How often does DME run?

[MommaBarb]

We're flying into Ft Myers for a few days and driving up to WDW. Last year, we got a great deal at Alamo and returned the car to the car care center. This year, there aren't any deals. We'd like to bid out on Priceline, but can't do that with the car care center as an option for drop off. Last year, we were told we couldn't do Magical Express if we didn't fly in, but apparently that isn't true, according to the CM I spoke to this morning. We just need proof of our reservation and we can carry our own bags with us.

But, how do we make this work? We don't want to be stuck waiting at the airport forever because we just missed the bus. Are the buses resort specific? We'll be locked into a time because of when we need to return our car anyway, but I just thought I'd ask here before calling Disney again.

Thanks!

 

[pigletto]

We're flying into Ft Myers for a few days and driving up to WDW. Last year, we got a great deal at Alamo and returned the car to the car care center. This year, there aren't any deals. We'd like to bid out on Priceline, but can't do that with the car care center as an option for drop off. Last year, we were told we couldn't do Magical Express if we didn't fly in, but apparently that isn't true, according to the CM I spoke to this morning. We just need proof of our reservation and we can carry our own bags with us.

But, how do we make this work? We don't want to be stuck waiting at the airport forever because we just missed the bus. Are the buses resort specific? We'll be locked into a time because of when we need to return our car anyway, but I just thought I'd ask here before calling Disney again.

Thanks!

In my experience you won't wait forever. They run pretty regularly though I don't think there's an exact schedule I would say we've never waited more than half an hour at the most.

 

[goofy4tink]

Just be sure to prebook your DME ride. Then, when you get to the DME area, you will be sent to the appropriate bus line. I have had wait times of anywhere between 2 and 25 mins. The buses are not scheduled, so it's pretty much luck of the draw.
You could walk to the bus line and find it boarding the bus right then. Or you could just miss a bus and have to wait a bit for the next one. I find the midday buses seem to come more frequently than off peak buses do.

Also, since you're coming from the south, you may want to stop at your WDW resort, drop your bags off as well as anyone in the family that doesn't have to be in the car for return, then continue on to MCO to return the car. Only one person has to be there to return it and then ride DME back to the airport. Then, the other parent can be getting settled in at the resort and maybe going for a quick swim with the kids.