Magical Express Potential Issue

[bjunderwood]

I have never used Magical Express before, so I figured maybe one of you that has could answer this question for me. I am traveling in a large group in a couple of months and was planning on using Magical Express. However, a couple of my friends may be switching airlines almost literally last minute. My question is whether Magical Express has contact with an airline or if my friends can just show them their ID after coming off a different airline than previously arranged? Does Disney have any contact with the airline or is it simply based on the guest getting there? I know this may be a bit confusing. Thanks for the help!

 

[canuckCM]

I don't believe you need to tell Disney what airline you're flying with, just what resort you are staying at. I dont believe Dsney is in contact with the airline as you have to check in at the terminal after you arrive.

 

[bjunderwood]

Excellent! Thank you so much for your help. My friends were very worried and I had no idea how the system worked.

 

[GrumpyFigment]

Call DMX

One of the bonuses of using the Magical Express is that they are supposed to grab your luggage for you and deliver it to your resort/room. When you schedule DMX they will ask you for your flight information including flight number which leads me to believe that this is important for this process to run smoothly. Knowing Disney, they will try to accomodate any last minute mishaps, but you should contact DMX directly to make sure.

We've only used DMX on the way back to the airport as we've used the DCL-bus to get to the cruise and then to the resort. So, I can not comment on exactly what happens with DMX when you arrive. This is why I stress the importance of going directly to the source.

Ok... I'm done.. I'll sht up now... This is me shutting up!

 

[bjunderwood]

If they put their luggage on my flight under my name, could they just SAY they came in on my flight? Sorry this is so rediculously confusing. They're just looking to save some extra cash. I'll probably just give them a call anyway, I just thought I might try my luck on here first.

 

[castlecake2.0]

You can opt out of having them deliver your bags if you wish. I usually just pick mine up after the flight and they will oad it on the same bus you are travelling on and not have to wait for it to be delivered to your room.

 

[Rcoaster809]

We had a last minute flight change twice when using Magical Express. Just call the number they give you and let them know. It doesn't matter if it is a different airline, just tell them the airline and flight number and they will take care of you and your luggage.

 

[bjunderwood]

Wow that'd be awesome! Do you need to let them know you're going to be picking them up?

 

[raven]

And no has yet to tell this person that Magical Express only deals with certain airlines, not all of them?

Disney only uses these airlines at the moment for Magical Express service:

Alaksa, American, Continental, Delta, Jetblue, Northwest, and United (including TED)

 

[Ravenclaw87]

And no has yet to tell this person that Magical Express only deals with certain airlines, not all of them?

Disney only uses these airlines at the moment for Magical Express service:

Alaksa, American, Continental, Delta, Jetblue, Northwest, and United (including TED)

Is this a new policy? I flew U.S. Air in August and they picked me up just fine...

 

[raven]

Is this a new policy? I flew U.S. Air in August and they picked me up just fine...

Well, that was in my booklet when I flew in September. Maybe they have more but just haven't had the new booklets printed.

 

[Victoria]

And no has yet to tell this person that Magical Express only deals with certain airlines, not all of them?

Disney only uses these airlines at the moment for Magical Express service:

Alaksa, American, Continental, Delta, Jetblue, Northwest, and United (including TED)

Magical Express is good for all airlines. The airlines you mentioned are the only ones you can do Check-in at your resort with. Magical Express and Resort Check-In are two different things.

I regularly fly Spirit and Southwest (two airlines not mentioned in the list) and I always use Magical Express with no problem.

To the OP, I always opt to transport my own luggage rather than have them deliver it for me. Just make sure if you decide to haul your own luggage that you DON'T use the luggage stickers they send. Also, if there are last minute changes to flight info, call Magical Express to give them the heads up. It won't really change anything drastically, but it is nice to give them the info just in case.

 

[mrerk]

From Disney's ME FAQ:

Q. Do I have to fly on a participating airline in order to take advantage of Disney's Magical Express Service?
A. No. You may use Disney's Magical Express motor coach transportation and luggage transfer services, regardless of the airline you fly.

 

[raven]

Magical Express is good for all airlines. The airlines you mentioned are the only ones you can do Check-in at your resort with. Magical Express and Resort Check-In are two different things.

I regularly fly Spirit and Southwest (two airlines not mentioned in the list) and I always use Magical Express with no problem.

To the OP, I always opt to transport my own luggage rather than have them deliver it for me. Just make sure if you decide to haul your own luggage that you DON'T use the luggage stickers they send. Also, if there are last minute changes to flight info, call Magical Express to give them the heads up. It won't really change anything drastically, but it is nice to give them the info just in case.

Ah, I just saw that. Thank you.

And yes indeed. Take your luggage with you or at least things you will need immediately. We arrived at Midnight to our resort a couple of years ago and didn't get the luggage until 9AM the next day. Needless to say we couldn't get ready to go in the morning without our luggage.

