what time is leave on ME for a MCO flight home? - The DIS Discussion Forums

cwt580 · 11-13-2012, 09:17 PM

we have a departing flight for 5:35 pm from MCO. what time will we be expected to board the ME bus to airport. we are staying at WL and trying to figure what resturant to hit for a ts lunch on departure day. no park tix left but still have 2 credits for ts to use up per person. will decide what to do with remaining credit after scheduling departure meal.

we'd like to try sanaa but not sure its feasible timewise. no kids all 4 adults.

vicki_c · 11-13-2012, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwt580

we have a departing flight for 5:35 pm from MCO. what time will we be expected to board the ME bus to airport. we are staying at WL and trying to figure what resturant to hit for a ts lunch on departure day. no park tix left but still have 2 credits for ts to use up per person. will decide what to do with remaining credit after scheduling departure meal.

we'd like to try sanaa but not sure its feasible timewise. no kids all 4 adults.

3 hours +/- 15 minutes before your flight time.

Polydweller · 11-13-2012, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicki_c

3 hours +/- 15 minutes before your flight time.

And you have to be at the podium 15 minutes before your departure time. They will not wait. The time they say they'll leave they leave. You will get a letter at your room the day before with your bus departure time which will be about 3 hrs before your flight time and you must be there 15 minutes before your bus departure time.

davedmaine · 11-14-2012, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polydweller

And you have to be at the podium 15 minutes before your departure time. They will not wait. The time they say they'll leave they leave. You will get a letter at your room the day before with your bus departure time which will be about 3 hrs before your flight time and you must be there 15 minutes before your bus departure time.

That's not necessarily true. It seems like every ME bus I've been on, the bus driver always waits a few extra minutes for no-shows. And I've never heard anything about being at the podium 15 minutes before departure time.

seashoreCM · 11-14-2012, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwt580

we have a departing flight for 5:35 pm from MCO. what time will we be expected to board the ME bus to airport. we are staying at WL and trying to figure what resturant to hit for a ts lunch on departure day. no park tix left but still have 2 credits for ts to use up per person. will decide what to do with remaining credit after scheduling departure meal.

we'd like to try sanaa but not sure its feasible timewise. no kids all 4 adults.

Shoot to be back at your resort an hour before your Magical Express bus time. (added later: No children? I suppose you can make that 45 minutes.) A little more if you need to get carryons back from the bellhop. From Downtown Disney or from another resort, be prepared to take a taxi back since these Disney bus itineraries can be very time consuming. (Disney's current recommendation is to allow 90 minutes for a resort to resort trip.)

While DME buses have been known to wait for stragglers, that is not guaranteed. We can't draw conclusions from those who reported buses leaving early since the driver may have accounted for everyone on the guest list. But the driver may look around before closing the luggage door down below and climibing aboard and, seeing the platform empty and no one coming, depart a minute early.

Missytara · 11-14-2012, 07:35 AM

That is a good suggestion. A few years ago, we stashed our carry-ons at SSR while we went to the parks.

Our leave time was 4:15, so we erred on the side of caution and got there around 3:30 pm. A ton of people were checking in and using Bell Services; so we had to wait about 15 minutes in order to get our bags.

MinnieMeaghan · 11-14-2012, 07:39 AM

Yes, definitely get back to your resort early. The bus will leave 3 hours before your flight departs, but definitely give yourself plenty of time to get back. I relied on Disney busses to come back to DAKL from Epcot. I gave myself about an hour and a half to get back (knowing the busses usually depart once every 20 minutes). Except this time, there was no bus for an HOUR! We were extremely lucky that we made it back and the magical express bus hadn't left (we also had out luggage downstairs at bell services). Moral of the story: give yourself plenty of time to get back to the resort!

goofy4tink · 11-14-2012, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davedmaine

That's not necessarily true. It seems like every ME bus I've been on, the bus driver always waits a few extra minutes for no-shows. And I've never heard anything about being at the podium 15 minutes before departure time.

While that may have been your experience, believe me...bus drives on a schedule will not always wait. Yet, I've been on buses where they did wait for latecomers, and it added quite a bit of time to our overall timing. We got to the airport, once, about 90 mins before our departure time!! If a driver can't see someone approaching the bus, there is no reason to hang around.

OP...with a flight time of 5:35, you can expect your DME p/u time to be around 2:30..give or take 15 mins either way. So, I would plan on being back at the resort no later than 2pm. 1:45 would be better.

I would eat at Whispering Canyon Cafe,or maybe over to the GF for a character meal at 1900 Park Fare, or Chef Mickey's, and then give those remaining credits to someone eating there. Explain the situation to a CM..they should be able to help you spread a little last minute pixie dust. I know that's happened to me in the past.

Polydweller · 11-14-2012, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davedmaine

That's not necessarily true. It seems like every ME bus I've been on, the bus driver always waits a few extra minutes for no-shows. And I've never heard anything about being at the podium 15 minutes before departure time.

The time you are given in the notice is the bus departure time, not pick up time. The bus will usually arrive sometime before that, that's why the 15 minutes. That gives a few minutes to get everybody loaded and seated so they can meet the departure time.

And I was giving planning time for the OP. Don't plan on them waiting past the departure time. As goofy4tink says, they can and do leave right on departure time. Plan to be at the podium 15 minutes in advance and not rushing at the last minute.

