Can I get on later DME??

[ToyStory3]

We are staying at AKL CL for just one night at the end of our trip. We have a 10:30 am SW flights and are getting picked up at 7:10 am. We paid for CL and won’t even be able to have breakfast here. They said if our flight was 10 minutes later we would have been on the 7:40 bus. Seems really excessive. Are they ever flexible on that?

 

[What-r-ya Goofy?]

It has been my experience that you can get on an earlier or later bus as long as they have room for your group on the bus. If you are asking about changing your DME reservation time, I'm not sure, I've never done that.

 

[ToyStory3]

It has been my experience that you can get on an earlier or later bus as long as they have room for your group on the bus. If you are asking about changing your DME reservation time, I'm not sure, I've never done that.

How do you get on a later bus without changing your DME time? Sorry if I’m misunderstanding. Thanks!

 

[shocker]

You can secure a ride on a later DME bus by picking a different flight to give them. Find a flight for 10:45am to any domestic destination and call DME back and give them your "new" flight info. The only time you don't want to use fictitious flight info is when/if you check a bag that morning at the RAC. Just make sure they have your actual flight info. You will already have your letter and seat assignment from DME and will get on the next arriving bus.

 

[jdisnut]

If you're not checking bags at your hotel, you can find another flight leaving MCO 15 minutes after yours and just tell Disney you're on it. You'll be given a later Magical Express time. That said, that plan obviously comes with risks. Your best option might just be to take an Uber at a time of your choosing.

 

[GoingSince1990]

If you're not checking bags at your hotel, you can find another flight leaving MCO 15 minutes after yours and just tell Disney you're on it. You'll be given a later Magical Express time. That said, that plan obviously comes with risks. Your best option might just be to take an Uber at a time of your choosing.

For a 10:30 flight I would take an Uber at 8:30 (we have TSA Pre). Well worth the extra $30 or so for all that extra time, if you ask me. Especially if that also allows you to get a free breakfast in CL.

 

[shocker]

If you're not checking bags at your hotel, you can find another flight leaving MCO 15 minutes after yours and just tell Disney you're on it.

Whether or not you are checking bags, you can still do this. Checking bags with RAC at the resort and booking a DME ride are 2 separate things.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Even if someone were to claim a later-departing flight as their own, to encourage DME to assign a later departing bus, guests are still advised to be ready and waiting fifteen minutes before the assigned time, as that's when the DME bus leaves. I don't know what time CL is ready to serve, but the OP would still have to be at the bus stop by 7:35.

 

[What-r-ya Goofy?]

How do you get on a later bus without changing your DME time? Sorry if I’m misunderstanding. Thanks!

Tell the DME driver of the later bus that you missed the earlier buss you were scheduled on. Again, if they have room on the bus they will take your group. Probably best to try to change your reservation time as others have suggested just to be safe.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Tell the DME driver of the later bus that you missed the earlier buss you were scheduled on. Again, if they have room on the bus they will take your group

Please don't encourage deception. Aside from that, the next bus might be full. Or it might be an hour later, depending on whose flights at that resort are leaving at what times. And that bus might have stops at two or three other resorts.

 

[maxiesmom]

Tell the DME driver of the later bus that you missed the earlier buss you were scheduled on. Again, if they have room on the bus they will take your group. Probably best to try to change your reservation time as others have suggested just to be safe.

Yeah, that is just a bad idea. For one, there may not be another bus right away. They don't run every 20 minutes or half hour. They run when they have people scheduled to pick up. For another, how horrible would the OP feel if they lied, the driver took them because they felt sorry for them, and then at the next stop there wasn't enough room for the people waiting?

OP--I know the amount of time from pick up to flight can seem excessive. And it is sometimes. But then you have trips like one of mine where we drove around for an hour stopping at other resorts, and almost made it onto the highway when the driver was radioed to turn around, someone had left a wheelchair behind. I was stressing that whole ride!

And then you can have times where the security lines in the airport seem to barely move.

