Question for those who fly to Orlando

[wdwmomof3]

We never fly to Disney world, but my parents will be going us for 4 days in Sept and they will be flying down from Atlanta. Originally when they were going to drive, they were going to come down a day early, and then check in POR early the next morning.

Will someone please give me any and all advice that they can on flying in a day early. Would it be better to have them fly down the day that they check in and just extend it a day at an off site resort? I am trying to plan this for them because they get confused & frustrated easily. (I stay that way :ROFLOL

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Hi there :wave:

So funny you mention this, since we struggled with this a little ourselves for our next trip.

We are staying on property for our trip, but we are going in a day early in the afternoon and staying the night at a DTD off-site hotel. We are thinking this will cut down on some stress of a morning flight, getting the rental car, rushing to the hotel and parks blah blah blah.

Plus, not sure of their feelings on this are similar, but my boyfriend does not at all like to fly, and the first day there is stressful for him and he's just drained. So taking an afternoon flight the day before and having a night to rest properly and start the next day refreshed is a better idea.

So, I'd say definitely have them come in a day early so they don't feel overwhelmed and rushed, because it can often end up coming to that.

Good luck!

 

[wdwmomof3]

This is what I am thinking, but they will not be getting a rental car. How do I get then from the airport to a DTD Resort? We can get them from a DTD resort to POR where we will be staying.

I also understand that I have to give advance notice to Disney for them to get back to the airport from POR. They will do this one way right?

It's a good thing that I still have four months to plan this. :ROFLOL:It will take me that long to figure all of this out. :hammer:

 

[MichWolv]

You can do DME one way, no problem. Just alert Disney.

I'm with you that I'd rather come down a day early, but why is there is a need to do either?

If they do come down a day early, you do have the transport problem -- why not a night a Value Resort instead? Depending upon the timing, it could be pretty cheap, and it'll make them eligible for DME.

 

[Disneybird]

You can do DME one way, no problem. Just alert Disney.

I'm with you that I'd rather come down a day early, but why is there is a need to do either?

If they do come down a day early, you do have the transport problem -- why not a night a Value Resort instead? Depending upon the timing, it could be pretty cheap, and it'll make them eligible for DME.

Also, Disney will transfer their luggage from one resort to another, so they won't have to worry about finding a way to move their things. They just pack up that morning, let bell services know they're moving to another resort, go to a park, and check in at the new resort later.

 

[NewfieFan]

If they could afford it I would spend the first night at a Disney hotel or even at POR. Why bother with all that hassle to save a few dollars!?! DME would take them right to the resort and they can still spend the first day/night relaxing! And what a better way to start you Disney vacation by enjoying your Disney resort!?!

This way they won't have to worry about checking in and out of another hotel, packing up again, and then checking into POR!

 

[Nemo14]

You can do DME one way, no problem. Just alert Disney.

I'm with you that I'd rather come down a day early, but why is there is a need to do either?

If they do come down a day early, you do have the transport problem -- why not a night a Value Resort instead? Depending upon the timing, it could be pretty cheap, and it'll make them eligible for DME.

I agree - by the time you pay for transportation to another hotel, then to their Disney hotel, you really wouldn't be saving much. Just call Disney reservations and see what they can do for you.

 

[Mickey-Mommy]

I defititely recommend to avoid confusion and frustrations for them to just check into POR the day they fly down. (Instead of 4 nights, see if you can get ressies for 5 nights) They get DME, get used to their resort, relax, take a swim, etc before heading to the parks with you. If POR isn't available, still stay at a Disney resort for the ME and just have their luggage transfered.

I think this would be the least stressful for them.

 

[mcstensrud]

I think that it will be more of a hassle trying to check into POR early the next morning.especially if there are no rooms ready?Then you are wasting a day waiting for a room.You would have better luck getting them in a room the P.M. Before.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I agree with the previous posters. If they get frustrated easily, I think the hassle of moving hotels, and transportation issues will be a big pain in the neck. Book them at POR, but tell them they do not have a ticket for the night they arrive so they will have to relax and settle in to the hotel!

 

[nancy33458]

I agree, if they can afford it see if you can just get them into POR the day before if not I say stay at any of the Value Resorts and have Disney transfer their luggage. Plus then they have transportation both ways. The DTD hotels are not necessarily any less expensive than staying at a value.

 

[wdwmomof3]

Yes, you are all right. It will be a huge hassle for them to move back and forth. I will talk to him tomorrow and see what he wants to do, value first then POR of straight to POR. It will all depend on what he wants to do, but that does sound better.

One more question. How does the Magical Express work?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Yes, you are all right. It will be a huge hassle for them to move back and forth. I will talk to him tomorrow and see what he wants to do, value first then POR of straight to POR. It will all depend on what he wants to do, but that does sound better.

