UPDATE 3/24/05. Magical Express, argh!

javaj

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Jan 26, 2004
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We're staying at the Poly using a Shades of Green overflow rate. We wanted to take advantage of resort check-in and Magical Express transportation from the Poly to the airport, but our reservations were made through Shades of Green. SOG didn't know how to add that info to our reservation, so I called Disney. Well, the CM went to talk to guest services and basically guest services said "we can't touch that reservation, so tough, use a paid shuttle or towncar instead"

I read the FAQs while I was on hold, and according to the FAQs:

Can a Guest book return transportation to the airport while on property?
Yes; guests can book return transportation to the airport by calling Disney's Magical Express Guest Service. The Resort Front Desks will have a communication card with the phone number to hand to the Guest.


So I asked whether we could just call DME Guest Services after we checked in. The CM was on hold with guest services for too long and asked if I just wanted a callback so I said yes.

Just wanted to vent while I wait for their answer!
 
Oh wow! No answers for you, but I'll be interested to read how this plays out!
 
I'm interested in this too because the first 1/2 of our vacation will also be at SOG and then we move over to AKL for the last 1/2. (the AKL res. is through CRO, not SOG). I was wondering if we could use ME for check-in and departure but it looks like we would only be able to use for our departure. Bummer. I'm also frustrated that SOG won't help move our luggage over to AKL, when we switch, we will have to do it ourselves. Oh well.
 
I had emailed WDW as my travel agent told me she didn't need my airline information to use this service - which of course they do. Anyhow - they said that I could provide them with my flight information and skip my travel agent all together.

You may want to email Disney directly. Then you have something in writing as well. Just a thought.
 

There'll probably be a story I can tell about the problems involved in getting two unrelated persons arriving on different days from different airports but staying in the same room signed up for this service... don't know how it's going to play out yet. The persons trying to book it were certainly confused.
 
knovak said:
I had emailed WDW as my travel agent told me she didn't need my airline information to use this service - which of course they do. Anyhow - they said that I could provide them with my flight information and skip my travel agent all together.

You may want to email Disney directly. Then you have something in writing as well. Just a thought.

Hi knovak,

Could you post the email address? Thanks! :)
 
I dont' know about the POLY but in 2003 we had overflow at CBR due to SOG under construction. I ended up needing an extra night and I called CBR directly. They updated my room requests, added a room and took care of everything except getting the park tickets from the CR.
It looks like you found a lazy CM who is probably new and did not have any answers. Try to call back and see if you can get a different CM. Everyhting I have read said that any guest staying at a DISNEY resort is eligable for the ME. Once you get the overflow rate at a resort you are now at that resort and not SOG. Basically its just like getting a code or discount rate.

Good Luke :earsboy:
 
MrIncreadable said:
I ended up needing an extra night and I called CBR directly. They updated my room requests, added a room and took care of everything except getting the park tickets from the CR.
Good Luke :earsboy:

Thanks, I'm not sure if things have changed since then, but seems like it. We had an overflow ressie at CR last Dec 2004, and on that overflow ressie and this one, I've talked to SOG and Disney about room requests, payments, etc. Both have confirmed that only SOG can "touch" the reservation.

So any room requests and payments have gone through SOG. We have been told however, that 6 days prior to the room reservation, if we needed to cancel or shorten our stay, we could talk to Disney directly. I asked SOG if they could add our Magical Express airline info to our ressie just like they add room requests but SOG said there is no way to do that. I think that since Magical Express hasn't started yet, nobody knows exactly what to do. Still waiting for that callback......
 
I'm wondering how this will play out. Since you are basically staying 'military' or an equivalent, you would have been staying at SoG, which is run by the gov't. So, since there is no room at the inn, so to speak, you have to move over to the Polynesian, at a rate that isn't applicable for the 'normal' person (at this moment). SoG is not an eligible resort for ME and it is stated in all the info I've seen. So, it will be interesting to see how Disney handles this one..you are technically staying in a Disney resort, but on a SoG reservation due to it being an overflow issue. And then there is that issue of Disney needing 10 days leeway to make those ME reservations due to them mailing the stuff out. Keep us up to date.
 
goofy4tink said:
I'm wondering how this will play out. Since you are basically staying 'military' or an equivalent, you would have been staying at SoG, which is run by the gov't. So, since there is no room at the inn, so to speak, you have to move over to the Polynesian, at a rate that isn't applicable for the 'normal' person (at this moment). SoG is not an eligible resort for ME and it is stated in all the info I've seen. So, it will be interesting to see how Disney handles this one..you are technically staying in a Disney resort, but on a SoG reservation due to it being an overflow issue. And then there is that issue of Disney needing 10 days leeway to make those ME reservations due to them mailing the stuff out. Keep us up to date.

I see your point, and I'll post my update here once I get a definitive answer.

My stand is that since I'm staying at and paying for a Disney resort, Disney should honor "benefits" given to other Disney resort guests. Despite getting a great rate, I'm still paying over $2100 to stay at the Poly for 9 nights. I think this could be compared to a convention guest reservation (not available to the general public, but often with even better rates than SOG overflow rates) -- I wonder if they would they be eligible, I'd assume so?
 
Dolphin_Girl008 said:
Hi knovak,

Could you post the email address? Thanks! :)
I went to the Walt Disney World website and clicked "Contact Us" on the bottom of the homepage. A screen comes us to fill in your information. The address I have on my response from them is guest.mail@wdw.disneyonline.com. They like you to provide your full name, email address and confirmation or reservation number when contacting them. Hope this helps!
 
UPDATE:

I had to call back yesterday, since I never received a callback. They figured it out, thank goodness. They told me to call SOG to get form. SOG faxed me a form to fax to WDW Magical Express with all our info (conf#, hotel info, etc), so hopefully this'll all work out!
 












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