DME Pre-Flight Pickup?

[NanetteG]

How long before your flight does DME schedule your pickup? I read recently it was 3 - 3 1/2 hours is that correct?

 

[Carolynleanne]

Usually three, depending on which Resort you're at. Often even earlier if you're flight is international.

 

[Bjkandma]

If domestic flight - approximately 3 hours before flight. International flight - 4 hours. You also need to be waiting 15 minutes before your scheduled time (in case they arrive early).

(It may seem like a long time, especially with limited capacity. But the buses are also limited capacity and you are now responsible to take luggage to and from airport.)

 

[Fangorn]

And remember, whatever time DME gives you for pickup, that is the time the bus will LEAVE your resort, not the time the bus will arrive. As mentioned, you need to be waiting and ready to go away least 15 min prior to that time.

Steve

 

[JM23457]

And remember, whatever time DME gives you for pickup, that is the time the bus will LEAVE your resort, not the time the bus will arrive. As mentioned, you need to be waiting and ready to go away least 15 min prior to that time

We have used DME many times over the years and have never found that to be the case. We have always experienced the DME bus waiting at least until the specified tome on the paperwork for guests to be allowed to show up. You do not have to arrive early.

 

[Fangorn]

You have been fortunate then. Official text from Disney (which also appears on the notice you get the day before pickup)

"The day before you check out, we will deliver a Disney’s Magical Express transportation notice to your Disney Resort hotel room. The departure time and place for your motorcoach ride back to Orlando International Airport will be on this notice—based on flight information you provided when you reserved our service"

Steve

 

[Dug720]

You have been fortunate then. Official text from Disney (which also appears on the notice you get the day before pickup)

"The day before you check out, we will deliver a Disney’s Magical Express transportation notice to your Disney Resort hotel room. The departure time and place for your motorcoach ride back to Orlando International Airport will be on this notice—based on flight information you provided when you reserved our service"

Steve

Exactly. And if your bus showed up early, they will wait until the departure time listed and if you are not there, it leaves. And you're not guaranteed a seat on the next bus.

I will never understand why some people think it's perfectly ok to flaunt the rules - and then inevitably will be the ones to get upset and be on here and other social media complaining about how they were wronged. (Not talking about you @Fangorn - you get it. )

 

[MinnieMSue]

Our pickup was 3hr 10 min before our flight on Thursday. Pop was the last pickup for that bus. It arrived about 15 min early. After loading us the driver hung around until another person showed up a few min before the scheduled departure time then left a couple minutes early.

 

[Simba's Mom]

And remember, whatever time DME gives you for pickup, that is the time the bus will LEAVE your resort, not the time the bus will arrive. As mentioned, you need to be waiting and ready to go away least 15 min prior to that time.

Steve

Yes! And I speak from personal experience when I say that they WILL leave you if you're not prompt!

 

[Bjkandma]

Before Covid, if you missed the bus you could just catch next and hope you made the flight. Now, they check your letter\notice (August 29th). You cannot board. Buses are not full - limited capacity - per CDC.

Also, with limited guests at resort, the next bus can take hours (depending on guests flights!). It's not like, the next bus comes in 20 minutes.

 

[Dug720]

Our pickup was 3hr 10 min before our flight on Thursday. Pop was the last pickup for that bus. It arrived about 15 min early. After loading us the driver hung around until another person showed up a few min before the scheduled departure time then left a couple minutes early.

If all of the scheduled riders are on board, there is no need for them to wait.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Before Covid, if you missed the bus you could just catch next and hope you made the flight. Now, they check your letter\notice (August 29th). You cannot board. Buses are not full - limited capacity - per CDC.

Also, with limited guests at resort, the next bus can take hours (depending on guests flights!). It's not like, the next bus comes in 20 minutes.

They've always checked my letter.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Oddly I asked the driver on 9/10 if he wanted my letter he told me no. He didn’t check it or anything.

 

[BillFromCT]

Oddly I asked the driver on 9/10 if he wanted my letter he told me no. He didn’t check it or anything.

Same with my driver leaving Riviera on 9/03. Although, turns out, I was the only rider on the bus back to MCO, so I assumed he counted the number of passengers in his head.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Same with my driver leaving Riviera on 9/03. Although, turns out, I was the only rider on the bus back to MCO, so I assumed he counted the number of passengers in his head.

I figure the same since it was us and one other person. Also I said is this the 8:25 bus? So that would prob lead him to believe I was legit lol. It was the first time they didn’t take my letter though.

 

[brockash]

How long before your flight does DME schedule your pickup? I read recently it was 3 - 3 1/2 hours is that correct?

Ours yesterday was 3 hrs and 25 mins prior...I waa hoping for 3, but unfortunately ended up with even more extra time at the freezing cold airport.

 

[brockash]

Oddly I asked the driver on 9/10 if he wanted my letter he told me no. He didn’t check it or anything.

Ours didn't yesterday either, which I thought was odd since in the past they've been real sticklers about it.

 

[Fangorn]

Something must have changed, if DME bus drivers aren't asking for, and collecting the letters. Previously, those letters were how Mears (the operator of DME) got paid by Disney. Perhaps under the circumstances of lower guest counts, and not wanting to handle actual paper, Disney is paying Mears based on DME reservations booked and not on the actual number of riders as represented by the paper.

Steve

 

[seashoreCM]

Before Covid, if you missed the bus you could just catch next and hope you made the flight. Now, they check your letter\notice (August 29th). You cannot board. Buses are not full - limited capacity - per CDC.

Also, with limited guests at resort, the next bus can take hours (depending on guests flights!). It's not like, the next bus comes in 20 minutes.

I don't recall you could ever have relied on getting seats on the next Magical Express bus back to the airport if you missed your assigned bus. And, I don't think you could ever have relied on the next bus' coming in 20 or 30 minutes.

 

[nkereina]

Before Covid, if you missed the bus you could just catch next and hope you made the flight. Now, they check your letter\notice (August 29th).

Agreeing with PPs - this was never my DME experience prior to Covid. No one was ever guaranteed a seat on the next bus. I have had instances where we were waiting at the DME stop early and an earlier bus knew they'd have extra room so they allowed us to board an earlier one, but I would never chance it in hopes you can get on the next one. You'll always run the risk they may not have room, since many buses stop at multiple resorts. I've always had to furnish my letter too, and I know this to be the case because I would always forget it and have to dig it out of the bottom of my purse!

OP - as mentioned, DME pick up time for domestic flights is generally 3 hours +/- 15 minutes before your flight time, and you should arrive a few minutes prior to the pick up time as mentioned. We've had our pick up times be exactly 3 hours in advance, 2 hours and 45 mins in advance if our resort was the last stop before the airport, and 3 hours 15 minutes if our resort was the first stop before others on the way the airport.