Now that Ive Calmed Down a Bit--- A DME Rant !!!

[tinkerhon]

I blame myself in part because I told myself after our last trip (7/19) that I would request an earlier time for our DME than the one given to us--- for the life of me, I can not understand why Disney continues to leave a 3hr timeframe for departures to MCO-
Especially if the bus is going to make THREE stops before going to the airport -
Yesterday, we had a 4:15PM flt out of MCO---
Assigned a 1:15PM bus--- we were the first pickup--- lot of people, which means a lot a bags/luggage--- we didnt leave the hotel for around 20-30 mins--- next stop was Kidani village--- more ppl --- more baggage --
Next was Coronado Springs---
We didnt arrive at MCO until 2:57--- by the time we were let off the bus, and got our luggage, it was almost 3:15 -
JB terminal is not that close to where we were dropped off--- by the time we arrived at security, we had around 15 to board our flight-
I pleaded with TSA to see if there was anything they could do- Nothing really...other than wait---
We collected our stuff, and I literally went all the way to our gate without putting my sneakers back on-

LUCKILY (and never thought I would say this), our flight was delayed till 5:25PM, due to the inclement weather--

Made me realize (again) why I used to take Florida Town Car !!

 

[Rm4OneMore]

We had a similar situation in June. We were set to have plenty of time to get through security and get a bite to eat before getting on the plane. Unfortunately we were also the first stop on a 3 resort stop before leaving for the airport. After standing in a long line at the security checkpoint, we booked it to the gate. My wife had 15 minutes to sprint to a restaurant and back so the kids could wolf down something before we boarded. The other day Southwest rescheduled our return trip in October which will be 30 minutes later than the original departure time. We've decided not to notify DME in order to give us the extra time.

 

[sam_gordon]

1) Funny to read all of the posts about "Why does DME pick us up so early?" and "Can I put in a fake flight so I can take DME later?" and then see what could actually happen.
2) It's ending in just over 5 months.
3) I agree, knowing they (drivers & pax) now have to deal with everyone's luggage, they should have pushed the time back another 15(?) minutes.

 

[seashoreCM]

Double check your reservation paper that was (should be) delivered to your room door. I would not be surprised if DME, if you gave them your flight number, they adjust your bus time to match the latest flight information they get.

Or DME might make an outright mistake.

If you want to make a change or another change to the DME bus time, get the new confirmation immediately, before heading for the parks (or return in the afternoon if it takes that long to print).

The new Mears Disney Connect will probably have some runs with more stops all over the place (like International Drive or near Sea World or out the new Western Way to Flamingo Crossing) so they might need to push the pickup time up to perhaps 4 hours before plane time for some guests.

 

[KittyKitty]

We didnt arrive at MCO until 2:57--- by the time we were let off the bus, and got our luggage, it was almost 3:15

Thanks for the info. I now have a reminder to call and change DME time on the return shuttle.

We've decided not to notify DME in order to give us the extra time.

DME somehow knows the departure time of planes, but maybe not delays. You normally don't have to tell them. Just to be safe, I would call them .

 

[tinkerhon]

It would be fine (the time given) IF they didn't make the other stops--- but in our situation (our last two departures), they stopped off at two other hotels after ours-

 

[Cheburashka]

I used DME in March, and everything went very smoothly both ways. Just putting that out there for the benefit of newbies with reservations for the next few months who are reading this and thinking from the responses that DME must always be a cluster. It isn't. We've used it many times over the past 11 years, and never had an issue getting back to the airport with ample time. I'm not doubting the OP's account, just stating that in our experience, it isn't the norm. It seems like a 90 - 120 minute arrival time before the flight is more common.

Even with the OPs experience, though, most travelers would have been fine, as an hour is usually an early enough arrival time for a domestic flight, and the OP did state that they had their baggage unloaded from the DME bus at MCO (3:15pm) one hour before their flight (4:15pm). I can see that if baggage checking is backed up and you don't have TSA pre-check, that could be a problem.

 

[sam_gordon]

I used DME in March, and everything went very smoothly both ways. Just putting that out there for the benefit of newbies with reservations for the next few months who are reading this and thinking from the responses that DME must always be a cluster. It isn't. We've used it many times over the past 11 years, and never had an issue getting back to the airport with ample time. I'm not doubting the OP's account, just stating that in our experience, it isn't the norm. It seems like a 90 minute arrival time before the flight is more common.

Even with the OPs experience, though, most travelers would have been fine, as an hour is usually an early enough arrival time for a domestic flight, and the OP did state that they had their baggage unloaded from the DME bus at MCO (3:15pm) one hour before their flight (4:15pm). I can see that if baggage checking is backed up and you don't have TSA pre-check, that could be a problem.

I would NEVER recommend anyone to show up at MCO an hour before the flight, ESPECIALLY if they had bags to check AND not knowing if they have pre-check or not. With no bags to check and having Pre-check, maybe (I'd still prefer 90 minutes).

 

[Cheburashka]

I would NEVER recommend anyone to show up at MCO an hour before the flight, ESPECIALLY if they had bags to check AND not knowing if they have pre-check or not. With no bags to check and having Pre-check, maybe (I'd still prefer 90 minutes).

Hence the sentence at the end of my post: "I can see that if baggage checking is backed up and you don't have TSA pre-check, that could be a problem."

I would totally recommend a one hour prior arrival for someone with TSA Precheck & no baggage to check. That is more than ample time in that situation.

 

[sam_gordon]

Hence the sentence at the end of my post: "I can see that if baggage checking is backed up and you don't have TSA pre-check, that could be a problem."

But you won't know if baggage checking is backed up until you get there.

I would totally recommend a one hour prior arrival for someone with TSA Precheck & no baggage to check. That is more than ample time in that situation.

