ME - Would this work?

[Bowen9475]

When we fly into Orlando for our trip in February a friend's 14yo daughter is flying down with us to stay with her aunt and uncle who will already be there. We are staying at POP and they are at BLT. We are taking ME to our resort. She will be listed on their reservation. Would she be able to ride ME to POP with us and be picked up there by her aunt and uncle?

 

[goofy4tink]

Started a different answer, but realized my mistake, so starting over. Sorry.
No, she can't ride to Pop with you unless you list her on your room reservation and on the DME reservation. You can only get on the resort bus to the resort you are reserved at....so, if her aunt/uncle have included her on their room reservation, and they have reserved DME for her, then sure, she can ride DME to BLT, but not to Pop.
You would have to add her to your reservation...which is doable as long as you have room for one more. Or unless you are on the dining plan.

 

[ancestry]

Wanted to add just in case you weren't aware -- the age to ride DME alone (without an adult) is 16. The official policy states: Guests must be 16 or older to travel unaccompanied on Disney's Magical Express. So she would not be able to take DME to BLT without an adult.

 

[Bowen9475]

Unfortunately, both of the responses were as I thought. I knew she couldn't ride ME alone because she is under 16. That is why I was hoping she could ride with us and be picked up. We are already a party of 4 so I can't add her to our reservation. Thanks - we will have to work something out.

 

[tjmw2727]

Since she "can't" ride DME I would call and see if they can make an exception in this case. She is entitled to a ride to BLT but can't take advantage of that because she is under 18. I could call DME directly and see what your options are.

If you can't use DME a towncar will cost about $60 one way, $100 r/t (+/- depending on the company of course) and some will offer a 30 minute grocery stop free of charge.

 

[cassie]

Will she be able to take the regular Mears bus to BLT? I don't know if they have an age requirement.

 

[seashoreCM]

I dare say that this will work even though it it technically incorrect.

Have Uncle and Aunt standing by in the lobby of their resort at the time of your arrival. At first you handle it low key, "naively" try to check BFDD onto Magical Express with you.

If that fails then try to check her onto DME to her resort to meet Uncle and Aunt.

If that fails, call Uncle and Aunt and have them go over to the concierge to discuss this matter and also you have a talk with the welcoming area CM and you should all be able to come up with a solution with no cost to you.

The exact solution can be expected to vary with time of day and how busy the welcoming area is. However there is a difference between a minor just showing up versus having someone to meet her at her resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

I dare say that this will work even though it it technically incorrect.

Have Uncle and Aunt standing by in the lobby of their resort at the time of your arrival. At first you handle it low key, "naively" try to check BFDD onto Magical Express with you.

If that fails then try to check her onto DME to her resort to meet Uncle and Aunt.

If that fails, call Uncle and Aunt and have them go over to the concierge to discuss this matter and also you have a talk with the welcoming area CM and you should all be able to come up with a solution with no cost to you.

The exact solution can be expected to vary with time of day and how busy the welcoming area is. However there is a difference between a minor just showing up versus having someone to meet her at her resort.

Seriously??? I think it's a much better idea to adhere to the rules, rather than have an embarrassing situation that has to be fixed.
The whole 'at no cost to you' isn't going to work. You either qualify or you don't. Now.....my dd could have ridden DME at the age of 14..she looks older and was very tall for her age. I doubt she would have been questioned. But, why put someone in a situation where they may be questioned???
The aunt and uncle can drive to the airport to get her. Or, she can head to the Mears counter..just prior to the DME area...and you could book her on the Mears shuttle to BLT. The cost would be about $20. In all likelihood, they might just put her on the DME bus after all. Or, in a van that goes to BLT.

But the whole thought of 'getting around the system' is just fraught with stress.

 

[tjmw2727]

Alternately - Can the Aunt & Uncle add one of the adults in your party to their reservation just for DME purposes? If they aren't over capacity and don't have a dining plan this could work. Now the neice and one adult from your party can ride to BLT, the the adult can catch a MK bus to POP.

You can also book Mears @ $21 one way and let the neice use one of the POP vouchers (they don't check names) and book one of the adults via Merars to the POP. You "may" even get lucky as Mears sometimes sends WDW Resort passengers via DME, other times they will use the regular Mears van.

 

[aaronella]

Last year, my son, who was flying down with me but booked in a room with his grandparents was easily added to my Magical Express. We did have the dining plan, park tickets etc but there was no problem allowing him to travel with us until he could meet up with his grandparents and get his ticket/ dining plan. His grandparents had left a few days prior because they were driving from PA and we had him wait so that he could finish out a couple of extra school days. I was traveling with work so the reservations were not linked. I just called the number on magical express and we had to check in at the counter but didnt have any problems! I was staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge and he was booked at all stars!

 

[ilovemk76]

Do the Aunt an Uncle have a vehicle. If so, then have them pick her up at the airport.

If not, then the Aunt or Uncle needs to talk to the resort to get permission to ride to the airport and ride back with her or get permission for her to ride over with you. I am sure they can work out a solution.

 

[seashoreCM]

Seriously??? I think it's a much better idea to adhere to the rules, rather than have an embarrassing situation that has to be fixed..

If you don't ask you have a 0% chance of success and a situation that still needs to be fixed.

It'll be embarrassing to Disney to turn you down. You're preying (not sic) on that.

 

[Bowen9475]

OP here - Just an FYI Update - I called ME and explained the situation. The CM I spoke with said it would be no problem. She added the extra person to our ME reservation and said she will send out another book with a voucher for her. Hopefully it all works out

 

[goofy4tink]

If you don't ask you have a 0% chance of success and a situation that still needs to be fixed.

It'll be embarrassing to Disney to turn you down. You're preying (not sic) on that.

Disney doesn't get embarrassed.

OP here - Just and FYI Update - I called ME and explained the situation. The CM I spoke with said it would be no problem. She added the extra person to our ME reservation and said she will send out another book with a voucher for her. Hopefully it all works out

Terrific news. That's great. We tell people to call DME and explain their particular situation all the time. Nice to see that things can be worked out.

 

[maxiesmom]

Terrific news. That's great. We tell people to call DME and explain their particular situation all the time. Nice to see that things can be worked out.

That is great news! Glad there was a solution that didn't envolve possible embarassment and added unnecessary stress.