DME to MCO without Luggage

[Rpsemont]

Hi!

Just wondering in anyone has tried to avoid the 3 hour advance pick up when returning to MCO.

Our flight is at 7PM and I hate the idea of having to head to the airport at 4PM. If I was driving my self, I wouldn't leave until 5PM or a little later...

IF you don't have luggage, does Disney check your fight? Could I just find a flight that leaves at 8PM and tell them I'm on that flight? Therefore the pick up would be 5PM?

Anyone done this?
We've never taken DME to the airport at the end of a vacation. What's the longest it's taken you to get from resort to terminal (with extra stops, etc..)

 

[goofy4tink]

Can you do it? I don't know. Should you do it? Nope. Even when I book a car service, or drive myself, I leave the resort 2.5 hrs prior to flight departure. Why? So many variables. I would much rather be early and sit around vs stressing over the traffic or long security lines.
My last ride to the airport on DME was not so wonderful. We got to the bus stop 15 mins before our pickup time. A bus was there but a CM yelled (and I do mean yelled, and not nicely!) that this bus was dropping off only, no boarding this bus!!! Ooookay. So, we sat there, waiting. Our time came, and went. When it got to be 15 mins past our time, I asked a CM about it. He told me that they knew about the situation and that the buses were running about 15 mins behind time, so a bus should be there shortly. Ummm, nope. My friend questioned the same CM that had yelled at us, about when our bus was going to get there. Her response was 'It will be here. If you don't want to wait in the sun, go over there...where you're supposed to be. This isn't my problem. I'm valet.' Alrighty then. So, we're supposed to be sitting in back of the front drive entrance? Nope, don't think so. Our bus finally arrived, about 45 mins late. I truly think that we were put on the bus that showed up on time, for the time slot that was an hour after ours!
Yes, we went directly to MCO from there. BUT...there was traffic (it was around 5ish at this point. We got to security (thank God we had precheck so didn't have to wait in line forever), and got to our gate about 20 mins prior to boarding. Enough time? Sure, but we felt really stressed and harried.

To answer your question about length of time....shortest trip was just 45 mins. We were the last stop, went directly to the airport and it was early morning with little traffic. Longest trip? Not counting my last trip (above) which was almost 2 hrs from 'official' pick up time to MCO, longest was about 1.5 hrs.....first stop, then headed to 3 other resorts, decent amount of traffic.

If you want to get a later bus, you can try giving them false flight info. But most people use RAC to get their boarding passes issued, even if they don't have bags. Try it and see. Be sure to come back and tell us what happens. If it were me, I would either take the bus that leaves 3 hrs prior to departure or I would book a car service and pay to get to the airport 1.5 hrs prior to flight time.

 

[maxiesmom]

There is no way I would do that! My last trip back to the airport using DME, we drove around Disney property picking up at other resorts for one whole hour. And then, right before we go to turn on the highway, the driver was radioed that he had to go back to one of the resorts to pick up a wheelchair a different guest had left behind.

So by the time we even headed to the airport we had less than 2 hours until our flight. No way would I cut back the time needed to get to the airport using DME. You couldn't pay me to do it! In fact, I'm even spending money on a towncar to MCO just to be sure I can get there and get through those massive security lines, without feeling panicked.

 

[richmo]

I almost always drive from WDW (usually Epcot) to MCO and I pretty much follow the leave three hours prior rule, so that I have time to get gas and return the car. I'd be really nervous about trying to chop another hour off that.

Things that can go wrong:
- Traffic. Of course, I-4 and the Bee Line approach to the North entrance of the airport is almost always busy. The Greeneway approach to the South exit is much better, but there's a couple of lights that can get backed up (I think at International Drive) that can take some time to get thru.
- Tolls. If you don't have exact change (in coins) or a SunPass, sometimes the two tolls can back up. I've seen these huge toll booths with one person working. And all it takes is a couple people in front of you asking directions and the whole thing gets hosed up.
- Airline checkin. If your airline is participating with resort checkin, you don't have to worry about this. But normal checkin lines at MCO can be long, depending upon time of day and the airline.
- Security. Some of the most horrific security lines I've seen have been at MCO. I've seen them stretch completely across the hotel courtyard. They seem to have been better the last year or two, but you can't count on this being quick.

