My ME Experience....for a last minute trip

[stitchlovestink]

I'm not posting this to cause trouble but I just wanted to share my experience....
I booked a flight to MCO just before midnight on 6/30 to fly at 7:50am on 7/1!!! Well ME doesn't open until 8am so there was no way to call them to prearrange my 'ride' as they were already closed when I booked and I would be in the air when they opened. When I landed, I went to the ME desk, they saw I was on the room reservation (DD had added me late the night before), so they printed me a boarding pass and sent me on my way to the line! Easy Peasy!!!
Now I DO NOT recommend not contacting and prearranging your ride! But if your circumstances do not permit you contacting them to prearrange your ride, don't count them out and make other arrangements. Go to the desk first! They were SO pleasant! No problems at all!!!

 

[Haley]

Oh that's great they were able to add there and it wasn't a hassle- good to know!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am surprised. My understanding was that the agreement with MCO stated no walk ups. Glad it worked for OP but I would not count on this.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I am surprised. My understanding was that the agreement with MCO stated no walk ups. Glad it worked for OP but I would not count on this.

I was concerned myself. But they could see I had just been added on to the ressie at WDW. And I even called ME that night at midnight and selected the option to get a live person (even though it didn't apply) because I wanted to talk to a LIVE person. I explained my situation to them and she told me there was no way for her to book my travel in her system and she told me to just go to the desk when I got there. It wouldn't be a problem. I don't know? I guess maybe because I got there so early and they could see my flight left before they opened? Again, I wouldn't suggest doing this. If you can call them, I by all means would! But, If you are in a situation such as mine, I would certainly try going there first before paying to get to WDW!!

 

[seashoreCM]

When did you book the room reservation?

You can make the Magical Express reservation at or shortly after that time since you know your arrival date. If you did not make your plane reservation yet you could hand pick some flight, any flight, any airline, to go with the DME reservation.

So almost everybody can book DME in advance.

 

[stitchlovestink]

When did you book the room reservation?

You can make the Magical Express reservation at or shortly after that time since you know your arrival date. If you did not make your plane reservation yet you could hand pick some flight, any flight, any airline, to go with the DME reservation.

So almost everybody can book DME in advance.

DD added me to the room reservation around 11pm at the hotel front desk on 6/30. So I was not eligible to book ME until I was a "confirmed" guest at a WDW hotel.
EVERYTHING was very last minute! I was added to the room last minute, I booked my flight last minute....there really wasn't time to call ME as they were already closed when I was added to the room!

I'm NOT suggesting people PLAN on doing this! But I must say, they couldn't have been any nicer, more pleasant or helpful!!!! I give them a two thumbs up!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

When did you book the room reservation?

You can make the Magical Express reservation at or shortly after that time since you know your arrival date. If you did not make your plane reservation yet you could hand pick some flight, any flight, any airline, to go with the DME reservation.

So almost everybody can book DME in advance.

She was added to the room reservation approximately ten hours before she arrived at the Welcome Center.
The Magical Express reservation line isn't open as close to midnight as the OP booked her flight/made the decision to visit.
The Magical Express reservation line wouldn't open until after her plane departed, when she would have been prohibited from using her phone.

So while "almost everybody can book DME in advance", the original poster isn't in that category and is aware of it. She's sharing an unusual experience.

 

[seashoreCM]

By the way, I personally would not contact Magical Express using the $6. per minute Airfone in the seat back and instead take a chance that the DME welcoming area CM will take me walking up.

Also useful, for such short notice, asking the room reservationist to put a note in the room notes file about the desire to use DME. This is better than nothing regarding contacting DME in advance.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

By the way, I personally would not contact Magical Express using the $6. per minute Airfone in the seat back and instead take a chance that the DME welcoming area CM will take me walking up.

Also useful, for such short notice, asking the room reservationist to put a note in the room notes file about the desire to use DME. This is better than nothing regarding contacting DME in advance.

I don't think airphone is an option on most flights. I can't recall the last time I saw one

 

[Minnesota!]

Can't a reservation be made on line with DME? Not that it mattered in this case, but for a short notice type thing...would that work, too?

 

[sam_gordon]

By the way, I personally would not contact Magical Express using the $6. per minute Airfone in the seat back and instead take a chance that the DME welcoming area CM will take me walking up.

Also useful, for such short notice, asking the room reservationist to put a note in the room notes file about the desire to use DME. This is better than nothing regarding contacting DME in advance.

Did I miss it? Who suggested using the Airfone?

 

[stitchlovestink]

By the way, I personally would not contact Magical Express using the $6. per minute Airfone in the seat back and instead take a chance that the DME welcoming area CM will take me walking up.

Also useful, for such short notice, asking the room reservationist to put a note in the room notes file about the desire to use DME. This is better than nothing regarding contacting DME in advance.

Yeah...Ummm....Air Tran doesn't have Airfone and I wouldn't have done that either. That's just being ridiculous!!

When my daughter added me (and I went back to her and asked her what time she went to the front desk to do this and she said it was 11:15pm when she got they started and 11:30pm when they finished). She explained the entire situation to the front desk CM specifically telling her that I wanted to travel on ME. So she may have very well notated that somewhere on all of the changes to the reservation. I don't that she did but I don't know that she didn't either...
What I do know is that under my circumstances ME was very accommodating, very pleasant, and wonderful to work with!!!

 

[stitchlovestink]

Can't a reservation be made on line with DME? Not that it mattered in this case, but for a short notice type thing...would that work, too?

Once you check in to the hotel, you can't access your reservation online any longer. DD was already there...that wouldn't have worked. If it was a TOTALLY brand new ressie, yes, that would have been an option.