Another ME question: when do you leave for airport?

[beattyfamily]

I'm staying at Caribbean Beach. My flight is at 5:25p.

When will I have to leave WDW? Can I leave from a park or must it be from the resort?

I'm a ME newbie!

I''d like to make a PS/AR for lunch at Epcot and am wondering if it's not possible with that flight time??

Thanks so much!

I haven't got a clue what the ME procedure is like!!

 

[beccasmom]

Our ME experience was a pickup at 4:30 am for a 7:30 am flight. Same as a regular Mears pickup, if memory serves me correctly. So your pickup time will probably be similar. I'm pretty sure you must be picked up at a resort, though maybe not necessarily yours. Someone else could perhaps clarify this. You'll be joined by other folks from other resorts, so my thinking is pickup from a park is not an option.

 

[beattyfamily]

Thank you.

Wow, so it's 3 hours? What a bummer.

I was able to get an AR for 1:25p at Epcot and it's looking like I won't be able to make it as it sounds like I'd have to be at my resort to leave at 2:25p for the 5:25p flight.

So I'd be on the bus 3 hours early which means I really have to be ready for the airport at 2:00p?

Maybe I should take a cab to the airport? I wonder what that cost is.

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm staying at Caribbean Beach. My flight is at 5:25p.

When will I have to leave WDW? Can I leave from a park or must it be from the resort?

I'm a ME newbie!

I''d like to make a PS/AR for lunch at Epcot and am wondering if it's not possible with that flight time??

Thanks so much!

I haven't got a clue what the ME procedure is like!!

The procedure for the DME return trip depends on whether you're flying a "participating" airline or not. But whichever airline you fly, DME only picks you up at your resort.

If you're flying a participating airline, you get to check your luggage actually at your resort, and you won't see it again until you get to your home airport. If you're not using a participating airline, your luggage will go on the DME bus with you (in the cargo compartment under the bus).

Even if you get your luggage shipped by DME, surely you'll have carry-ons, etc., and would you really want to take those to a park weith you even if you could?

DME pick up times run on the half-hour. Your pick up will most likely be scheduled for 2:30 p.m. We got picked up 2 hrs 45 mins in advance and needed every minute due to huge crowds at the airport. By the time we got to our gate the flight was pre-boarding infants, etc.

-- Eric

 

[CleveRocks]

I should have added that on my DME pickup we were the only resort -- the bus was empty when it arrived at CBR and went directly to the airport from there. I can't imagine how a cab would have gotten us there any faster.

-- Eric

 

[beattyfamily]

I should have added that on my DME pickup we were the only resort -- the bus was empty when it arrived at CBR and went directly to the airport from there. I can't imagine how a cab would have gotten us there any faster.

-- Eric

Thank you for all your help.

The only reason I mentioned a cab was that I could leave a bit later for the airport and not rely on ME.

But my DH convinced me to get a rental (like we usually do). I was trying to keep this extra, girls only trip cheap and was going to try ME since DH won't be going with us, but I just got an Intermediate for $97. total. Now I can come and go at my leisure; I can leave for the airport by 3:30p and I think that's plenty of time.

I might change my mind as it gets closer but now I have that good rate locked.

Thanks again, everyone.