Magical Express Question when not booking a room for the last night

[sarahgirl]

I am planning on going to MVMCP November 15 and am planning on staying until the end of the party around midnight and then taking a leisurely walk back to the buses. My flight out is November 16 at 6:30 AM, so I know my ME pick up with be about 3:30AM. I was wondering if I dont book a room for November 15 and instead just hang out in the lobby until my pick up if I will be allowed to use ME?

Basically do I need to book a room for the last night, to get magical express ride back to the airport? I am going solo so I have no need to worry about kids or other people.

 

[vettegirl]

You don't have to book another night, just call ME and let them know when to pick you up. You should have no problems.

 

[crashbb]

Technically, the rule is that you get a trip back to the airport on or before your check out date. So, that would mean taking the bus on the 15th, not the 16th. Given that it is only a few hours difference though, maybe an exception can be made.

 

[sarahgirl]

Anyone ever do what Im attempting to do? Just stay awake the whole night and take ME back to the airport early morning?

 

[disneygirlkar]

I am going to try it the other way I get in really late on a tuesday night midnight and dont really want to pay for the hotel for a few hours so hanging in the airport then hoping on the ME a bit later putting my bags in storage at the hotel and heading to the park. SO I am taking the ME the "day" after my flight gets in. It is just me for a few days before friends arrive so I think it will be ok

 

[Lewisc]

I am going to try it the other way I get in really late on a tuesday night midnight and dont really want to pay for the hotel for a few hours so hanging in the airport then hoping on the ME a bit later putting my bags in storage at the hotel and heading to the park. SO I am taking the ME the "day" after my flight gets in. It is just me for a few days before friends arrive so I think it will be ok

DME doesn't really run 24/7. The hours are 5a-10p but it's extended to meet the flights of all guests with DME reservations. The last flights are scheduled to arrive between midnight at 1a. The early flights arrive 6-7a. Don't expect to be able to take a DME bus between 1a (maybe 1:30) and 7a. What will you do in the airport?

 

[sarahgirl]

I just wanted to let people know who are in similar situations to mine, just going to hang out in the lobby until 3:30 for my DME pick up. That I was able to give my flight information to the reservation CM and had no problems. Looks like I'll be good to go.

 

[seashoreCM]

I just wanted to let people know who are in similar situations to mine, just going to hang out in the lobby until 3:30 for my DME pick up. That I was able to give my flight information to the reservation CM and had no problems. Looks like I'll be good to go.

Double check your confirmation sheet for Magical Express back to the airport. Normally this is delivered to your room morning of the day before your checkout day. If not then you need to go down to the front desk and get it (and make necessary corrections) before heading for the parks.

If you procrastinate too long after the time for getting your confirmation before you actually get it or finalize it then there is no guarantee you can ride DME. However they will make a reasonable effort to fit you in somewhere while following the rules and, in your situation, that might be middle of your CHECKOUT day.

 

[sarahgirl]

Thanks for the info.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Now to throw an new monkey wrench in your planning... (SORRY!)

Hotels do NOT like tihs and can and will ask you to leave. I don't know if Disney will but I know other hotels do. They do not want to be providing "transient" lodging as it tends to make the place look like a homeless shelter. Do not be surprised if you have several discussions with the front desk and various security personnel

 

[sarahgirl]

I understand your concern and if I had children or even another person with me, I would be more inclined to buy a room for a few hours, but as it is I will not be returning to the resort until probably about 1AM. Downtown Disney buses do not stop running back to the resorts until 2AM. I have been in the lobbys late at night to know that I will definately not be the only one there. As I wil be staying at All Star Sports, known for rowdy teenagers staying up and misbehaving all hours of the night, I really doubt that they are going to care that a twenty nine year old woman reading a book in their lobby waiting for DME pick up is even going to bat an eye. For all they know I could have a room and I am choosing just to wait early. I really doubt that I am going to make All Star Sports look like a homeless shelter with my backpack and carryon.

 

[snoopy5386]

Now to throw an new monkey wrench in your planning... (SORRY!)

Hotels do NOT like tihs and can and will ask you to leave. I don't know if Disney will but I know other hotels do. They do not want to be providing "transient" lodging as it tends to make the place look like a homeless shelter. Do not be surprised if you have several discussions with the front desk and various security personnel

DH and I once spent from 3-7 am in the lobby of the Beach Club trying to escape from FIL's snoring. We booked our own room at 7 am as soon as the computers reset and begged the good people at the front desk for a room right away so we could please, please sleep. We were never bothered our whole time in the lobby.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I don't think the hotel cares that it is only one person. You may get away with it, you may be told you have to leave NOW even if now is 2 am

 

[goofy4tink]

DME doesn't really run 24/7. The hours are 5a-10p but it's extended to meet the flights of all guests with DME reservations. The last flights are scheduled to arrive between midnight at 1a. The early flights arrive 6-7a. Don't expect to be able to take a DME bus between 1a (maybe 1:30) and 7a. What will you do in the airport?

