Using ME to MCO before reservation is over? Complicated Details. HELP.

[Disney Bachelor]

Here's a tricky one for you.

Our existing reservation is my sister's name with Grandma, myself, and nephew included in the room reservation too. It's a Free Dining package for 5 days and 4 nights.

Here is the issue: Due to work restrictions, my sister has to fly back a day earlier than the rest of us. She doesn't want to change the park ticket for herself, so she is willing to sacrifice the cost of that 5th day in order to keep the free meal credits in our free dining stockpile.

That being said, can she just book ME to get back to the airport a day earlier than the rest of us check out? Or does she have to check out officially in order to get on ME.

Does having her as the main name on the reservation cause a problem for the rest of us to stay in the room that last night without her? In other words, should we switch the main name on the reservation to mine since I'll be there for the duration of the booked reservation?

I hope I explained that right.

BTW, we are still outside of the 45 day window for changes.

 

[Kakikomori]

First of all, props to your sister for donating the meals to the family.

Hopefully this will help somewhat. When I was planning my upcoming solo trip, I was originally going to check out the day before my flight back because it made my airfare cheaper. (Then I came to my senses and booked an extra day at CSR instead ) But when I spoke with the Guest Services folks, they told me that I could only take the ME when it matched with my flight information.

Extrapolating from that, I don't think it would be a problem for your sister to take ME a day early as long as she has her flight information. That would probably require her to check herself out, and I don't know if that would affect her dining plan or not since that's tied to the number of nights stayed.

Since everyone has their own KTWs, Disney knows that there are other folks in the room already. It would be something like my trip to WDW in '87. My grandparents paid for the room and tickets even though it was just my mother and I at the resort (best xmas present ever!). In other words, as long as they get paid, they're probably ok

Really though, I'd probably suggest calling ME and asking them. They were a big help to me on my last trip and for planning this one. 866-599-0951 (assuming it's ok to post phone numbers)

Also, I'd talk to the CMs at your resort check-in desk when you get there to let them know about what's going on so that they can tell you the easiest way to deal with it on-site.

Sorry for the long and complicated-seeming post

 

[tinka-belle]

Yes, she can do this. But call ME at the above phone number to break it all out, not Disney directly. You don't want to change the package, just a return date for one passenger, and Disney has a habit of messing up complicated ME requests.

You can always call ME the day before her departure (and yours) to make sure everything is OK in their system, but it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[purple figment]

Here's a tricky one for you.

Our existing reservation is my sister's name with Grandma, myself, and nephew included in the room reservation too. It's a Free Dining package for 5 days and 4 nights.

Here is the issue: Due to work restrictions, my sister has to fly back a day earlier than the rest of us. She doesn't want to change the park ticket for herself, so she is willing to sacrifice the cost of that 5th day in order to keep the free meal credits in our free dining stockpile. Actually the dining plan is based on the number of NIGHTs you're staying so in your case 4 nights. It sounds like your sister will be leaving after 3 nights while the rest of you will be staying one night more. The cost of that 5th day on her park ticket is only about $8 so it's probably not worth changing. Everyone in the room has to have the same length ticket to begin with so if your sister decides to drop her ticket down to 4 days, you'll all have to do it; then when you arrive those of you staying longer will have to add back the 5th day - probably not worth the hassle.

That being said, can she just book ME to get back to the airport a day earlier than the rest of us check out? Or does she have to check out officially in order to get on ME. Yes, everyone is entitled to one round trip on ME during their resort stay so it won't be a problem for her to take the ME a day earlier. Since she's the lead name on the res, she'll be getting all the ME paper work and yellow luggage tags. The paper work will list your flight numbers and dates, although frequently the flight time will be listed as 12:00 - not a problem for your arriving at MCO flight. She will have to contact ME with the correct date, flight number and time of her departing flight.

Does having her as the main name on the reservation cause a problem for the rest of us to stay in the room that last night without her? In other words, should we switch the main name on the reservation to mine since I'll be there for the duration of the booked reservation? No problem since she will be checking in with you. In fact, they probably won't let you change the lead name. When I asked to have just my first name changed from my nickname to my actual first name they said it couldn't be done!

I hope I explained that right.

BTW, we are still outside of the 45 day window for changes. ME changes aren't affected by the 45 day window since ME is a separate entity. If you decide to change the length of your park tickets that will be affected by the 45 days. If you change before 45 days there's no penalty, if you wait until you're within 45 days of your arrival date, you could be charged a fee for the change.

my responses in red

 

[BusyMomto3]

Yes, she can go back early and it's not problem at all. Just call the ME number and set it up. Last year, my 16 year old son wanted to go home early (crazy I know), so I called Southwest and changed his flight. I then called Magical Express and arranged transportation for him. This is what's really awesome: Magical Express picked ME up too, transported me to MCO to see him on the plane, and then took me back to our resort to finish our trip. It was easy and no problem at all.

 

[CleveRocks]

I agree with all of the above.

In short, each individual is entitled to a ride from the airport to the resort on or after check-in day; and each individual is entitled to a ride from that resort back to the airport on or before check-out day.

The fact that one person on the reservation needs a ride back to the airport before check-out day isn't even a little problem. But I also strongly agree with the above recommendation to make this arrangement with DME directly rather than doing it through 407-W-DISNEY.

 

[DonnaL]

I can't answer your questions re: your package and DDP, however, I also agree with other posters about DME......yes you can go back to MCO early, but, should set it up directly with DME people. And, actually, another poster stated that DME is tied to your flight info......however, it's not really....they do ask for your flight info when booking your DME, however, just last month my DH and I spent a few days at F & W Festival and we needed to decide whether to leave mid-day (which would mean catching DME shortly after check-out on our last day) or booking an early A.M. flight the next morning. We decided to book the next day early A.M. flight......which would mean if we decided to stay on property that last night we would need to catch DME about 4:00 a.m.......No Thanks!! So, we stayed all day at Disney and scheduled our DME ride back to MCO for 9:00 p.m. even though our flight wasn't until 7:00 a.m. the next morning. I managed to book us at the MCO Hyatt on Last Minute Travel for about $130.....it was great......we woke up about 4:45 a.m., showered, and simply went downstairs to go thru security at 5:45 a.m....rather than waking up at 2:30 a.m. to catch DME at 4:00 a.m. So....the short answer to your question about catching DME.......it really isn't tied to your flight info.

 

[tjmw2727]

No Problem, my dh often arrived after we did and or left earlier and used DME without issue.

I also want to point out that you do not you don't have to fly to use DME. The only requirement is that you are a resort guest on the day you would like to use DME and that you make an advance reservation.

In the situation described by the OP I would make the DME reservations for the entire family at the same time in advance. Then after you arrive at the resort have your sister call DME from the room (there is a direct button) and make a new reservation for herself. Make suire she receives a letter with her departurne time the day prior - if not call again to confirm.

Alternately if you want to take care of it in advance make the separated reservication directly through DME (not the reservation line.) DME 866-599-0951

When you deal with DME they are better able to handle reservations that are not the normal fly in on day one fly out on last day.

 

[seashoreCM]

No problem doing it.

I would wait until I got there before changing any Magical Express reservations back to the airport.

At that time you can change just one person if you wish to. In your case the deadline for the change is morning of the day before she leaves. That morning before checkout be sure she has the confirmation paper with bus time on it before you all head off to the parks.

You can order the park tickets with one fewer day for everyone and add the last day back to the tickets after you enter the first park on the first day (and before you leave the park on the last day the tickets came with).