Later Magical Express time question

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Hi! I have a question about ME. Our flight in April is scheduled for much later than we usually leave WDW. We leave at 6:30 I think. So...that would mean we should be at the airport at 4:30. Last year, the day my brother left, he asked for a later time to get on ME as his flight was later in the day as well. He was told that his time was already scheduled, and he wouldn't be able to get a different time. I do not want to leave WDW for the airport at noon like we usually do. How do I get them to schedule me for a later time? I've never had to do it before. Thank you!

 

[Allison]

You won't be scheduled to leave at noon for a flight that late. You are scheduled approximately 3 hours before your flight.

 

[Kimberle]

ME will pick you up approx 3 hours before your flight. You may stop at other resorts before heading to the airport. MCO can also be very busy with long lines for security. I've taken ME many times and never felt like I was at the airport "to long".

 

[Missytara]

You can find all the information regarding ME on the Transportation Board.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Yes, as the PP's mentioned, you are scheduled for 3 hours prior to flight time. If your flight leaves at 6:30, you will need to be on your bus at approximately 3:30.

 

[AndiSlamberg]

ME will pick you up approx 3 hours before your flight. You may stop at other resorts before heading to the airport. MCO can also be very busy with long lines for security. I've taken ME many times and never felt like I was at the airport "to long".

Diddo, I find they give you the perfect amount of time at the airport.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes, as the PP's mentioned, you are scheduled for 3 hours prior to flight time. If your flight leaves at 6:30, you will need to be on your bus at approximately 3:30.

In addition you need to be at the bus stop, ready to go, 15 minutes before that time. The time given is when the bus will leave the resort. If they come and no one is waiting they will leave. If you miss your scheduled bus it is up to you to get your family to the airport. Buses only stop by when they have people to pick up, they are not on a set schedule of every hour or every 30 minutes.

 

[TDC Nala]

For a flight at 6:30 they will schedule for you a departure around 3:30.

Under no circumstances will they allow you to reschedule your departure for a later time. If you miss the scheduled pickup, the onus is now on you to get to the airport on time. They may allow you to board a later bus, but they may not. Depending on how many pickups there are scheduled at that particular resort, there may not be a later bus.

I was staying with a friend once and they had me leaving on DME at 1:15 and her leaving at 1:45. Our flights were scheduled 10 minutes apart. They would not allow me to switch to the 1:45 pickup. The request was flatly denied even though the flights were only 10 minutes difference in departure time. They would allow her to switch to the earlier one though.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Ok, thanks everyone. I have travelled with ME before, so I am prepared to be there early enough to get my luggage from bell services. I have just never flown out so late before and didn't want to be scheduled for say... noon if I could do something about it beforehand. Sounds like I won't have to worry though bc 3:30 is a perfect time. I always feel too rushed leaving at noon, so I purposely chose a later flight this time.

Thanks again!

 

[lanejudy]

I was staying with a friend once and they had me leaving on DME at 1:15 and her leaving at 1:45. Our flights were scheduled 10 minutes apart. They would not allow me to switch to the 1:45 pickup. The request was flatly denied even though the flights were only 10 minutes difference in departure time. They would allow her to switch to the earlier one though.

Getting on a different bus - earlier or later - has less to do with your flight time than available spots on the ME bus. If a bus has space, they will allow you on it, but if all seats are "booked" then they won't allow a change. In PP's case, the earlier 1:15pm bus apparently had a seat available but the later 1:45pm did not.

 

[TDC Nala]

Didn't have anything to do with seats. There were empty seats on both buses. It's that they won't allow you to change to a later time.

If you do choose to go at a later time, then DME is absolved of any obligation to get you to the airport. They may put you on another bus or they may not, in that case you would have to find your own transportation.

 

[ManyMinnie]

Ok, thanks everyone. I have travelled with ME before, so I am prepared to be there early enough to get my luggage from bell services. I have just never flown out so late before and didn't want to be scheduled for say... noon if I could do something about it beforehand. Sounds like I won't have to worry though bc 3:30 is a perfect time. I always feel too rushed leaving at noon, so I purposely chose a later flight this time.

Thanks again!

ME schedules pick-up for everyone for approximately three hours before flight departure.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Didn't have anything to do with seats. There were empty seats on both buses. It's that they won't allow you to change to a later time.

If you do choose to go at a later time, then DME is absolved of any obligation to get you to the airport. They may put you on another bus or they may not, in that case you would have to find your own transportation.

They told my brother that he could try and get on a later bus if there was room, but that they couldn't guarantee him a seat bc the later bus might be full. So, it wasn't actually a flat out no when he asked, but he wasn't going to risk it.

 

[lanejudy]

They told my brother that he could try and get on a later bus if there was room, but that they couldn't guarantee him a seat bc the later bus might be full. So, it wasn't actually a flat out no when he asked, but he wasn't going to risk it.

That's exactly what we were told as well. There was another bus coming in about 25 minutes, but the driver didn't know how many seats would be available (if any). It actually was another party asking because part of them were scheduled on our bus and part on the next one (not sure how that happened). Our bus was full so those scheduled on the later could not get on ours, but no guarantee if part of the party waited to ride the next bus they'd be able to get on. They decided not to risk it and agreed to meet at MCO.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's still a case where if you prefer to skip your assigned time, you take your chances. They are no longer obligated to get you onto a bus.

But they will definitely not switch you to a later pickup time. If you ask to be assigned a later time, they will say no.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

They schedule your pick up for 3 hours before for domestic and 4 for international for your flight for a reason. So don't miss it. Last week the wait at security was 25 minutes!!!!
I pittied the poor souls who were on the bus that we passed on the highway that was broken down. They were headed to the airport and were transfering folks to another bus.

So don't try to cut yourself short. remember too that the bus will stop at other resorts to pick up folks.

 

[maxiesmom]

They schedule your pick up for 3 hours before for domestic and 4 for international for your flight for a reason. So don't miss it. Last week the wait at security was 25 minutes!!!!
I pittied the poor souls who were on the bus that we passed on the highway that was broken down. They were headed to the airport and were transfering folks to another bus.

So don't try to cut yourself short. remember too that the bus will stop at other resorts to pick up folks.

You never know when you will run into crazy security lines. My last time flying home from MCO they had only 1, yes 1, scanner open. And the line wound through the whole queue! I'm not sure if it was break time or what, but that line barely moved for quite some time. They ended up opening more scanners, and then we got through fairly quickly. But I was starting to panic just a little.

 

[smallblackstars]

Do they allow you to go on an earlier ME than the one you are scheduled on? Would I have to phone in advance or wait and ask on the day we arrive if I wanted to do this? Our flight isn't until 6.30pm but we would like to be at the airport for around 12 to meet our friends as they arrive and have a meal with them before we fly home as this is the only part of our holidays that overlap.

 

[Kimberle]

Do they allow you to go on an earlier ME than the one you are scheduled on? Would I have to phone in advance or wait and ask on the day we arrive if I wanted to do this? Our flight isn't until 6.30pm but we would like to be at the airport for around 12 to meet our friends as they arrive and have a meal with them before we fly home as this is the only part of our holidays that overlap.

Yes, you can call them and request an earlier pick up.