DME - I am so Confused!!!

[mom2cgj]

I can't find the information I need, although it is probably out here somewhere. Can someone please help me???

We are flying out of MCO and plan to use DME to get to the airport. We are flying an airline that is not a "participating" airline, so we will have to check in at the airport. Our check-out time from the resort is 11:00, but our flight does not leave until 5:35. I was thinking we would check out after breakfast and head to DTD for some last shopping and lunch before our check-in time for DME. But what do we do with our bags? I'm guessing we are not the only ones who have had this issue!

TIA!!

 

[mdb07]

Just check your bags with Bell Services at your hotel. We just did this yesterday on our return trip. Anything we did not check with the airline, they kept in storage for us at the hotel. When we came back from MK, we just went to them, got our stuff and boarded the ME bus. Make sure to tip the bellman a few bucks for their service. It was all very easy.

Hope this helps.

 

[mom2cgj]

Thank you! I was hoping there was an easy solution!

 

[CraftyMommy]

Luggage services will keep your bags for as long as you need them to.

 

[dudspizza]

Just remember that your DME time will be around 2:30, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get back from DTD. You should be at the DME stop at least 15 minutes before your schedule departure and since you have to pick up your bags from bell services, you should be back by at least a half hour before... so plan accordingly....

Duds

 

[Alesia]

I would plan on leaving DTD by around noon. DTD bus service can be very slow and you need to allow plenty of time to get your bags from bell services and be at the DME platform 15 minutes before your scheduled pick up time.

 

[mdb07]

Interesting thing to note that I learned on this trip is that the Bell services desk will even store loose items like stuffed animals for you. My daughter has a stuffed seal she takes on our trips but we did not want her dragging it through MK, so they slapped a barcode on it and kept it in storage for us.

 

[crashbb]

You don't say where you are flying to, but if it is outside of the US (even if you connect in the US), the bus will pick you up FOUR (rather than THREE) hours ahead of time. I bring this up because many of the non-participating airlines (not all, of course) are flights that go out of the US.

 

[seashoreCM]

After about noon, downtown Disney buses stop at Typhoon Lagoon (a long wending driveway) on the way back to resorts. If you cut things too close or if your lunch runs late or if a bus doesn't come as soon as you expect, then you may need to take a taxi from Downtown Disney back to your resort.

It's a good idea to shoot to be back at your resort an hour before your Magical Express bus time. If you also plan to eat at the airport (food court inside security) you'll have more time to shop at Downtown Disney and you will be less anxious.

 

[mom2cgj]

Thanks for all of the information! We are flying to Chicago, so not out of the country. This won't be until January - will that make a difference on the speed of the buses to DTD (faster OR slower)? We're staying at AoA, if that makes a difference. Right now, I'm thinking we may go right after breakfast, and come back around noon. Maybe instead of lunch DTD we'll eat at the resort. I've got plenty of time to figure this out!

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

Just check your bags with Bell Services at your hotel. We just did this yesterday on our return trip. Anything we did not check with the airline, they kept in storage for us at the hotel. When we came back from MK, we just went to them, got our stuff and boarded the ME bus. Make sure to tip the bellman a few bucks for their service. It was all very easy.

Hope this helps.

We did this too. Very easy.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Thanks for all of the information! We are flying to Chicago, so not out of the country. This won't be until January - will that make a difference on the speed of the buses to DTD (faster OR slower)? We're staying at AoA, if that makes a difference. Right now, I'm thinking we may go right after breakfast, and come back around noon. Maybe instead of lunch DTD we'll eat at the resort. I've got plenty of time to figure this out!

Well one of the water parks is closed in January for refurbishment. So if it is TL (because obviously it won't stop there, it'll only go back & forth from your hotel to DTD), that will shorten your return trip to your hotel considerably. Also, AoA is one of the hotels that is closer to DTD and it doesn't share with other resorts, so these factors also work in your favor time-wise. AoA is set up just like POP so returning an hour before pick up is WAY more than enough time. We have found that we just spend time sitting and waiting and waiting... Bell sevices is right by ME pick up. So as soon as you get your things you are only a few steps away. We usually do our restroom break at the airport just shortly before boarding. I guess you'll just need to build in the time you'll need to eat your lunch whether it's at DTD or AoA. Good Luck!!


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