How early to leave park?

[la79al]

If our flight is at 7:20p, we have to get DME by 4:20. If we are spending that day in Epcot, what time should we leave the park in order to get to Pop in time to get DME?

 

[seashoreCM]

I would shoot for exiting the turnstiles at 2:45.
This would allow leeway for something unexpected like another bathroom break for a kid (and don't actually get to the turnstiles by 2:45) or finding the first bus back to PopC full and having to wait for another one.

If 3:30 rolls 'round and you're not out the turnstiles, grab a cab back to PopC instead of taking the bus.

 

[debbiedana]

You will be notified of your pick up time. I will be somewhere around 4:20, but could be earlier. Be prepared for that.

It's about a 15 minute bus ride, but you have to take into account that you might just miss a bus. You will also need to retrieve your luggage from bell services.

I think you should be ok with an hour before pick up time. I'm interested to hear other opinions.

 

[MariDisney]

Because your options are pretty limited if you miss your bus (you could take a cab) I would err significantly on the side of safety. If you need to be on ME at 4:20, I'd leave the park no later than 2:45 or 3:00.

 

[pooch]

5:15 flight - 2:15ish pickup. How long can I shop in DTD? We will be at Pop & can check bags thru at RAC (I hope - SWA) so will not need to pick up our bags this time and will have our carry ons (beachbag sized handbags) with us. I'm guessing that 1PM will be enough?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Honestly, I'd shoot for 12:15 or 12:30 from Downtown Disney. Bus service is notoriously slow. It - specifically the PI/WestSide stop - is also where drivers tend to change shifts. That can slow you down even further. Also, your assigned DME pickup time is when the bus leaves your resort - not when it gets there.

Anyway, though - you don't want to be stuck sitting on a bus at Downtown Disney waiting for the new driver when your DME bus is loading at Pop. Err on the side of caution.

 

[seashoreCM]

You might also try to avoid Downtown Disney as your last activity before going home on a rainy day.

If Typhoon Lagoon closes suddenly, you could be sitting on a Downtown Disney bus back to your resort -- sitting in traffic halfway down the Typhoon Lagoon ramp.

At least if you got stuck somewhere at Downtown Disney, you could hop off of the bus and hail a cab.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

If our flight is at 7:20p, we have to get DME by 4:20. If we are spending that day in Epcot, what time should we leave the park in order to get to Pop in time to get DME?

In the past, DME coaches at from POP to the airport have been scheduled at :15 and :45 bast the hour. If that's still the case you are likely to be scheduled for a 4:15 p.m. pick-up at POP. In that case, you should be at POP's DME pickup location at 4:00 p.m.

I agree with seashoreCM about "exiting the [Epcot] turnstiles at 2:45." And I agree with MariDisney that it's good to "err significantly on the side of safety."

Early- to mid-afternoon, there can be long waits between buses at Epcot. You could get a bus right away, but you might wait at the bus stop 20-30 minutes, or even longer if there's a glitch. If you're lucky enough to get a bus right away, relax or have a snack at POP.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

5:15 flight - 2:15ish pickup. How long can I shop in DTD? We will be at Pop & can check bags thru at RAC (I hope - SWA) so will not need to pick up our bags this time and will have our carry ons (beachbag sized handbags) with us. I'm guessing that 1PM will be enough?

The bus service at Downtown Disney can be pretty bad during the day. I've waited a full hour to go to BWV, and I've waited a full hour at Typhoon Lagoon (for a bus whose previous stops had been at Downtown Disney) to go to OKW.

Usually, WDW bus service is better than that. However, when you can't afford to be late, I would plan for a worst-case scenario.

 

[pooch]

estimate of the taxi fare from DTD to POP?