ME/Car question..staying with friends 2nd half of vacay

[jubelee1872000]

The Fam and I are staying at ASM 9-23-11 to 9-28-11 (staying at ASM), then leaving to stay at friends until 10-3-11. The car is at Hertz at MCO..I know ME picks you up way before your flight is supposed to depart. Does anyone know the protocol if you just want a ride back to the airport and you don't have a plane leaving? I have called the WDW customer service and gotten a few different answers (the first woman said no way you have to have an outbound flight) the second said just to tell them i have a flight and the third was a gentlemen that said of course! Just let them know in the morning what time you will need a ride! So I am just wondering if anyone has any acutal experience in this??

Thank you!!

 

[goofy4tink]

I wouldn't worry about finding a flight to give them. You can always go to the checkin counter, at MCO, when you arrive and give them the time you need to be at the airport to get your car. Or, just call them the day before you are ready to leave.
Many, many people do this exact same thing. DME knows it happens. They don't much care what you are doing at the airport.

 

[SDSorority]

I wouldn't worry about finding a flight to give them. You can always go to the checkin counter, at MCO, when you arrive and give them the time you need to be at the airport to get your car. Or, just call them the day before you are ready to leave.
Many, many people do this exact same thing. DME knows it happens. They don't much care what you are doing at the airport.

This question came up in my brain last night, too. We have a pre-paid car for Monday through Saturday (sept 19-24). We MAY be flying in the Saturday BEFORE that Monday (sept 17) instead (and updating our hotel reservation, of course).... but since the car is pre-paid (through priceline), I can't make any changes to that reservation. So if we wanted to take DME on that Saturday, then take DME back to the airport on that Monday (to pick up our car), would we be able to do that? We wouldn't be checking out of the resort. Do you have to check out of the resort before DME will pick you up?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Each onsite guest is entitled to one Magical Express ride from MCO to WDW on or after the day their resort reservation starts, and one WDW to MCO ride on or before the date they check out.

You're both fine. Early in your trip, call the resort operator and ask to be connected with the Magical Express office. Tell them you need to (re)schedule your DME pickup time to just get a car at the airport, and try to get picked up an hour or half hour before your reservation.

Also consider having just the renter go, instead of your whole group. For one thing, if there's any kind of mix-up, it's a lot easier to get one person on a bus than a whole family. For another, you won't have to tip the bus driver for handling all your luggage! Then drive back to WDW and pick up everyone/everything.