Trying to attach college visit to WDW trip, will this work?

[pajammies]

I feel like I'm missing something in this little excursion here, so let me know if I can do this please.
The original plan was for my daughter and I to arrive on Feb 24th and take DME to ASMu. But we are wondering if we can do a college visit at the beginning.
This is what I'm wondering if we can do.
Fly out to Orlando (daughter, husband and myself) on the 22nd and stay two nights at ASMu with a room only reservation. (this is my first question, can we use DME with a room only reservation? Because the "package" doesn't start until the 24th)
Then rental cars...can we get one on the morning of the 23rd, drive where we need to go and return it that night, all within the "bubble"
Also, my husband would be flying back home the 24th (this would be the morning my daughter and I check in for our mother/daughter WDW stay. So is there a way for only him to get back to the airport the morning of the 24th? He could keep the car until the 24th and drive it to the airport, but that would cost more, so I'm just wondering if he can use DME back to the airport? So basically, if we can indeed use DME for a room only reservation, can we split us up for him going back the 24th and my daughter and I would go back on the originally planned check out date.
Like I said, I feel like I'm missing something and it won't work

 

[Minnie Mum]

Yes, you can do all that. DME is for anyone with a resort reservation. You don't need a package or tickets to qualify. You can all travel to and from the airport and the resort at different times if you want too. You don't all need to travel as a group.

You can rent cars from a couple of different places in WDW, depending on which company you prefer. This link will show you your options: https://www.mousesavers.com/how-to-rent-a-car-at-walt-disney-world/

HTH

 

[pajammies]

Thank you!

 

[Courtney6682]

No advice really, but just wanted to say we are doing the same thing! My daughter hopes to attend the Florida Institute of Technology. We are renting a car on day 2 and taking the drive. Have fun and good luck!!

 

[pajammies]

@Courtney6682
Thank you, good luck to you too. We would be visiting Florida State, which will be quite a drive in one day, but we are thinking this will be the cheapest route.

 

[Rob562]

Since you have a complicated itinerary with different people travelling on different days as part of different reservations, I'd suggest *calling* DME to arrange your reservations, 866-599-0951. Make sure to have both hotel reservation numbers when you call and associate everyone's *arrival* with the first reservation, your husband's departure as part of the first reservation and everyone else's departure as part of the second.

And if you should happen to get yellow luggage tags associated with the *second* reservation, throw them out so you don't accidentally use them.

As for the rental car... Alamo and National both have a counter at the Car Care Center and can send a van to pick you up from your hotel. While the counter opens at 6am, I don't think the van service starts until 7. I'm not sure if the van runs all the way until they close, but the counter closes at 8pm M-F and 6pm on the weekend, so if you're dropping off after that you may find yourself at the CCC with no means of transportation other than a taxi or Uber. You could possibly wait until first thing the next morning to drop it off. If it's earlier than the time you picked it up, it's still a 1-day rental. The van can then drop you off at any park or hotel.

An alternate option is the Alamo/National counter at the Dolphin. If you drop it off there, you can walk the Studios or the International Gateway at Epcot (or take the boat). The valet at the Dolphin will take the car return from you.

-Rob

 

[pajammies]

@Rob562 Thank you for the extra info, especially the counter and van service hours. Something to think about since we would want to take off early for the day.