Megsie1000 · 11-14-2012, 09:02 AM

If you do decide to do Sanaa (and it is wonderful), I would plan on taking a cab to and from your hotel. That isn't cheap but it will give you a lot more peace of mind than praying the buses will come and go in time to get you there and back.

maxiesmom · 11-14-2012, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davedmaine

That's not necessarily true. It seems like every ME bus I've been on, the bus driver always waits a few extra minutes for no-shows. And I've never heard anything about being at the podium 15 minutes before departure time.

My dad almost missed his ME bus when I forgot to tell him to be at the stop a few minutes early. He walked up just as the bus was getting ready to pull away.

I've also been on a ME bus where part of a family was on board, but not all of them. The driver told those on board that he was leaving at the set time, and if the rest of the family wasn't there, they would be left behind.

If someone misses their scheduled ME bus, it is up to them to get to the airport.

davedmaine · 11-15-2012, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polydweller

The time you are given in the notice is the bus departure time, not pick up time. The bus will usually arrive sometime before that, that's why the 15 minutes. That gives a few minutes to get everybody loaded and seated so they can meet the departure time.

And I was giving planning time for the OP. Don't plan on them waiting past the departure time. As goofy4tink says, they can and do leave right on departure time. Plan to be at the podium 15 minutes in advance and not rushing at the last minute.

I understand what you're saying but they don't always leave on time. They will often wait a few extra minutes for their no-shows. They don't have to wait, but they do.

ironz · 11-15-2012, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davedmaine

I understand what you're saying but they don't always leave on time. They will often wait a few extra minutes for their no-shows. They don't have to wait, but they do.

With all due respect, and I'm glad that was your experience....but if you come on here and indicate to someone that it is ok to be a few minutes late and THEIR bus doesn't wait (esp as you have no evidence that ALL busses wait for latecomers) and they miss their ride to the airport and miss their flight home, you are doing the OP a huge disservice.

OP...arrive before the time indicated on your paperwork.
Not ALL busses wait, and I would go out on a limb and suggest that most leave on time. (I've missed one before...because it left early....it was a huge stressful mess.)

cwt580 · 11-15-2012, 08:13 AM

We are planning a lunch at any one of the following just cant decide. Wcc or wave or kona or gfc. Wanted to do chef mickeys but no times for lunch available. Our flight is at 5:30 so we plan on being back to Wl by 2pm we figure to be safe.

Missytara · 11-15-2012, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironz

With all due respect, and I'm glad that was your experience....but if you come on here and indicate to someone that it is ok to be a few minutes late and THEIR bus doesn't wait (esp as you have no evidence that ALL busses wait for latecomers) and they miss their ride to the airport and miss their flight home, you are doing the OP a huge disservice.

OP...arrive before the time indicated on your paperwork.
Not ALL busses wait, and I would go out on a limb and suggest that most leave on time. (I've missed one before...because it left early....it was a huge stressful mess.)

Ditto here.

Some may have had an experience or two with the bus drivers waiting a few minutes, but the OP (and many other posters) might not be so lucky. Best not to sugar coat it and give out the most accurate information.

11-13-2012, 09:17 PM	#1
cwt580 DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Buchanan, Mi Posts: 877	what time is leave on ME for a MCO flight home? we have a departing flight for 5:35 pm from MCO. what time will we be expected to board the ME bus to airport. we are staying at WL and trying to figure what resturant to hit for a ts lunch on departure day. no park tix left but still have 2 credits for ts to use up per person. will decide what to do with remaining credit after scheduling departure meal. we'd like to try sanaa but not sure its feasible timewise. no kids all 4 adults. __________________ Last edited by cwt580; 11-13-2012 at 09:23 PM.

11-14-2012, 07:35 AM	#6
Missytara I'm all ears! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Delaware Posts: 13,300	That is a good suggestion. A few years ago, we stashed our carry-ons at SSR while we went to the parks. Our leave time was 4:15, so we erred on the side of caution and got there around 3:30 pm. A ton of people were checking in and using Bell Services; so we had to wait about 15 minutes in order to get our bags. __________________ Me and the three cats - Momma Abby and the Kids, Gracie, Jack, and R.I.P. my little Desi (10/14/11) - Momma and the kids miss you and so do I.

11-14-2012, 07:39 AM	#7
MinnieMeaghan Earning My Ears Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 66	Yes, definitely get back to your resort early. The bus will leave 3 hours before your flight departs, but definitely give yourself plenty of time to get back. I relied on Disney busses to come back to DAKL from Epcot. I gave myself about an hour and a half to get back (knowing the busses usually depart once every 20 minutes). Except this time, there was no bus for an HOUR! We were extremely lucky that we made it back and the magical express bus hadn't left (we also had out luggage downstairs at bell services). Moral of the story: give yourself plenty of time to get back to the resort! __________________ My Disney Family DM(47)(posts under Allison-Wonderland) DF(48) ME(21) DS(19) DS(16) DS(12)

11-15-2012, 08:13 AM	#14
cwt580 DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Buchanan, Mi Posts: 877	We are planning a lunch at any one of the following just cant decide. Wcc or wave or kona or gfc. Wanted to do chef mickeys but no times for lunch available. Our flight is at 5:30 so we plan on being back to Wl by 2pm we figure to be safe. __________________

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11-14-2012, 09:02 AM	#10
Megsie1000 Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 397	If you do decide to do Sanaa (and it is wonderful), I would plan on taking a cab to and from your hotel. That isn't cheap but it will give you a lot more peace of mind than praying the buses will come and go in time to get you there and back.