How early for DME for 7:30 A.M. flight?

[MickeyMickey]

We have several young children, and just wondering how early we will have to get up?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We have several young children, and just wondering how early we will have to get up?

Your DME pickup time will be 3 hours before your scheduled departure (plus or minus 15 minutes) — so, with a 7:30 a.m. flight, plan on a scheduled pickup between 4:15 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. You should be at the pickup location around 15 minutes before your scheduled DME pickup.

How early you have to get up depends on how long it takes for your family to get ready. But be aware that you may have to depart from your room before 4:00 a.m. Also, you won't be able to use Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) to obtain you boarding passes and to check your luggage because the RAC desk doesn't open until 5:00 a.m.

Early morning flights sound like a great idea — until you calculate how early you have to get up.

 

[beccasmom]

They will schedule your pickup for about 4:30 am. That is one of the less attractive aspects of DME and early flights. Been there, done that - twice! My pickup up time in June for a 6:00 am flight was 3:20....never did go to bed! Also, the bus may be picking up folks at other resorts.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

According to MousePlanet, due to the increased security measures Magical Express pick ups will now be scheduled for FOUR hours prior to departure. I am not sure if this applies across the board to all departure times, but be prepared in case it does!!

FWIW - when we came home on August 12 there were NO delays. We checked our bags at AKL, got on the ME bus 3 hours before our flight, and had about an hour to sit at the gate before we boarded. 3 hours was plenty of time, and that was TWO DAYS after they made the new rules. It was NOT a problem. I was just sure they would pick us up earlier since the airlines hadn't really had time to get into a groove yet, but the 3 hour window was fine. Hopefully ME will monitor the situation and not just pick everybody up 4 hours ahead for the rest of forever!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

According to MousePlanet, due to the increased security measures Magical Express pick ups will now be scheduled for FOUR hours prior to departure. I am not sure if this applies across the board to all departure times, but be prepared in case it does!!

MousePlanet is mistaken. I called DME Guest Services yesterday at 1-866-599-0951 to update my flight information. I asked about the pickup four hours before flight time. Here's what I was told:

• The DME pickup for domestic flights is three hours before scheduled flight time.
  
• The DME pickup for international flights is four hours before scheduled flight time.
  
• For one day only, when the new restrictions on liquids and gels went into effect, the DME pickup for domestic flights was four hours before scheduled flight time to allow security to go through bags to dispose of liquids and gels. Now that the new rules are known by most passengers, three hours is once again sufficient.

 

[zurgswife]

We were picked up on Monday Aug 21 and the pick up time was indeed 3 hrs prior not 4...and we had no problems with lines.....

 

[dreamalittledream]

Ok, to clarify the timing, if I have a 1:30 flight, I can expect to be going at 10:30? Now, will I have time for a CM breakfast at 9:10 or should I cancel it? and if I have all my luggage ready, can I drop it at DME desk or bell serices before breakfast aroung 9 am?

 

[CleveRocks]

Ok, to clarify the timing, if I have a 1:30 flight, I can expect to be going at 10:30? Now, will I have time for a CM breakfast at 9:10 or should I cancel it? and if I have all my luggage ready, can I drop it at DME desk or bell serices before breakfast aroung 9 am?

MAYBE.

MAYBE.

Part of this depends on whether or not you are using an airline that participates in Resort Airline Check-in (RAC). That will save you a few minutes. Part also depends on how much rushing and time pressure stresses you.

If you can't use RAC, you'll have to deal with your luggage one way or another. One method is to have Bell Services pick it up and store it, or to bring it to Bell Services and have them store it for you. The problem is, they are often busy and you can't expect them to retrieve your stored bags for you ASAP, and if they can't get your bags for you in time, your DME bus will leave without you.

It is recommended that you be ready for the bus 15 minutes before its scheduled arrival. Also, keep in mind that "3 hours" is a loose figure. The aim is actually 2.75-3 hours, but it's possible it could be 3 hours and 20 minutes. There's no way to know until the morning of the day before your departure, when you will get DME paperwork hanging from your doorknob (if you're leaving on the morning of the 10th, you will be notified on the morning of the 9th).

Also, depending on how far your room is, you have the option of keeping your bags in your room until after breakfast, since check-out time is 11:00 a.m. If you don't need to go to the Front Desk to check out (I never have), then your room is assumed to still be yours right up 'til 11:00 a.m., and thus you could "store" your luggage there.

 

[dreamalittledream]

ok, thank you for the insight. It helps clarify a little. we are on USAir, not participatoing right? and staying in the tower. I didn't know if you could drop your bags early with a DME desk. We can usually do a character Bfast in an hour if we are seated right taway. There will just be 4 of us. I guess we'll have to wait until the day before to see what time we have to go and if we don't have time, I'll cancel the breakfast then.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Also, you won't be able to use Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) to obtain you boarding passes and to check your luggage because the RAC desk doesn't open until 5:00 a.m.

Early morning flights sound like a great idea — until you calculate how early you have to get up.

How far out must your flight be to use check-in and baggage check at the resort at 5am?

 

[CleveRocks]

How far out must your flight be to use check-in and baggage check at the resort at 5am?

The rule, which I understand is a TSA rule and not a Disney rule, is you can't check in any later than 3 hours prior to your flight, and no earlier than 12 hours prior to your flight.

RAC desks are usually open 5 AM to 1 PM, So anyone with a flight that leaves MCO before 8 AM can't use RAC at all. The 1 PM closing time shouldn't matter -- since you can check in there up to 12 hours in advance, that is good for people whose flights would leave MCO as late as 1 AM.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ok, to clarify the timing, if I have a 1:30 flight, I can expect to be going at 10:30? Now, will I have time for a CM breakfast at 9:10 or should I cancel it? and if I have all my luggage ready, can I drop it at DME desk or bell serices before breakfast aroung 9 am?

Yes, that will be your timing....you can take your bags to Bell Services and leave them there until it's time to leave. But, I would almost be tempted to leave them in your room, since checkout isn't until 11, right? I would get to CMs early for your ADR...try about 20-30 minutes early. We have usually been able to be seated early on several occasions.
If you do leave your bags with Bell Services...be prepared to head there about 15 or so minutes before you need to be at the DME bus stop. It takes BS a bit of time to dig out each person's luggage..that was the reason I thought it might be a good idea to just leave it in your room.

 

[traces7]

MousePlanet is mistaken. I called DME Guest Services yesterday at 1-866-599-0951 to update my flight information. I asked about the pickup four hours before flight time. Here's what I was told:

• The DME pickup for domestic flights is three hours before scheduled flight time.
  
• The DME pickup for international flights is four hours before scheduled flight time.
  
• For one day only, when the new restrictions on liquids and gels went into effect, the DME pickup for domestic flights was four hours before scheduled flight time to allow security to go through bags to dispose of liquids and gels. Now that the new rules are known by most passengers, three hours is once again sufficient.

I was curious about this too. I had received a Passporter email newsletter last week saying DME was picking up 4 hours ahead of flight time. I hope it still is 3 hours! We go in October, so we'll see!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I was curious about this too. I had received a Passporter email newsletter last week saying DME was picking up 4 hours ahead of flight time. I hope it still is 3 hours! We go in October, so we'll see!

Call DME Guest Services yourself at 1-866-599-0951, if you're curious.