departure day - shuttle to airport from any park??

[wdwdancerwannabe]

Thinking on our departure day to figure out a way to go to a park before heading out --
questions:
1) Do all resorts have bag check at the resort? and will take our bags for us early in the AM? and we will head to the park for the day with bags taken care of? We did this in 2011 -- still a possibility? (we are staying at AofA).

2) Do we have to catch the airport shuttle/disney provided bus from OUR resort - or can we make arrangements to catch it from the nearest resort (MK-->contemporary, for example).

My thinking is: if I get a 6-7:00 pm flight, we could still go to a park until 3:00 or so... would it be worth it?

 

[Ross Kratter]

Yes, all resorts have Resort Airline Check-In, but it's only for certain airlines. It's also been stated that at this time, it may be temporarily unavailable.
Yes, you have to catch the Magical Express from your resort, and at the assigned time; the letter detailing this will be hung from your doorknob. It's usually approximately 3 hours before your flight, give-or-take 15 minutes.

 

[JM23457]

Yes, all resorts have Resort Airline Check-In, but it's only for certain airlines. It's also been stated that at this time, it may be temporarily unavailable.

It's only unavailable until July 12th. On the 12th, the service resumes. As always, it will be available from 5am - 12pm, and must be completed at least 3 hours before your flight. The following airlines participate:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines (U.S. Domestic Flights Only)
• JetBlue Airways
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines

 

[JM23457]

My thinking is: if I get a 6-7:00 pm flight, we could still go to a park until 3:00 or so... would it be worth it?

With a 6pm flight, you'd need to leave the parks around 1:30pm to have ample time to be at your resort & ready with bags for Magical Express at 3pm (assuming that's your scheduled time- the night before the flight, you'll get the DME info packet that tells you the actual time to be ready for the Magical Express bus).

Yes, a half park day can totally be worthwhile. Just don't lose track of the time.

 

[siren0119]

If you plan to use Magical Express to get back to the airport, then you'd have to catch it from the resort where you have a reservation. Because it's a free service they do verify confirmation numbers. The time can be flexible (i.e. they may ask for flight information but you can book it for any time. I wouldn't recommend reserving DME for any later than 2 hours before your flight, since they often have pickups at multiple resorts and you do not get to choose which leg of the route you are on.) You also cannot bring luggage with you onto the buses that travel to the parks.

 

[Jake]

Think you have to book 3 hours before your flight. The TAS lines at MCO can get Very long. Could be over a hour Depending on day of week and flight time.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes i would not schedule anything less than 3hrs. I have on different occasions seen the DME bus broken down on the highway on the way to the airport. Best to allow enough time for anything that can come up. And sometimes the security line is 40 - 60 minute wait.

 

[nkereina]

I'm with PPs and would not use DME with any less than three hours. I know people here report doing it with no issues, but I'd rather not end my vacation clock watching and rushing.

If it were me, I would either plan to leave the park around 1:30-2 to get back for my 3pm DME pick up time (usually 3 hours before your flight time, +/- 15 mins). Or I would walk to Contemporary (if at MK) and catch an Uber/Lyft from there around 3pm for a 6pm flight. Its a 30 minute commute to the airport, plus always the chance of traffic or construction delays, and always a good chance for TSA delays. Its also rush hour if its a weekday. But, I'd feel comfortable leaving later using Uber/Lyft or even arranging a private car service because it will take out a lot of variables that DME has with multiple resort stops, loading/unloading other guests' luggage, pokey guests and driver, etc. You just have to decide if an extra 60-90 minutes in the park is worth the $30-$50 it will cost to get a ride to the airport.

Whatever mode of transportation you decide, you can use Resort Airline Check In regardless. At AOA, the desk is in a small room just to the side of Animation Hall, closest to the Cars section.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

If you give wrong information to Disney about pickup time and miss plane that is your fault! Not worth trying to save an extra hour in the park to possibly miss flight. Sure others have been successful but times are different now...

 

[tnolan]

I'm with PPs and would not use DME with any less than three hours. I know people here report doing it with no issues, but I'd rather not end my vacation clock watching and rushing.

If it were me, I would either plan to leave the park around 1:30-2 to get back for my 3pm DME pick up time (usually 3 hours before your flight time, +/- 15 mins). Or I would walk to Contemporary (if at MK) and catch an Uber/Lyft from there around 3pm for a 6pm flight. Its a 30 minute commute to the airport, plus always the chance of traffic or construction delays, and always a good chance for TSA delays. Its also rush hour if its a weekday. But, I'd feel comfortable leaving later using Uber/Lyft or even arranging a private car service because it will take out a lot of variables that DME has with multiple resort stops, loading/unloading other guests' luggage, pokey guests and driver, etc. You just have to decide if an extra 60-90 minutes in the park is worth the $30-$50 it will cost to get a ride to the airport.

Whatever mode of transportation you decide, you can use Resort Airline Check In regardless. At AOA, the desk is in a small room just to the side of Animation Hall, closest to the Cars section.

I thought Resort Airline Check In was not working right now?

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's not, you're right - but all the other posts are from before the DIY luggage announcement.

 

[nkereina]

I thought Resort Airline Check In was not working right now?

PP is correct - it has since changed, and RAC will no longer be available.

 

[ambula603]

Bumping this up ...

With a 9 PM return flight, we had planned to visit HS on our last day. But I just found out our flight home just got bumped up 3 hours and leaves MCO at 6:05.

What time should we leave the park? We had also planned to take Mears, but maybe we should try private transportation if that gives us more time? What about our luggage? We will be staying at All-Star Movies the night before.

I know the flight could change again, but since I am still undecided on our other park days, I need to figure this out!

Feel free to give me advice on our plans... Click here!

 

[sam_gordon]

Bumping this up ...

With a 9 PM return flight, we had planned to visit HS on our last day. But I just found out our flight home just got bumped up 3 hours and leaves MCO at 6:05.

What time should we leave the park? We had also planned to take Mears, but maybe we should try private transportation if that gives us more time? What about our luggage? We will be staying at All-Star Movies the night before.

I know the flight could change again, but since I am still undecided on our other park days, I need to figure this out!

Feel free to give me advice on our plans... Click here!

I *ASSUME* ASM has some kind of bell services you can leave your bags with. If true, you'll need to return to the resort to get your bags before heading to the airport. So, now let's do some timing...
Flight leaves at 6:05.
I personally like to be walking through the doors of MCO (especially with bags to check) 2 hours before the flight. That means 4P.
It's at least a 30 minute ride between ASM & MCO. I'd add an extra 10-15 minutes for "just in case". That means leaving the resort at 3:15P. I would arrange for transportation pickup at 3:10P.
You need some time (10 minutes? 15?) to get with Bell Services and get your bags. That should start no later than 3P.
Assuming you're using Disney Transportation to get from the park to the resort, I'd allow an hour from when I walk out of the gates of the park. So that's 2P.

I have a lot of "pad" time built in. But I'm fine with sitting at an airport. I'd rather be sitting at the gate for an hour than to miss the plane by 5 minutes. YMMV.

Regarding Mears vs private... I don't know if you can schedule a specific time with Mears. And I don't know if it's a shared service (stop at other resorts?). I would go with the cheaper between the two and live with whatever restrictions.

 

[ambula603]

I have a lot of "pad" time built in. But I'm fine with sitting at an airport. I'd rather be sitting at the gate for an hour than to miss the plane by 5 minutes. YMMV.

This is also how we like to travel. I think the 2:00 time sounds very reasonable and was about what I was planning. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't being too padded with my time. We won't have checked bags (another way we like to travel!) so that will save a bit, but 2:00 still seems fair.