Does magic express still pick up 3 hours before departure?

[maryj11]

Is it still about 3 hours before departure that magic express picks up from the resorts to head to the airport?
I have read before that they had it at 4 hours.

 

[CogsworthTN]

It was three hours before in November and also other previous trips last year.

 

[rdaky]

A couple of visits ago we almost missed our flight because of this. We literally were running through the airport with kids and a stroller and it was awful. The next time, my husband complained to Disney and said that we would absolutely not be running through the airport because of magical express again and they allowed us to leave earlier. Of course it was crazy earlier and we ended up sitting in the airport for 5 hours. But that was better than almost missing a flight. But we definitely had to get approval for that.

 

[lala5176]

It’s always been three hours before. We usually get there with plenty of time before our flight.

 

[maryj11]

Thanks all! I think I did read 4 hours before but I think it was something going on with security taking longer.

 

[DisDreaming4116]

It’s always been three hours before. We usually get there with plenty of time before our flight.

They were picking up 4 hours prior to flight for a stretch of time in 2018. It seems it has been 3 hours for the past several months. 3 hours is usually plenty of time but the airport can get crazy busy and make the timing tight.

 

[lala5176]

We must have missed that somehow, and we were there twice in 2018. Glad though. Four hours seems like a long stretch and nobody ever wants to get on the ME in my family

 

[Moliphino]

They were picking up 4 hours prior to flight for a stretch of time in 2018. It seems it has been 3 hours for the past several months. 3 hours is usually plenty of time but the airport can get crazy busy and make the timing tight.

Around Christmas 2017 into early 2018, I think. We had one trip in that timeframe and had a lot of time to sit around the airport.

Now I think it's only international flights that are picked up 4 hours ahead. Domestic is 3 hours.

 

[MaC410]

Yep it was 4 hours for a stretch of time. Our last trip in December 2017 we had to leave 4 hours prior to our flight.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Back in September it was back to 3

 

[Simba's Mom]

A couple of visits ago we almost missed our flight because of this. We literally were running through the airport with kids and a stroller and it was awful. The next time, my husband complained to Disney and said that we would absolutely not be running through the airport because of magical express again and they allowed us to leave earlier. Of course it was crazy earlier and we ended up sitting in the airport for 5 hours. But that was better than almost missing a flight. But we definitely had to get approval for that.

I completely agree-better early than almost missing the flight. Last time, I got picked up 3 1/2 hours early, yet almost missed my flight because of an auto accident that caused a huge traffic jam on the way to the airport.

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

Has anyone ever missed their flight because of ME? If so, what have they done? Does Disney help with change fees if the airline charges them? Do they put you up in a hotel if you can’t get a flight until the next day. Just curious as it is not the guest’s fault if that is the earliest Disney will pick you up. We have a 2pm flight out in August and I’m concerned because by that time the airport and security will be really busy and we will be traveling from WDW right during the lunch rush. We have always had early morning flights in the past, so we’ve been one of the first pickups and the airport is not too crazy yet.

 

[sachilles]

Has anyone ever missed their flight because of ME? If so, what have they done? Does Disney help with change fees if the airline charges them? Do they put you up in a hotel if you can’t get a flight until the next day. Just curious as it is not the guest’s fault if that is the earliest Disney will pick you up. We have a 2pm flight out in August and I’m concerned because by that time the airport and security will be really busy and we will be traveling from WDW right during the lunch rush. We have always had early morning flights in the past, so we’ve been one of the first pickups and the airport is not too crazy yet.

I'm not sure how often you fly, but TSA pre-check is well worth the money especially at MCO, as their lines are crazy compared to many other airports.

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

I'm not sure how often you fly, but TSA pre-check is well worth the money especially at MCO, as their lines are crazy compared to many other airports.

Unfortunately I am the only one of my family of five that flies with any regularity. I travel for business about annually. We usually drive to WDW, but decided to fly this year. I’m not sure that it would be worth paying for all five of us to pre-check.

 

[kniquy]

Typically 3 hours. It was only 4 for a very short period of time. The security lines at MCO are HORRIBLE. Even arriving 3 hours before our flight this past November we were concerned that we wouldn't make it to our gate in time and this was for a later evening flight.

 

[Gehrig1B]

We have stopped using MDE on the way home. With TSA Pre✓ we are through security in less than 15 minutes at MCO. We will take an Uber/Lyft at 2:15 and be at our gate an hour or more prior to departure usually. Yes, we understand there is a risk but wiling to take that small risk.

 

[tjmw2727]

Has anyone ever missed their flight because of ME? If so, what have they done? Does Disney help with change fees if the airline charges them? Do they put you up in a hotel if you can’t get a flight until the next day. Just curious as it is not the guest’s fault if that is the earliest Disney will pick you up. We have a 2pm flight out in August and I’m concerned because by that time the airport and security will be really busy and we will be traveling from WDW right during the lunch rush. We have always had early morning flights in the past, so we’ve been one of the first pickups and the airport is not too crazy yet.

That’s not the earliest DME will pick you up as you can always request an earlier bus, (but not a later pick-up).

 

[AngiTN]

Unfortunately I am the only one of my family of five that flies with any regularity. I travel for business about annually. We usually drive to WDW, but decided to fly this year. I’m not sure that it would be worth paying for all five of us to pre-check.

You can always sign up for a free 1 month trial for Clear instead. Better than nothing. Though personally, even once a year is worth $85 for 5 years. I'll never travel without PreCheck again. It's the best.thing.EVER!
We flew home last night. Flight left at 1:58. We called for our Uber at 11:57 and were at the airport at 12:27, and at our gate by 12:50. That even included stopping for DH to complete his enrollment in Clear. I did mine last month. We are testing it out to see if it's worth it

 

[Belleandtinker]

First time using PreCheck for our WDW trip. I love that it is going to save us a ton of time.

Can't I just lie about my departure time so we only get picked up 2 hours before our flight instead of 3 hours? How would they know?

 

[AngiTN]

First time using PreCheck for our WDW trip. I love that it is going to save us a ton of time.

Can't I just lie about my departure time so we only get picked up 2 hours before our flight instead of 3 hours? How would they know?

Yes you can. You assume all risk involved in doing so.
Remember, your resort is not the only resort that ME can pick up at. It may be the first of many. I've been on the ME bus an hour before even heading to the airport. It's one of the reasons why we quit using it