Use DME one day AFTER checkout??

[PrincessGrandma]

Okay...here is the situation. Meeting friends at WDW but they are checking out of hotel 1 day before us. Their daughter plans to stay an extra night (with other friends) but come back to hotel the next day to fly back with us. I don't think she can use DME one day after she checks out. Is that right? What are our options? cab? towncar? what is the least expensive option? I sure hate not to be able to use DME. It is SO SO SO nice to leave the driving & luggage to someone else. I wouldn't mind paying for an extra person for that 1 extra night, but I don't think that's allowed either. So confused...what to do???http://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/confused24.gif

 

[Tozzie]

Okay...here is the situation. Meeting friends at WDW but they are checking out of hotel 1 day before us. Their daughter plans to stay an extra night (with other friends) but come back to hotel the next day to fly back with us. I don't think she can use DME one day after she checks out. Is that right? What are our options? cab? towncar? what is the least expensive option? I sure hate not to be able to use DME. It is SO SO SO nice to leave the driving & luggage to someone else. I wouldn't mind paying for an extra person for that 1 extra night, but I don't think that's allowed either. So confused...what to do???http://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/confused24.gif

No she won't be able to use Magical Express. A cab will run aroud $55-60 plus tip I htink a town car will be about the same. As putting her on your reservation if you have a room only reservation you may be able to do that but if you have a package or if you already meet room capacity limits you won't be able to add her.

 

[PrincessGrandma]

yes, we have a package so that's why I thought she couldn't be added. I wasn't sure if we explained the situation to whoever handles transportation for the hotel, maybe they could make an exception since they would be able to see that she had stayed at the hotel for the previous 6 nights. oh well...

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

yes, we have a package so that's why I thought she couldn't be added. I wasn't sure if we explained the situation to whoever handles transportation for the hotel, maybe they could make an exception since they would be able to see that she had stayed at the hotel for the previous 6 nights. oh well...

Not sure what the answer is, but DME is handled by Mears not by the hotel, so when you ask the question, don't take the front desk answer as true, double check with DME directly.

 

[goofy4tink]

Is there room on your reservation for one more person??? You could add her for the last day or two. If you don't have the maximum people in your room, that shouldn't be an issue. Then, when you get to the resort, add her to the reservation (a few days before you leave) and then put her on the DME reservation as well.

 

[CarolMN]

You would need an updated return voucher / letter for her.

There is a telephone number for ME in your booklet. Call it after you check into your resort and explain what you want to do. (Would probably be helpful if you had the details from the other groups' reservation). Then see what they say. If they say yes, the updated number will be on the letter they slip under your door the day before departure.

As an alternative (actually, I would try this first), you could stop at the check in desk for ME at the Orlando airport before you travel to the resort. Explain it there and see what they can do for you. Again, you'll probably need the details of her original reservation.

Bottom Line: If you don't have a voucher or letter for her with the departure date & time the same as yours, she can't ride ME back to the airport.

Good luck!

 

[Alesia]

It is SO SO SO nice to leave the driving & luggage to someone else.

You can use RAC even if you don't use DME, assuming you're flying a participating airline, so at least your luggage would be taken care of.

 

[goofy4tink]

You can use RAC even if you don't use DME, assuming you're flying a participating airline, so at least your luggage would be taken care of.

But..you do need to show resort ID to prove that you are staying at that resort in order to use RAC.

 

[clkelley]

If you are not at capacity on your room, you probably will be able to officially add her to your room the last night without adding package components. The front desk can do things a bit differently than DRC.

If you are at capacity, you can call Mears and schedule her a return from the Swan or Dolphin for $20.00.

If she is old enough to do this on her own problem solved, if not, perhaps one member of your family can ride Mears from Swan or Dolphin with her and the rest can ride DME from your own resort.

 

[PrincessGrandma]

We aren't at room capacity. There are only 2 of us (1 adult, 1 child) and I certainly wouldn't mind paying for an extra person anyway. If they will let me add her to the room for the last night that would be great. I have her family's confirmation #. Her ticket & dining plan would have been under her family confirmation #, of course. Since we will be there one day longer, she won't have a ticket or dining plan for that last day, but we may fly back early morning so that doesn't really matter. I'm sure there is someone who can make an exception. I hate the thought of trying to work it all out after we get there. I'm a "planner" and like to have all details worked out before I leave.

 

[clkelley]

The only solution I can think of to work this out in advance is to have the other guest removed from her parents room and added to your room for the entire visit (if you are arriving the same day.) One extra day of ticket and dining would probably offset the transportation costs of the three of you on private transportation. Then have the extra guest parents pay you for her/his portion of the trip. Then it would be solved in advance and he/she could ride DME legally without problem.

 

[clkelley]

Just wanted to add that it seems you want to arrange an "exception" in advance and just want to say that is EXTREMELY difficult to do and even if you do get someone over the phone to authorize it ahead of time, once you arrive it will not be on the right persons computer screen to get what you need, so you will then be spending a lot of time taking care of it once you arrive anyway. Disney is a big company and many times the left and the right and front and back don't talk to each other.

 

[clkelley]

One other solution, since you said you are probably leaving early the last morning, cut your package short by one day, then book the last night as room only with the three of you, then it will be easy to get the three of you on DME. You will not need to change rooms, just go down to the desk that last night and get new room keys.

 

[PrincessGrandma]

That is the best idea yet! I can just make our package be 1 day less and then book room-only for 1 night. That works! She can't be on my room the whole time because they will be there 2 days before us. Then, I was going to stay 5 nights. Now, I'll stay 4 nights + 1 extra. The only thing I want to look into is that I had read somewhere that if you stayed 5 nights, you got a gift certificate. Do you get a certificate with 4 nights also? I don't remember where I read it but I'm sure I can find something about it on the dis!

 

[PrincessGrandma]

clkelly - Love your camper! We camp too but in a 5th wheeler. Our 2000, 2002, and 2005 trips were to the Fort. It's a totally different experience in the resort, but I love them both. I think I might like the camping a little more, but DH has back problems and hasn't been able to go with me.
Thanks for all of your advice! You can always count on a fellow camper to be helpful!

 

[goofy4tink]

Just add the extra person to your room reservation a few days before you leave...it won't be an issue. Then, go down to the front desk and have her added to DME with your group.
If you cut down your stay by a night, you may not qualify for that gift card. You may have to be there for 5 nights. I don't think there is any need to change around your existing reservations...just add that one person to your exisiting reservation.

 

[tjmw2727]

We aren't at room capacity. There are only 2 of us (1 adult, 1 child) and I certainly wouldn't mind paying for an extra person anyway. If they will let me add her to the room for the last night that would be great. I have her family's confirmation #. Her ticket & dining plan would have been under her family confirmation #, of course. Since we will be there one day longer, she won't have a ticket or dining plan for that last day, but we may fly back early morning so that doesn't really matter. I'm sure there is someone who can make an exception. I hate the thought of trying to work it all out after we get there. I'm a "planner" and like to have all details worked out before I leave.

No exception necessary.

You can just add her to your reservation anytime after you check in and get your package entitlements. There is no extra charge as you can have up to 2 adults and 2 children. She will get a room key with her name on it an no park pass or dining credits. At that point you can add her to your DME reservation.

We have done this exact thing more than once when my sister has joined us for only part of the vacation.

If you are going to a park that last day you can add one day to her ticket at any point and just pay out of pocket for her meals.

 

[PrincessGrandma]

Thank you so much. As usual, I worry about something that is easily resolved. I doubt that we go to a park that last day so I won't even need to add a ticket. Just adding her to my room and ME are prefect.