anything other than ME?

[spinningdisney]

Our return flight is a 9:30 in the am, so that means we'd have to catch the ME at around 6:30am to get to MCO on time.
I'm wondering if there are any other options available. We don't mind lugging our bags with us as opposed to shipping them with ME.
Any suggetions?

 

[dudspizza]

Our return flight is a 9:30 in the am, so that means we'd have to catch the ME at around 6:30am to get to MCO on time.
I'm wondering if there are any other options available. We don't mind lugging our bags with us as opposed to shipping them with ME.
Any suggetions?

Your ME pickup time will be around 630am. If you are using a participating airline, you can check your bags at your resort ahead of time with RAC (not ME). Otherwise, you will take them on the ME bus to the airport for check in.

Other options are taxi, Mears, or a towncar. All of which will cost you money. Even if you go that route, you will still be picked up about 2-2.5 hours before your flight.

Depends on if an extra half hour of sleep and the cost are worth it to you. I personally would take ME.

Duds

 

[goofy4tink]

As already mentioned...checking in at the resort, and getting rid of your checked bags, has nothing whatsoever to do with DME. It is RAC (remote airline checkin). Anyone who is flying out on a 'participating airline' is entitled to use this service. You could be taking the DME bus, or a cab or a rental car, back to MCO..makes no difference. You do have to have your bags checked and boarding passes in hand no less than 3 hrs befor flight departure though..which means that someone has to get the bags to the RAC counter by 6ish that morning. If you decide that you don't want to do that, you should plan on being at the airport early rather than late...you will have to go to the airline counter and get your bags checked and your boarding passes issued. That can take up to 30 mins depending on the number of people in line ahead of you.
As far as how to get back to the airport, DME will picky you up at about 6:30ish. Or, you can get a cab or a towncar service to take you back....they will most likely suggest picking you up about 2 hrs before flight departure time. But, since MCO recommends being at the airport 2 hrs before flight departure, you may be better off leaving your resort 2 1/2 hrs beforehand. You will spend about $50-60 to save 30-45 mins...up to you.

 

[chartle]

Our return flight is a 9:30 in the am, so that means we'd have to catch the ME at around 6:30am to get to MCO on time.
I'm wondering if there are any other options available. We don't mind lugging our bags with us as opposed to shipping them with ME.
Any suggetions?

Any shared ride service will want to pick you up around 3 hours early.

 

[beccasmom]

- Taxi will cost roughly (not including tip and depending on traffic) $60.00
- Towncar will be about the same for one-way trip, I think.
- Mears is a shared ride shuttle. They pick up early too. (Mears is the transportation company for Magical Express.)
- Please don't cut your pick-up time too close. Security at MCO can often take awhile.

 

[carolina_yankee]

I can't think of a scenario that buys you more the 30 - 45 minutes.

You could rent a car from the Car Care Center the afternoon before and turn it in at MCO. That cost could well be less than shared cab or towncar and maybe equivalent to a shared ride. Someone in your party could check in bags at RAC in the lobby while the rest are finishing up in the room, and you could leave for the airport about 7:15 if you have boarding passes in hand.

That should put you in the airport lobby around 8:00 am.

However, if you have a long wait at security, you migh tnot get to your gate until 8:45 or so - that's getting close to loading time for a 9:30 flight. I don't think it would be a problem, but there's not much room for error.

I would just use ME - on the last day, I'm jittery enough so I'm up and moving. Also, ME gives you time for a bite at the airport, probably more leisurely since you're already there, instead of a rushed grab at the resort quick service or in your room. Cost-wise, it's not like Disney is much cheaper than airport food!

Dirk

 

[Sammy]

Also, it's not uncommon for the security lines at MCO to be extremely long. I've had two different occasions where it's taken approximately an hour to get through security. Both times were for early morning flights.

 

[Lewisc]

I'll play devil's advocate. Assume the OP is able to use RAC (or only has carryon bags) The 2 hour arrival time recommendation includes time to check luggage. 1.5 hours before flight should allow more then enough time to go through security and get to your gate. That suggests leaving the resort 2 hours before their flight.

DME might schedule a pickup 3:15 hours before their flight. You need to be at the DME stop 10 minutes in advance.

Booking a car service, or taking a taxi, could give the OP up to an extra 90 minutes of sleep, at least for the family members who don't go downstairs to check their luggage. Alternately it gives the family 90 minutes to have breakfast prior to leaving to MCO.

It's not worth $60-$70 to me but I appreciate the fact that different people spend their vacation budgets differently.

 

[Alesia]

I'll play devil's advocate. Assume the OP is able to use RAC (or only has carryon bags) The 2 hour arrival time recommendation includes time to check luggage. 1.5 hours before flight should allow more then enough time to go through security and get to your gate. That suggests leaving the resort 2 hours before their flight.

DME might schedule a pickup 3:15 hours before their flight. You need to be at the DME stop 10 minutes in advance.

Booking a car service, or taking a taxi, could give the OP up to an extra 90 minutes of sleep, at least for the family members who don't go downstairs to check their luggage. Alternately it gives the family 90 minutes to have breakfast prior to leaving to MCO.

It's not worth $60-$70 to me but I appreciate the fact that different people spend their vacation budgets differently.

But if they use RAC to save time at the airport so they can leave later, they will still need to wake up early enough to be at the RAC desk by 6:00.