International Magic Express Arrival

[Tornado]

Me and three friends arrive at MCO in Sept from the UK, and we're trying to work out the best way to get to Pop Century from the airport, and then back again. Would I have to call and reserve places on DME? If we do, do wehave to take our luggage onto the bus with us as we would'n be using the full service, or would it be easier to take a towncar?

 

[RonAnnArbor]

You are absolutely eligible for DME, just make sure that it is part of your package. DO NOT put any of the DME tags on your luggage if they accidently mail them to you. You need to collect your baggage as usual and go through customs, THen just proceed to the DME loading area and proceed from there. You will put your baggage under the bus.

About two weeks before your trip, you should receive DME vouchers in a mailing you will get from WDW. You will need these at the DME checkin desk.

When you return to the airport, depending on the airline, they at times allow you to check your luggage in advance, but most times, on international flights, you will need to bring your luggage with you and check in at the airport. That seems to very from time to time.

EIther way, it works the same -- the night before your departure you will receive an envelope on your doorknob of your room at the resort which indicates the time that you need to be waiting at the DME bus stop for your return trip to the airport. That' all you need to do.

 

[Tornado]

We booked through Virgin Atlantic, and they made no mention of it, so would I have to call Disney and book it myself?

 

[RonAnnArbor]

Yes - DME is offered through Disney Reservations. Did you book resort and park tickets through Virgin? WDW should have all of your reservation details and should be able to walk you through on their computer and add DME to your trip.

 

[Tornado]

The resort and flight are through Virgin, we got the park tickets ourselves. Do you happen to have the number for DME?

 

[DisneyLover10]

1-866-599-0951I believe is the number. Correct me if i'm wrong though.

 

[Monty]

On international flights, you have to claim your luggage and clear U.S. Customs on arrival. According to MouseEars, you can then drop off your luggage and it'll be delivered:

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]* International Visitors - If the Orlando International Airport is your first point of entry into the United States, you will follow the U.S. Customs & Border Protection process and claim your luggage upon disembarking the airplane. Once you have completed this process you will proceed to the main Terminal building where you will be met by a Disney Representative. Your luggage will be transferred to the Baggage Claim area, where Disney will collect it if tagged with Disney's Magical Express luggage tags. If you have already completed the US Customs & Border Protection process in another US city or before entering the US, you will proceed directly to the main Terminal building; and Disney will claim your luggage.

[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I'm not entirely clear on how this works, perhaps someone who has done so coming from the UK can clarify?
[/FONT]

 

[Kesmai]

personaly i like jet blue

 

[col]

when i booked with virgin i also paid for transfers - i wouldnt do it again. to cut a long story short i went on the DCL bus to the airport.

i have wondered about the DME being available to UK travellers.

so could i get my bags and go over to the DME area and get on the bus or would i be best phoning them and getting my name on a list sort of thing?

 

[sage]

Hi,
Alittle confused still with the yellow tags. Will I be clearing customs at Toronto Pearson? or when I arrive in Orlando?
Not sure if I should use the yellow tags.
Thank you.

 

[shoppingnut]

when i booked with virgin i also paid for transfers - i wouldnt do it again. to cut a long story short i went on the DCL bus to the airport.

i have wondered about the DME being available to UK travellers.

so could i get my bags and go over to the DME area and get on the bus or would i be best phoning them and getting my name on a list sort of thing?

You must have a reservation on DME otherwise you will be directed to taxi cabs where you'll have to pay $$ to get to WDW.

 

[kasey1988]

Hi,
Alittle confused still with the yellow tags. Will I be clearing customs at Toronto Pearson? or when I arrive in Orlando?
Not sure if I should use the yellow tags.
Thank you.

you will be clearning customs at your first stop in the USA, so if you have a conncection in say boston before your reach orlando you will go through customs there. If you have a direct flight to orlando you will clear customs there. We put the yellow tags on when we picked up our luggage at customs. We had a connection in boston though and put them on there. Im not sure where your luggage would go though if orlando is your only stop since you wouldnt have to check it again

 

[col]

You must have a reservation on DME otherwise you will be directed to taxi cabs where you'll have to pay $$ to get to WDW.

can you do that? i thought that you had to book a holiday through disney to be able to go on DME.

A taxi to orlando international costs $52-57.

 

[shoppingnut]

can you do that? i thought that you had to book a holiday through disney to be able to go on DME.

A taxi to orlando international costs $52-57.

You have to be staying at a Disney resort to use DME, you don't necessarily have to book the trip through Disney. You could use an outside travel agent to book your trip and be staying at Pop Century, for example, and still be entitled to use DME, but you must make an advanced reservation.

 

[col]

You have to be staying at a Disney resort to use DME, you don't necessarily have to book the trip through Disney. You could use an outside travel agent to book your trip and be staying at Pop Century, for example, and still be entitled to use DME, but you must make an advanced reservation.

so if i was to book with virgin but then book DME for the transfers that would be ok?
i know DME is more reliable than virgin!

 

[shoppingnut]

so if i was to book with virgin but then book DME for the transfers that would be ok?
i know DME is more reliable than virgin!

Yes, but Virgin should be able to book the DME transfers for you.

 

[cmatt]

We booked through Virgin Atlantic, and they made no mention of it, so would I have to call Disney and book it myself?

dont flame me if i am wrong but i think virgin have a check in desks in downtown disney - where you can leave your luggage there - obviouslly at an extra cost...:lookaroun

 

[col]

dont flame me if i am wrong but i think virgin have a check in desks in downtown disney - where you can leave your luggage there - obviouslly at an extra cost...:lookaroun

you can check your baggage in at the DTD virgin check in before 11am or 1pm. there is no extra charge for it you just have to give them your check in slip which comes with your tickets in the virgin holiday pack. from there they transport your luggage to the airport then onto the plane.

let me add that you cannot get on a disney bus that goes to DTD with your cases even if you have struggled to the bus stops -i thought you could but i know different for next time!

i would only book with virgin again for this option as it was so much better than asking the resort to look after them then getting on a bus with them. the airport is so much better!

 

[carlosjv]

i just book thru travelocity and it saids that it includes the magical express but i live on mexico , but i would drive to texas and then take the plane , so my tags would be mail to me or they would give them to me at the airport?

 

[H20Babie]

Hi,
Alittle confused still with the yellow tags. Will I be clearing customs at Toronto Pearson? or when I arrive in Orlando?
Not sure if I should use the yellow tags.
Thank you.

Hey Sage,

Coming from Pearson, you go through US Customs in TO (not MCO). Same thing with me coming from The Peg. I used ME last year and did not have a problem since we cleared customs in the airport (YWG).

Have fun!