ME Return to Airport???

MICKEEP

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 12, 2000
Messages
2,136
We have a 3:25PM flight. What is the latest time we can safely schedule our return ME?
 
ME will tell you when they will pick you up. You will receive a letter on your resort door the day before you leave with your return instructions and return time. It will probably be no later than 12:30 pm.

Carol
 
DME has to allow enough time for stops at other resorts as well as multiple stops at MCO. They also have to allow for delays which might cause you to be picked up 15-20 minutes after your scheduled pick up time.

If you want to squeeze an extra hour at WDW you'll have to take a towncar or cab.
 
Carol
You say it will be no later than 12:30. How early, do you think, it could possibly be?

I would not want to spend too much time at the airport so I wouldn't want to be picked up any earlier than 12:00.




Who recalls what their pickup and flight times were?
 

Just got back last night. As others have mentioned on other threads...they will pick you up at your resort 3 hours before your departure time. You will not want to leave any later than that. Our ME bus stopped at 4 different resorts before going to the airport. It took about 1 1/2 hours from the time we got picked up until the time we got dropped off at the airport. ME is nice....but it was nice because it was free. Don't know if I would pay for it. It would depend on how much they charge.

Have fun!!!
 
I think the buses run every 20-30 minutes. I'd expect your assigned pickup time will be 3 hours before your flight + or - 10-15 minutes. They may round down at a resort like POP that's almost always the last stop before MCO. My pickup time was 3 hours 10 minutes from the AKL.

I'd expect your pickup time would be between 12:00 and 12:30 depending on your resort.

If you don't like the pickup time you always have the option of paying for a cab or towncar. Probably around $50.
 
On 10/25, we were picked up at Pop at 5:00 for an 8:10 scheduled flight. We were at the airport in about 20 minutes. There were super long lines at the x-ray check, but we were still done about 6:15. We were stuck in the aiport for over 2 hours because our flight didn't leave until almost 9 due to weather back here in NJ.

If you don't want to waste time in the airport, I'd suggest paying for a town car.
 
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Your return time will be schedule for you at 2:45 to 3:00 hours before your flight departs.
Chances are you would not be allowed on an earlier bus (I've seen DME passengers who tried, turned away).
If you choose to leave your resort any closer to your flight departure time, you will be responsible for your own transportation.

You will not necessarily spend a lot of time at the airport, and most assuredly not a lot of wasted time (at least not attributable to DME, but that's a story for another time :)

Depending on where you're staying, your bus needs to load the passengers from your resort and then possibly pick up passengers at one, two, three or even four (unlikely but possible) other resorts. This time has to include loading luggage under the bus for passengers not flying participating airlines.

You need to allow time to get to the airport. What if there's an accident? What if there's just a lot of traffic?

You need to allow time for the bus to drop off passengers at two or four stops around the airport, and for the bus driver to unload luggage at each stop.

If you're flying a non-participating airline, you need to allow time to check in for your flight.

You need to allow potentially MUCH time to go through Security.

Please understand, when I say "you", I mean all DME passengers and not you specifically. But DME serves a large number of Guests and can't provide the individualized service some Guests may need/want/prefer/expect.

You (this time the OP :)) might want to look into a car service or cab for your return to the airport.
 














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