Magical express

[msheriffm]

I just called Disney because our vouchers for ME did not come with our documents. The problem is that we are flying in late and flying out early so we are not staying at WDW resorts our first and last nights in Orlando. The agent in ME told me that we can just go to the ME booth in the morning and they will be able to give us vouchers to ride to WDW. Then on the way back we should call and schedule the ME 24 hours before we need to be picked up. Since we do not have flight numbers for those days they can not schedule the transportation ahead of time for us. She said we have to be staying at a WDW resort on the day of travel on ME. Has anybody done this? I am sure we are not the only family staying at the Airport Hyatt before or after a flight. This hotel is actually in the airport so we will not be using cabs to or from its location. Personally, I thought we were being smart not paying Disney prices and wasting ticketed days by doing this. Now I am having doubts that we have saved any money if we can't ride on the ME.

 

[SteveMouse]

All you need to do is tell ME the arrival and departure information for a flight that arrives/departs when you want to leave/ get to the airport (e.g flight CO 787-made up, for this example) arrives MCO @ 2:25p on June 22, the day of your first night at a Disney hotel.

For departure from the Disney hotel to the airport on, say, June 24, flight CO 999 (made up, for this example) departs@ 5:55p on June 24, the day of your last morning at a Disney hotel. DME will schedule you to a bus leaving your Disney hotel about 3 hours before the flight time (DME doesn't know or care if you get on the plane).

Note that you will need to hand carry your bags both ways (they'll go under the bus).


-steve

 

[seashoreCM]

You must have an advance reservation for Magical Express. Just walking up to the DME counter is not good enough.

Magical Express hot line number: toll free 866-599-0951.

For going home you need your written confirmation by the morning of the day before the day you leave. Normally this confirmation is delivered to your room door when you made the reservation sooner. Last minute changes can be made at that time too, before you head for the parks.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The agent in ME told me that we can just go to the ME booth in the morning and they will be able to give us vouchers to ride to WDW.

I assume you were talking to a room reservations agent, not to a DME Guest Services agent. The agent gave you bad information. Disney's contract with Orlando International Airport requires all DME passengers to have advance reservations for DME.

You can -- and must -- make an advance reservation for DME. Your plan is to take DME to your WDW resort on your resort check-in day. Only you'll be arriving from the Hyatt elevator instead of from an airline arrival date. That's perfectly fine.

Call Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 1-866-599-0951. Tell them the approximate time you want to depart from the airport on a DME motorcoach. Don't be surprised if you receive DME vouchers with a flight time of 0:00.

You will not be able to use the DME baggage service for free baggage delivery to your room. Instead, the driver will put your bags in the baggage hold of the motorcoach. When he returns them to you at your resort, a tip is customary. If you get help from bell services at your WDW resort, another tip is customary. Because you're arriving at your resort in the morning, there probably won't be a room ready for you. Even if bell services just stores your bags until your room is ready, a tip is customary.

Then on the way back we should call and schedule the ME 24 hours before we need to be picked up. Since we do not have flight numbers for those days they can not schedule the transportation ahead of time for us. She said we have to be staying at a WDW resort on the day of travel on ME.

There's no reason to wait until you get to WDW. Just tell Disney's Magical Express Guest Services the approximate time you want to depart from your resort on your check-out day. Explain that you are not flying that day. There are typically two pick-ups per hour at each WDW resort, if guests need them. You will not be able to use Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) because you're not flying that day.

I thought we were being smart not paying Disney prices and wasting ticketed days by doing this. Now I am having doubts that we have saved any money if we can't ride on the ME.

You are being smart. You can still use DME, just not the inbound baggage service on your check-in day or RAC on your check-out day.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The OP should check with the Hyatt about using the luggage delivery aspect of Magical Express on their DME arrival day. My understanding is, Bell Services at the Hyatt will transport DME-tagged luggage to a point where it can be sorted and shipped with the rest of the arriving guests' bags.

 

[msheriffm]

Believe it or not I was talking to an ME person or that is where I was told they were transferring me. I guess I will be less honest on my next call and do what was suggested and use fake flight numbers. Thank you for your tips!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The OP should check with the Hyatt about using the luggage delivery aspect of Magical Express on their DME arrival day. My understanding is, Bell Services at the Hyatt will transport DME-tagged luggage to a point where it can be sorted and shipped with the rest of the arriving guests' bags.

Good point.

I've read one or two reports of Orlando Airport Hyatt guests being able to turn over their yellow-tagged bags to Hyatt bell services and then using DME transportation and baggage service, as if flying in that day.

However, I was never quite sure if this was really a service of the Hyatt and DME, or if people were confusing DME transportation/baggage service and the Disney Cruise Line transportation/baggage service.

I agree that it's worth asking the Hyatt about it.

