late for Magical Express?

[paigemitchell859]

Just curious...
If you're supposed to be at the ME 3 hours prior to flight time, what happens if you arrive late. Say, 2 hrs prior???

 

[Alesia]

You'll be paying for a cab to the airport and you're taking a real risk of missing your flight.

I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[patrickpiteo]

I wouldn't do it or recommend it...

 

[disney world dreamer]

you're finding your own way to the airport.

once someone tried to sneak on DME when they were supposed to be on the previous bus and this one was completely full as it usually is and the group was turned away.

 

[mom2rtk]

They won't wait or come looking for you. I suppose if there is room on the next one, they would try to get you on, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[Goldilocks07]

LOL.
This is US.

Disney REALLY frowns upon it- you just have to tell them you understand the risk and are willing to take that chance.
But basically it means you are taking it upon yourself to get to the airport- they don't guarantee you will make your flight. That's all.
So it's your own risk, to take the 2 hour window instead of 3. You never know how many stops the bus has to make or how long it will take to get everyone loaded up on the bus at the remaining stops.

IMO, you will be JUST fine.

However, now that we have a 4 year old, we allow for the extra time and just deal with that long window. WE ALWAYS GET TO THE AIRPORT ON TIME with at least an hour wait (sometimes more) AFTER getting through security- and we always leave on a Sunday (busiest travel day).

Again...your call.

 

[Goldilocks07]

To the others-
This is true, you cannot get on a bus that you don't have a reservation for.

However, you CAN call and request to be on a different bus and get a new reservation. I suggest you do this now, or the day you get there, if you think the bus will be full. We've never experienced a full bus, but we always called and changed our reservation. That you definitely have to do.

 

[ElizabethG]

If you really want the additional time, think about if it is worth paying for a cab. The MDE bus doesn't pick you up and take you directly to the airport. Our last trip home, the bus was full - after it picked up at two other resorts. It took a long time before we left Disney property. It was cutting it close by the time we got through security. However, we didn't have to worry because our flight was delayed by four hours! So, you never know.

 

[bumbershoot]

IMO, you will be JUST fine.

You have obviously never been in a 1.5 hour TSA line at MCO.
Getting TO TSA, 1.5 hour waiting, getting to the monorail, waiting, riding, getting to the gate from the monorail = missing your plane.

Now, I haven't either, but I've had an hour, and I was GLAD that we are major get-to-the-airport-EARLY people.


OP, catch your correct bus or get a taxi or rental car. Of course, with a rental car you're pretty much leaving at the same time, given getting to the car, getting bags from Bell Services, getting to the gas station, getting gas, returning the car, schlepping everything from the rental spot and standing in line to check your bags ....

 

[mousefan73]

Worse are intl flights 4 hrs!!! Don't see why there is a difference, the process at the airport is the same for domestic. I guess the only downside, IF you miss your flight, youmare really screwed as most fly only 1x dailey. But this has nothing to do with MDE.

One year I called MDE and had to argue that 3 hrs was enough time, especially if you know your way around, fly status etc. they changed it. The next year MDE wouldnt budge. So we sit in the food court for 2 hrs and shop.

Maybe MDE is covering itself in case the Tollway has a major issue ( I' m talking not moving for an hour or so) ; are they liable if you miss a flight??? Then there is a difference , cost side, for domestic and intl.

 

[BudgieMama]

You have obviously never been in a 1.5 hour TSA line at MCO.
Getting TO TSA, 1.5 hour waiting, getting to the monorail, waiting, riding, getting to the gate from the monorail = missing your plane.

Now, I haven't either, but I've had an hour, and I was GLAD that we are major get-to-the-airport-EARLY people.

Oh boy, yes!

We got stuck in the worst queue I have ever been in anywhere at MCO waiting to get through security. My husband couldn't believe that that was the longest line we waiting in after a week at WDW. It was very badly managed too, and actually pretty dangerous from a health and safety point of view as well.

Anyway, as we fly internationally, we'd actually asked to go on a slightly earlier DME (had the reservation changed by the front desk) and were very, very glad we had!

