A note about DME and shopping at MCO

[ppony]

What follows is a real experience. It may differ from yours but it is ours and such, just info for filing away.

We're not regular DME users. We usually rent a car. But this time, it was just DH and I and we were only going to be there 4 days, each in a park so we didn't bother w/ the rental.

If you're like us, and like to do a little extra shopping and possibly eating at MCO before you return home, you might want to see about getting an earlier DME back to MCO if they allow that. We had a DME time of 9:55AM and a flight of 12:45pm. Thankfully we were able to get on the 9:25 bus when we asked the driver. We got on at BLT and had 3 or 4 more stops before going back to MCO. Not a lot of people got on at each place and it wasn't crowded but it did take time.

So when we got to MCO, even with that earlier ride, we had little time to shop and actually didn't take any time to eat, even once we got through security which wasn't too bad actually. (AHHHH, to go through that line w/o the kids. ) But there's no way to know how long you'll take to get through that so we don't like to mess around there. We had less than 1/2 an hour to wait until we boarded once we got to the gate. I'm just glad we got on earlier. If we ever do DME again, I'm going to see about an earlier time because our scheduled one was not a full 3 hours before and I can't even imagine my stress if we had had to use that one and took longer in security! AND we would not have been able to hit the 2 shops we did hit (Universal and Sea World). Even then, we were quick about it.
We would have had ZIPPO time for anything and I would have been stressed beyond belief if we had not gotten on the earlier bus.

 

[ncc1701]

Based on our experience in 2010 last trip I call and got us on a ME bus 3.5 hrs before our flight. We had time for lunch at Ruby Tuesdays and pick up some magazines & stuff. The year before due to the line at security and ME taking its time we only had time to wolf down a sandwich at a fast food place

 

[Jestocost]

You should have no problem arranging for an earlier bus pickup, but I would strongly advise that you call DME in advance to make those arrangements (which they almost certainly will accommodate) vs. just asking the driver on an earlier bus if you can ride.

 

[ppony]

You should have no problem arranging for an earlier bus pickup, but I would strongly advise that you call DME in advance to make those arrangements (which they almost certainly will accommodate) vs. just asking the driver on an earlier bus if you can ride.

Yeah, we would have done that if we had thought we would be at the stop that early. We didn't plan to be there as early as we were so we gave it a shot. Like I said, not having ridden before, I had no idea how long it would take before we were actually underway back to MCO. It was a lot longer than I thought. If I had anticipated that I would have for SURE made the effort (by calling) to get on an earlier bus.

 

[dburg30]

Yeah, we would have done that if we had thought we would be at the stop that early. We didn't plan to be there as early as we were so we gave it a shot. Like I said, not having ridden before, I had no idea how long it would take before we were actually underway back to MCO. It was a lot longer than I thought. If I had anticipated that I would have for SURE made the effort (by calling) to get on an earlier bus.

You also dont know what stops your 'assigned' bus made either. Heck, maybe it beat you to MCO Granted, probably not, but you never know

 

[seashoreCM]

If you want an earlier bus back to the airport, then make the reservation or change the morning of the day before check out if not sooner. Such a request is always granted. (If you made that change earlier, check the written confirmation you get morning of the day before check out and have any mistake re-corrected before heading to the parks.)

 

[Huff]

We tried to get on our scheduled DME bus but were denied. When the bus arrived at POP it was mostly full. We approached the bus first but the driver asked for the party of 12 to board first. After they did the driver told us the bus was full and we'd have to wait till the next bus. I asked a POP CM manager to call a cab since the DME bus was full. He refused. 45 minutes later another bus arrived and we boarded. We then made 2 more stops and then headed to MCO. We had about 15 minutes to do some quick shopping and then made it to our gate about 20 minutes before boarding.

 

[deegack]

Sorry wrong post.
Carry on

 

[ppony]

Deegak, I saw your unedited post and it made me think of something. Is there a cut off time? I could look at the paperwork again IF I still have it but I'm not sure I do. That's always been my problem w/ canceling non CC secured morning ADRs for example. The call center opens at a certain time and sometimes its when your ADR would be so it's not very helpful if you found out or decided you wouldn't be able to get to an ADR the next morning after the center had closed for the evening.. So is it the same for DME? you have to do it at least x hours in advance? I'd imagine at least some, You can't do it just half an hour or so... it has to be more I'm sure. Makes it tougher when you get back from the parks late the night before, call center is closed and you only just saw your pick-up time which is early. oye. I'm glad we rent usually.