If there is such a service, the OP would NOT attach the yellow tags before checking the bags prior to flying. Instead, the OP would bring the tags along to the Hyatt in the airport and attach them at the Hyatt on the morning of their WDW resort check-in. The next time the OP would see the bags would be in the room some time after it's ready.

OP: Please let know whet the Hyatt tells you, and, if you use the service, how this works for you.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Believe it or not I was talking to an ME person or that is where I was told they were transferring me. I guess I will be less honest on my next call and do what was suggested and use fake flight numbers. Thank you for your tips!

Have you called back specifically to Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 1-866-599-0951 ?

There should be no reason to be "less honest" or to provide fake flight numbers. You're not cheating DME or doing anything anything that is illegal or unethical.

Although the vast majority of incoming DME guests arrive at the airport by air (on any airline) on the same day as the DME transportation and WDW resort check-in, not everyone does.

Even guests who provide flight details often receive DME packets showing an arrival time of 0:00.

 

[msheriffm]

I don't want to be dishonest because honesty is very important to me. My girls are teens and will be with us so it is hard for me not to be a good role model. I will call ME again and hope I get a more cooperative agent. Thanks for your encouragement.

 

[tjmw2727]

How far away is the trip? Often the DME package comes about 2-3 weeks prior to the trip and the package info comes much sooner.

Call DME as others have instructed - use the DME number posted above, they are specialized in DME vs the CRO CM's who do a "little of everything".

There is no requrement that you fly into MCO to use DME - you can arrive any way you see fit from anywhere and use DME as long as it is during a WDW Resort reservation.

Using a flight that lands about the time you are wanting to depart the airport just makes it easier for the CM to make the booking - most DME CM's are trained to make the reservation without a flight but most CRO CM's are not. Same for the outbound -

So call again and see if you can get the reservation done without a flight - I have done this many time but honestly sometimes it is just easer to use a flight. I dont' see it as being dishonest but making the CM's job a bit easier

Either way you aren't doing anything wrong - you are entitled to a r/t ride on DME regardless of when or where your vacation started - ends and how you get to the airport.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't want to be dishonest because honesty is very important to me. My girls are teens and will be with us so it is hard for me not to be a good role model. I will call ME again and hope I get a more cooperative agent. Thanks for your encouragement.

Okay....you aren't being dishonest in any way. You are entitled to a ride to the resort, and back to the airport if you are staying onsite. So...make a reservation for DME now. Call either DME or whomever you booked your stay with. You can give them the flight info for a flight that is arriving first thing in the morning on your resort arrival day...the morning after you arrive. It doesn't have to be a flight you're on...they don't care.
For your return to the airport (and I'm assuming that you are heading back to the airport hotel the day before you fly), just give them flight info for any flight that leaves late in the day. You can even tell them that you need to be back at MCO by 'whatever time you choose'..and they will put you on a bus that will get you back then.
You aren't being dishonest. You just aren't actively flying on your WDW arrrival/departure days..and that may very well have confused the person you were talking about.

 

[msheriffm]

I have tried again and been told to check in at Terminal B when we are ready to take the ME. I did read about the ME and it said that you must have a voucher with you before you arrive at the airport so I guess I will be providing flight numbers. I really don't get why being honest is such a big deal. Apparently disney will only allow you to take the ME if you are staying at a resort the night of arrival and night before departure.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I have tried again and been told to check in at Terminal B when we are ready to take the ME. I did read about the ME and it said that you must have a voucher with you before you arrive at the airport so I guess I will be providing flight numbers. I really don't get why being honest is such a big deal.

You don't need a printed voucher. You only need an advance reservation in the DME computer.

If the agent made a DME reservation for you and told you to check in at the DME counter when you're ready to take the DME motorcoach, then that's perfectly fine.

If the agent did not make a reservation for you, then there's a problem. The DME counter is supposed to turn you away if you show up without a reservation.

Apparently disney will only allow you to take the ME if you are staying at a resort the night of arrival and night before departure.

You are staying at a WDW resort the night of your inbound DME transportation. And you are staying at a WDW resort the night before your outbound DME transportation. Right? That's all that should matter.

Did you talk with a DME agent at Disney's Magical Express Guest Services (1-866-599-0951) this time?

 

[tjmw2727]

You don't have to have the voucher - but you do need a reservation.

It does not matter how you get to the airport but yes you can only take DME "During" your resort reservation. You can travel on checkin and check out day as I think you want to.

I don't understand why you are having trouble - I have done exactly what (I think) you want to do with and without flight numbers - no issue. I call the DME number (not the Disney number) tell them what time I want to depart the airport and what time I want to depart the resort and they make the reservation.

Occasionally I have a DME rep who isn't familiar with how to make the reservation without a flight number. In this case I have a flight number that arrives around the time I want to depart the airport and same for the trip back to the airport. If making things easier for the DME Rep is being dishonest then I am guilty. If you are telling them that you are offsite prior to your resort reservation then you are probalby just confusing them.