 

[Nancyg56]

When you are given your arrival time, that means your departure time. You need to be at DME 15 minutes prior to the time you are give, and I found that out the hard way. Our bus was pulling out as we were strolling in. We were beyond lucky, because the CM called and was able to secure a spot on the next bus, but it was made clear to me that the mistake was mine, and if they could not help me, I was responsible for getting us to the airport.
You can take it to the bank I never made that error again!
Honestly, there is no way I would add any stress on a departure day in order to save one hour. It was the worst feeling ever!

 

[tseitel]

We have had it both ways. Sitting in the airport food court & looking in shops for 2 hours, and once literally running to our gate, making it just as boarding started. ( with Magical Express ). I would rather be safe than sorry. We have waited in some horrible Security lines at MCO

 

[dwbrewster]

I would definitely give yourself the full 3 hour window and not switch to 2 hours. As others have mentioned MDE does not leave directly from your resort to the airport (unless of course you're last on the route!) and MCO is not your routine TSA security line. I travel a lot with business and if it's a non-Disney trip I would never choose to fly out of there because it is just THAT bad with all of the traveling families.

 

[paigemitchell859]

I'm not planning on being late. However, my ME arrival time is 4:15 AM. Wow. What was I thinking! ?!? I doubt that will be the busiest time for ME or for the lines at the airport. But I'm not one to take chances. I just keep thinking what IF we oversleep a little and were not there exactly 3 hrs prior. I guess I'd be taking my chances then.

 

[jbish]

At that hour, you're on the first bus of the day. If you aren't on time for your MDE bus, there's no guarantee that it will be there waiting for you 5 minutes later, for example. I believe that's the answer to your question. Also, at that hour of the day, I'd be worried that your MDE bus, and probably the next one, will make multiple stops to pick up people - I would guess there aren't nearly as many flights at that time, so they may make stops at other resorts. So even though you leave your resort at 4:15 am, you may not make it out of WDW property for another 30-45 minutes. That's why they build in so much buffer time. (Hopefully you wouldn't have crazy lines at security, though, once you got to MCO - but you NEVER know.)

Last time, we missed MDE. We got stuck waiting for a bus at DTD and were too late. Cab cost us $90. No joke. I was fuming. Not a good way to end a WDW visit.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm not planning on being late. However, my ME arrival time is 4:15 AM. Wow. What was I thinking! ?!? I doubt that will be the busiest time for ME or for the lines at the airport. But I'm not one to take chances. I just keep thinking what IF we oversleep a little and were not there exactly 3 hrs prior. I guess I'd be taking my chances then.

You are assigned to a specific bus on the way back to the airport. They only send buses when they have guests to pick up, so there is no guarantee there will be a shortly after yours.

Also, you will need to check in at the airport that early in the day, you cannot use Resort Airline Check In. And the lines at MCO are usually long, even early in the morning. No way would I try to cut down the time needed.

By the way, if you use ME, you need to be at the bus stop ready to go 15 minutes before the time you are given. That is the time your bus is departing the resort. If you are late and miss it, you will be paying your own way to get to the airport. And risking missing your flight.

 

[maxiesmom]

Have you given any thought to staying at the hotel in the airport the night before? Many people do. Pick a late flight the night before, and tell Magical Express that is your flight out. They will take you to the airport that night. Then in the morning you can walk down, check in for your flight, and head to your gate.

 

[dizzyinwdw]

I travel for business so have been on many flights/airports and the reports on DIS are accurate--even early morning flights, what are usually non-busy days, security is PACKED! We arrived 1.5 hrs early for a 7:25 am flight and barely made it to the gate after waiting in security....personally I would rather wait in the airport than miss my flight. Other options include PP suggestion of hotel at the airport OR you can try to change your flight (depends on airline what the fees might be) if you want to leave later in the day.

 

[JimmyBean42]

I'm not planning on being late. However, my ME arrival time is 4:15 AM. Wow. What was I thinking! ?!? I doubt that will be the busiest time for ME or for the lines at the airport. But I'm not one to take chances. I just keep thinking what IF we oversleep a little and were not there exactly 3 hrs prior. I guess I'd be taking my chances then.

I was worried about an early ME arrival time and missing as well. Set the room alarm, then set your phone alarm twice. Once for if you hit it off and don't get up and one for a backup. If you get up the first time the backup is just a nuisance to hit off again and no big deal.