 

[deegack]

Bus pick up is no less than 3 hours before your scheduled departure. You have to be at the bus stop 15 minutes prior. It's all spelled out in the information provided when you reserve me. So no last minute trying to cancel reservations. If you read the information provided you will know ahead of time if you have to change anything.

 

[ppony]

Bus pick up is no less than 3 hours before your scheduled departure. You have to be at the bus stop 15 minutes prior. It's all spelled out in the information provided when you reserve me. So no last minute trying to cancel reservations. If you read the information provided you will know ahead of time if you have to change anything.

I get that, but as I said, my DME time was actually LESS than 3 hours though it says it's supposed to be "no less". And you don't actually know what your time will be until that day before when you get back to your room. It CAN be less than 3 hours seeing as that was my situation, and I had no idea it would take us almost another 1/2 an hour in stops either. I just "trusted" in the DME machine. If we had actually had 3 full hours or a bit more, it wouldn't have been an issue and not being DME "veterans" we didn't know what to expect. I did NOT expect less than 3 hours given the info they gave us.

 

[lions1995]

On one of our trips, the ME was running late. I think we had a 3 PM pickup. When the bus came around at 3:15, we were told it was really the 2:30 bus and we would ahve to wait for the next one. Well, the next bus arrived around 3:40. I was very worried on the way to MCO. However, I got a call that our flights were delayed due to severe weather at home. Well, if the flights would have been on time, I am certain that they would have been boarding the plane by the time we got there. As it was, we were there until 10:30 when our flight took off.

 

[deegack]

I get that, but as I said, my DME time was actually LESS than 3 hours though it says it's supposed to be "no less". And you don't actually know what your time will be until that day before when you get back to your room. It CAN be less than 3 hours seeing as that was my situation, and I had no idea it would take us almost another 1/2 an hour in stops either. I just "trusted" in the DME machine. If we had actually had 3 full hours or a bit more, it wouldn't have been an issue and not being DME "veterans" we didn't know what to expect. I did NOT expect less than 3 hours given the info they gave us.

I don't understand why you are getting snippy with me. I don't know why you were scheduled less than three hours. I have always read no less than three hours. I have always been schedule three hours or more before my flight. I misread a post and attempted to correct it. I have taken me about four round trips. We never had a problem making our flight. We do rac so no bags to deal with and walk right to security. We usually even have a chance to sit and eat a meal before boarding. Is it a perfect system, no. Does it work fine 99% of the time yeah.

 

[ppony]

I don't understand why you are getting snippy with me. I don't know why you were scheduled less than three hours. I have always read no less than three hours. I have always been schedule three hours or more before my flight. I misread a post and attempted to correct it. I have taken me about four round trips. We never had a problem making our flight. We do rac so no bags to deal with and walk right to security. We usually even have a chance to sit and eat a meal before boarding. Is it a perfect system, no. Does it work fine 99% of the time yeah.

No one got snippy with you. I just reiterated what I had already said since you were saying I hadn't understood things and you were missing the point of my question. Calm down, you're reading into things. I don't hold you accountable for DME. I had just seen your post before you deleted it and it made me think of another question is all. I'm glad you don't have problems. Some of us do and that's what I was talking about. Lucky you for being able to get on w/o toting bags to check and just walk through security. We never do that and can't. I'll stick w/ renting a car. I don't like to be freaked out about having ample time.

 

[seashoreCM]

We tried to get on our scheduled DME bus but were denied. When the bus arrived at POP it was mostly full. We approached the bus first but the driver asked for the party of 12 to board first. After they did the driver told us the bus was full and we'd have to wait till the next bus. I asked a POP CM manager to call a cab since the DME bus was full. He refused. 45 minutes later another bus arrived and we boarded. We then made 2 more stops and then headed to MCO. We had about 15 minutes to do some quick shopping and then made it to our gate about 20 minutes before boarding.

This is a severe Magical Express failure. Each person you mentioned did not do the right thing.

Better to take matters into your own hands long before 45 minutes. You could have missed your plane.

Not sure exactly what you should do other than get a second opinion from another higher-up at the resort. It appears as if mitigating the damages would best be accomplished by getting your own cab 20 minutes later and writing Disney immediately to reimburse you, although possibly willing to wait until your next trip to receive it (is your memory as good as Dumbo's).

 

[Sugardimples]

Many people complain that the ME pickup time is way too early for their taste. This is a switch!