Magical Express Question

[MulanMom]

We used Magical Express in June and were generally pleased with it. However, on the return trip to the airport, you are returned to the Magical Express boarding area. Since SW wasn't a participating carrier, we had to arrange for our luggage to be brought up to the SW desks to be checked in. If a skycap and large cart weren't there, we would have been in a difficult situation. DH is handicapped and can usually navigate the airport with just his cane.

In planning our upcoming trip, I'm wondering if there is anything we have to alert ME to beforehand to ensure a skycap and large cart are there upon our return to the airport. Are skycaps always there? What happens if no one is there to help us?

I believe I had heard SW was in the process of becoming a participating carrier. Has this happened yet? If they do, then I won't have to worry about this.

Thanks!

 

[kaytieeldr]

My experience, it won't matter if your airline participates or not. I was told (somewhat brusquely, at the airport, the first time) to request a wheelchair in advance, so I did when I checked in that day at the RAC. There wasn't one waiting for me, but an attendant at the drop-off point was able to grab someone fairly fast.

You could call the DME number the day before or of your departure and see if they can help.

 

[seashoreCM]

Unfortunately once ME leaves you at the airport going home, you are on your own. You can get an earlier bus (make request at least a day before checkout) to give you more time to leave DH standing with the luggage while you scrounge for a cart, and then navigate the airport.

If possible, get a notation on your ME reservation home that the 4 hour in advance bus time is a requested necessity so they can't call it an oversight and then may not hold you back to let others who missed their 3 hour in advance bus get on a crowded bus.

One advantage of taxis or limos is that they will drop you off anywhere along the concourse you wish (added later: ... but not in someone else's territory such as the Lynx transit bus stop) compared with ME whose one stopping place is not always predictable.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[MulanMom]

Hi Katieeldr, How are you? Actually, in our case (for now), if the airline is participating, it makes a big difference. DH can ambulate with the cane. With five or six suitcases for the rest of us to pull along, it gets a little nuts. If the luggage is taken care of, we can deal with getting DH where he needs to be.

Thanks for the suggestion, Seashore CM. Never thought of it (4 hours in advance). Something to consider for our next trip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sorry, MulanMom, I wasn't thinking of it from a 'transporting your own luggage' point of view (since I'm now a dedicated JetBlue passenger, so my bags make their own way back to Logan )

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

DME will make two seperate stops at the airport. Once on the A side, and once on the B side. Where the coach actually stops within those terminals depends on where the available parking spots are.

The only way to guarantee a skycap and/or wheelchair is waiting for you, is to call ahead to the AIRLINE directly.

Of course, that's not exactly easy, since you won't know exactly when you'll get there, or what parking space you'll get.

On a related note, the DME driver is prohibited from leaving the bus to find a skycap.

 

[Edd]

Mulanmom,

Do you remember on what part of the of the commercial lane the DME dropped you off in June? It would help to know the space number. It would be a number between A1 and A35 if you got off on the Southwest side of the terminal.

 

[MulanMom]

Mulanmom,

Do you remember on what part of the of the commercial lane the DME dropped you off in June? It would help to know the space number. It would be a number between A1 and A35 if you got off on the Southwest side of the terminal.

No, I don't remember the space number. It was in the area where we boarded the DME busses to get to the resort. Just outside where you check-in for DME. It was in the same terminal as Southwest, if that helps any.

 

[MulanMom]

Sorry, MulanMom, I wasn't thinking of it from a 'transporting your own luggage' point of view (since I'm now a dedicated JetBlue passenger, so my bags make their own way back to Logan )

Nice!!!! Hopefully, Southwest will be a participating airline before our next trip so we can have the same luxury!!!