Magical Express vs. Cab Ride

[Harmony]

My brother's and his family are going to WDW for the 1st time. (Yay! )

Here's the thing. My mother is going along as well. (she has a friend in Orlando)

She's going to the parks with my brother and his family, just not staying onsite. At night, she'll spend the night at her friends house to visit and chat.

Since my brother and his family are flying (staying at ASMovies) they can use the Magical Express. Since my mother is going with them to the resort/park that first day (just not staying the night over) can she ride to the park with them or will they have to take a cab instead?

TIA!

I'm going to call WDW to find but thought you guys would know for sure!

 

[jade1]

My brother's and his family are going to WDW for the 1st time. (Yay! )

Here's the thing. My mother is going along as well. (she has a friend in Orlando)

She's going to the parks with my brother and his family, just not staying onsite. At night, she'll spend the night at her friends house to visit and chat.

Since my brother and his family are flying (staying at ASMovies) they can use the Magical Express. Since my mother is going with them to the resort/park that first day (just not staying the night over) can she ride to the park with them or will they have to take a cab instead?

TIA!

I'm going to call WDW to find but thought you guys would know for sure!

Kind of depends-I'm pretty certain the max amount of guests in a room can qualify for ME but not more. Example is if they have 4 in an Allstar room and thats the max. If they have 3, then simply add the name as a 4th. If they have 2 rooms and 6-they could add 2 etc.

Otherwise you should ask WDW to be sure. Good luck.

 

[helenk]

I am confused with your question, Magical Express is the bus that takes you from the airport to the WDW owned resorts, it does not take you to the parks.
If you are talking about the transportation from the airport, your mother can only use Magical Express if she is listed on your brothers reservation. If she is not listed on the reservation, then she can not use Magical Express. When you get your booklet for Magical Express the names of those included on the reservation are listed on the coupon in the booklet. You have to check in at the ME counter at the airport, and then you are directed to the line for the bus to your resort, they will not allow an unlisted person to get in line for the bus.
Your mother will have to either take a cab or use a towncar service to get to the Allstar Movies. Once she has arrived at the Allstar Movies, she can ride on the bus that run from the resorts to the parks, they do not check resort IDs or anything to confirm you are staying at the resort.
Is your brothers reservation a room only reservation or does it include tickets? If it is a room only and the group number does not exceed the occupancy limit, then I would just add your mother to the reservation.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Short answer: If your mother isn't included in your brother's resort reservation, she can't ride DME.

Longer answer: DME is for resort guests only. Every person who is listed in the room reservation will receive a DME booklet containing their passes to ride. If a person doesn't have a booklet, that person can't board the DME bus.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I believe that Brian has given you the correct information ... but since this is more of a transportation board question -- I'm moving this over there for the most quality answers for you!

Knox

 

[kaytieeldr]

Only Guests of Disney-owned resorts can reserve and use Magical Express.

What your mother CAN do, however, is go to the Mears counter when she gets to the airport, and book a ride to All Star Movies.

She will likely be on A Magical Express bus; but not necessarily the same bus as your brother's family.

 

[dmccarty]

Longer answer: DME is for resort guests only. Every person who is listed in the room reservation will receive a DME booklet containing their passes to ride. If a person doesn't have a booklet, that person can't board the DME bus.

Where/How does one get the DME booklet?

We are going to WDW shortly and using DME. We have not received our luggage tags. We called about the tags again but I doubt we will get them. Do we get the DME booklet at MCO or is this something Disney should have sent with the tags?

Thanks.

 

[Sandi]

Where/How does one get the DME booklet?

We are going to WDW shortly and using DME. We have not received our luggage tags. We called about the tags again but I doubt we will get them. Do we get the DME booklet at MCO or is this something Disney should have sent with the tags?

Thanks.

The luggage tags and DME booklet are mailed to you a few weeks before your trip. I would call DME again and ask that they send the stuff. Also ask what you should do if you don't receive the documents in time for your trip. There are lots of reports of people not getting the documents but still being able to utilize DME with relative ease.

 

[safetymom]

Here is the information if you don't receive your luggage tags in time.

Your Disney’s Magical Express reservation has been made; however, you may not receive your Disney’s Magical
Express booklet with luggage tags prior to departure for Orlando. Please be assured that you will still be able to
utilize the service and receive the same seamless experience.
Once you arrive at Orlando International Airport, you have two options:
1) You can pick up your luggage at baggage claim and proceed directly to the Disney
Welcome Center. You will be responsible for taking your luggage with you on the
motor coach.
2) Or you may proceed directly to the Disney Welcome Center. You do not need to claim
your luggage. Disney will gather all of your information and collect your luggage for
you and then deliver it to your resort room.
IMPORTANT: Please pack any valuables, medications or anything needed immediately upon arrival into Orlando in
a carry-on bag.
Arrival at Orlando International Airport. Upon arrival, please take the tram from your gate to the main Terminal
and proceed to the Disney Welcome Center which is located on the B Side on Level 1 and bypass baggage claim.
If you arrive on the A Side, please proceed to the B Side before taking the elevator or escalator down to Level 1.
You may follow the airport signs to Ground Transportation.
At the Disney Welcome Center, please present your airline baggage claim checks to the Disney representative
to confirm the number of bags* checked as well as your return flight information. You will then board a
complimentary motor coach that will take you to your resort. Your motor coach may make up to 3 stops before
arriving at your resort.
Luggage delivery to the resort. Your luggage will be claimed at the airport and delivered to your room. Your
luggage may take up to 3 hours after you check-in to be delivered. You do not need to be in your room to receive
your luggage. Please note if you take your luggage on the motor coach it will not automatically be delivered to
your room.
Returning home. You will receive a Transportation Notice the day prior to check-out advising you of your motor
coach pick-up time and other general information. Your motor coach pick-up time is based on your
flight departure and will be approximately 3 hours prior to that time to allow for multiple stops by
the motor coaches.

 

[LauraLea]

The only problem I see with adding the mother to the reservation is that it may then put 3 adults in the room. There will be additional daily charges for the 3rd adult.

Laura

 

[dmccarty]

Thanks for the info on how to access DME without the paperwork. We leave shortly and had called Disney a week or so ago about the missing paperwork. But we have nothing other than a reservation number for DME. Shoot, worse case is take a cab to WDW.

Looks like we will only check on bag which will be mostly food!

Thanks.