If you want to leave later than when DME would pick you up, schedule a car of some sort. That way you can gain a bit of time without having to stress about a bus that is late, or makes multiple stops.

 

[What-r-ya Goofy?]

Please don't encourage deception. Aside from that, the next bus might be full. Or it might be an hour later, depending on whose flights at that resort are leaving at what times. And that bus might have stops at two or three other resorts.

How is that any different from others suggesting to fib about what flight they're on? The drivers know their schedule and if their bus is full or not. You're not taking someone else's seat. I've taken an earlier bus several time just because we were already there waiting when the bus arrived. I don't think it's a big deal.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If the bus is fully booked when you show up early or late you will be told "NO"

What are your plans then? If you show up late and the bus is full how will you get to MCO?

 

[jdisnut]

Honestly, at this point just take an Uber. It's not free, but it's not expensive, either, and it will leave on your schedule and it won't involve lying.

 

[kaytieeldr]

How is that any different from others suggesting to fib about what flight they're on?

It's no different. I chose to quote one single post, not every post that advocated lying.

The drivers know their schedule and if their bus is full or not. You're not taking someone else's seat.

You don't necessarily know that. The driver doesn't necessarily know if a bus broke down, delaying earlier passengers at a subsequent stop (i.e. no fault at all of the passengers). You don't know if the computer messed up.

I don't think it's a big deal

The passengers you displace might.

 

[maxiesmom]

How is that any different from others suggesting to fib about what flight they're on? The drivers know their schedule and if their bus is full or not. You're not taking someone else's seat. I've taken an earlier bus several time just because we were already there waiting when the bus arrived. I don't think it's a big deal.

At least if someone fibs about the flight they are on, they are still accounted for on a bus. They won't potentially be taking someone else's seat.

And as others have pointed out, what if there is no room? What if there is not another bus? They don't run on a specific set schedule, they only show when someone needs to be picked up. Just not a good idea to try and hop on a bus that may not even come.

 

[ToyStory3]

Hi all - just wanted to update everyone on the outcome. We spoke to the CM in the CL lounge the evening before our flight. We explained that if our flight was 10 minutes later we would have been on a different DME bus and would really like to try to get on it. He said he would call and ask but they would likely say "no". He called and they said that as long as we understand that we are responsible if we miss our flight - they would move us from the 7:10 to the 7:40 bus. We agreed and said we were perfectly comfortable with that.

We checked our bags in with plenty of time in the lobby. We had a half hour to have breakfast in the lounge which we really enjoyed. And, we were at the airport and through security with plenty of time. We really appreciated their willingness to work with us on it. I know they're not always able to do that. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[sponica]

Hi all - just wanted to update everyone on the outcome. We spoke to the CM in the CL lounge the evening before our flight. We explained that if our flight was 10 minutes later we would have been on a different DME bus and would really like to try to get on it. He said he would call and ask but they would likely say "no". He called and they said that as long as we understand that we are responsible if we miss our flight - they would move us from the 7:10 to the 7:40 bus. We agreed and said we were perfectly comfortable with that.

We checked our bags in with plenty of time in the lobby. We had a half hour to have breakfast in the lounge which we really enjoyed. And, we were at the airport and through security with plenty of time. We really appreciated their willingness to work with us on it. I know they're not always able to do that. Thanks for the feedback!

We did ask at POFQ what would happen if we "missed" the bus...the CM there told us, "generally speaking, we'd get you on the next one...if you miss the second one, you're on your own"

 

[kaytieeldr]

Important to note that despite the "generally speaking" comment, there is no guarantee passengers will get on the next bus. It could be full, it could come an hour later than your original bus...

OP - good for you! Seriously!

 

[tjmw2727]

We did ask at POFQ what would happen if we "missed" the bus...the CM there told us, "generally speaking, we'd get you on the next one...if you miss the second one, you're on your own"

The big issue with this is you don't know when that "next bus" will be, it could be 30 minutes later or 2 hours later depending on the departure times other guests booked for that day.