Late night DME

[parkluvr]

I have never utilized DME, but I am contemplating trying it for the first time on a family trip in March. I know that usually DME buses service about 3 resorts, so you often making a couple of stops before arriving at your resort. We will probably be flying in late(around 12:45 A.M.). I know we will have to get our own luggage at baggage claim, but my big concern is whether Disney will try to economize and have one bus for 5 or 6 resorts? I know there probably won't be a lot of people around this time and it doesn't make sense to run a big bus for 4 to 10 people, but I really don't look forward to possibly stopping at like 5 other resorts before being dropped off at 2 or 3 in the morning. Anybody else fly in this late and have experience to share??

 

[maxiesmom]

I have never utilized DME, but I am contemplating trying it for the first time on a family trip in March. I know that usually DME buses service about 3 resorts, so you often making a couple of stops before arriving at your resort. We will probably be flying in late(around 12:45 A.M.). I know we will have to get our own luggage at baggage claim, but my big concern is whether Disney will try to economize and have one bus for 5 or 6 resorts? I know there probably won't be a lot of people around this time and it doesn't make sense to run a big bus for 4 to 10 people, but I really don't look forward to possibly stopping at like 5 other resorts before being dropped off at 2 or 3 in the morning. Anybody else fly in this late and have experience to share??

Yes, they do put more resorts on one bus line that late at night. My only late-ish experience was landing at 11 pm. And we were not at our resort check in desk until 1:30 am. No way would I ever use DME late at night ever again. Towncar all the way!

 

[elaine amj]

We always fly in late. I'm always surprised at just how many people arrive late. We've never had any problems using DME or excessive waits. Emjoy!

 

[Coloradomom]

We too have had the late arrival, around midnight, and stopped at least at 4 resorts before getting to ours. We were so frustrated. Now we just stay at the airport Hyatt and get up early. We are usually at ME by 7:30 am and at our resort no later than 8:30 and that includes waiting for the bus to leave. Works much better for us.

 

[magicaldisney]

We have had the same experience as maxiesmom with a late landing and a very late arrival at the resort. We said we would NEVER do it again. Alas, here I am in less than two weeks going to do it again. I dread it so much, but it was the cheapest flights we could get and by quite a lot so we thought we'd try a late arrival once again.

The problem for us last time was not only the number of stops before arriving to our resort (which we know will be last for us this year because we are staying at AKV) but we sat on that bus for over an hour waiting for more people to come and fill it up.

Edited to ask maxiesmom: do you know can we get a Mears shuttle without scheduling it in advance? If we decide not to use DME last minute after landing, are there options to get us to the resort without advance reservations?

 

[Alesia]

Edited to ask maxiesmom: do you know can we get a Mears shuttle without scheduling it in advance?

You can, but at that time of night, Mears will almost certainly just put you on the same DME bus that you would be on anyway, you'll just have to pay for it.

If we decide not to use DME last minute after landing, are there options to get us to the resort without advance reservations?

Your only other option is a taxi.

 

[magicaldisney]

That's what I thought. Thanks for the info!

 

[totallytigger]

We too have had the late arrival, around midnight, and stopped at least at 4 resorts before getting to ours. We were so frustrated. Now we just stay at the airport Hyatt and get up early. We are usually at ME by 7:30 am and at our resort no later than 8:30 and that includes waiting for the bus to leave. Works much better for us.[/QUOTE

We arrive around 1250am and have decided to stay at the Hyatt. We did the same priot to a DCL trip and it was great.

 

[hughjulia]

We too have had the late arrival, around midnight, and stopped at least at 4 resorts before getting to ours. We were so frustrated. Now we just stay at the airport Hyatt and get up early. We are usually at ME by 7:30 am and at our resort no later than 8:30 and that includes waiting for the bus to leave. Works much better for us.

Do you tell Disney that you won't be taking the bus till the next morning? Although I guess if the fight arrives at 12:30 AM it really isn't the next morning. What if the flight arrived at 11 PM, would you be able to take a bus the next morning without bothering to tell Disney?

 

[1025cruise]

You just find a flight that arrives roughly when you expect to be on the bus and tell them that.

 

[elaine amj]

You can always call a taxi or uber. I think it's like $60 or so on uber if you change your mind. But give DME a chance - try asking at the counter (although hard to say how much they will tell you).

I don't usually stress about late arrivals. I will get to my resort when I get there. I love late arrivals because I know I have a full day at Disney instead of a half day. I don't feel like I am "wasting" a day travelling.