have gotten later times then they would have received if they picked a flight.

I'd call, tell DME you want to leave after EMH and see what they will do. Politely request the latest possible pickup on your check out date or the earliest possible pickup the next day.

JMO but wanting to leave shortly after EMH park closing is a reasonable request. Disney might not see it that way.

JMO but wanting transportation prior to your check in day isn't. I'm surprised Disney allows non-guests to hang out in the lobby all night.

 

[bumbershoot]

Once 11:59 PM ends, that person is no longer a resort guest. Relatively certain DME isn't allowed to transport someone on DME who's not a resort guest.

EMH that goes to 2am...the person that checked out that day doesn't get to get onto a ride after that time? According to Cheshire, the clock for the park day clicks over once its closed, so the day would end at 2am in that case.

So I'm not stating, but WONDERING, if that would translate over to DME. If you have a ticket for that day and you can do everything else possible for a resort guest (pool obviously moot since they close way earlier than midnight now), to me it seems reasonable that they might understand having a late late flight out and make allowances for it.

The problem is you're looking at things biased through what you need. The DME rules are you are entitled to a trip from the airport anytime from the day you check in until the day you check out. You're also entitled to a ride TO the airport from the day you check in until the day you check out. You check out on Saturday, so you can't ride the bus on Sunday. 'Dems the rules.

See my thoughts above. Thoughts. Not statements. Ideas. I don't need anything in this situation. I'm not going to be catching such a flight out to the west coast unless I wanted to make my family literally lose their rational minds on a flight. I"m seeing it from the POV of the resort guest, and the fact that we're resort guests until late, so...DME very late can easily make sense to me. It's just not going to happen all that often. So IF it's a possibility, but IF the CM on the phone doesn't know the true rules, it would seem very much like case-by-case. I figure if it can be done on the website, then it can be done. Hence my idea of checking to see, by using the website.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I wouldn't think the park day and the resirt night have the same rules. I mean, guests who want yo use Magical Express have the option of reserving an additional night. That yes, they're not going to use, making it cheaper to just use a taxi or town car.

 

[madelyn]

MK actually closes at midnight Sunday night before our departing flight. The night before MK has EMH until 3am. The odd thing is that an earlier poster in I think June of 2014 mentioned being able to get a ME ride the day after check out. So not sure if rules changed since then or if there are exceptions to the rules. Will update what our actual experience is.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I had a voucher for the 12:10 am arrival. I typically arrive at 5am. The prices just weren't very good. I knew I couldn't check into the room the night before. I truly just intended to sit in the hotel lobby, rather than the airport and read my book while waiting for my other friends to arrive. I thought it might be a little safer. No big deal (other than the 20 dollars). They felt bad about it and I didn't complain. Just went to the Mears counter, paid for a new voucher and got on the bus to my happy place.

If you have a flight at night, why not just book another night at your resort or stay at a hotel near/inside MCO?
Jmho, but I can't imagine sitting in any hotel lobby all night (or an airport for that matter), trying not to fall asleep.
I would feel like a street person. "Hey kids, you 2 share this luggage as a pillow. Daddy and I will share this one. We'll check into our room in the morning."

What a way to start a vacation.

 

[madelyn]

If you have a flight at night, why not just book another night at your resort or stay at a hotel near/inside MCO?
Jmho, but I can't imagine sitting in any hotel lobby all night (or an airport for that matter), trying not to fall asleep.
I would feel like a street person. "Hey kids, you 2 share this luggage as a pillow. Daddy and I will share this one. We'll check into our room in the morning."

What a way to start a vacation.

We check out at 11am from a 2 bedroom unit. We fly out at 5:20a the next morning. My sister will also be checking out of the 2 bedroom unit but will check into a studio unit since her flight departs late afternoon the next day. So thankfully we have a place to hang out and shower until we take our transport (whatever that may be) to the airport.

 

[pigletliz]

If you have a flight at night, why not just book another night at your resort or stay at a hotel near/inside MCO?
Jmho, but I can't imagine sitting in any hotel lobby all night (or an airport for that matter), trying not to fall asleep.
I would feel like a street person. "Hey kids, you 2 share this luggage as a pillow. Daddy and I will share this one. We'll check into our room in the morning."

What a way to start a vacation.

The gate attendant didn't like my layover connection, so she was trying to do me a favor by getting me into Orlando earlier. I honestly didn't even think about Magical Express until we (the person scanning the ticket and I) couldn't figure out why my voucher didn't work. I worked graveyard for many years, so staying up all night isn't a problem. I've also been stuck in an airport on more than one occasion. Since it was just me, it wasn't a big deal. If I was traveling with my family, I obviously would have made other arrangements. My sister came into town earlier than she planned, so I ended up staying with her that night. We had a great trip!