Trying to coordinate arrival - We are NEWBIES

[bluwater]

Good evening DIS board members! This board is very helpful and I've been cruising the posts all day.

Trying to figure out something for my daughter (9) and I to do for her Easter Break - which takes place just before and after Easter.

Got the idea to take a quick trip to Disney.

We've been once before, since her birth (she was 5). We stayed off site.

This time, decided to make it easy and book a Disney Resort and not rent a car. Booked hotel TODAY! Only thing open was CSR. I was looking for a deluxe, but nothing was available. Ok, I've read good things about CSR and we're only going to be there for 3 nights, so no huge deal. Hope we like it. I know I am paying too much - something like $216 a night plus tax and fees.
Not sure how to get a better deal at this late date - arriving 4/5.

Here's my question: If we fly down on the eve of 4/4 (she gets out of school at 3pm E on 4/4 and we are in Philly), I was thinking of spending the night in an airport hotel on 4/4 (there are NO Disney hotels with a room available on 4/4), use the Magic Express to get to the CDR at 6am on 4/5, drop luggage (2 carry-ons) and head to EMH at MK on that morning? Will CSR give us a key at 7am or so? We'll be checking in that day, but I guess not until their check-in time of 3pm or whenever we return from the park. Can I get a key for EMH if I show up at 7am?

I've done no research and am trying to catch up! I think I got the last reservation. I called back to change my room type and they told me that there are NO rooms in all of WDW for my travel dates....so I am stuck.

Thanks everyone!

 

[minijeanie]

you can absolutely get your room key early and head to the parks.

but I don't follow you on your night before.

if you stay at a hotel outside disney on 4/4 there is no DME to pick you up at the hotel.

You will need to call a cab?

DME I believe is only the express service from the airport to the hotel

why don't you take the first flight out of philly on 4/5....sure there must be a 7:00 am flight ...get to WDW by 11:00 am....you can use DME and will save you cost of a room for 4/4 plus the service to CS


are you doing DDP

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

If you ordered your park tickets from Disney and you got the meal plan too, you'll be able to check in at 7am and get cards with all that stuff on them. They will also store your luggage. You'll be free to visit the parks and start using your meal plan credits at that point and you'll be able to stop off and get your room keys when you return from the parks.

As for DME, they only pick up at the airport. Rather than lug your stuff back to the terminal, it might be easier to take a cab or arrange transportation in advance. Note you must call or arrange in advance for a cab to pick you up. You can't just step outside and have 5 of them waiting for your hail like in the big cities of the Northeast.

 

[bluwater]

Here is what I was planning - maybe I am wrong (won't surprise me)!

I was going to fly to MCO on 4/4 (not check any luggage). SPend the night at MCO airport hotel. Then, on the early morning of 5/5 (6am) head to the MCO Disney Guest Desk - check in - and catch the first Magic Express to CSR. Get key, drop of carry-on baggage, and head to park for EMH.

Am I hearing that I cannot use Magic Express if my flight arrives on 4/4, and I want to be on my own overnight at MCO, and not use my Magic Express until morning of 4/5?

I plan to use free shuttles to get me FROM and TO MCO. So, as far as DME is concerned, I will be ready and waiting at MCO on 4/5 at 6am.

I can fly down on 4/5...but will not arrive til after 9am. That'll lose 3 hours. With only 3 days to use, 3 hours is a big deal.

Hoping I can work something out!

 

[minijeanie]

I believe you need to speak with the person you made your TA with...if it is disney make sure you tell them you will not need DME until 4/5 so your tags read correctly.

Normally they ask your flight number with carrier and that is coordinated with what airlines you are on

HAVE FUN

 

[bluwater]

Thank you.

Disney only knows that we will arrive on 4/5, not 4/4. We are not checking luggage. We'll walk our bags to Dis Check-In at MCO on 4/5, hand them over, board the DME, and arrive to CSR to get keys and board bus to MK.

I guess we'll call CSR from park , get room assignment, have luggage delivered to room, and return to room to find that all is well...I hope.

Hope it works! Thanks again. Everyone here is so well informed and helpful!

 

[bytheblood]

to the DISBoards!!!

 

[minijeanie]

have you made your diining arrangements yet???

busy time I hear

if you have, what have you chosen??

 

[MaeDaisy]

Bluwater, that might work but I'm not sure. You have to make an advance reservation for DME, and when you make the reservation, they ask for your flight information. They mail you a little booklet with dated vouchers that you have to give the DME driver. I'm not sure if they check the dates or not, or if you could ask them to note 4/5 on the voucher or what.

I think you need to call DME and ask what is the best solution for your situation. If you just walk up to the desk on the morning of 4/5, you will have to make (and pay for) other arrangements to get to Disney World.