Magical Express?

[kayla87]

I think I already know the answer, but are we able to call anybody other than Member Services to arrange Magical Express? I'm hoping, wishing, it's like ADRs, where MS is an option not a requirement. I really would rather deal with people who are more trained at, and regularly deal with, Magical Express reservations.

 

[JW2]

We arranged ours on-line through the DVC website - all worked out well with no hitches.

 

[castleri]

Arranged ME through MS today with no problems at all. She asked is we wanted inbound and outbound or just one or the other and within a couple of minutes everything was set. Maybe you have gotten someone without the knowledge in the past but I have had good luck going through MS for our last 4 trips. Maybe is you call the main WDW number there will be an option for ME there.

 

[castleri]

Arranged ME through MS today with no problems at all. She asked is we wanted inbound and outbound or just one or the other and within a couple of minutes everything was set. Maybe you have gotten someone without the knowledge in the past but I have had good luck going through MS for our last 4 trips. Maybe is you call the main WDW number there will be an option for ME there.

 

[kayla87]

Arranged ME through MS today with no problems at all. She asked is we wanted inbound and outbound or just one or the other and within a couple of minutes everything was set. Maybe you have gotten someone without the knowledge in the past but I have had good luck going through MS for our last 4 trips. Maybe is you call the main WDW number there will be an option for ME there.

I must be unlucky then I've spoken to probably four different people in the past two weeks, and my husband spent 20 minutes tonight cleaning up the mess. Every time I think they know what they are talking about, but then something (like a flight number) will change and I discover that it wasn't all done as well as I suspected. If this isn't a problem many other members encounter, then I guess I'll just suck it up and move on

 

[DMKEDM]

Our experience is that you have to make your initial ME arrangements thru MS (or via the member website)...but after that you can call ME directly...

The good news is that they're incredibly easy to deal with, even with messed-up information...our last trip (T-giving) they never did get my DS' flight info or departure date (which was different from mine) correct...and that after 4 tries--the last three thru ME directly! But when it came time for DS to get on the ME bus it was smooth as silk...the bell station just gave us a piece of paper to give the ME driver and that was that...easy. And as noted, ME never ever got DS' departure info correct!

The bad news is that the ME computers are just as unreliable as Disney's...but since they make it so easy to get on the ME bus you need to get on, it's one of life's easier problems to solve!

 

[Nanajo1]

I've used the DVC web site to book ME. I also used it when flight numbers changed with no problem.

 

[sparkyboy]

I've used the DVC web site to book ME. I also used it when flight numbers changed with no problem.

Us too and never has been a problem when revamping the flight info twice. I try not to talk to humans if at all possible so that if it is messed up, it was my fault.

 

[CarolA]

Us too and never has been a problem when revamping the flight info twice. I try not to talk to humans if at all possible so that if it is messed up, it was my fault.

But you trust the Disney IT shop? Sorry, but they are the LAST folks at Disney I trust.

 

[jblrn2b]

We've never had a problem and when I called with our Feb. ME it was just a couple of minutes.

 

[tea pot]

I must be unlucky then I've spoken to probably four different people in the past two weeks, and my husband spent 20 minutes tonight cleaning up the mess. Every time I think they know what they are talking about, but then something (like a flight number) will change and I discover that it wasn't all done as well as I suspected. If this isn't a problem many other members encounter, then I guess I'll just suck it up and move on

Don't give up.... We have had no problems if it is a straight non-complicated booking..... But if you start to have flight # changes.. if some of your party is arriving at different times on different flights etc. and If you are going to change resorts during your stay it can be a nightmare.
WE had ALL of these things on our last trip and recieved no less than 5 booklets all of which were not correct. after several calls to MS One very nice and skilled person "got it" and said she would correct everything.
and to my suprise it all went well even thought we never recieved the corrected paperwork.
FYI for the Future:
1: You can call ME directly the number is in the booklet but they will ask if you first booked with MS they are very helpful and very effecient. We did also have two DDs arriving after midnight due to flight delays and was glad to hear that ME will track the flight and delays and will stay open to take the last guest booked to the resort DDs arrived at SSR safe and sound at about 1:45 AM
2: When you check in at ME you only need your name and resort and they will give you your boarding pass for both to and from the resort if you lost
or for any other reason don't have your paperwork.
3: Returning to the Airport or once you are at the resort BELL SERVICE now handles the return paperwork even if you are not in the computer.. they can put you in that morning but it is best to check in with them the evening before to recieve your bus departure time.

We have had several problems in the pass but now I know with this information things can go smooth even without paperwork.
Good Luck

 

[disneynutz]

ME gets your info from MS around 30 days prior to your trip. We always call ME to verify and correct our info if necessary.

It's a shame that we are forced to pay for a system that doesn't always work.

 

[kayla87]

Don't give up.... We have had no problems if it is a stright non- complicated booking..... But if you start to have flight # changes.. if some of your party is arriving at different times on different flights etc. and If you are going to change resorts during your stay it can be a nightmare.
WE had ALL of these things on our last trip and recieved no less than 5 booklets all of which were not correct. after several calls to MS One very nice and skilled person "got it" and said she would correct everything.
and to my suprise it all went well even thought we never recieved the corrected paperwork.

Check, check, check, and check.

First, two people, for Jan 4-10
Second, two people, for Jan 4-10 with new flight numbers
Third, four people, for Jan 2-10, two different airlines, different arrival times, and now, two reservations which aren't linked for dining reasons
Fourth, four people, for Jan 2-10 and more new flight numbers

Unfortunately, it's taken more than four calls because on the third step, the CM completely ignored what I was telling her and only scheduled one of the three flights she needed to do. At least it's all straightened out now!

Everyone's responses have been really helpful. Thanks I'm definitely going to bookmark this for the future, and hopefully I never need to reference it again!

 

[TKTommy]

Check, check, check, and check.

First, two people, for Jan 4-10
Second, two people, for Jan 4-10 with new flight numbers
Third, four people, for Jan 2-10, two different airlines, different arrival times, and now, two reservations which aren't linked for dining reasons
Fourth, four people, for Jan 2-10 and more new flight numbers

Unfortunately, it's taken more than four calls because on the third step, the CM completely ignored what I was telling her and only scheduled one of the three flights she needed to do. At least it's all straightened out now!

Everyone's responses have been really helpful. Thanks I'm definitely going to bookmark this for the future, and hopefully I never need to reference it again!

I'll finish this story a tad.....since I'm kayla's DH.

I called back and spent at least 20 minutes on the phone with DVC GS. After much searching and filtering data, she came to the conclusion that A) Our Flying Down info wasn't liked at all to our reservations; and B) The old, bad information for our departure flights was tied to our second DVC res, and she's made a completely new ME booking for our departure, instead of modifying the existing one.

I think the point Kayla and I are trying to make, tactfully, is that when these tough situations arise, perhaps there should be an ME "Expert" on staff at the call center to help with these issues. The one phrase that eats me alive when I hear a GS worker say it is, "That SHOULD work now."

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

What I really liked about using the online Magical Express reservations on the DVC Member site is that you get an email confirmation of everything they reserved. It was very easy to see that everything was done how I wanted it.

(Well, not quite, but how I expected it. We had people coming from several different addresses, and I wanted their luggage tags to go directly to them. I tried to make it three different reservations, but the tags still all came to me and I had to send them out. I don't think there's any way around that.)