Finding fake flight number issue

[OntFamily]

I have flown with young children.

If I was flying in at midnight, I would not attempt rope drop at MK the next day.

If you get a 7:15 am DME bus, the chances of you making rope drop are slim to none (unless you are staying at a monorail resort). Being on a 7:15am bus (assuming it left MCO by 7:25) meant you woudn't even get to your resort before 8:00am (at the earliest). By the time you checked in (assuming no one in line in front of you, and you used on-line check in), it'd be at least 8:10, and then you'd have to drop your bags will bell services, and then make a mad rush for the bus.

Sounds like a stressful start to a vacation.

 

[jcemom]

I don't think you'll have enough time... unless you're staying at an Epcot resort and are going to Epcot's rope drop, staying at AKL and are going to AK's rope drop, or staying at a monorail resort and are going to MK's rope drop. We have been to our resort and gotten checked in within 45 minutes with DME before... but we have also had it take well over an hour just to get to the resort, plus the wait time to check in. You'd really be cutting it close and rushing, at the least.

Every time I have checked the Hyatt was on the expensive side. I would probably just take a towncar on arrival night (they provide car seats) and stay at WDW. It'd be so much easier.

 

[goofy4tink]

I disagree - DME is for anyone with a WDW Resort reservation that needs transporation from the airport to the Resort and / or back. It doesn't matter how or when you arrive at MCO as long as you are a WDW Resort guest that day and make an advance reservation.

We have done what the OP is thinking of a few times and never had an issue. Most times the DME CM's will book your reservation without a flight number but some of them don't know how to do it. The CRO CM's don't seem to be able to do it without a flight - which IMHO is fine because 99% of folks using DME are arriving by air and immediately going to WDW.

OP - just call the DME folks and let them know your plans although if flights are few & far between when you check in you may be in for a wait. We have never tried to be at the parks for rope drop though esp since you have to check in at the resort first.

If you really want to make rope drop I would consider just taking DME the night before or spending @ $60 +/- for a towncar in the morning.

Good luck

TJ

DME is for anyone arriving at MCO (doesn't matter how they get there) and need to get to a WDW owned resort. The problem is that the OP wants a bus to be there very early in the morning. And DME isn't really set up for that...yes, there will be buses running but they are not nearly as frequent, between the hours of 9pm and 8am as the regular daytime buses. Why? Because there are just fewer people flying into MCO at those times.
The OP can't expect there to be a bus, sitting there, waiting for them to arrive and then drive right off as soon as they are on board. (I am not saying that is what the OP wants, just making a point here!!)

One of two things is a better idea...
1. Stay at the Hyatt that night and use a car service the next morning to the resort.
or
2. Book a value resort for arrival night, take DME there and use a cab to move to the new resort in the morning.

I just wouldn't try for rope drop the morning after arriving late and not getting a full night of sleep....way too rushed.

 

[Lewisc]

We are arriving around midnight and don't want to take the kids on a long bus ride after that so we are staying at the Hyatt on site at MCO. I read here that the Hyatt will take our luggage with our yellow DME tags and get those on a bus for us. The problem I am having is we want to leave around 7:15 am to make it to rope drop that morning. I can only find flights getting in at 6:09 and then 8:30. If no flights are getting in around 7 will a bus even be there? Will we have to wait a long time for more people?

Is there an easier way to find a flight arriving at 7?

I'm sorry my previous posts were written in "shorthand" and my point wasn't clearer.

There are 2 flights that were scheduled to arrive this morning at 6:12 and 6:20. The next bunch of flights arrive around 8a. One issue would be if the 6:12 flights are cancelled or delayed. There would be no reason for DME to have a bus available. The second issue is if when the flights arrive early. Today both flights arrived before 6a. Flights arrive early and DME can dispatch a bus at a 6:15-6:30. Flights arrive late, or are cancelled, and DME doesn't have to dispatch a bus until 8a. Just me but I wouldn't want to get to the DME desk, with tired kids, at 6:15 but have no idea how long I'd be waiting. It's certainly possible DME has a bus, available driver, and decides to be nice. It's also possible DME won't have an available bus/driver at a time no flights are scheduled or DME isn't willing to dispatch a bus for a family that didn't arrive on a flight. There is no way to know in advance if you'll be able to catch a DME bus prior to 8a.

The problem isn't finding a fake flight, the problem is there aren't any flights at the time you require. I gave you the link to the MCOs resource to confirm what you already discovered.

That's the reason I suggested either taking a car service or skipping the Hyatt and taking DME the night you arrive. You want to make the rope drop (MK?). Let the Hyatt get your luggage to DME and take a car service directly to the Contemporary. Walk over the MK. Much more efficient then waiting an unknown amount of time for a DME bus only to have to then wait for a bus from your resort to a theme park. I guess it might make some sense if you're staying at a monorail resort or an EPCOT resort (for EPCOT or DHS rope drop).

Most of us wouldn't start our day that early, after a late night flight, but you know your kids and we don't. I wouldn't want to be waiting an unknown amount of time at the DME desk. Again it's possible DME will have an available driver and vehicle and you'll leave immediately. It's also possible DME will make you wait until real flights with real passengers arrive.

 

[Minnesota!]

Not getting into MCO until midnight, then checking in, getting to your room at the Hyatt. You still won't be sleeping until 1 or so at the earliest. Then getting up and getting ready and making it to a (hopefully) bus at 715 or so. Gives you about 5 hours of sleep. And then you would need to do the whole checking in/getting room thing all over again.

I would hop on the ME at midnight, check in, be in my room (asleep) by 2 or so....and then be able to sleep until 7. Still only 5 hours of sleep...but at least you don't have to do anymore after that! You can just get up, get ready, and go! You would be a LOT more rested and a LOT less rushed/stressed.

I have young kids who love to sleep.....but I would still take them on the bus at midnight.

 

[Wendy5055]

Personally, I would never stay at the airport hotel...but that is just me. I have flown late flights with my dd (then 5...now 7) with my elderly parents in tow and I know it is NOT a party. So I feel what you are saying.

I have learned to make my flight adjustments so that I can arrive a bit earlier...we check into our WDW hotel...have a bite to eat and a swim. You can do the same with the airport hotel. We normally have a character breakfast scheduled for the next morning (not too early, not too late). I don't try to make rope drop until a couple of days after being there...it is not my style. However, the one rope drop we did make in May at the MK was AWESOME!!! But even then...I wasn't sure we would make it and kept the "rope drop" as a wonderful surprise if/when we made them.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to actually go to sleep at our WDW hotel and wake up already there and ready for our wonderful adventure to begin. I can't bring myself to have to actually check-in on our first full real WDW magic filled day. I DO hope that this works for you. and wish I had more to give for input on your baggage transfers and ME questions. I would definately contact ME directly as the other posters have suggested.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[septembermama]

Thank you, my problem has been solved. We are taking an earlier flight b/c we love rope drop!

 

[jcemom]

Thank you, my problem has been solved. We are taking an earlier flight b/c we love rope drop!

Wonderful! I'm happy to hear you were able to get it worked out!