Magical Express Question

[NC State]

We're thinking about using Magical Express for the first time. If our flight home is 5:10 we would need to leave the hotel at 3:00. How would we spend that day until 3:00 since the check out is 11:00? Could we stay longer in our room, if so would they charge us an extra night?

 

[cglaura]

I think ME pick up is 3 hours before flight, so it more likely will be around 2pm.

I think you can request a late checkout, I don't think there is any charge (not 100% on that), but it would be based on availability.

I've never done the late checkout, we are usually down by 10am, leave our bags w/ bell services and go to DTD for awhile. But if you can get to check out around 1pm, I'd just grab a snack and hang out at the resort for an hour.

 

[V a n e s s a]

We asked whether it would be possible to check out later than 11:00; they let us keep the room until 1:00 pm, for free, but advised that if we wanted to stay later, we would need to pay for an additional night.

 

[NC State]

We asked whether it would be possible to check out later than 11:00; they let us keep the room until 1:00 pm, for free, but advised that if we wanted to stay later, we would need to pay for an additional night.

Were you taking ME? I just wanted to know when to request this at the hotel or when we book ME.

 

[skipperkim]

I normally don't checkout late. Rather pack and head off to the park that the first bus comes along. Stay there until around 1pm then head back to the resort to catch ME. I've also just went to WL for breakfast at WCC then went to Epcot to pick up the Photopass CD, then back to the resort for some hot tub time. Yes, I took back a wet swimsuit in my carryon. But what a way to end the trip.

 

[JerseyDisneyGirl]

We had a late flight out of Orlando. We checked out of the hotel early, and kept our luggage with the hotel. We were able to stay at the park until 3:00 that afternoon. To add another day to a package is very little money. Get your last bit of Disney in for your trip.

 

[Nadjalu]

If we have a later flight, we just check out, check our bags with the resort and head to a park or to a resort for a meal or DTD. Once we just hung around the resort. Ate in the food court had a drink by the pool and just relaxed.

And above poster is correct your ME bus back to the airport is 3 hours before your flight. So if your flight is at 5pm you need to be on the 2pm ME bus.

 

[cydswipe]

We checked out of POR, took luggage luggage services, then went to Epcot until lunch. Returned to POR and retreived carryon luggage which had our suits in it...

Dressed in the locker room, used up the rest of our snack credits and then headed to the airport around 5. We kept a plastic bag for suits and mugs... had to get one last use out of those!

Only negative part... the locker room in September was REALLY REALLY MUGGY, but I'd do it all over again!

 

[Sienna]

If you are using ME, they will tell you what time they'll pick you up, and it's usually much earlier than you'd expect - probably around 2pm for a 5pm flight. If you have to check out of your room before then, you can leave your luggage at the bell desk.

 

[cglaura]

Were you taking ME? I just wanted to know when to request this at the hotel or when we book ME.

You would request a late checkout with the hotel. ME only handles the transportation part.

 

[sam_gordon]

Does RAC(?) stop checking bags at a certain time? I thought bags had to be checked (if you're doing it at the hotel) by Noon or 1PM.

 

[CleveRocks]

Resort Airline Check-in closes at 1 p.m. But you have to use that service no later than 3 hours before your flight time. This won't be a problem for the original poster, since check-out time is 11 a.m.

Every halfway decent hotel in the USA will hold a guest's bags on check-out day, and Disney is no different.

I'd get an early start on the day, go to a park or Downtown Disney, have a nice lunch, and then get back to the resort to be ready for my assigned DME pick-up time, allowing enough time to get my bags out of storage.

 

[CleveRocks]

Here's how late check-out works:

It's controlled by Housekeeping, NOT by the front desk. If you ask at the front desk, they'll ask you to wait while they call Housekeeping and ask.

You can't really request it until the morning of check-out day. You could try the night before, but don't be surprised if they say to call back in the morning.

IF you are granted late check-out, here's the fee schedule:

Up until 1 p.m. -- no charge

1:01 - 3:00 p.m. -- 50% of nightly rack rate

After 3 p.m. -- 100% of nightly rack rate

DVC resorts do not allow late check-outs, except in exceedingly rare situations. They tend to have a higher occupancy rate, and they take longer to clean than regular rooms (because people staying on DVC points do not get daily housekeeping service, the room will often be messier).

 

[skysmom99]

We had a late flight out of Orlando. We checked out of the hotel early, and kept our luggage with the hotel. We were able to stay at the park until 3:00 that afternoon. To add another day to a package is very little money. Get your last bit of Disney in for your trip.

This is our plan, too. We actually have a character breakfast at MK on our last day, so we are checking out early and leaving our bags with bell services. Then we get to spend part of the day at MK. Our return flight isn't until 8:30 PM so I'm thinking our ME time won't be until 5 or so.