Reservation questions gone unanswered

[jeff_in_FL2003]

Okay, so I've e-mailed WDW Reservations several times and they have not been helpful in answering my question. Maybe someone here can tell me or at least let me know how to get the help I need. Our plane leaves Chicago at 6:30 PM on 10/6. We then go to Ft. Worth and then to Orlando. Our plane lands several hours later in Orlando at 1:01 AM. Technically on the 7th. I told them that and they have my airline information. But all of the paperwork and stuff that I've gotten says two things that worry me. The first is that we're booked to stay there the 7th-10th. I seemed to me that we should be there the 6th-10th. Do you think that this means that Disney is confused about exactly what day we'll be arriving? Also, I keep reading about a 3:00 PM check-in time but we can pre-check in at 8:00 AM and just go to the parks or whatever til our room is ready. We're signed up for the Magical Express service and I'm just worried that we're gonna land in Orlando and not have them waiting there for us. Or that by some miracle, they'll be there but we will be left to fend for ourselves for 7 hours until we can pre-check in. Just wondering if anyone else thinks I should be worrying about all this and also how can I get Disney to reassure me that it will all be okay?

Pirate/Custodian Jeff °o°

 

[MSTINKHERBELL01]

Jeff have you tried calling WDW reservations to have this confirmed for you? From what I understand you arrive in Orlando alittle after 1 a.m. which is technically the 7th?! If this is the case you can do the pre-check in and if a room is available it's yours. I know i've done this a few times and it worked for me:lookaroun . We live in south fla and sometimes my partner and I are too excited to wait and we are known to leave one day early (takes us 2.5 hours to get to WDW) and party at Mannequins in Pleasure Island until it closes and pre-check in. I would get def get clearification on this honey! Worst case scenario come party w/ us on the 6th. We officially check in on the 7th and are attending MNSSHP that night.
Mstinkherbell01

 

[dflye]

Our plane lands several hours later in Orlando at 1:01 AM. Technically on the 7th.

The first is that we're booked to stay there the 7th-10th. I seemed to me that we should be there the 6th-10th. Do you think that this means that Disney is confused about exactly what day we'll be arriving?

Yes, that definitely sounds like they think you want to check in on the morning of the 7th, and not the "night" of the 6th.

Also, I keep reading about a 3:00 PM check-in time but we can pre-check in at 8:00 AM and just go to the parks or whatever til our room is ready.

I've made use of this many times in the past, but you may want to double-check on the time the bellman actually starts working the outdoor counter, as one time I was told at OKW that they didn't officially start accepting bags until 9:00 AM. But since ME has your bags, this shouldn't be an issue about the bags, and the front desk is always open.

We're signed up for the Magical Express service and I'm just worried that we're gonna land in Orlando and not have them waiting there for us.

According to their FAQ they'll pick you up regardless of the time:

Q: What are the hours of operation for the Disney Welcome Center at the airport?

A: The hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., but those hours will be extended to meet the flights of all guests who have booked Disney's Magical Express service, even if a flight is scheduled to arrive after 11 p.m. The Welcome Center will also closely follow arrival information for flights that may be delayed.

Or that by some miracle, they'll be there but we will be left to fend for ourselves for 7 hours until we can pre-check in.

I think unless you straighten out the dates, you'll be doing one of the following:

• Spending a few hours in the hotel lobby sleeping on the sofa
• Begging to get let into a room that night for free
• Begging to get let into a room that night for money
• Taking a taxi to the nearest 24 hour Wal-Mart and getting your discount souvenir shopping done early! :lol:

Since you aren't likely to get on property and to your resort until after 2:00 AM anyhow, I wouldn't waste the extra money on a room that wouldn't even see your luggage until a few hours later. Hopefully you can get uninterrupted sleep in the lobby! :lookaroun

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Have you made your room reservation with Disney for the 6th or the 7th ?
If its the 6th then everything is OK - you'll just be arriving late - check that the Magical Express buses are still operating at gone 1 a.m.
If you've booked the 7th then I suggest that you've messed up - you'll be waiting 14hrs to check in (if there are no rooms) and where are you proposing to sleep ?
Get on the phone immediately and sort things out - good luck