One more question. How does the Magical Express work?

They just need to call Disney (or their TA) and register their flights for Magical Express. Disney will send them luggage tags and instructions before they leave. It's super easy.

 

[CleveRocks]

How does the Magical Express work?

You need to make a reservation for Disney's Magical Express.

A few weeks before you leave, you get an information packet in the mail, as well as special DME luggage tags. You put one such tag on each piece of luggage that you will check with the airline (the suitcases that you have them load under the airplane for you ... that's called checked luggage, as opposed to carry-on luggage).

On the day of your flight, go to your home airport and do everything just like normal. Since DME exists only in the Orlando area, don't ask ANYTHING about DME at your home airport ... they'll have no idea what you're talking about, and they don't need to.

WHen you land in Orlando, totally skip baggage claim and go right to the Disney Welcome Center. Check-in at the counter, and then you'll be shown to your bus queue. You get on a plush motorcoach that will have guests from up to 4 Disney resorts on it. You can take your carry-ons onto the bus with you, but if they're too big they'll have to go under the bus (you can have the driver load them under the bus even if they're small and you just don't want to handle them).

You get to your resort, and the driver will unload any carry-ons you had stowed under the bus; if the driver handled any of your bags, a tip is customary. You go check-in at the resort front desk. Your checked bags should arrive on the inside of your resort room within 3 hours of the time you check-in at the resort ... they'll get to the inside of your room whether you're in there or not, so need to sit around and wait for them

At some point after the bags are off-loaded from the airplane, workers start separating out the ones with the bright yellow DME luggage tags. These tags are sticky yellow paper, with all sorts of pre-printed information (name, reservation number, resort name, etc) AND a barcode. This barcode is scanned 5 separate times on the route from airplane to resort room. The bags are brought to Disney's luggage sorting facility on the grounds of the airport. There, they are separated by geographic zone and then by resort. They are loaded into cages and the cages are loaded into DME luggage delivery trucks. The cages are delivered to the resorts, and then the resorts' Bell Services cast members take things from there. The barcodes are scanned 5 times and the delivery trucks are tracked by GPS, all of which means that Disney knows where your bags are at all times.

That's how DME works on your arrival day.

 

[MichWolv]

You need to make a reservation for Disney's Magical Express.

A few weeks before you leave, you get an information packet in the mail, as well as special DME luggage tags. You put one such tag on each piece of luggage that you will check with the airline (the suitcases that you have them load under the airplane for you ... that's called checked luggage, as opposed to carry-on luggage).

On the day of your flight, go to your home airport and do everything just like normal. Since DME exists only in the Orlando area, don't ask ANYTHING about DME at your home airport ... they'll have no idea what you're talking about, and they don't need to.

WHen you land in Orlando, totally skip baggage claim and go right to the Disney Welcome Center. Check-in at the counter, and then you'll be shown to your bus queue. You get on a plush motorcoach that will have guests from up to 4 Disney resorts on it. You can take your carry-ons onto the bus with you, but if they're too big they'll have to go under the bus (you can have the driver load them under the bus even if they're small and you just don't want to handle them).

You get to your resort, and the driver will unload any carry-ons you had stowed under the bus; if the driver handled any of your bags, a tip is customary. You go check-in at the resort front desk. Your checked bags should arrive on the inside of your resort room within 3 hours of the time you check-in at the resort ... they'll get to the inside of your room whether you're in there or not, so need to sit around and wait for them

At some point after the bags are off-loaded from the airplane, workers start separating out the ones with the bright yellow DME luggage tags. These tags are sticky yellow paper, with all sorts of pre-printed information (name, reservation number, resort name, etc) AND a barcode. This barcode is scanned 5 separate times on the route from airplane to resort room. The bags are brought to Disney's luggage sorting facility on the grounds of the airport. There, they are separated by geographic zone and then by resort. They are loaded into cages and the cages are loaded into DME luggage delivery trucks. The cages are delivered to the resorts, and then the resorts' Bell Services cast members take things from there. The barcodes are scanned 5 times and the delivery trucks are tracked by GPS, all of which means that Disney knows where your bags are at all times.

That's how DME works on your arrival day.

One more DME point. Many people do not like the idea of letting Disney pick up their bags and then having to wait several hours for delivery. If that is the cash, just don't use the yellow DME luggage tags, then pick up the bags off baggage claim the same way you otherwise would before heading down to the DME bus waiting area. Load the bags under the bus and away you go. It'll delay your arrival at the resort due to the wait for the bags, but eliminate the further wait for the bags to arrive.

 

[wdwmomof3]

WOW! Thank you for the advice. I need to copy that for my parents to give to them. You make it sound so easy.