For the trip from the airport many times the flight number/time isn't even on my reservation as it really doesn't matter as flights can be delayed and canceled. What the rep said was correct ~ as long as you have a reservation ~ whenever you get to the DME desk and check in you will be transported to the resort. We had a flight canceled due to a snowstore and arrived a full 24 hours later and had no issues taking DME to the resort.

I have tried again and been told to check in at Terminal B when we are ready to take the ME. I did read about the ME and it said that you must have a voucher with you before you arrive at the airport so I guess I will be providing flight numbers. I really don't get why being honest is such a big deal. Apparently disney will only allow you to take the ME if you are staying at a resort the night of arrival and night before departure.

 

[tjmw2727]

I have tried again and been told to check in at Terminal B when we are ready to take the ME. I did read about the ME and it said that you must have a voucher with you before you arrive at the airport so I guess I will be providing flight numbers. I really don't get why being honest is such a big deal. Apparently disney will only allow you to take the ME if you are staying at a resort the night of arrival and night before departure.

This is simply not true - again I have done what you are doing many times. In addition family members have joined us duirng our trip and or left early.

Disney does not care when or how you get to the airport only that you are a registered resort guest on the day you want to use DME.

 

[canopynut66]

not sure what resort your staying at but would think many less than Hyatt. you had said you did not want to use up ticketed days you had at Disney well you can use them as you want if it is a package with no expiration (that is an add on) then those tickets good for 14 days from first time you use them. so the first night you come in you would not lose a tiketed day. like we come in at 8 PM this year and we will just start with MK the first full day and go from there.

 

[seashoreCM]

It is not unusual to not get vouchers in the mail in time for you to bring to Orlando and to the airport and to the Magical Express welcoming area. So they will print new vouchers at the welcoming area if needed.

Some phone reservationists have a hard time dealing with two numbers with a colon in between (a time) although they can deal with single whole numbers (flight numbers). Ergo it helps to have in mind a flight, any flight, any airline sorta' matching the time you will be ready the next morning (check in day) for taking Magical Express to Disney.

The Hyatt at MCO may still have the perk of bringing your bags down from your room to the DME baggage handling department but do keep in mind that if baggage does not arrive in your room, Disney's responsibility here is contingent on DME's having received the baggage.

It is not dishonest to arrive long before your reservation starts and still take DME to your resort on check in day, or to fail to get out of town by sundown (or fail to be leaving on a jet plane (, don't know when I'll be back again but Mickey hopes to see you real soon) after stepping off the DME bus at the airport.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Apparently disney will only allow you to take the ME if you are staying at a resort the night of arrival and night before departure.

That is not correct.

As people have recommended pick flight numbers that arrive close to when you want get to the airport. This is not being dishonest just making it simple for you and the CM. There is no reason to give the cast member irreverent information.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Have you called back specifically to Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 1-866-599-0951 ?

There should be no reason to be "less honest" or to provide fake flight numbers. You're not cheating DME or doing anything anything that is illegal or unethical.

Although the vast majority of incoming DME guests arrive at the airport by air (on any airline) on the same day as the DME transportation and WDW resort check-in, not everyone does.

Even guests who provide flight details often receive DME packets showing an arrival time of 0:00.

Well there may be a reason to make things up POOR TRAINING! Seriously Disney sometimes puts the clueless out there and lets them just go.. LOL! OP is having trouble because she got the clueless employee. Not an unheard of event (I have been known to read them the info on their webpage to train them! )

So if you get the clueless make things up! (Personally I don't even bother with the truth.. it tends to confuse Disney. The script says "what flight are you arriving on?" When you say "I am on flight X the day before" or "by car" the extra info sends them into LOL! )

That said, the BIGGER issue is going to be on the return. Disney's DME does not run a "late night" run to the Hyatt. They work off the flight schedule. The last time I checked there are no flights out of MCO that allow you to close down the Magic Kingdom or Epcot (maybe you could close down AK) I spent one night at the MCO Hyatt watching the flight schedules just to see if I could find one (Yes I need a life!)

 

[goofy4tink]

I have tried again and been told to check in at Terminal B when we are ready to take the ME. I did read about the ME and it said that you must have a voucher with you before you arrive at the airport so I guess I will be providing flight numbers. I really don't get why being honest is such a big deal. Apparently disney will only allow you to take the ME if you are staying at a resort the night of arrival and night before departure.

I'm not sure what the issue is. You are allowed to take DME, from and then back to, MCO when you have an active WDW resort reservation. You do not have that the day you arrive at MCO. It is tied to your resort reservation.
If you make a reservation, with DME, you don't have to have a voucher in hand. You would then have to go to the counter, where they would print you the voucher you need to board the bus.
So, no need for dishonesty here. You just don't fulfill the parameters of DME. You need to work within the DME guidelines. That's all.