Magical Express Questions

[DisneyJillian18]

Hi all, currently planning our September trip, and I am looking into all our transportation details currently, and I had a few questions.

To better fit our plans, I am thinking of putting us flying into the Orlando airport on Wednesday night late in the afternoon, and staying at the hotel there.

Then the next morning hop onto the Magical Express to Disney? Is this possible?

I understand we may have to be in charge of our luggage, which is fine.

Just wondering if this is possible and if anyone has ever done something like this before.

Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

It's totally fine. Just bring your luggage there, it's put under the bus, and when you get to the resort you get the bags (totally appropriate to tip the driver) and go on inside the resort!

 

[DisneyJillian18]

It's totally fine. Just bring your luggage there, it's put under the bus, and when you get to the resort you get the bags (totally appropriate to tip the driver) and go on inside the resort!

Great thanks so much!

 

[anonymousegirl]

It is fine, but you have to give DME fake arrival info, so they are expecting to transport you that morning. Just find a flight arriving around the time you want to leave the airport, give DME that flight info, and make sure to Not use the yellow tags the night before.

 

[DisneyJillian18]

It is fine, but you have to give DME fake arrival info, so they are expecting to transport you that morning. Just find a flight arriving around the time you want to leave the airport, give DME that flight info, and make sure to Not use the yellow tags the night before.

Okay, so we could really leave at whatever time for Disney, just based on on what flights are landing. And the yellow tag is what you would put on if they were taking care of your luggage? I would just pick mine up at baggage claim right?

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

Yes, if you put the yellow tags on, they will be grabbed before they go to the luggage claim turnstiles, so DO NOT USE THEM if you are collecting your own luggage.

 

[siskaren]

It is fine, but you have to give DME fake arrival info, so they are expecting to transport you that morning. Just find a flight arriving around the time you want to leave the airport, give DME that flight info, and make sure to Not use the yellow tags the night before.

I don't think that's necessary because you aren't assigned to a specific bus for traveling from the airport to your hotel.

 

[seashoreCM]

Reason for choosing a fake flight for your Magical Express reservation the next morning: Some phone CM's are low information voters.
1. They may just recite that you need to have flight information. (And recite, incorrectly, to the next caller he may park hop using another day off of his 5 day base ticket.)
2. They may have difficulty dealing with two numbers separated by a colon (your desired bus time) compared with a single whole number (a flight number).

 

[anonymousegirl]

I don't think that's necessary because you aren't assigned to a specific bus for traveling from the airport to your hotel.

I seem to remember when DME first started, that they agreed with local taxis and Mears bus company that they would not transport anyone who did not have a pre-booked reservation. Both Mears and the taxi lost a boatload of money when Disney started DME (like when Uber came on the scene and the taxis protested). Maybe things have changed, but this is why I think it is smart to give DME a fake flight and pre-book the bus.

 

[sam_gordon]

I am thinking of putting us flying into the Orlando airport

I just want to confirm you're talking about Orlando International (code MCO) and not Sanford. DME only services MCO.

 

[buzzrelly]

I am doing this exact thing in April. I just called to add the DME to my reservation and they told me fake flight information is not needed. She made a note to add DME to my reservation and said I can just show up. But definitely do not put the yellow luggage tags on.

 

[tjmw2727]

We have done this or something similar a few times and it just isn't a problem and no fake flight numbers are necessary!

Simply call DME directly and make your reservation, let them know you will already be in Orlando and want to take DME on arrival day and then give them the real flight info for your return flight. As others have said omit the yellow luggage tags as you will have to pick up your bags at the carousel for your night at the Hyatt. Bring them with you to DME whenever you are ready to leave the airport and the drive will stow them under the bus.

In my many years of using DME I have always had professional courteous DME representatives when I call.

 

[tjmw2727]

I seem to remember when DME first started, that they agreed with local taxis and Mears bus company that they would not transport anyone who did not have a pre-booked reservation. Both Mears and the taxi lost a boatload of money when Disney started DME (like when Uber came on the scene and the taxis protested). Maybe things have changed, but this is why I think it is smart to give DME a fake flight and pre-book the bus.

This is true - you can't ride DME without a DME reservation but a flight isn't necessary to make the reservation. You are also not assigned a specific bus on the trip from the airport to WDW so the OP can head to the DME area to check in at their leisure.

 

[Deena57]

I received my Magic Bands today (woo hoo!). In the box were 4 Disney character luggage tags. Are these the tags we use (yellow was mentioned above)?

Also, do we get our checked bags from baggage claim and take to the ME counter or do they take care of that? I'm confused, but excited!

 

[siskaren]

This is true - you can't ride DME without a DME reservation but a flight isn't necessary to make the reservation. You are also not assigned a specific bus on the trip from the airport to WDW so the OP can head to the DME area to check in at their leisure.

That's what I was talking about - that you don't need flight information, not that you don't need a DME reservation.

I received my Magic Bands today (woo hoo!).

1. In the box were 4 Disney character luggage tags. Are these the tags we use (yellow was mentioned above)?

2. Also, do we get our checked bags from baggage claim and take to the ME counter or do they take care of that? I'm confused, but excited!

1. No, those are just ID tags. The DME tags look like airport tags except they're yellow and they're to let the MCO employees know not to put your luggage on the baggage claim carousel (they're put aside for DME employees to pick up) and then to tell the DME employees which hotel to take your luggage to.

 

[Deena57]

That's what I was talking about - that you don't need flight information, not that you don't need a DME reservation.



1. No, those are just ID tags. The DME tags look like airport tags except they're yellow and they're to let the MCO employees know not to put your luggage on the baggage claim carousel (they're put aside for DME employees to pick up) and then to tell the DME employees which hotel to take your luggage to.

Thank you!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Reason for choosing a fake flight for your Magical Express reservation the next morning: Some phone CM's are low information voters.

1. They may just recite that you need to have flight information. (And recite, incorrectly, to the next caller he may park hop using another day off of his 5 day base ticket.)

No, they won't.

2. They may have difficulty dealing with two numbers separated by a colon (your desired bus time) compared with a single whole number (a flight number).

No, they won't.

 

[bumbershoot]

No, they won't.

They might.

I had a DME person nearly fall off his chair in amazement that we're allowed to fly one airline in and another airline out. This was part of his job, dealing with airline stuff, and he didn't know that that was allowed.

He did, however, have all the (I assume) good info for La Cava, but on the airline stuff he wasn't quite up to snuff. Unfortunate that it was part of his job.

(And no, he wouldn't take both parts of my reservation info. He arranged for my incoming DME, but wouldn't do the outgoing because he didn't think I would be allowed to do it)

And that's when I started using the online form exclusively.

 

[kaytieeldr]

They might.

Not sure which of my, "no, they won't" statements is being referenced, but I was responding to two specific invalid claims made by the person I quoted.

No phone CM will inform that one may park hop using another day off of a five day base ticket.

No phone CM will have difficulty dealing with two numbers separated by a colon vs. compared with a single whole number.


Someone who's never flown on a commercial flight or who hasn't flown since airfares moved from round trip absolutely may not understand or be aware that passengers can fly different airlines.

 

[DisneyJillian18]

I just want to confirm you're talking about Orlando International (code MCO) and not Sanford. DME only services MCO.

Right! Sorry about that!