Magical Express without a booked flight

[Taylor'sMom]

I read this on another thread, but didn't want to hijack to clarify..

Can we schedule Magical Express to go from our Disney resort to Orlando Airport without having a booked flight? We'd like to use ME when we check out of the resort, to go to the airport, only to pick up a rental car for a beach vacation elsewhere for the remainder of our trip.

I'm pretty sure I read that we can give Disney ME a "dummy" flight number for a flight that leaves a few hours after the time we'd like to go, and that's all they need. is this true? We don't need to provide "proof" of a reserved flight to use ME to get to the airport? I've never used ME before. We are fine with putting our luggage on/off the bus ourselves and not "checking" it whatever.

thanks! This ME thing is all new to me

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes you can !

There is no requirement that you fly to use DME only that you are a resort guest on the day you want to use DME and that you have an advance reservation.

If you call DME directly (not the reservation line) they should be able to make a reservation for you without a flight.

Some people (and some CM's) just find it easier to find a flight that leaves the airport about 3 hours after you would like to depart the resort and use that.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

So good to hear. Thank you!
What time in the morning do they start operating?

 

[grimley1968]

Why not just rent a car at Disney? There are rental locations at the Car Care Center, at the Dolphin resort, and I think a place or two near Downtown Disney. When done with the car, just return it to MCO rather than Disney (a one-way rental), and get on your flight home. This would be quite a bit faster than having to ride to MCO just to rent a car.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

Why not just rent a car at Disney? There are rental locations at the Car Care Center, at the Dolphin resort, and I think a place or two near Downtown Disney. When done with the car, just return it to MCO rather than Disney (a one-way rental), and get on your flight home. This would be quite a bit faster than having to ride to MCO just to rent a car.

Thanks for the tip John. I had thought about this, and wondered which would be "faster." We'll likely be staying at Pop Century and while I haven't really researched the rental car companies on-site, I didn't think any of them would be "easy" to get to. I'd have to take a normal bus to the nearest park to transfer to say, Swan/Dolphin... or take a normal bus to DTD and then walk to the nearest rental car place... and all of that would be with luggage in tow... not ideal.
And yes, I suppose I could go get the rental car by myself and return to the resort to pick up the family and luggage, but then I really can't image that whole process being faster than using ME.

Add to that, the additional one-way fares we'd be facing because we'd return at the airport.

I think just using ME to get us to the airport would be fastest and most cost effective... unless I'm really missing something? maybe I don't understand the ME process enough? Is it a really long process to board and arrive at the airport???

 

[bdklein]

We'd like to use ME when we check out of the resort, to go to the airport, only to pick up a rental car for a beach vacation elsewhere for the remainder of our trip.

When you are done with your beach vacation, then what? Back to the Orlando airport for a flight home?

 

[Taylor'sMom]

When you are done with your beach vacation, then what? Back to the Orlando airport for a flight home?

Yes, exactly!

So I though picking up and returning to the same location was best. We've done a one-way rental before MCO to Tampa, and paid extra in fees. this time we'll be flying into and out of Orlando

 

[grimley1968]

Thanks for the tip John. I had thought about this, and wondered which would be "faster." We'll likely be staying at Pop Century and while I haven't really researched the rental car companies on-site, I didn't think any of them would be "easy" to get to. I'd have to take a normal bus to the nearest park to transfer to say, Swan/Dolphin... or take a normal bus to DTD and then walk to the nearest rental car place... and all of that would be with luggage in tow... not ideal.
And yes, I suppose I could go get the rental car by myself and return to the resort to pick up the family and luggage, but then I really can't image that whole process being faster than using ME.

Add to that, the additional one-way fares we'd be facing because we'd return at the airport.

I think just using ME to get us to the airport would be fastest and most cost effective... unless I'm really missing something? maybe I don't understand the ME process enough? Is it a really long process to board and arrive at the airport???

I can see the Dolphin or anyplace near DtD being inconvenient if you're staying at Pop. However, and I could be wrong, I thought there were rental companies that pick you up at the CCC. If that was true, they could bring your car (or a shuttle) to Pop. Sorry, but my memory is hazy on that.

But using ME to get to MCO and getting a normal car rental is, no question, the most cost-effective option. I would echo what tjmw2727 said, though: make sure (if you have to name a dummy flight) to choose one that's 3 hours after you'd like to leave the resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

A cab to the S/D from Pop would be under $10. Or bus to DHS and then boat over to S/D. Check out Alamo/National at both MCO and the Dolphin. I have found cheaper fares when booking out of MCO...but in all reality?? One way fares aren't an issue in Florida. I've rented at MCO and returned to Tampa Intl. I'm renting at W Palm Beach Intl and returning to MCO. Not a biggie.
But, really...check both areas (Alamo at the Dolphin) and MCO. If you want to use a different company, many have pick up service...they can be found in the DTD area..for instance, Budget is at the Doubletree.
If you're headed to the Gulf Coast, it will be much faster to rent closer to WDW.