 

[jeff_in_FL2003]

Well, when I made the resservation, I told the girl that our plane got into Orlando at 1 AM on the 7th. All our information things say our check in is on the 7th. And they have all my flight information which clearly shows me leaving Chicago the evening of the 6th and arriving several hours later. I think it may just be that the girl I talked to on the phone when I made the reservation just didn't understand the fact that at midnight, the date changes. I'm going to try to call them this evening and straighten everything out. Hopefully without being charged for yet another night after we've finally got everything paid for. I'm not sure I could afford to pay for one more night (most of which will be spent on a plane and ME bus).

Pirate/Custodian Jeff °o°

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

Definately call them asap. She obviously misunderstood you.

good Luck.

Pam

 

[Moustronaut]

I think unless you straighten out the dates, you'll be doing one of the following:

• Spending a few hours in the hotel lobby sleeping on the sofa
• Begging to get let into a room that night for free
• Begging to get let into a room that night for money
• Taking a taxi to the nearest 24 hour Wal-Mart and getting your discount souvenir shopping done early! :lol:

Since you aren't likely to get on property and to your resort until after 2:00 AM anyhow, I wouldn't waste the extra money on a room that wouldn't even see your luggage until a few hours later. Hopefully you can get uninterrupted sleep in the lobby! :lookaroun

Exactly. Disney will hold your reservation for the night of the 6th til 6am the following morning. If you are planning on getting to the resort, checking in, then going to sleep or shower, then you must call them and change your dates.

Also, do not check anything you need that first night with Magical Express. Your bags will not show up for a few hours later. So take any toiletries, PJ's and possibly next day clothes in a carry-on bag.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Your bags will not show up for a few hours later. So take any toiletries, PJ's and possibly next day clothes in a carry-on bag.

Good point

 

[mathmagic]

When our flight arrived after 11 pm, ME told us we should get our bags from baggage claim ourselves. They may not get them for you atthat time of night.

 

[MSTINKHERBELL01]

Good Luck!

 

[swimmom]

When our flight arrived after 11 pm, ME told us we should get our bags from baggage claim ourselves. They may not get them for you atthat time of night.

Our flight is arriving around 10:00 pm and I was told the same.

 

[jeff_in_FL2003]

Our flight is arriving around 10:00 pm and I was told the same.

Why do I feel like the girl I talked to when making my reservation kinda left me in the dark about all of this? I finally have a chance to call them today to straighten everything out and I will ask every question I have concerning ME and my reservation and my tickets. The girl almost hung up on me without adding my MNSSHP tix even tho I mentioned them 4 times during our conversation. She didn't tell me one single thing about ME other than to confirm for me that they will be availble to pick us up at 1 AM, after I asked. She asked if we wanted to do go to waterparks or PI and I said we'll want to go to PI one night so I don't know if she added that to our tickets or whatever. And I'm very concerned about our first night there still. Hopefully whoever I talk to today will put my mind at ease and be able to answer all these questions. It's nerve-wracking to say the least. I'm so used to being so laid back about my Disney plans and this is just making me a nervous wreck!

Pirate/Custodian Jeff °o°

 

[MinnieSummer]

I'm not so sure I would rely on Magical Express at that time of the night. I've not heard to many positive stories about the program to begin with and I don't think I would like to be stranded at the airport waiting. IMHO.

 

[Mystic]

Why do I feel like the girl I talked to when making my reservation kinda left me in the dark about all of this? I finally have a chance to call them today to straighten everything out and I will ask every question I have concerning ME and my reservation and my tickets. The girl almost hung up on me without adding my MNSSHP tix even tho I mentioned them 4 times during our conversation. She didn't tell me one single thing about ME other than to confirm for me that they will be availble to pick us up at 1 AM, after I asked. She asked if we wanted to do go to waterparks or PI and I said we'll want to go to PI one night so I don't know if she added that to our tickets or whatever. And I'm very concerned about our first night there still. Hopefully whoever I talk to today will put my mind at ease and be able to answer all these questions. It's nerve-wracking to say the least. I'm so used to being so laid back about my Disney plans and this is just making me a nervous wreck!

