Will this work...our airline plans...

[spindoctors]

I'm still trying to figure out Disney's Magical Express and resort check-in. Please let me know if our plans sound feasible.

Arrive Saturday, Sept. 8, at 11 a.m. or whenever the plane actually lands. DH takes kids and picks up National car rental bypassing the desk because we have Emerald Club. I let Disney ME pick up our bags and ride the bus to the resort. I was considering not putting the ME tag on one bag with toiletries, etc. and picking up this bag myself at the baggage claim. That way, if ME takes forever, we still have some necessities. Meanwhile, DH and kids go shopping to load up on snacks, water, etc. Hopefully, we all meet up at POP in time to make our 5 p.m. ADRs at Chef Mickey's.

Our Ted flight (supposedly) leaves on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 11:40 a.m. We check in our bags at the resort at around 7:30 or 8:00, and then we are all free to take the painful trip back to the airport in our rental car.

Do you know if we could still check a bag at the airport if we needed to? Just in case there were some things we needed up until the last minute.

Does this sound like a good plan? We love having a car at WDW but had a very hard time fitting three kids and all our luggage in the midsize last trip! ME and resort check-in sounded like the perfect solution.

 

[canwegosoon]

I always did a town car...but since ME...I do that and save the $$$ for a taxi ...when I need one. I get most of my snacks and grocery items at the resort gift shops(I usually stay at BW/BC/WL) Sure the soda is a little more expensive...but they have bagles, cream cheese, bacon, soda, fruit, even frozen pizzas...That's all I really need...but you could do wegoshop or the other grocery service for specific items you wanted. Save your $$$ for making your life easier. Carry your Tolietries bag on the plane(get the travel sizes)

 

[jekjones1558]

spindoctors,
I will be very interested to hear others' comments because I am considering a very similar plan for Nov. when we will have 12 adults and 1 infant and would like to get by with just 2 vehicles (maybe a full size SUV and a minivan).

 

[PlutoPony]

Does your reservation include free dining? If so, the resort MAY require that everyone be present at check in. This was required in some cases last year during the free dining promotion to prevent people from adding phantom guests to received additional free dining credits. Otherwise your plan sounds fine!
Have a good trip!

 

[kimpossible]

If you only need the car for the grocery stop, then I would say use gardengraocer or we go shopping. It would be cheeper and save time.

 

[corndog]

Interesting. We (6) will be arriving between 10-11 on the morning of September 8 as well. I was considering a similar plan of renting a vehicle and sending the rest over on DME. I must admit, I am a little weary of DME. We've never used it, but the in-laws did when they met us there in 2005 and it took them 2 days to get their bags.

 

[kkmauch]

It will not take them 2 days to get their bags anymore. DME is much more on track now and there are VERY few instances of anyone loosing luggae or taking forever to get their bags in the room. DME has been nothing but wonderful for us the last two years and we have no qualms about using it for everyone in our party (first time visitors to veterans).

I would use wegoshop or gardengrocer (we prefer gardengrocer) for the food to be delivered to your room. You don't have to worry about anything, they will drop it with your baggage and it will be put into a fridge or freezer until your room is ready. If that's all your using the car for, skip it and save the money!

 

[spindoctors]

Does your reservation include free dining? If so, the resort MAY require that everyone be present at check in. This was required in some cases last year during the free dining promotion to prevent people from adding phantom guests to received additional free dining credits. Otherwise your plan sounds fine!
Have a good trip!

Wow! It never ceases to amaze me the lengths that some people will go to just to cheat someone else. I would never even have thought of that!

 

[spindoctors]

If you only need the car for the grocery stop, then I would say use gardengraocer or we go shopping. It would be cheeper and save time.

We used the car a ton on our last trip. DH is just not the kind of guy to sit and wait for a bus, sit on the bus, etc.. He would rather just TCB. Also, I have some mobility issues, so if I need to get out of dodge in a hurry it's just convenient for us to be able to do that.

 

[ParrotBill]

Why should you wait and ride the bus when you arrive? Go with the rental car.

Going back, I think we need to hear from someone that once they check your bags you don't need to be seen to put your luggage on the bus.

I don't know what would happen if you show up at the airline counter to add a checked bag given you've already checked in at that point. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't?

 

[spindoctors]

Why should you wait and ride the bus when you arrive? Go with the rental car.

At least one of us has to ride the bus if we are using DME.

 

[PlutoPony]

Wow! It never ceases to amaze me the lengths that some people will go to just to cheat someone else. I would never even have thought of that!

I know, sad isn't it.... Some of the rationalizations I've seen are pretty creative too
Have a good trip!

 

[ParrotBill]

At least one of us has to ride the bus if we are using DME.

Check in, use the ladies room, rejoin your family. I bet your luggage would still find you even if you did not check in for the ride.