BobH said:
I have never used Magical Express but I am trying to get information on it because I am sending my college aged son to OKW and need to know how it works. I am a DVC member and will have a reservation for my son through DVC at OKW. Do I arrange for ME through DVC or through my airline? Are there luggage markers sent to you in the mail with your reservation or do you need to arrange anything with the front desk? I don't see much specifc information on the Disney web site.
In my son's case he will need to use it for his return trip to the airport but will not need it on arrival. Thanks for any help.
Last part first: if he's using DME only to get back to MCO, then he won't need any special luggage tags. In fact, when you receive his DME packet in the mail, it will include sticky-paper luggage tags for him -- THROW THEM AWAY, don't put them on his luggage. If you put one of those tags on his luggage, he will not be able to retrieve his own luggage when he arrives at MCO.
You can't reserve DME through the airline or the resort, because they have nothing to do with registering for DME.
Concerning the return to MCO from OKW....
DME is a free bus ride. For people flying certain specific airlines (American, Continental, Delta/Song, JetBlue, and United/TED), they can also actually check in for their flight at the Resort Airline Check-in desk (located at each WDW resort), receive their boarding passes, and check their luggage through to their home airport. If you're not flying one of those select airlines, however, you have to take your luggage to the bus (the bus stops at the resort), the driver will load the lugagge into the cargo hold, and then you'll get your luggage back at the airport. Once there, you check in with your airline like usual.
DVC and ANY airline has nothing to do with DME, so don't bother calling them. There is a direct DME number which I don't recall. You can call Disney's CRO and give them your son's info, or else they'll redirect you to the correct number to call.
Also, check out
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/mexpress.htm for LOTS of specific info.
I hope he has a great time!
-- Eric