And if you would have included that in the OP, I wouldn't have said anything. All you said is "usually an hour is enough time for a domestic flight". Many unseasoned travelers read here and I didn't want someone to see that and show up WITH checked bags and WITHOUT Pre-check an hour before their flight at MCO thinking it will be fine.

 

[Cheburashka]

But you won't know if baggage checking is backed up until you get there.


And if you would have included that in the OP, I wouldn't have said anything. All you said is "usually an hour is enough time for a domestic flight". Many unseasoned travelers read here and I didn't want someone to see that and show up WITH checked bags and WITHOUT Pre-check an hour before their flight at MCO thinking it will be fine.

The OP couldn't control when they arrived because they were on DME. I wasn't giving a recommendation in my first post, which was about the OP's experience. I simply stated the fact that an hour advance arrival at MCO is usually adequate to get anyone on the plane. And it usually is. As I mentioned in that post, it's cutting it close for those with checked luggage and no Pre-Check, which is why DME usually gets people there 90 minutes or so in advance at least. I mentioned that in my original post, as well.

I gave a recommendation in my second post after you attacked my first post and gave your recommendations. And I stand by my recommendation for those with Pre-Check & no checked bags because it's absolutely true. I'm also not going to dumb my post down, as you seem to think is necessary, for the benefit of those who don't fully read posts. I write for thinking adults, and I also prefer to read the words of thinking adults, not the words of those who've dumbed down their posts under the assumption that I can't competently read or think for myself.

It's incredibly boring for others to have to read other posters' arguments on the boards, so I'm signing off of this back & forth with you.

 

[dreamtripper]

Double check your reservation paper that was (should be) delivered to your room door. I would not be surprised if DME, if you gave them your flight number, they adjust your bus time to match the latest flight information they get.

THEY MOST CERTAINLY DO CHECK FLIGHT UPDATE TIMES. I've had it happen to me 2x.

 

[Cheburashka]

THEY MOST CERTAINLY DO CHECK FLIGHT UPDATE TIMES. I've had it happen to me 2x.

That solves the mystery then. That's probably what happened in the OP's case.

 

[dreamtripper]

But you won't know if baggage checking is backed up until you get there.

I think if you are a large family and/or KNOW you have to check luggage (regardless of what you assume the lines to be like), its probably better to reserve personal transportation and not rely on a free service. That would seem common sense to me. Also, I wouldn't make any other plans for doing stuff at MCO other than getting thru security and getting on my plane. I eat before getting on DME or get sealed snacks to put in my bag if I know I can't. I'm from NYC though so I am used to crazy airports where you are always running behind on the clock.

 

[seashoreCM]

I would expect that any last minute time adjustments or second guessing that DME might do would be for the plane schedules as of the wee hours of morning before the morning you check out, or a tad before.. That is when the DME confirmations get printed.

I thought I read somewhere (I forget where) that DME was designed to get guests back to the airport two hours before their flights.

I have not found any trip reports where someone said they took DME back to the airport and missed their plane. So I suspect that Disney had pixie dust to sprinkle about if someone complained.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

That solves the mystery then. That's probably what happened in the OP's case.

I'm confused, are you saying that when they assigned the OP the 1:15 bus that they knew the flight was delayed?

 

[Cheburashka]

I'm confused, are you saying that when they assigned the OP the 1:15 bus that they knew the flight was delayed?

When they told that particular bus to make 2 additional pick-ups, they were probably aware of the delay & the fact that there was enough time for all of the pick-ups. I've been on airport-bound DME buses up front, and heard the drivers be directed to certain resorts as a last minute change, so every bit of that is not decided in advance.

 

[sam_gordon]

The OP couldn't control when they arrived because they were on DME. I wasn't giving a recommendation in my first post, which was about the OP's experience. I simply stated the fact that an hour advance arrival at MCO is usually adequate to get anyone on the plane. And it usually is. As I mentioned in that post, it's cutting it close for those with checked luggage and no Pre-Check, which is why DME usually gets people there 90 minutes or so in advance at least. I mentioned that in my original post, as well.

I gave a recommendation in my second post after you attacked my first post and gave your recommendations. And I stand by my recommendation for those with Pre-Check & no checked bags because it's absolutely true. I'm also not going to dumb my post down, as you seem to think is necessary, for the benefit of those who don't fully read posts. I write for thinking adults, and I also prefer to read the words of thinking adults, not the words of those who've dumbed down their posts under the assumption that I can't competently read or think for myself.

It's incredibly boring for others to have to read other posters' arguments on the boards, so I'm signing off of this back & forth with you.

I'm not sure what post(s) you're reading...
1) You DID give a recommendation in your first post... "as an hour is usually an early enough arrival time for a domestic flight". If that's not a recommendation, I don't know what is.
2) I disagree with your assertion that "an hour advance arrival at MCO is usually adequate to get anyone on the plane". ANYONE would include those with luggage to check and those not having pre-check.
3) If you took my disagreeing with you as an "attack", I don't know how to help you there.
4) I never asked, implied, or suggested that you "dumb down posts" or write for those who "don't fully read posts".

So, carry on.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

When they told that particular bus to make 2 additional pick-ups, they were probably aware of the delay & the fact that there was enough time for all of the pick-ups. I've been on airport-bound DME buses up front, and heard the drivers be directed to certain resorts as a last minute change, so every bit of that is not decided in advance.

I'm sorry but there is no way that when they assigned the bus, hours in advance, that they knew that the 4:15 flight would be delayed because of weather.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm sorry but there is no way that when they assigned the bus, hours in advance, that they knew that the 4:15 flight would be delayed because of weather.

Agreed. Isn't the bus (at least the pickup time) assigned like 24+ hours in advance (you get the assignment the morning before your day of departure- so Tuesday morning for a Wednesday flight)?