Transportation Suggestions

[thingwithwings]

So here's my story.

I'd initially planned for a shorter trip--just 4 days or so, staying at a moderate hotel. When I called to book, the CM I spoke with mentioned that they had a deal where, if I booked for a week between certain dates, I could get a free dining plan. I'm a big Disney dining fan, so I was an easy sell and booked our trip from December 4 through December 10, Sunday through Saturday. I'd been reluctant to do so because I know airfares can be terrifying on a Sunday, but for the free dining plan, I was willing to give it a go.

The trip is all paid off, and we're leaving in less than 90 days (!!!), which means it's time for me to book our flights. In researching, though, I've stumbled into a dilemma. Flights are, in fact, grossly expensive on a Sunday (we're flying from Boston to Orlando and have a DME reservation); on the other hand, flying out on a Saturday--specifically, Saturday, December 3--is $100 cheaper per person. It also makes it easier on me, as I don't have to try and splurge for a flight earlier in the day so that we can take advantage of our park tickets.

I'm fairly sold on booking our flights on Saturday, December 3, and I'm trying to figure out what to do the night before. The least expensive option would be an airport hotel, from which we could travel to WDW the following day. I'm concerned that this would prevent us from taking advantage of our DME reservation, however. Another option would be staying onsite, either in our hotel or in a different room (as CSR doesn't seem to have any openings for that night), but I'm not sure how this would effect our free dining plan deal.

SO. My questions are as follows:

- Can you take the DME after taking a shuttle to the airport from an airport hotel or does it have to be directly from your flight?
- What are the odds that I'd lose my free dining plan if I tried to reserve another night in either CSR or another resort?
- How is WDW about transferring luggage between resorts?

Thanks for any insight you can provide!

 

[Alesia]

So here's my story.

I'd initially planned for a shorter trip--just 4 days or so, staying at a moderate hotel. When I called to book, the CM I spoke with mentioned that they had a deal where, if I booked for a week between certain dates, I could get a free dining plan. I'm a big Disney dining fan, so I was an easy sell and booked our trip from December 4 through December 10, Sunday through Saturday. I'd been reluctant to do so because I know airfares can be terrifying on a Sunday, but for the free dining plan, I was willing to give it a go.

The trip is all paid off, and we're leaving in less than 90 days (!!!), which means it's time for me to book our flights. In researching, though, I've stumbled into a dilemma. Flights are, in fact, grossly expensive on a Sunday (we're flying from Boston to Orlando and have a DME reservation); on the other hand, flying out on a Saturday--specifically, Saturday, December 3--is $100 cheaper per person. It also makes it easier on me, as I don't have to try and splurge for a flight earlier in the day so that we can take advantage of our park tickets.

I'm fairly sold on booking our flights on Saturday, December 3, and I'm trying to figure out what to do the night before. The least expensive option would be an airport hotel, from which we could travel to WDW the following day. I'm concerned that this would prevent us from taking advantage of our DME reservation, however. Another option would be staying onsite, either in our hotel or in a different room (as CSR doesn't seem to have any openings for that night), but I'm not sure how this would effect our free dining plan deal.

SO. My questions are as follows:

1a. Can you take the DME after taking a shuttle to the airport from an airport hotel 1b. or does it have to be directly from your flight?
2. What are the odds that I'd lose my free dining plan if I tried to reserve another night in either CSR or another resort?
3. How is WDW about transferring luggage between resorts?

Thanks for any insight you can provide!

1a. Yes
1b. No
2. Zero - you can just book a separate room only reservation
3. That's not a problem. Don't expect your luggage to arrive before late afternoon or early evening, though

I would just book an offsite hotel room. Look into the Hilton at MCO.

 

[OKW Lover]

SO. My questions are as follows:

- Can you take the DME after taking a shuttle to the airport from an airport hotel or does it have to be directly from your flight?
- What are the odds that I'd lose my free dining plan if I tried to reserve another night in either CSR or another resort?
- How is WDW about transferring luggage between resorts?

1 Yes, you can take DME from the airport no matter how you actually got to the airport. Plane, taxi, hotel shuttle bus, it doesn't matter at all to Disney.
2 No experience with this. Perhaps others can advise.
3 They will happily do that. Note that it takes most of the day though.

 

[thingwithwings]

Thanks for the prompt responses! So all of that said, how would getting our luggage to the resort work if we spent a night at an airport hotel and took the DME from the airport the next day? Would we just bring our luggage along with us or would it head for the resort ahead of us?

 

[OKW Lover]

You would have to get your own luggage from baggage claim (do not use the DME yellow tags when you check in at your home airport) and take them with you to the airport hotel on their shuttle. The next morning bring the bags back with you to the airport and take them to the DME counter. Your bags will ride with you on your DME bus.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

If you book a separate onsite night for Saturday, you'll get DME yellow tags for your Saturday arrival. Use them, ditch your Sunday DME tags, and let your first resort transfer your luggage to your second resort on Sunday. You'll still be able to return to MCO via DME on your original reservation. Saturday won't affect your free dining because it's a separate reservation.

 

[bumbershoot]

The least expensive option would be an airport hotel, from which we could travel to WDW the following day. I'm concerned that this would prevent us from taking advantage of our DME reservation, however.

It won't. They don't care when you actually flew in. You just make the arrangement for that day.

Another option would be staying onsite, either in our hotel or in a different room (as CSR doesn't seem to have any openings for that night), but I'm not sure how this would effect our free dining plan deal.

It would be a totally separate reservation and won't change your package at all.

If you want to go to the parks then there's a protocol for getting your package tickets early.

You'll be given the option to order another set of magicbands. Those will work interchangeably with your other bands!

So all of that said, how would getting our luggage to the resort work if we spent a night at an airport hotel and took the DME from the airport the next day? Would we just bring our luggage along with us

Airport hotel: don't use the DME tags, get your bags from the carousel, take them to your hotel. Next day bring them to the airport to DME and they'll go under the coach you're on.

If you book a separate onsite night for Saturday, you'll get DME yellow tags for your Saturday arrival. Use them

Yep!


Having bags moved from resort to resort is simple, but not quick. You cannot expect to have them at any point before official checkin time. So even if you show up at your free dining resort at 6am (when the computers switch over to the next day) and do the checkin process (even if you were incredibly lucky and got a room early!) you will NOT get your bags until after official checkin time. So plan accordingly with swimsuits and sunscreen and hats and medications etc.

 

[Huff]

Fly out of Hartford. Southwest is as low as $200 RT for those dates. Manchester is also lower priced than Logan.
Providence might also be an option. Southwest also saves $50 RT per checked bag over other airlines.