Pirate/Custodian Jeff °o°

That's why I always right down the name of the person I spoke to when I make all my reservations so that I have a point of reference if something like this comes up. That way you can tell whoever you're talking to the name of the person that you originally spoke with.

 

[s25843]

I was once stranded in a airport at 1am, and went to seek a hotel room. A Hotel "Day" is considered from 3pm (Checkin) to 11am (Check out). So, with that in mind, unless you book for the 6th, you probally will NOT have a room when you check in at 2am....

 

[matty721]

Having worked front desk id like to tell you guys that it is still technically the 6th until about 4am when the computer system refreshes( the system goes down at 2am and goes back up at 4am) so you will wanna call back and make sure they know that you will actually be there on the 6th and they will have a room ready for you right then. The problem with pre check in is that they might assign a room to you but that doesnt gurantee that room will be clean and ready until 3. Long story short just call wdw let them know of your situation.

 

[jeff_in_FL2003]

Called WDW last night and the guy was pretty rude. Of course I forgot to get his name. He made me feel like an idiot for not knowing what to do. He made me feel like it was my mistake that the girl booked me a day late. I explained to him what all had happened and just me feel like an idiot who didn't know anything. I wonder if it showed on his screen that I am a CM? Well after discussing how I had messed up, he finally told me my only options were to either add another day onto my reservation and pay the subsequent charges, or fend for myself on the streets til my room became available for early check in. So I ended up paying an extra $110... money I don't really have, especially for a trip I thought I had already completely paid for. I guess I've learned to double- or triple-check everything in the first call just to avoid confusion and stress that this has caused. I don't mean to sound negative. I love Disney and WDW. It's pretty much my life. I just never felt that I was even talking to a Disney Cast Member whenever I've been talking to the people I've talked to about this. I was at least expecting to hear "Have a Magical day!" The only times I even heard the word Disney were in the recorded message that answers the phone and right before he hung up on me, he said "Thanks for calling Walt Disney World." I hate being made to feel like a clueless idiot.

Pirate/Custodian Jeff °o°

 

[MSTINKHERBELL01]

Sorry Jeff....totally understand how you feel. i got a very rude wdw cm at central res. as well. I ended up telling her to have a magical day because she seemed so unmagical during our convo. I understand that everyone has bad days but at least try to be nice....afterall, you are getting paid to assist others. Don't let this linger in your thoughts....Have a Magical Day and an even more Magical trip.

 

[tazhughes]

I'm not so sure I would rely on Magical Express at that time of the night. I've not heard to many positive stories about the program to begin with and I don't think I would like to be stranded at the airport waiting. IMHO.

I couldn't disgree with you more. Central reservations forgot to even mention ME to me when I booked and I just assume dit was because they would just send me the tags, but they didn't. However when I got there I asked the 1st ME CM I saw and they directed me right to the counter I didn't have to get my bags they took down all of my info and asked me to describe my bags and then put me right on a bus. I was at Pop within 45 minutes of landing and my bags got there 5 hours later which was still plenty of time for us (though I did pack a carry on for that night). On the return I just called up gave them the flight info and they arranged everything no issues. The system was flawless for us other than CR not sending the tags. I can not say enough great things about this service.

 

[jeff_in_FL2003]

They didn't tell me either. I had to ask about it. And the girl forgot about my MNSSHP tickets and almost hung up on me until I reminded her that she still had to do that. Even tho I mentioned it probably 4 times during the rest of the reservation process. Does everyone have these kinds of problems with central res? I was under the impression that the people they hired for that were supposed to be very very friendly and helpful but I haven't experienced that in any of my calls.

Pirate/Custodian Jeff °o°