ME wait time

[sydprincess]

After you check into the ME counter and are on the bus (for your arrival), how does the loading of the bus work? Will the driver leave once you’re on? Do you have to wait for the bus to be full? Do they leave on the hour every hour? Just wondering how long we should expect to wait before we heads towards our hotel. Thanks!

 

[Missytara]

Expect an average of 70 - 90 minutes from the time you deboard the plane to get to your resort.

They do normally wait for the bus to fill up on regular times. At busy holidays, like when I arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving, they are so busy getting people back to the airport, they do not wait for the bus to fill up. But normally you will wait for the bus to fill up.

There is no set order or amount of stops - it can vary depending on how many people they are transporting and where the needs are.

 

[sydprincess]

So, say my flight arrives at 10:30, and there aren’t a whole lot of other flights arriving until 11:30. We will have to wait that full hour before even leaving? Once you check in and if you see the bus is empty, do they allow you to get off and get something to eat, etc? My little ones will have a hard time waiting that long, and I want to help them be as least miserable as possible.

 

[maxiesmom]

So, say my flight arrives at 10:30, and there aren’t a whole lot of other flights arriving until 11:30. We will have to wait that full hour before even leaving? Once you check in and if you see the bus is empty, do they allow you to get off and get something to eat, etc? My little ones will have a hard time waiting that long, and I want to help them be as least miserable as possible.

You shouldn't have to wait that long. I think the most we have ever waited was 30 minutes, and that was at 11:30 at night.

If you are worried about the kiddies being hungry, you can always stop and eat before getting on the bus. You don't have to rush over and hop on one.

 

[Alesia]

So, say my flight arrives at 10:30, and there aren’t a whole lot of other flights arriving until 11:30. We will have to wait that full hour before even leaving? Once you check in and if you see the bus is empty, do they allow you to get off and get something to eat, etc? My little ones will have a hard time waiting that long, and I want to help them be as least miserable as possible.

The buses aren't supposed to wait more than about 20 minutes.

Once you are on the bus, you can't leave to get something to eat. It really shouldn't take too long. Most people are at their resort within 90 minutes of stepping off the plane.

 

[TaraPA]

It has varied greatly for us every trip, so there's no set answer to your question. We've walked right up to the check-in counter, gotten in line, got right on the bus & left within 5 minutes....other times we've had 15-min waits just to get to the counter, or 20-min waits in the queue line for the bus, or up to 20 min. actually on the bus. You can't get off the bus once you're checked in & on it, but you can stop at the food court area prior to heading down to ME. You're not assigned to a bus at a particular time - you are just assigned to the "next" one. So you have time to stop to grab something to eat. The busses (in our experiences only) have run about every 20 min. so you shouldn't have to wait an hour for one.

 

[skiingfast]

Where the DME desk is you don't want to check in and go to get food. Most likely you would miss your bus because the resturaunts aren't close. Either stop as you get off the plane and into the terminal or bring a snack to nibble on as you make your way through the airport..

PS you are not allowed to eat on the bus.

 

[irishtigger]

I have taken the ME 6 times and I have never had to wait for the bus to be filled from the time I have gotten to the line to the time our bus left was maybe 20 minutes. In Feb of 09 there were 9 people on the bus we got on they loaded whatever they needed on the bottom and we left. 70 -90 minutes is awful to make people wait to leave. I mean your going to Disney you want get on and go

 

[goofy4tink]

70-90 mins is the average time from your gate to your resort..NOT the time on the bus!!!

I have used DME more times than I can remember at this point. Only one time have I waited for more than 15 mins on the bus....we were among the first on the bus, and then waited about 23 mins. Yes, I counted!!! Most of the time it is much less than that though. I have gotten on the bus, found a seat and the driver closed the door!! And the bus wasn't close to full yet.

 

[jamstew]

I always stop for something to eat or drink before I go down to Level 1 to check in. The longest I've ever had to sit on the bus before it left was about 20 minutes.