Potentially dumb, confusing and unanswerable DME question

[Neo Fender]

Here’s the plan (still very sketchy). I’m flying to Orlando on business (probably not on Southwest) in Early November and staying at the Airport Hyatt. A few days later, my remaining family of three will fly down (probably on Southwest) to meet me. From there will move on to a Disney hotel (probably Pop).

Will DME allow me to ride? Is DME “admission” based on the number of guest flying or the number of guest staying at the resort?

Thanks.

[wire0monkey]

Okay, let me get this straight:

1. You're going to be in Orlando for a few days.
2. Then your family is going to arrive in Orlando.
3. You're meeting your family at the airport and then you're all going to check into a Disney resort.
4. You and your family want to ride Disney Magical Express to the resort.

If that's right, then I think they probably will let you ride, but you'll have to take your luggage to the counter/bus yourself because it's not coming in on the plane. Your family's luggage should be fine.

I'd call to double-check, but it's shouldn't be a problem.

[TripPlanner]

That should not be a problem. Last September I had a trip booked. At the last minute my husband had to go on a business trip that overlapped our Disney trip. He joined us the next day. We all used Magical Express on 2 different days without any hiccups.

[swampfox28]

If you go to the airport via the hotel's shuttle to meet your family, I can see how you would want to ride DME with them to the parks... but I do think they usually check tickets. I bet a travel agent could help answer that question and perhaps even arrange it (if it can be done).

I'd contact someone at MJ or another agency you like/trust to help you out. I used to do all the planning myself, but have been very happy with using an agency last time (and for our upcoming trip in Nov.) The prices are the same and the work is WAY easier since they REALLY know the ropes, discounts, etc.!!

GOOD LUCK!

[SallyMcQueen]

My guess would be that you could go with your family on ME. I know when we booked our package online last year we had to put the names of all the people coming. I would imagine as long as you are on that list you can ride ME. Of course that is complete and utter guess on my part.

[Neo Fender]

That is correct (BTW, I'm in St. L too).

Thanks


Okay, let me get this straight:

1. You're going to be in Orlando for a few days.
2. Then your family is going to arrive in Orlando.
3. You're meeting your family at the airport and then you're all going to check into a Disney resort.
4. You and your family want to ride Disney Magical Express to the resort.

[CleveRocks]

If you go to the airport via the hotel's shuttle to meet your family, I can see how you would want to ride DME with them to the parks... but I do think they usually check tickets. I bet a travel agent could help answer that question and perhaps even arrange it (if it can be done).

His original hotel is AT the airport, so he won't need a shuttle to get from there to the airport. DME doesn't take guests to the parks, it takes them to Disney's resort hotels.

You are correct that the DME driver and the handlers very very closely make sure that each passenger is covered by a special DME voucher ... the only way the subcontractor gets its payment from Disney (the payment is per guest) is by that voucher being scanned.

[CleveRocks]

Here’s the plan (still very sketchy). I’m flying to Orlando on business (probably not on Southwest) in Early November and staying at the Airport Hyatt. A few days later, my remaining family of three will fly down (probably on Southwest) to meet me. From there will move on to a Disney hotel (probably Pop).

Will DME allow me to ride? Is DME “admission” based on the number of guest flying or the number of guest staying at the resort?

Thanks.I have a very very easy answer for your question.

YES, you all can ride DME from the airport to your Disney resort.

There is no requirement that you ride the DME bus from the airport on the day you fly in. Actually, there isn't even a requirement that you fly in at all.

The ONLY requirements for someone to use DME:
You must be named on the reservation at a Disney owned-and-operated resort.
Your ride from the airport to the resort must be on or after your resort check-in day.
Your ride from the resort to the airport must be on or before your check-out day
The resort you go to/from must be the resort where you are a registered guest ... no one can choose to get a ride to/from a different resort.
You must have a DME reservation; DME is free but not automatic.

I am 100% certain of these answers. No need to contact a travel agent to answer these questions ... that's what INTERCOT is for!!!:mickey:

[awaggett]

No worries, I have had to do this twice because of work. DME is very accomodating and helpful.

[LuvAllPrincesses]

Here's another good DME question...

My family of 5 is planning to use DME in November. We will all arrive together, but DS16 doesn't want to miss too much school because of AP classes (yeah, go figure!), so he would like to fly home about half-way through our 9 day vacation. Although he feels comfortable flying alone - and has numerous times - neither he nor his parents are comfortable with throwing him on the DME bus and having him check in alone. Do you think Disney would be accomodating enough to let me have an extra round-trip to escort him (rather than being an unaccompanied minor) to the airport and return back to the resort?:confused:

This may be a question to put the travel agent on ?!

[SamG]

LuvAll-

You do know as long as you're using one of the participating airlines, the check in can be handled at the hotel, right?

Assuming that's the case, I'd have no problem putting a 16yo on DME for the ride back to the airport. You won't be able to go through security with them anyway.

[CleveRocks]

Even though each guest is permitted only one DME ride in each direction, I have read posts from at least 2 people (on other boards) where they were granted permission to accompany a minor child either to or from the airport, and also got the ride in the other direction. It seems they make exceptions when you need to accompany an otherwise unaccompanied minor.

Here's what you need to do: call DME directly at 866-599-0951 and give them the details of your situation. The people answering those phones aren't Disney reservationists and they aren't call center employees, they are actual Disney's Magical Express cast members, which means they have the knowledge to answer your questions and the authority to solve your DME-related problems.

[LuvAllPrincesses]

Thank you for the thoughts and information. I will contact the DME CM's before making final flight arrangements. I am so glad to hear that they will be accomodating if my son continues to feel more comfortable being "escorted" by mom to the airport!:mickey: