early flight - still use Magic Express?

[bkdisney]

My husband and I looking at either a 6 am or 7:50 am US Air flight out of Orlando to return to Philadelphia. We are staying at the Pop Century Resort. Should I still use the Magic Express to take us to the airport, or is our flight too early? Would we be safer with a taxi?

Thank you in advance!

 

[steph-in-ky]

I believe that I read somewhere on here that the buses run 24/7. Our flight is at 7:05 am and we do plan on using ME

 

[bradk]

the flight would be too early to use remote check-in if you're on a participating airline, but not too early to take DME as your transportation.

you will still be asked to be picked up about 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.

and for what it's worth, i know this is a huge gripe for a lot of people, but most private cars do it 2:30 before the flight. one car service i know of does it for 2 hours, but i think they're just trying to find a competitive edge.

 

[CleveRocks]

First of all,

So on to your question ....

You won't be "safer" with a taxi. There's nothing "unsafe" about taking DME at an early hour. The DME bus pick-ups are scheduled, they know they need to be there for you, you have reservations.

If it makes you feel any better, try it this way ....
Have your DME reservation. If, say, 30 minutes goes by and the bus doesn't show up (highly unlikely), then get a taxi at that point. You'll still make it to the airport in plenty of time.

DME has been around for about 22 months. You guys aren't the first ones with early flights. In fact, no pun intended, it happens every day. You'll be just fine, it's not an "unsafe" proposition.

 

[bkdisney]

Thanks! I am new to this. I thought I read somewhere that if a flight was before 8 am you shouldn't take the ME - you wouldn't get to the airport in enough time. I must have been confused.

Thanks for your help!

 

[dudspizza]

Thanks! I am new to this. I thought I read somewhere that if a flight was before 8 am you shouldn't take the ME - you wouldn't get to the airport in enough time. I must have been confused.

Thanks for your help!

ME runs 24 hours a day. Your pick-up time will be about 3 hours ahead of time, which makes for a very early morning. I have not ready anywhere here that ME is a bad choice for early morning flights. The only complaint is that people think they are being picked up too early. What they don't realize is that the 5-7 am times are prime times at the airport for getting through security....

Best of luck.

Duds

 

[toocooltobeMom]

MY DH and I have used the DME last December. The service was great. Our return flight out of MCO was 7am too. The DME picked us up at the resort 2 hours and 45 minutes before our flight time. It was REALLY early! We were told that we could arrange our own transportation. We figured that for an extra hour of sleep, it was not worth the $$$$. My advice to you is that if you can book an later flight, let's say after 10 am, will be perfect.

 

[bradk]

except that with most private cars, it'd be more like 15 mins more of sleep. the only private car service i know of that would pick you up any later would give you just 45 minutes of sleep.

but if there are any car services that will pick up less than 2 hours before departure, please PM me out of interest.

 

[DebbieB]

the flight would be too early to use remote check-in if you're on a participating airline, but not too early to take DME as your transportation.

you will still be asked to be picked up about 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.

and for what it's worth, i know this is a huge gripe for a lot of people, but most private cars do it 2:30 before the flight. one car service i know of does it for 2 hours, but i think they're just trying to find a competitive edge.

A private car takes you directly from your pickup to the airport. DME may stop at 2 or 3 resorts, so they have to build in more time. I believe a private car will drop you off right at curbside for your airline, doesn't DME stop at a central point on level one? Again, more time needed.

 

[bradk]

even so, my point is the most a private car will get you is an hour more. and most private cars is only 30 mins more.

 

[CleveRocks]

A private car takes you directly from your pickup to the airport. DME may stop at 2 or 3 resorts, so they have to build in more time. I believe a private car will drop you off right at curbside for your airline, doesn't DME stop at a central point on level one? Again, more time needed.

DME makes 2 stops at the airport, one on the A side and one on the B side (if there are guests using airlines on both sides).

Regardless of how many resorts the bus stops at en route to the airport, and regardless of how many stops in makes AT the airport, the bottom line is that DME picks up 2.75-3 hours before a flight, and most car services pick up 2.5 hours before, maybe 2 hours before if you're lucky.

The number of stops doesn't matter in terms of pure time. In terms of pure time, a car service or taxi will give you somewhere between 15 minutes to one hour of additional time.