Magical Express departure question

[Adian80]

I was wondering if we can pick up the Magical Express from a different resort than we are staying? We are staying at POFQ, but on the day of our departure we are going to a character breakfast at the Grand Floridian. We would like to be able to check out the Christmas decorations before we head to the airport. Is this possible and how do I go about making it happen? Thanks so much!!

 

[crashbb]

No, you can only get the DME from the resort at which you are staying.

 

[maxiesmom]

Nope, sorry. You have to take DME from the resort at which you are staying. So hopefully you have enough time scheduled in to eat and get back to your resort 3 hours and 15 minutes prior to airline departure time. Otherwise you need to reschedule your ADR.

 

[RMAMom]

Taking a cab from GF to your resort to catch ME would save you a lot of time.

 

[Sandi]

Like the others have said, you have to take ME from the resort at which you're staying. Your idea sounds good until you work out the details and logistics (what would you do with your carry-on luggage? what happens if you decide you don't want to have breakfast at GF on check-out day?, etc.).

 

[seashoreCM]

Shoot to be back at your resort an hour before your Magical Express bus time going back to the airport.

If your last activity at WDW is a meal, it is best to do that meal at the airport, inside security. There is a small food court at the outer end of the airport tram line.

You can ask for a DME bus time more than 3 hours in advance for example allowing more meal time at the airport and this request is always granted. This earlier DME bus becomes your one and only assigned bus.

 

[goofy4tink]

Shoot to be back at your resort an hour before your Magical Express bus time going back to the airport.

If your last activity at WDW is a meal, it is best to do that meal at the airport, inside security. There is a small food court at the outer end of the airport tram line.

You can ask for a DME bus time more than 3 hours in advance for example allowing more meal time at the airport and this request is always granted. This earlier DME bus becomes your one and only assigned bus.

Sorry, but once again I'm going to disagree with that whole 'last meal at the airport' thing. If you are being picked up by DME at noon (for instance), and you want to eat at the GF for a nice last day breakfast, as long as you book it for no later than 9am, you should be fine. I book breakfast at Cape May (Goofy's Beach Blast Breakfast) on our departure day all the time. But, we can walk over there from BW, so it's not as big an issue.

To the OP...welcome to the DIS boards first of all. Secondly, be sure to plan on being back at your resort, POFQ, at least 45 mins prior to the pickup time for DME. You have to be at the bus stop, all ready to go, everyone in the group, with all bags, no less than 15 mins prior to the departure time. That time you are given is the time the bus is due to leave your resort....NOT the time you should arrive at the bus stop.

To be sure that you get back to the resort in plenty of time, I would recommend taking a cab back, after eating. That will cut off at least 45 mins of bus time...drive/wait. And plan on over an hour for your meal...just in case it gets slow.

 

[SAtella]

I don't believe so, sorry.

 

[Adian80]

Thanks so much for all your help. I think we might just take a cab. It would be a really nice way to end our trip. Approximately how much time should I allow for a cab (from the GF to POFQ), and what will it cost?

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks so much for all your help. I think we might just take a cab. It would be a really nice way to end our trip. Approximately how much time should I allow for a cab (from the GF to POFQ), and what will it cost?

I would figure on about $15, plus tip. It shouldn't take more than 15 mins once you leave GF. I would plan on leaving GF about an hour before your DME pickup time...that way you'll have plenty of time to get your stuff together and to the bus stop.

 

[Adian80]

I ended up booking Cape May at 7:30 AM. Our flight leaves at 12:30, so I figure we will have plenty of time if we take a cab. Am I right about that? Cape May is even better for us because it has Goofy, Minnie, and Donald and we won't have visited with them yet. Thanks again for all your help!!

 

[hinodis]

Can someone explain how this works and what happens with my luggage? I have never used the DME before. I will be flying on airtran. Do I check luggage at the airport like I normally do?

 

[Adian80]

I think you will actually check your luggage and check in/print your boarding passes at the resort.

 

[seashoreCM]

For Airtran and several other airlines you can optionally check your bags at the resort, subject to the hours of the check in desk. You need to complete this step at least 3 hours before your flight departure. Hours of the desk are about 5 AM to 1 PM.

Being in the line to check baggage does not count as being on time for the DME bus itself. If you are cutting it close and the bus appears, you may have to leave the baggage line and carry everything to the bus platform

 

[Sandi]

I ended up booking Cape May at 7:30 AM. Our flight leaves at 12:30, so I figure we will have plenty of time if we take a cab. Am I right about that? Cape May is even better for us because it has Goofy, Minnie, and Donald and we won't have visited with them yet. Thanks again for all your help!!

This might be cutting it a little close. With a 12:30 flight departure time, you ME pick up time will be around 9:30. I think you need to estimate that breakfast will take 1 hour (sometimes you luck out and the characters will be at your table early, but I think they allow about 40 minutes or more for them to get around the restaurant -- someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Cape May is smaller, so it might go faster). So, assuming you are seated close to your 7:30 ADR time, you'll be done around 8:30 and a cab should get you back to PO by 9:00. However, that's if everything works perfectly. You have a couple of timing screw ups with the ADR, the cab or anything else, and you might be in trouble. That would make me uncomfortable and I would have trouble enjoying the breakfast.

 

[maxiesmom]

This might be cutting it a little close. With a 12:30 flight departure time, you ME pick up time will be around 9:30. I think you need to estimate that breakfast will take 1 hour (sometimes you luck out and the characters will be at your table early, but I think they allow about 40 minutes or more for them to get around the restaurant -- someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Cape May is smaller, so it might go faster). So, assuming you are seated close to your 7:30 ADR time, you'll be done around 8:30 and a cab should get you back to PO by 9:00. However, that's if everything works perfectly. You have a couple of timing screw ups with the ADR, the cab or anything else, and you might be in trouble. That would make me uncomfortable and I would have trouble enjoying the breakfast.

I have to agree with you. Using your time line the OP only has a 15 minute window for anything that could go wrong. And in that 15 minutes if they have left any bags will bell services, they have to get those, and be ready and waiting at the ME bus stop. I wouldn't be comfortable.

OP Don't forget you need to be at the Magical Express bus stop, ready to go, 15 minutes before your scheduled time. Busses do come early, and if no one is waiting and ready, they do leave. They don't wait around.

 

[Nadjalu]

I have to agree that your new adr is really pushing it.

As the others have said, if your flight leaves at 12:30, ME picks you up 3 hours before. So you have to be ready and waiting for the 9:30am ME bus.

Not sure how you would get in breakfast and get back in time without throwing food down your throat and exit at a dead run.

 

[crashbb]

I'd only do it (with that timing) if I was prepared to pay for a taxi to the airport, in case anything went wrong (knowing that the chance of something going wrong was quite high).