In short, I like to have myself inside the MCO terminal and in the checkin line at the two hour mark. I think trying to get picked up at the resort two hours prior is cutting it too close. (But to answer your question, if you want to chance it, I guess you could give them a phantom flight)

 

[Sandi]

Whether you have luggage or not, they'll look for your reservation and print off boarding passes for you. In the past, they've even caught a change in flight number for us that happened within a couple of days of our departure. I think they would have trouble with a phantom flight number because they wouldn't find you and think you made an error.

Don't know that for sure, but that's my guess.

 

[n2mm]

I agree with others about not reducing your wait time. We always rent a car. We allow 30 minutes to get to the airport and pad it another 15 minutes for gassing up the car. The airlines request you arrive 90 minutes prior to your flight. Normally that is too much time, but security can be crazy at mco, though I've had both long and short waits. I suggest you just use RAC to check your luggage and print your boarding passes and take a taxi to the airport.

 

[nkereina]

As PPs have pointed out, do keep in mind its a 30 min drive to the airport and I've found the security lines at MCO are among the worst of any airport I've traveled to. It's never taken me less than 25 mins to get through no matter what time of day I've traveled. Orlando is obviously a popular tourist destination, so its always a busy airport.

If you don't wish to take DME, you could always use the Uber app for a car service. I know some debate it on here, but we love it and have great success with it. It's easy and cheap. We'll be using it to head to the airport from Universal in November.

 

[Rpsemont]

If you don't wish to take DME, you could always use the Uber app for a car service. I know some debate it on here, but we love it and have great success with it. It's easy and cheap. We'll be using it to head to the airport from Universal in November.

Thanks! I hadn't thought of that. How much does it usually cost you? I'll have to search and read some of the debate.

I can get a one way car rental for about $35

I figure I'll get by Boarding pass the day before, so will know if I get TSA pre (which will influence my MCO arrival time)

Appreciate hearing of everyone's DME experiences.
Thanks

 

[Rpsemont]

If you don't wish to take DME, you could always use the Uber app for a car service. I know some debate it on here, but we love it and have great success with it. It's easy and cheap. We'll be using it to head to the airport from Universal in November.

Thanks! I hadn't thought of that. How much does it usually cost you? I'll have to search and read some of the debate.

I can get a one way car rental for about $35

I figure I'll get by Boarding pass the day before, so will know if I get TSA pre (which will influence my MCO arrival time)

Appreciate hearing of everyone's DME experiences.
Thanks

 

[nkereina]

Thanks! I hadn't thought of that. How much does it usually cost you? I'll have to search and read some of the debate.

I can get a one way car rental for about $35

I figure I'll get by Boarding pass the day before, so will know if I get TSA pre (which will influence my MCO arrival time)

Appreciate hearing of everyone's DME experiences.
Thanks

I just did the fare estimator on Uber and it's showing a quote of about $50 from MK to MCO, which includes tip (all Uber quotes include tip). So it's a few bucks more than a one way rental car, but saves you the hassle of driving yourself and picking up/returning the car. And the time to get a car too.

I think the other threads that debate Uber aren't comfortable with the fact that it's people who drive you in their own cars, and not a marked taxi. But in reality, Uber has actually been around for years and only gained popularity recently. The drivers are vetted by Uber and each driver has an Uber profile with ratings from previous passengers, as well as their photo and make/model of their car. I believe Uber has certain insurance and background check requirements before allowing the drivers to be part of their service. We've always had better service than with a cab, always found it cheaper, more convenient since you don't have to pull out cash or card (it charges my PayPal), and they show up quickly. Highly recommend.