 

[mickey&me]

If you have flight changes after you have received your packet which includes the ME vouchers, all you have to do is call the number they provide and bring them up to date on your latest info. There's no hassle involved at all. It won't matter that your vouchers don't agree with their computers.

And contrary to what the above poster believes, you are entitled to DME no matter what airline you fly or how you book your flights. I believe that poster was referring to resort check-in for flights only being possible with that limited list of airlines.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Rob562]

If you have flight changes after you have received your packet which includes the ME vouchers, all you have to do is call the number they provide and bring them up to date on your latest info. There's no hassle involved at all. It won't matter that your vouchers don't agree with their computers.

Also, they mostly use the arrival information for planning purposes so that they know how many people to expect and can staff the desk, bus queues and bus routes accordingly. As long as you have your DME ticket and arrive on (or after) the first day of your hotel reservation, you'll get on DME. So if the OP's friends literally make a last-minute change and cannot call DME before their plane departs, there's no reason to worry.
The only *major* exception would be if you're arriving in Orlando in the late evening. The DME desk is scheduled to close at a certain time (I think it's 10 or 11PM), but if they know they have passengers arriving on an 11:45PM flight, they'll stay open for them. But if they don't know you're on that 11:45 flight, you might get to Orlando and find that all of the DME staff have gone home. (The same thing holds true for anyone who finds their flights majorly delayed.)

As for luggage, all bags coming off of all airplanes at Orlando International are screened by the handlers for the yellow DME tags. Those bags are then routed to the DME luggage facility. Once they arrive there, DME only cares about where a bag is going, not where it came from.
The bags are then held in the DME facility until at least one DME passenger ticket from that reservation has been scanned as having boarded a bus. Then, the bags are released to be transported to the Disney hotel.

So long story short, your friends should have no trouble at all in using the DME system, as long as they're at least registered as guests on DME and have tickets issued in their names. And if their flights change, it's worth it to take a couple minutes and call DME and let them know. (There should be a number in with the info that comes with the tickets and tags).

Oh, and the more-important flight info that DME needs is your *departure* time when you're heading home. They need to know when to schedule your pickup time. But that can easily be changed while on your trip. (Though they suggest making sure they have your info at least 24 hours before your departure time)

-Rob

 

[bjunderwood]

So long story short, your friends should have no trouble at all in using the DME system, as long as they're at least registered as guests on DME and have tickets issued in their names.

Wow, thank you so much for the information. Now when you say tickets, do you mean DME tickets or plane tickets?

 

[Rob562]

Wow, thank you so much for the information. Now when you say tickets, do you mean DME tickets or plane tickets?

DME tickets. (The voucher things that you get in the mail) If they have those, they should be all set no matter what time they arrive at MCO (with the late-night exception I discussed above).

-Rob

 

[CleveRocks]

Also, they mostly use the arrival information for planning purposes so that they know how many people to expect and can staff the desk, bus queues and bus routes accordingly. As long as you have your DME ticket and arrive on (or after) the first day of your hotel reservation, you'll get on DME. So if the OP's friends literally make a last-minute change and cannot call DME before their plane departs, there's no reason to worry.
The only *major* exception would be if you're arriving in Orlando in the late evening. The DME desk is scheduled to close at a certain time (I think it's 10 or 11PM), but if they know they have passengers arriving on an 11:45PM flight, they'll stay open for them. But if they don't know you're on that 11:45 flight, you might get to Orlando and find that all of the DME staff have gone home. (The same thing holds true for anyone who finds their flights majorly delayed.)

As for luggage, all bags coming off of all airplanes at Orlando International are screened by the handlers for the yellow DME tags. Those bags are then routed to the DME luggage facility. Once they arrive there, DME only cares about where a bag is going, not where it came from.
The bags are then held in the DME facility until at least one DME passenger ticket from that reservation has been scanned as having boarded a bus. Then, the bags are released to be transported to the Disney hotel.

So long story short, your friends should have no trouble at all in using the DME system, as long as they're at least registered as guests on DME and have tickets issued in their names. And if their flights change, it's worth it to take a couple minutes and call DME and let them know. (There should be a number in with the info that comes with the tickets and tags).

Oh, and the more-important flight info that DME needs is your *departure* time when you're heading home. They need to know when to schedule your pickup time. But that can easily be changed while on your trip. (Though they suggest making sure they have your info at least 24 hours before your departure time)

-Rob

Perfect answer!

As long as you have a DME reservation, nothing else matters ... you WILL get a ride to your resort.

If the yellow DME tags are on your bags, they WILL get delivered to your resort.

 

[GrumpyFigment]

When you get back...

BJ... I'm seeing some great information here. Very glad you brought up this topic. Please make sure you post your actual experience with DMX(or DME) when you get back. Now I'm curious to see how this all works out for you!

Either way, have a great time in the World!