Magical Express - Will this work?

[spgoad]

For my upcoming trip, I'm considering a strategy where we would arrive at MCO the night before our WDW reservations would be for, and staying at a hotel by the airport the first night (AsMu or Pop the other nights). This would save some considerable money, and get us to the parks sooner on Saturday. My question is, if we want to use Magical Express, will this work? My plan would be to use free hotel transportation to get back to the aiport on Saturday morning, and then use ME from there to get to WDW. Since ME seems to operate primarily around flght times, I wanted to double check before I planned on this. Any thoughts?

 

[seashoreCM]

Yes you can do it that way.

All that counts is that you are at MCO on your check ihn day. Make your DME reservation for the time you are ready to go to WDW. To make the reservation process go more smoothly have in mind a flight, any flight, any airline coming in at that hour.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

For my upcoming trip, I'm considering a strategy where we would arrive at MCO the night before our WDW reservations would be for, and staying at a hotel by the airport the first night (AsMu or Pop the other nights). This would save some considerable money, and get us to the parks sooner on Saturday. My question is, if we want to use Magical Express, will this work? My plan would be to use free hotel transportation to get back to the aiport on Saturday morning, and then use ME from there to get to WDW. Since ME seems to operate primarily around flght times, I wanted to double check before I planned on this. Any thoughts?

Yes, it would work.

You can use DME from Orlando International (MCO) to your WDW resort regardless of whether you arrive at MCO on a flight or on a hotel shuttle.

However, I'm not sure it will be worth it.

If you were staying at a Deluxe WDW resort, I would agree that you could "save some considerable money." However, if you're staying at AsMu or Pop, the advantages of checking in on the day of your flight are likely to outweigh the relatively small difference in hotel rates between airport hotels and Value WDW resorts.

If you stay at an airport hotel, it's customary to tip the shuttle driver for transporting you and handling your bags. So that could add $20 or so (if you tip $10 each way).

You won't be able to use Magical Express to have your bags taken directly to your room. It's GREAT to check your bags at your home airport and then bypass baggage claim entirely at MCO.

When you wake up at an airport hotel, you face several hours before you get to WDW, including lugging your bags to the DME coach and having them stored at your resort (where your room is unlikely to be ready for occupancy until later in the afternoon). And that means more tips.

Is there any reason you can't start your WDW reservation one night earlier?

It's better to wake up at WDW!

 

[spgoad]

Thanks for the thoughts. One of the primary reasons I was thinking about this is because free dining starts on Saturday night, so I wanted that to be our arrival day (which makes a big difference in WDW cost). We could fly in Saturday, but the cheapest flights don't get in till after 9pm, so to get there earlier in the day would be a couple hundred bucks. I hadn't thought about tips in that equation, so that would make a difference. And I admit the sound of just skipping baggage claim altogether sounds great, I guess I'm just trying to find the cheapest way for us to not lose all of that Saturday to travel time.

 

[Alesia]

Thanks for the thoughts. One of the primary reasons I was thinking about this is because free dining starts on Saturday night, so I wanted that to be our arrival day (which makes a big difference in WDW cost). We could fly in Saturday, but the cheapest flights don't get in till after 9pm, so to get there earlier in the day would be a couple hundred bucks. I hadn't thought about tips in that equation, so that would make a difference. And I admit the sound of just skipping baggage claim altogether sounds great, I guess I'm just trying to find the cheapest way for us to not lose all of that Saturday to travel time.

Why not just make a 1 night room only reservation at AsMu or Pop? All things considered, it probably wouldn't end up costing you any more than an off site hotel and it would be way easier.

 

[spgoad]

Why not just make a 1 night room only reservation at AsMu or Pop? All things considered, it probably wouldn't end up costing you any more than an off site hotel and it would be way easier.

Well, I looked that too... the problem is the date (Dec. 31st). It was $160+ for one night at any of the value resorts. Compared to $60 for a hotel by the airport. And yes I know Jan 1st will be crazy busy at the parks, but we really wanted to see the holiday parade and fireworks at MK... so pretty much the 1st for us is just going to be a "don't care about the lines" day so we can enjoy those more unique parades.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Well, I looked that too... the problem is the date (Dec. 31st). It was $160+ for one night at any of the value resorts. Compared to $60 for a hotel by the airport.

Now that you've provided this additional information, it sounds like a good plan.

If there's some way that you can guarantee that you'll be able to stay in the same room by paying $160+ for one night and then having the Free Dining package for the rest of your stay, it might be worth the extra money.

But if you have to move anyway and wait for your Free Dining package room to be ready (with your bags in storage), you might as well stay at an airport hotel the first night.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you stay at an airport hotel, it's customary to tip the shuttle driver for transporting you and handling your bags. So that could add $20 or so (if you tip $10 each way).!

Oops, didn't realize it was that much to and from Semoran Blvd (north airport exit; 436) or wherever the airport hotel was.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Oops, didn't realize it was that much to and from Semoran Blvd (north airport exit; 436) or wherever the airport hotel was.

The shuttle ride itself is free. The driver is typically a bell services employee who relies on tips.

My $10 (each way) number is based on a family of 3 or 4, each with a checked back and a carry-on bag. A customary tip just for basic baggage handling is $1 to $2 per bag at completion of service. I assume the bellman/driver will load the bags, provide friendly service, drive safely, and unload the bags at the other end. If I would have him also take the bags all the way to the room, then I would tip more.

As always, tip amounts are matter of discretion. But there are customary tipped positions and customary tipped amounts.

Of course, if the driver is surly, doesn't touch the bags, and treats you like an inconvenience, than a tip of $0 would be more appropriate.

 

[Traveliz]

Well, I looked that too... the problem is the date (Dec. 31st). It was $160+ for one night at any of the value resorts. Compared to $60 for a hotel by the airport. And yes I know Jan 1st will be crazy busy at the parks, but we really wanted to see the holiday parade and fireworks at MK... so pretty much the 1st for us is just going to be a "don't care about the lines" day so we can enjoy those more unique parades.

But if you are coming in to FL on time for the NYE fireworks it would be worth the extra (in my mind) to get the room for the one night on property, use ME and then head over to the Poly for the NYE fireworks.

Liz