WDW hotel night before staying on resort

[jpurnell]

If anybody has a suggestion I am up for it. My family of 5 are flying down via Southwest but had to fly one day ahead of our reservation at CR. What would be the best way to get to a hotel from Orlando airport, what hotel to stay in, and the nthe next day get over to the CR. Taxis I know are an option but do any hotels have shuttles over to the resorts. Thanks for any help.

 

[disneyag]

Try the Hyatt that's part of Orlando airport. You can have a towncar service pick you up there the next morning.

 

[golfgal]

I would check into renting a car for the day. Get one that has a location in DTD and you should be able to drop off the car there after you check in. Also, depending on how many are in your party, it might be less expensive to just keep the rented car for the trip then it is to take the towncar services, etc. That way you can take it for your return trip to the airport.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Will your vacation be at a time that you can take advantage of the Magical Express feature? If so, here's an option for you. My family of 5 stayed at the Hawthorn Suites Orlando Airport location. They had a complimentary shuttle service from the airport and were located about 10 minutes away. The rooms are all suites, so that's a separate bedroom, full kitchen area and living room. In the morning, they had a complimentary breakfast with eggs and pancakes. You can arrange to take their shuttle back to the airport and get on the Disney Magical Express. I'm sure that many off site hotels do have transportation to WDW, but it would be to the specific parks and not an actual resort.

As for the Hyatt Orlando, that's really convenient, but they don't have rooms for 5 people (unless you have one that's under 3). They do offer a family plan, which is booking one room at full price and getting an adjoining room for 50% off. The rooms can be expensive though.

Tammi

 

[Asuneda]

You can arrange to take their shuttle back to the airport and get on the Disney Magical Express.

Dou you know for a fact you can get ME like this? I wouldn't think so, because it is more than just a shuttle. They route your luggage from the airport to the resorts too. It's a cooperation between Disney and the airports so that you never touch your luggage.

How about just adding another night? Even at a different resort and letting Disney transfer your luggage.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Dou you know for a fact you can get ME like this? I wouldn't think so, because it is more than just a shuttle. They route your luggage from the airport to the resorts too. It's a cooperation between Disney and the airports so that you never touch your luggage.

The luggage transfer service (not having to worry about your luggage once you check in at your airline) is only available for certain airlines. Anyone staying at a Disney resort is eligible for the Magical Express ground transportation service.

 

[Minerva]

The luggage transfer service (not having to worry about your luggage once you check in at your airline) is only available for certain airlines. .

That is not correct. I even just called Disney before posting to make sure I was understanding the service correctly. Anyone flying on ANY airline to or from MCO can use the service. Anyone flying on any airline TO MCO can check their luggage in at their home airport and it will be transferred to their WDW resort as long as they have set it up ahead of time and gotten the special luggage tags and have used them. This works for every airline. At this time the ONLY thing that people flying on participating airlines can do that others can't is check in your luggage and do your preboarding check in at your resort the morning of your return flight. Even if you aren't flying a participating airline Disney will still transport you and your luggage to the airport you will just have to check yourself and your luggage in when you get to the airport just as you always have.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Thank you for the update. I guess the CM I spoke with was not aware that all airlines were on board with this procedure. Good to know.

 

[Minerva]

Thank you for the update. I guess the CM I spoke with was not aware that all airlines were on board with this procedure. Good to know.

The airline you fly has never mattered for your *arrival* in Orlando, only the airport. MCO is participating Sanford is not. They haven't made any changes since they originally announced the program. They have said that they are hoping to get more airlines to participate (and I heard one rumor a month or so ago that all of the airlines who fly into and out of MCO have agreed to be a part of the program but that it won't be announced until closer to the start up date but have not been able to confirm that). The *only thing your airline has *ever made a difference in with this program is your departure day. If your airline is participating you will be able to check in at your resort if not you still can use the transportation but you will be responsible for getting your luggage on the bus and checking it in at the airport.

 

[Lewisc]

Normally I'd use PL for an airport hotel but with 5 people you'd have to bid on 2 rooms. Check the suite hotels for the best deal. Shearaton Suites, Ameri-Suites, Hawthorne Suites and Embassy Suites are all possibiliies.

If ME won't let you book just give them a flight that arrives the following morning. Take the airport shuttle over. Just tell Disney you forget to use the special tags for your luggage and let them book your luggage under the bus.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Normally I'd use PL for an airport hotel but with 5 people you'd have to bid on 2 rooms. Check the suite hotels for the best deal. Shearaton Suites, Ameri-Suites, Hawthorne Suites and Embassy Suites are all possibiliies.

If ME won't let you book just give them a flight that arrives the following morning. Take the airport shuttle over. Just tell Disney you forget to use the special tags for your luggage and let them book your luggage under the bus.

Aside from the apparent confusion I had about ME, this is along the lines of what I was thinking. ME must be booked 10 days in advance (so they know who to expect) just give them the flight information for the morning you are looking to transfer. Don't put your luggage tags on. Arrive the day before and take the shuttle to the suites or whatever. Enjoy a swim, get a good nights rest, eat a hearty complimentary breakfast, put your luggage tags on now and take the shuttle back to the airport. Bring your luggage (with tags) to the ME check in area and I'm sure it will be taken and loaded with with all the others for transfer directly to the CR. As per Minerva's post, if you're on a participating airline flying out of MCO, your luggage can be checked right through to home.

Sorry if I confused you

 

[Lewisc]

. Bring your luggage (with tags) to the ME check in area and I'm sure it will be taken and loaded with with all the others for transfer directly to the CR.

DON'T PUT ME tags on your luggage. Those bags would never get put on the carousel and you wouldn't have them. Just say you forgot to put the tags on and you retrieved the bags yourself. List an early flight, you don't want to be showing up before "your flight" arrived. You can be late, stopped to eat.

 

[TammiMcMan]

I'm not doing well at all today with my advice . I went by what Tyler (WDW transportation CM mentioned on another thread). The bus is not designed to take large luggage, only overnight bags and handheld items. He said that part of the ME check in process was to collect any luggage that had not been picked up off the carousel and direct it to the trucks for transfer.

I'll just back slowly away from this thread and hopefully I haven't completely scared off the OP

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Why not stay on-site at another resort? In the past when my family took advantage of length of stay passes, we would stay off-site the first night to avoid paying for a day at the parks that we wouldn't use. We would lose so much time the next morning that I am glad we will never be doing that again!

 

[Hieatt]

We stayed here the night before our first night at the Dolphin... this is a really nice place, with nice large 2 room suites and a pretty nice indoor/outdoor pool. The "parlor" has a sofa bed and chair, desk, large TV and kitchenette with microwave, sink and refrigerator. The bedroom can have a king or 2 doubles, and also has a large vanity with separate tub/toilet. If you book ahead through the Starwood website, and try for AAA or "Promotional Rates" you can get pretty good deals... we got a rate of $95 that included buffet breakfast for 2. They also have a free airport shuttle.