But, it really does run 24/7. If you have a flight at 5am, then you'll be picked up at 2am..if you have a flight at 6am, you're picked up at 3am. Conversely..if you have an arriving flight at 2am, you'll get to your resort. The buses may not have the need to run every 30 mins, but they do run, based on need.
I have returned to my resort, around 2am, and I have seen people standing, waiting for the DME bus to arrive...on several occasions.
Luggage handling runs between 5am and 10pm, but that's a whole different thing.

 

[Lewisc]

Now to throw an new monkey wrench in your planning... (SORRY!)

Hotels do NOT like tihs and can and will ask you to leave. I don't know if Disney will but I know other hotels do. They do not want to be providing "transient" lodging as it tends to make the place look like a homeless shelter. Do not be surprised if you have several discussions with the front desk and various security personnel

The OP has a 3:30a DME pickup time. I'd be surprised if the hotel has an issue. Waiting in the lobby for a car service (shuttle) to take you to the airport is reasonable. More then an hour? I guess hotel security could say something but I doubt it will be an issue.

disneygirlkar flight arrives at midnight. She doesn't want to pay for a hotel room. Your comment is on point. I can see the hotel offering her a room or asking her to leave. She's not really a guest of the hotel since she hasn't checked in. People check in after midnight all the time. People arrive in their room, after a late night, after midnight all the time. People don't sleep in the lobby in order to avoid paying for a room.

But, it really does run 24/7. If you have a flight at 5am, then you'll be picked up at 2am..if you have a flight at 6am, you're picked up at 3am. Conversely..if you have an arriving flight at 2am, you'll get to your resort. The buses may not have the need to run every 30 mins, but they do run, based on need.
I have returned to my resort, around 2am, and I have seen people standing, waiting for the DME bus to arrive...on several occasions.
Luggage handling runs between 5am and 10pm, but that's a whole different thing.

My comment is directed to people who want to use DME other then times in which DME needs to take people to or from their flights. disneygirlkar flight arrives around midnight. I don't think she has the option of hanging around MCO until 4a or 5a then taking DME to her resort.

Some people stay at an airport hotel their last night. The last flights leaving MCO dictate how late DME needs to run buses. A person staying until park closing will be getting "pixie dust" if DME schedules a 10p DME pickup. There aren't generally flights leaving MCO between 12:30a and 6a. That means the latest time you can reasonably expect a DME pickup is around 9:30a Won't work if the park has very late hours or you're attending a "party" like MNVSHP (not sure if I got the initials right but you get the picture).

edited to add Vegas is one of the places where people "hang out" hours before they can check in and hours after they check out. Casino is open 24/7. At least some coffee shop open 24/7. Bars open late. Not the same as snoozing in the lobby waiting until you can drop off luggage and check in without paying for the night you snoozed in the lobby.

 

[goofy4tink]

The OP has a 3:30a DME pickup time. I'd be surprised if the hotel has an issue. Waiting in the lobby for a car service (shuttle) to take you to the airport is reasonable. More then an hour? I guess hotel security could say something but I doubt it will be an issue.

disneygirlkar flight arrives at midnight. She doesn't want to pay for a hotel room. Your comment is on point. I can see the hotel offering her a room or asking her to leave. She's not really a guest of the hotel since she hasn't checked in. People check in after midnight all the time. People arrive in their room, after a late night, after midnight all the time. People don't sleep in the lobby in order to avoid paying for a room.



My comment is directed to people who want to use DME other then times in which DME needs to take people to or from their flights. disneygirlkar flight arrives around midnight. I don't think she has the option of hanging around MCO until 4a or 5a then taking DME to her resort.

Some people stay at an airport hotel their last night. The last flights leaving MCO dictate how late DME needs to run buses. A person staying until park closing will be getting "pixie dust" if DME schedules a 10p DME pickup. There aren't generally flights leaving MCO between 12:30a and 6a. That means the latest time you can reasonably expect a DME pickup is around 9:30a Won't work if the park has very late hours or you're attending a "party" like MNVSHP (not sure if I got the initials right but you get the picture).

edited to add Vegas is one of the places where people "hang out" hours before they can check in and hours after they check out. Casino is open 24/7. At least some coffee shop open 24/7. Bars open late. Not the same as snoozing in the lobby waiting until you can drop off luggage and check in without paying for the night you snoozed in the lobby.

But if she arrives at midnight, there will be no issue if she just sits somewhere until around 4ish, and then heads to the DME area. She may have to wait longer than usual, but a bus will take her. People arrive at the DME area after arriving at MCO via other methods of transport. They don't all arrive on a plane. People stay at the airport hotel and then head down to DME and hop on a very early bus...with no issues at all.

Also, as I said, I have seen people getting on the DME bus when I have returned to my resort at 2am....I have also seen people getting off the bus as well, around that same time. Those buses run all the time. Oh, and it's MVMCP.

 

[Lewisc]

Oh, and it's MVMCP.

I was thinking of the not very scary Halloween party.

 

[goofy4tink]

I was thinking of the not very scary Halloween party.

Well, in that case it's MNSSHP!!! Sorry, couldn't resist...