Magical Express

[MissDisneyPrincess]

Need help, how can I get a person staying in my room for a few days on the bus? I am allowed to add them to my hotel room when I check in. Technically they aren't supposed to ride the bus to the hotel or back. I got them to confirm if they are with me at the airport they can get on the bus with me. How do I get them back to the airport using the bus?

Disney makes it impossible for someone to stay in the same room for less days. i.e. Can't get the meal plan, bus, park tickets.

 

[winthropf]

You will have to add them to the room at or after check-in. When added to the room, add ME as well. Anyone registered in the room is entitled to one ride from the airport and back. Not everyone has to use ME on the same day or time.

 

[MissDisneyPrincess]

Thanks and no issues going to the hotel? Sometimes I feel like the people who answer the phones are wishy washy and don't know.

 

[minnie mum]

The procedure is very straightforward if you have a room only reservation. Not so much when you have a package. On arrival, all you can do is throw yourself at the mercy of the ME desk CM. Strictly speaking, they shouldn't allow your extra person on the bus because they don't have a reservation. But they most likely will, once you explain the situation.

Once you arrive at the resort, and add your extra person to your room, ask them to add her to ME, giving them the necessary date and flight information for the return trip.

Your extra person can buy their own tickets at any time, but they won't be able to make FPs til 30 days out.

 

[seashoreCM]

You must add the late arriving person to your room reservation prior to his staying in the room overnight. I'm not sure of the exact cost if your own reservation is a package or dining package but someone not registered is not allowed to stay in the room let alone ride the Magical Express bus.

After you registered your extra guest you may make his DME reservation back to the airport. The normal deadline is morning of the day before the day he will leave. It is best not to wait that long since you should get the confirmation paper in hand as soon as it is ready and you may need to report back to your resort that afternoon to get the paper if you made the reservation right at the deadline.

 

[Pembo]

I added my dh to my reservation after I checked in. (He was arriving two days later). At that time I also added him for ME back to the airport. The difficulty was that I had a AAA pkg. Just took longer at the front desk.

 

[tjmw2727]

We do this all the time - package for my daughters and I and then I add my sister who arrives a few days later as she doesn't stay the entire trip and doesn't need/want meals etc. You can add the additional person anytime after you check in for the number of nights they will be staying (provided you don't exceed room occupancy of course) Some resorts charge a fee for an additional adult so check into that as well for your particular situation.

Once you add them you can then have the same CM make the round trip DME reservation for the additional person at that time. They won't have luggage tags and if they don't already have a magic band they will have to stop a the DME desk at the airport but it shouldn't take to long.

We have done this literally 2x a year for a few years now and as recently as October 2015.

 

[bumbershoot]

I got them to confirm if they are with me at the airport they can get on the bus with me.

Well that's exactly the hardest way. The friend is arriving with you? It might or might not work. It's not supposed to work that way. Best is to have the friend arrive later, you get to the resort and add them then arrange DME.

 

[tjmw2727]

Well that's exactly the hardest way. The friend is arriving with you? It might or might not work. It's not supposed to work that way. Best is to have the friend arrive later, you get to the resort and add them then arrange DME.

Good catch I didn't read this correctly first time through! In order to add a guest with different/no entitlements you have to check in first; it will be interesting to see if the OP was able to book DME for her guest.

In this case I would either have the "additional guest" book a one way ride via Mears at the airport and meet the party at the resort or spend a few more dollars and just hire a town car for the entire party. Some offer a free grocery stop and you could recover some of the cost of the town car in savings on water, snacks and maybe sandwiches and such for the room.

 

[LilyWDW]

So, if I am reading things right, you and your guest are both arriving at MCO at the same time but your guest is NOT on your resort reservation. You want to know if there is a way to get your guest on DME with you.

IF Disney follows their own rules, then your guest would NOT be allowed on DME as they do not have a resort reservation for that day. Your guest can go to the Mears check in desk and pay to get a ticket on one of their busses, take a taxi, or rent a car. There is no guarantee that if you show up at DME that your guest will be accommodated so I would have a back up plan if you are going to ask.

 

[Polydweller]

So, if I am reading things right, you and your guest are both arriving at MCO at the same time but your guest is NOT on your resort reservation. You want to know if there is a way to get your guest on DME with you.

IF Disney follows their own rules, then your guest would NOT be allowed on DME as they do not have a resort reservation for that day. Your guest can go to the Mears check in desk and pay to get a ticket on one of their busses, take a taxi, or rent a car. There is no guarantee that if you show up at DME that your guest will be accommodated so I would have a back up plan if you are going to ask.

And it's not Disney's rules it's the way MCO allows the service to operate. The service is authorized as a resort transfer service not a bus service. So, am the agreement is that it carries only Disney resort guests.

 

[goofy4tink]

Of course, the friend can always go to the Mears counter, pay $19 or so, and get a ride that way. They would probably be put in the same DME bus the op is on.
But....that's only necessary if they arrive together. If the friend arrives after the op checks in, then they can easily be added to the resort reservation and able to get a DME reservation.