MDE with Hotels.com booking

[Golf4283]

So I booked our hotel through hotels.com because it was $150 per night cheaper than the disney website. I got the disney booking number and linked the reservation on MDE.

My question is will I still be allowed to book all my stuff at the earliest time (60 days I think) even though I didn't book directly with Disney?

Also can I add tickets and stuff to this standalone reservation and make it a vacation package?

 

[Ursula's Apprentice]

I don't see why not. You've got reservations on property, yes? If it's linked with MDE I'd say you're good to go.

I can't answer the package question, as I've never had to do that, but hopefully someone else will be able to help you out with that.

 

[Golf4283]

I basically just mean will I get my magic bands and have them linked to my tickets and room key automatically as long as the tickets are linked already.

 

[Ursula's Apprentice]

I believe so. But to be honest, I always visit the front desk prior to making my first trip to a park, just to make sure everything is linked as I feel it should be.

 

[siskaren]

How you book has nothing to do with getting the 60 day booking window - the only thing that matters is that you're staying on property. You can't make a package out of a room only reservation from Orbitz, but why do you want to? You can certainly buy your tickets separately and then link them to your MDE account, but if by "stuff" you mean the dining plan, you can only get that through Disney.

 

[Golf4283]

yea package is the wrong word really. I just want to make sure that everything will be linked to my magic band and reservation.

 

[Golf4283]

Let me take it a step further...
I'm assuming I can still take magical express, is this correct?
Also we are leaving on the disney cruise after a 2 night stay. is the cruise transportation free or do I have to pay?

 

[bumbershoot]

The bus to the port is NOT free. That is arranged through DCL and is $35 per person each way. And you have to call (DCL if you booked directly, or your TA if you booked with a TA) to arrange that.

In a couple days email hotels.com and ask for the "12 digit Disney confirmation number that starts with 4". That number is what you will put into MDE. (ETA, I see you did that)

Then you add your ticket number when you get it, etc, and you'll be good to go. Magical express from the Orlando airport can be arranged once you have the hotel stay linked.

 

[siskaren]

Let me take it a step further...
I'm assuming I can still take magical express, is this correct?
Also we are leaving on the disney cruise after a 2 night stay. is the cruise transportation free or do I have to pay?

Yes, Magical Express is for anyone staying on property; again, it doesn't matter how you book. You should post your question about cruise transportation on the cruise forum, but I'm pretty sure that there isn't any free transportation from WDW to the cruise.

 

[epcotty]

I think you should be fine with doing that as well

 

[shananigin3122]

I booked our upcoming trip with hotels.com when I was totally ignorant about MDE, fast passes, ADRs etc. and had a near panic attack about this exact thing. I also got the Disney confirmation (after a few phone calls) and everything has linked fine, I was able to book FP at 60 days, and magic bands shipped as expected.