late for Magical Express?

[patrickpiteo]

My question is why even take the chance of missing your plane?

 

[kaytieeldr]

This was in the early-smartphone era (pre-iPhone), and the schedule was changed (permanently, might I add, not a temporary flight delay) while I was at WDW but still several days early and it mailed to my home, so I had no way of knowing. At least at that point, they only asked for my flight number and told me they'd track changes if the airline moved it, and that my departure on DME was based on the scheduled departure of my flight.

So, back in the olden days when it was entirely normal, common, and expected that people would use landlines to do things like reconfirm flight times within 48 hours as advised by the airlines? That aside, making a permanent flight schedule change with zero advance notice is so extremely unusual that I don't think I've ever seen it before.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The busses back to the airport are not like the ones from the airport where you just get on the next one leaving. They schedule them specifically to take exactly a full load- in fact I've never been on one that had even a single empty seat.

I actually was, once! I took DME from SSR to MCO to pick up a rental car, and there were only about fifteen people total on the bus - mid-afternoon on a (I think) Thursday.

 

[jec6613]

So, back in the olden days when it was entirely normal, common, and expected that people would use landlines to do things like reconfirm flight times within 48 hours as advised by the airlines? That aside, making a permanent flight schedule change with zero advance notice is so extremely unusual that I don't think I've ever seen it before.

It is unusual, to say the least, and I've never had it happen before or since. Apparently (I found out later) there was an incident that took several planes out of service, and they re-aligned schedules so they didn't have to cancel any flights.

I checked when I left home, and intentionally left my cell phone at home. I could have run up a phone charge on the room to check the status, but my point was that if they blow it and don't do what they say they will, they do take care of you.

 

[siskaren]

My question is why even take the chance of missing your plane?

People want to maximize their time in the parks, which I get, and they think that 3 hours is too far in advance to be leaving for the airport.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I checked when I left home, and intentionally left my cell phone at home. I could have run up a phone charge on the room to check the statu

Clearly it doesn't matter after all these years :-D but if your hotel was one that charged for toll-free calls, there would have been an alternative on property.

 

[sam_gordon]

Assuming everything goes PERFECT...

* 30 minutes from resort to MCO
* 30 minutes through security
* 30 minutes from bus to gate (not counting security)

So leaving 2 hours before your flight means arriving at the gate ~10 minutes before boarding. Again, that's if everything is PERFECT. Some resorts get picked up an 2:45 before your flight (it's 3 hours +/- 15 minutes). So if you wait an hour, that means getting picked up 1:45 before your flight. Add the 90 minutes above, and you're at the gate 15 minutes before departure, IF things go perfect.

I agree... set multiple alarms...
* Bedside
* Wake up call
* Cell phone (or more than one) across the room so you have to get out of bed to silence it.

 

[seashoreCM]

You can always reselect your Magical Express reservation on the morning of the day before the day you will go home. This comes after the 48 hour suggested time to call your airline to reconfirm your flight home. Simply go down to the front desk before commencing your day's activities. Now, you should retrieve the new confirmation paper in person as soon as that is available, which could be mid-afternoon.

Should you receive an even later flight change notice, Magical Express has been good at assigning you an earlier bus back to the airport upon your request for that too. Here you may arbitrarily be given a bus 3-1/2 or 4 hours before your flight because there was no room on the 3 hour bus.

For those with an afternoon or evening flight who think that leaving your resort 3 hours before it is wasting too much time, try this. Skip your last on site meal. That will free up some park time. Grab a Mickey bar if you really get hungry. Then do the missed meal at the airport at the little food court after security and after the airport tram ride.

 

[paigemitchell859]

Arrived home this morning. I took everyone's advice and showed up at my schedule 4:15 am time. We made several stops at other resorts. My family had time to check in, eat breakfast, go through security, use the restroom, and it was time to board! Glad I asked.

 

[patrickpiteo]

Awesome glad all worked out

 

[vicarrieous]

Arrived home this morning. I took everyone's advice and showed up at my schedule 4:15 am time. We made several stops at other resorts. My family had time to check in, eat breakfast, go through security, use the restroom, and it was time to board! Glad I asked.

How was leaving at 4:15? This is going to be us in November. Well 4:55am. We chose a flight leaving about 8 getting home about 10am because it was non stop and we will still have a 3.5 hour drive. Is it that painful?

We will be doing it with a 5 and 2 year old. I think there is one other non stop leaving at 3:30 and getting in about 5:40pm. It gives us more time at disney but puts us driving home and getting home much later.

Any advice/thoughts?

 

[dis_guy]

I'm glad to hear you had a relaxing time on your departure.

