using DME without flight reservation

[mickey12810]

We are a group of 23 that will be coming from a 4 day cruise (not Disneycruise in Port Canaveral and have transportation back to MCO. We are then going to Disney for the weekend. I was told that we can use DME from the airport to the resort. How do I go about making a reservation for all of us. Thanks

 

[seashoreCM]

Have all the room reservation papers handy, preferably with names matched up with resorts on a sheet of paper.

Pick a flight, any flight, any airline, arriving at about the time you will be back at MCO to take Magical Express.

Magical Express hot line number: toll free 866-599-0951.

The DME reservation representative (on the phone or wherever) may or may not ask you for the flight information.

Ask for and write down the name of the person you talk on the phone with.

It is possible that some of you may have made a DME reservation with the respective room reservation. If so do a print screen* showing this before you go and then you don't have to make or reconfirm DME over the phone for those folks.

*Requires more than pressing the PrtScn button.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Pick a flight, any flight, any airline, arriving at about the time you will be back at MCO to take Magical Express

Absolutely 100% NOT necessary. Just explain your situation. Air transit is NOT required to use Magical Express. Ever.

Why encourage lying?.

 

[tjmw2727]

If you call dme directly you can make a reservation without a flight, you do all need to be listed on a WDW Resort reservation.

 

[Fangorn]

Absolutely 100% NOT necessary. Just explain your situation. Air transit is NOT required to use Magical Express. Ever.

Why encourage lying?.

Completely agree!

It is just so much easier to call DME (866 599-0951) and set it up. As long as you have the resort confirmation numbers and names, it should be a quick phone call. Even with 23 people.

DME does not care about your incoming flight at all. They're not going to be holding a bus for you, and they won't send out a search party if you don't show up. They ONLY want a general idea of how many people are arriving during the day and the rough distribution by hour. That way they can plan their resource allocation. Since 98% of their guests arrive by plane, asking for flights on their form is a simple way to get that info. If your DME needs don't fit that 98% model, just call. They'll set it up. No reason at all to try to "fake out" the system.

Steve

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

To piggyback on this, if DH returns his rental car (from his work conference) to MCO on Thursday when my flight arrives, and we are both on the resort reservation, we will be able to take ME to the resort, correct?

 

[supersnoop]

To piggyback on this, if DH returns his rental car (from his work conference) to MCO on Thursday when my flight arrives, and we are both on the resort reservation, we will be able to take ME to the resort, correct?

You both need to have a DME reservation.

While you don’t have to have flight information to book DME, you’d have to call if you don’t. If you want to book online, just says he’s on the same flight with you.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

You both need to have a DME reservation.

While you don’t have to have flight information to book DME, you’d have to call if you don’t. If you want to book online, just says he’s on the same flight with you.

Yes, I would book DME for both of us, and we are both on the resort reservation. He simply isn't flying in, and it hadn't occured to me that he can return the rental at MCO where he picked it up, and then meet me in the departures area to board ME. In all the years we've gone to Disney we've never flown in on different dates.

 

[HopperFan]

I've added DS to room and ME after I arrived at the hotel.

Have never been asked for any kind of flight information.

They added his name to my hotel room, then added him to ME on the date/time I gave them.

 

[Candlelady]

I was told I don't even need a ME reservation. We are driving from Panama City to MCO, returning a rental, and boarding ME. Reservations told me she could add me or I could just walk up to the CM, tell them I'd like to use ME, they will look up my resort reservation and get me on the bus. As long as you have a resort reservation, you can ride.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I was told I don't even need a ME reservation

You should have a reservation. Best of our knowledge, Disney's agreement with MCO requires it. It's fine if you make the reservation for 10 AM but don't arrive until seven.

 

[supersnoop]

I was told I don't even need a ME reservation. We are driving from Panama City to MCO, returning a rental, and boarding ME. Reservations told me she could add me or I could just walk up to the CM, tell them I'd like to use ME, they will look up my resort reservation and get me on the bus. As long as you have a resort reservation, you can ride.

These days (and it didn’t used to be this way), they can book you a DME reservation at the DME counter. You still need a reservation, but practically speaking, there’s no need to do it in advance. The downside is that it will take a few extra minutes at the podium.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The other potential downside would be if the process changes back with the same (i.e. no) notice. It doesn't (a) hurt to make a reservation, or (b) obligate anyone to actually using DME.