Using MDE as "Back-up" Plan Question

[Cirlonde]

We're leaving for WDW on 10/24 and we're planning on renting a car. However, I'm the type of person who has to plan for every eventuality...especially when it comes to something I've never done before! And I've never rented a car before.

So for peace of mind, I was thinking about relying on the Disney bus as plan B in case anything goes wrong with the car rental process. However, I've also never used the bus before. My question is can I make a reservation to ride the bus but then just not show up for it if the rental car works out? Or is there a way to cancel last minute on the bus ride? I don't want to leave some poor cast member hanging while they wonder where we are!

***PLEASE NOTE*** We would not be using DME to transport our luggage. In either case (car or bus) we would plan to pick up our bags ourselves. I'm just too OCD to rely on anyone else, haha!

Thanks so much!!

ETA: Just realized I transposed DME...oops! Too many abbreviations.

 

[Alesia]

My question is can I make a reservation to ride the bus but then just not show up for it if the rental car works out?

Yes, that's fine.

 

[bumbershoot]

What concerns do you have about the car rental? Can we help?

Who are you renting from?

 

[kj2mom]

I had never rented before and it was just me with my 2 children so I was a little nervous. Retrieving the car could not have been easier. I rented from Dollar, had signed up for Dollar Express so we grabbed our bags and went right to the garage. I highly recommend using the skip the counter method for whatever company you rent from. Doing this completely eliminated one thing that I was nervous about (the hard sell at the counter).

 

[tjmw2727]

Rented cars many times without issue at MCO and dozens of other airports without the availability of DME as a backup! (fwiw I am also a single parent w 2 dds as is a pp!) so I agree - what are your concerns?

As for your question - yes you can keep your DME reservation as the inbound trip depends on your checking in not your flight info as there can be delays and cancelations. However - if you do get the rental car as planned (and there is no reason to think you will not?) please make sure to cancel the outbound portion of your trip when you check in at your resort as the bus will make an (unnecessary!) stop to pick you up otherwise. I have been on 3 trips back to the airport now when we have stopped at a resort only to have no show guests. This causes an unnecessary delay in our return to the airport.

 

[seashoreCM]

If there is any tad of a chance you might be needing or using Magical Express then make the reservation. You must possess an advance DME reservation even if you have to make it using the six dollar a minute Airfone in the seat back when flying in.

You can always cancel, even up to the last minute. However you can procrastinate regarding cancellation instead of using the Airfone.

Anecdotal evidence (using only stories and trip reports on The DIS) reveals that the normal approximately 3 hour lead time for DME to get you back to the airport leaves much more than a tad of a chance that you will have to run for your plane. To combat that, request a DME bus 3-1/2 hours in advance instead of the normal 3. This request, made well in advance, is always granted.

If you barely make the deadline (or miss the deadline) of morning before the morning you will depart for making or adjusting your DME reservation back to the airport, you will need to get the final reservation paper in hand as soon as that is printed. This may require a mid-afternoon trip back to your resort.

Glitches, errors, or omissions in My Disney Experience requiring later fixing will not keep you from using DME.

 

[Cirlonde]

Thank you all so much for the help!! Honestly, I don't have any specific concerns about the car rental...it's just an "unknown" that would have a major impact on our vacation if it went wrong. I've got a rental confirmation with Alamo currently as they were the best price I could find and I signed up for their membership program thing so that we could do online check in and (as I understand it) go straight to our car without having to visit the counter. My primary concerns are things like...my coupon being rejected for some weird reason and being forced to choose between paying an outrageous price or taking the bus/cab or Alamo being out of cars...you know, irrational stuff like that, haha!!

We'd definitely rather rely on a rental car than public transport for exactly the situation that seashoreCM is describing! I'm very spoiled to be in control of my own schedule and it's difficult for me to turn that over to someone else. I'm sure everything will go smoothly with the car, but hey...expect the worst and then life is full of pleasant surprises!

 

[seashoreCM]

RE coupons and codes:

Be sure you have proof of eligibility. For example if you use the Entertainment Book code to book your reservation, you need to have the appropriate page out of the Entertainment Book with you. The agent might or might not ask for such proof.