Our first trip to WDW was booked by my FIL. He thought we'd all want to be home early (on a Sunday) so we could get ready for work on Monday so he had us on a 6 AM departure. We were on that bus at 3 AM. To make it worse, our home airport was in middle of a blizzard and the plane slid off the end of the runway because it couldn't stop. Add an hour stuck on the plane, two hours to get the bags off the plane and another 1.5 hours to get through Canada Customs. By the time we got home, we were done! Needless to say we weren't exactly in good shape to start the work week. Now we choose much less tiring departure times.

 

[Lewisc]

A poster on another board said a passenger who never missed a flight is a passenger who's wasted to much time in airports thorough the years. That's not a common philosophy.

DME plans on getting you to the airport in about an hour. DME buses don't speed. Figure 40 minutes if are the second stop at MCO. The other 20 minutes allows for stops at other resorts and inevitable delays. Resort pickups are 10 minutes apart . That's 10 minutes to load passengers, luggage,secure any ECV and drive to the next resort. Driver might wind up waiting a few minuted for a guest jogging over to the bus or waiting for stored luggage.

TSA precheck is never guaranteed.

Luggage check in must be completed 45 or 60 minutes prior to flight. That's computer enforced.

People who use a taxi can get an extra 45 minutes or so of park time or sleep

 

[goofy4tink]

A poster on another board said a passenger who never missed a flight is a passenger who's wanted too much time in airports thorough the years. That's not a common philosophy.

DME plans on getting you to the airport in about an hour. DME buses don't speed. Figure 40 minutes if are the second stop at MCO. The other 20 minutes allows for stops at other resorts and inevitable delays. Resort pickups are 10 minutes apart . That's 10 minutes to load passengers, luggage,secure any ECV and drive to the next resort. Driver might wind up waiting a few minuted for a guest jogging over to the bus or waiting for stored luggage.

TSA precheck is never guaranteed.

Luggage check in must be completed 45 or 60 minutes prior to flight. That's computer enforced.

People who use a taxi can get an extra 45 minutes or so of park time or sleep

I've heard that philosophy too!!! And it's one I just can't wrap my head around. Really, what use is an addtl 90 mins at your resort when compared to the stress of worrying about being late for your flight? Even when I'm flying out of an airport that is 30 mins from my home, and an incredibly small airport, I still arrive there at least 90 mins prior to departure. Only one commercial airline flying out, so no need to get there 2 hrs prior!!!!

 

[dis_guy]

A poster on another board said a passenger who never missed a flight is a passenger who's wasted to much time in airports thorough the years.

Maybe if you travel a lot for work which means that the company is paying for the flight (and hotel if you miss a flight), and is probably on a business/first class ticket with priority access to those things the rest of us stand in line waiting for. I know someone who travels like this and at first blush it seems luxurious but in exchange for that first class flight he is expected to hit the ground running (working within an hour of arrival) and continue until his trip back to the airport, sometimes with minimal rest. He has had numerous trips where he seldom gets to his hotel room except to shower and change before flying off somewhere else. As a recreational traveler, I don't envy people like that at all.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

Maybe if you travel a lot for work which means that the company is paying for the flight (and hotel if you miss a flight), and is probably on a business/first class ticket with priority access to those things the rest of us stand in line waiting for. I know someone who travels like this and at first blush it seems luxurious but in exchange for that first class flight he is expected to hit the ground running (working within an hour of arrival) and continue until his trip back to the airport, sometimes with minimal rest. He has had numerous trips where he seldom gets to his hotel room except to shower and change before flying off somewhere else. As a recreational traveler, I don't envy people like that at all.

This is pretty much my dad during certain times of the year. He is a sports writer for one of the local newspaper companies here. He covered the Blackhawks during the playoffs this year (and the last 5 years) and was constantly on planes because he wouldn't be spending more than a few days, if that, out of town. With how many games are played in such a short amount of time, he traveled a lot. He pretty much bypasses security at O'Hare (probably because he's been doing his job for 20+ years and only ever takes a carry-on). When he covers the Bears he only travels every weekend they play away unless it's a Monday night or Thursday night game. Many of my friends who like sports are envious, but I sure would hate having to travel so much in such a short amount of time.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Maybe if you travel a lot for work which means that the company is paying for the flight (and hotel if you miss a flight), and is probably on a business/first class ticket with priority access to those things the rest of us stand in line waiting for. I know someone who travels like this and at first blush it seems luxurious but in exchange for that first class flight he is expected to hit the ground running (working within an hour of arrival) and continue until his trip back to the airport, sometimes with minimal rest. He has had numerous trips where he seldom gets to his hotel room except to shower and change before flying off somewhere else. As a recreational traveler, I don't envy people like that at all.

Thanks so much! That used to be DH before he retired, and it really grated on my nerves when people said "But he gets to travel first class-he's so lucky!"