Magical Express/Airport Question [airport departure]

[nikkithepooh]

I am escorting with my parents next month for a week's stay at Port Orleans Riverside. However, they will be returning home by themselves!!!!!

I like to give them very specific instructions, but I can't remember the details of the return trip from the resort to the airport (more specifically to terminals/gates).

So my question is....
After I put them on the Magical Express, they will be taken to the airport. Once they enter with the other quests, where do they go?? Do they go upstairs first and then look for terminal or gates or security. Can't remember the order.

Thanks...

[Drince88]

First - They need to make sure and get off at the correct terminal. I don't remember the order (if it's B/A or A/B) or which airlines are at each terminal -- have them ask the driver as they're getting on if their airlines will be the first or second stop (sometimes the stop announcements are hard to hear/understand/etc)

If they had any larger carry ons that get put in the bottom of the bus - WAIT FOR IT!!!

Next stop depends on if they've done the check in and baggage check at the resort. Presuming they have, and they only have their carry on bags (no snow globes, etc!) and printed boarding passes, they can go directly to security.

Leave a LOT of time at MCO for security. It's RARELY a swift process there!!!

Then take the monorail and proceed to their gate.

If they didn't use the resort check in for the airlines, then they'll need to do that before they go through security.

Hope that helps!

[nikkithepooh]

Thanks. They will do airline check in at the resort and check their bags. Only one small carry on.

I will have them listen for the Continental Terminal announcement (I almost forgot about that)!

I think I will have them take the elevator to security/gates. What level is that on?

[bennette]

I will have them listen for the Continental Terminal announcement (I almost forgot about that)!

Continental/United *should* be B if I am remembering correctly. Is it definitely a Continental flight? With the merger, my last tickets have been a little vague. One trip to Florida was sold from United but the return leg used a Continental plane and check in. The most recent mentioned Continental initially online but ended up being all United. That list trip was planned quickly and I hadn't researched before I left to see which airline it would be because I'd been through it before and knew they were in the same terminal.

It was actually easy to figure out at check in time and from the screens in the terminal (just look for the flight going to your city at the right time to confirm your gate) but in this case you might want to check their tickets closely one more time and see if it mentions anything about the two airlines.

[nikkithepooh]

I just check the tickets and the flight are United only now.

Thanks!

[bennette]

I just check the tickets and the flight are United only now.

Thanks!

Okay. I was there just three weeks ago and the signage driving in was still pretty confusing. One sign for the B terminal would say "United" and the next would say "Continental" but never both. It took three signs for me to decide it didn't matter which; my flight was still in B! That was coming in to return a car, though. Bus service should be less stressful.

ETA I checked and they are both definitely in B.

[bennette]

Leave a LOT of time at MCO for security.

A lot of time and patience! Their security lines can get really crowded and loud. The staff have always been nice to me individually but the line control just seems generally poor.

[danyoung]

Then take the monorail and proceed to their gate.

This is such a minor quibble, but it's so rare that I get to do this to you, Cathy. The trams at Orlando Airport are not monorails - they are automated trams, but they don't run on a monorail.







<hee hee hee - I just LOVE doing that!!!>

[ladynickrent]

I know about the checking of bags & getting boarding passes at the resort before heading back home, but I was curious about paying the baggage fees. I remember reading you can't pay the fees at the resort, so do you pay them ahead of time with the airline, or do you pay them at the airline desk? I'm just not sure how that works when checking them at the resort...

[Drince88]

I've never had to do it (I fly Southwest since they're the only ones with non-stops for me) - but my sister has. There's been a number for her to call on her DME paperwork we get the day before to pay for the baggage fees.

[GusMan]

Drince's account is the same of mine. You will be given a number to call to pay the fee over the phone with a credit card.
Cash is not accepted for the luggage fees.

[TinaMouse]

Yep. That's how I did it. I thought it was going to be a huge pain in the butt, and actually, it was quite easy. No problems.

[ladynickrent]

I'm new and not up on all the acronyms, but I think DME stands for Disney Magical Express? I already got that paperwork, so I will look at it tonight. Thanks!

[Drince88]

Yes, DME = Disney's Magical Express (we tend to forget not everyone knows all the acronyms - sorry)
TECHNICALLY the resort baggage check in is a different thing, but everyone lumps them all together.

It may not be in the pre-arrival DME paperwork you have - but they'll put a note in an envelope on your door the day before you leave with your pick up time to go home, and that will for sure have the phone number and other information you need.

Have a fun trip!!! Stay hydrated!!

[GusMan]

...they'll put a note in an envelope on your door the day before you leave with your pick up time to go home, and that will for sure have the phone number and other information you need.

Of course, if you have any questions or if for some reason you do not get something on your door, they will be more than happy to answer any questions at the resort check in counter.

[ladynickrent]

Thanks everyone. I am SOOOOO excited!!! This is my first trip back since 1991, when I was 7. I'm so excited to see what has changed in the last 20 years and to take my husband and daughter. My husband never went on family vacations as a child and my daughter is only 4, so she hasn't been on any either. My mom is recovering from cancer, and I am just so excited for a week of family time!!!! I have like 9 travel books checked out from the library and have become a member of too many discussion boards and blogs to count! Now, if I can just make it through the last day of school with my 140 seventh graders...