 

[goofy4tink]

So good to hear. Thank you!
What time in the morning do they start operating?

They run 24/7. If you need them, they'll be there.

 

[brettb]

<snip>
Add to that, the additional one-way fares we'd be facing because we'd return at the airport.<snip>

Don't assume that. Price it both ways. Sometimes renting at the Car Care Center and returning to MCO is (a lot?) less expensive then MCO/MCO. (And may or may not cost more than CCC/CCC.)

I just priced National for our dates and MCO/MCO was $300.23 while ORLR02 (Car Care Center) / MCO was $289.44. ORLR02 / ORLR02 was also $289.44. It looks like you save some of the airport fees and there is no one-way fee. I'm not sure if that's because of the CID I used, though.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for the tip John. I had thought about this, and wondered which would be "faster." We'll likely be staying at Pop Century and while I haven't really researched the rental car companies on-site, I didn't think any of them would be "easy" to get to. I'd have to take a normal bus to the nearest park to transfer to say, Swan/Dolphin... or take a normal bus to DTD and then walk to the nearest rental car place... and all of that would be with luggage in tow... not ideal.
And yes, I suppose I could go get the rental car by myself and return to the resort to pick up the family and luggage, but then I really can't image that whole process being faster than using ME.

Add to that, the additional one-way fares we'd be facing because we'd return at the airport.

I think just using ME to get us to the airport would be fastest and most cost effective... unless I'm really missing something? maybe I don't understand the ME process enough? Is it a really long process to board and arrive at the airport???

Please don't ever make assumptions when it comes to car rentals. Always do the research for your exact dates, and re-do the research even after you've booked. You never know what the rental companies need, in terms of what cars where and when.

For our last trip, it was hundreds of dollars cheaper to pick up a car at MCO and return it to the Dolphin, vs picking up and dropping off at MCO. Hundreds.

For your trip, maybe it will be the same, maybe less, maybe more. It's very important to know.

Maybe it would be so much less to get the car from the Dolphin or Car Care Center etc that even getting a cab to take you there would be worth it. It's worth checking out, that's for sure.


If it works out better to do ME, I've heard that you can just tell them what you're doing and they are fine with it. If you're not comfy with that, or worry that you'll get the judgy CM on the phone, pick when you want to be at the airport and pick a flight where the timing works for you to get to the airport at the time you want to be there.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

Thanks for all the info everyone!

 

[suemom2kay]

National has a surplus of cars at Shades of Green right now and is offering very cheap rentals to MCO. Add this coupon ND9334SND for an additional $30 off. I have a rental w/pickup at SOG on 5/18 @ 2:00pm with dropoff at MCO on 5/26 @ 7:00pm for $94.44 all tax/fees included. Just take a cab or call Walt Disney Car Care Center for a pickup. This is MUCH cheaper than anything I've found at the airport.

Taxi to Shades
Tell guard your picking up a rental
Skip counter if your Emerald Isle
Get car
Pickup family & luggage at Pop
Easy peasy.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

National has a surplus of cars at Shades of Green right now and is offering very cheap rentals to MCO. Add this coupon ND9334SND for an additional $30 off. I have a rental w/pickup at SOG on 5/18 @ 2:00pm with dropoff at MCO on 5/26 @ 7:00pm for $94.44 all tax/fees included. Just take a cab or call Walt Disney Car Care Center for a pickup. This is MUCH cheaper than anything I've found at the airport.

Taxi to Shades
Tell guard your picking up a rental
Skip counter if your Emerald Isle
Get car
Pickup family & luggage at Pop
Easy peasy.

thanks! I will look into this!

 

[nkereina]

Typically, or at least in my own experience, renting at the airport is more expensive than another site. The ME process is not painful, but we did have to wait a good 10 minutes on the bus while they loaded everyone, then a good 25 minutes at the next resort while they loaded everyone and sorted out an issue. Then at the airport, we had to wait while everyone collected their luggage. It was not a quick hop on and we're off to the airport.

 

[MackenzieFL]

We're planning on doing this too. DH gets rental deals from Budget I think? but MCO is the only convenient drop-off in Orlando. So he's going to drop us off at the resort, go to MCO, drop off the car and take the ME back... then on our last day go back to MCO and pick up the car to bring home.

It's only a day rental each way & a half tank of gas, so it's not terrible travel expense for a family of 5.

I'll have to have him look at other rental places on site to see if he would get a better deal, but Budget is the one he's been using for years & he always gets these coupons every 3 months or so; so it usually works out cheapest, plus its closest to our house.