magical express question

[Daldea]

I'm arriving in Orlando 2 days before my actual resort stay and I will be staying off site near I-drive. I am thinking of renting a car for those two days from the airport where I also plan to drop off (savings cost is almost $200 if I drop off at the airport).
I have a couple of questions, can I use Magical express using my disney reservation dates even though I arrived in Florida two days prior? I will have my luggage with me, am I allowed to just take it to the ME counter?
I am also wanting to possibly go to Epcot before my disney reservation dates, (I know I have to go to the ticket counter to do this) is this possible? will it mess up my ME plans?

 

[Farro]

I think you just have to give a "fake" plane arrival time? Just pick a plane arriving around when you want to use Magical Express and give that to Disney, and just keep your luggage with you.

I don't know your other question.

 

[dansdad]

I'm arriving in Orlando 2 days before my actual resort stay and I will be staying off site near I-drive. I am thinking of renting a car for those two days from the airport where I also plan to drop off (savings cost is almost $200 if I drop off at the airport).
I have a couple of questions, can I use Magical express using my disney reservation dates even though I arrived in Florida two days prior?

Definitely. Every WDW resort stay receives round trip transportation between MCO and your resort. The details of how/when you got to MCO do not matter one bit.

I will have my luggage with me, am I allowed to just take it to the ME counter?

You will bring it with you to the bus and the driver will load it.

I am also wanting to possibly go to Epcot before my disney reservation dates, (I know I have to go to the ticket counter to do this) is this possible?

Yes. You can access tickets associated with a package up to 10 days early. This can be done at any Guest Services location. There is one outside every park and one at Disney Springs.

will it mess up my ME plans?

Not one bit. ME and your MDE are completely different systems not tied together.

 

[Farro]

Definitely. Every WDW resort stay receives round trip transportation between MCO and your resort. The details of how/when you got to MCO do not matter one bit.

So can you go right to the ME counter in MCO if you just decide when you land you'd like to take ME? That would be helpful for someone who is meeting us and is quite indecisive about how they want to get to hotel!

 

[dansdad]

So can you go right to the ME counter in MCO if you just decide when you land you'd like to take ME? That would be helpful for someone who is meeting us and is quite indecisive about how they want to get to hotel!

Yes. It will help if they have their reservation number handy.

 

[Chip_Dale]

You could also drop your luggage at your resort before you drop off the car so you do not need to carry them through the airport and on MDE. If room is not ready leave them with bell services.

 

[msjprincess]

Yes. It will help if they have their reservation number handy.

Really? I hadn't realized that changed. That's good to know. I remember when DME first started there was an agreement with Mears that they wouldn't allow walk ups.

 

[dansdad]

Really? I hadn't realized that changed. That's good to know. I remember when DME first started there was an agreement with Mears that they wouldn't allow walk ups.

We've done it a couple times when my Mom joined us last minute. I added her to our room when checking in and didn't have time to call ME before her plane landed. As long as she was on our reservation she was good to go.

 

[siskaren]

Really? I hadn't realized that changed. That's good to know. I remember when DME first started there was an agreement with Mears that they wouldn't allow walk ups.

That's what I've always read on the Transportation board.

 

[raddisneyfan]

Really? I hadn't realized that changed. That's good to know. I remember when DME first started there was an agreement with Mears that they wouldn't allow walk ups.

Ditto--I wasn't aware you could go to ME counter without a prior ME reservation? That is very good to know. Sometimes I think I will be doing off-park stuff so I rent a car and then I have Disney remorse at the last minute and don't really want to leave property at all, but keep the car anyway. So I can ditch the car at the last minute and hop on ME instead--Yeah!

 

[siskaren]

Ditto--I wasn't aware you could go to ME counter without a prior ME reservation? That is very good to know. Sometimes I think I will be doing off-park stuff so I rent a car and then I have Disney remorse at the last minute and don't really want to leave property at all, but keep the car anyway. So I can ditch the car at the last minute and hop on ME instead--Yeah!

I would just go ahead and book an ME reservation in that scenario - there's no penalty for booking it and not using it.

 

[raddisneyfan]

I would just go ahead and book an ME reservation in that scenario - there's no penalty for booking it and not using it.

That is true--I guess I can always make them just in case. Thanks!

 

[kaytieeldr]

We've done it a couple times when my Mom joined us last minute. I added her to our room when checking in and didn't have time to call ME before her plane landed. As long as she was on our reservation she was good to go.

This is really the important part. Make a DME reservation. If you don't use it, not a prkblem. But afaik, Disney's contract with the airport hasn't changed. They shouldn't be transporting completely unhooked walk-ups.I

The OP might also want to see what the cost difference is to return the car onsite (Alamo, National) or nearby (most other major rental companies.)

 

[butternut]

Does anyone know when the last magical express leaves the airport?

 

[scrapquitler]

the ME runs all night long. If your flight arrives after 10PM (and before something like 6 or 7am) you have to get your own bags and bring them with you.