Plane leaves at 7:30 pm so how much time do I have to still play?

[look1angel]

Does anyone have any idea what time I'd be expected to be ready to board the ME bus if my plane (airtran) leaves Orlando at 7:30 pm. I know I have to be out of my room by 11am & they'll hold my bags but I was wondering how much time I could plan to go back to one of the parks before leaving?

I think my last flight was at 4 something & I had to be back by 1 something?

 

[mousefan1972]

Your ME pickup will be approximately 3 hours before your flight. So around 4:30. It can be 15-20 minutes either way, depending on if your resort is one of the first to be picked up or one of the last. Our flight home 2 Sundays ago left MCO at 2:20, and our bus pickup was 11:10 from the Beach Club. We were the first stop, then had to go to the Boardwalk and Caribbean Beach. HTH.

 

[dudspizza]

yep, about 3 hours give or take for ME departure. You should be at the ME bus stop 15 minutes prior to departure and always allow enough time to get your bags from bell services.

Duds

 

[seashoreCM]

Shoot for stepping off the park bus back at your resort at 3:15 (one hour before Magical Express).

So you need to plan to be at the resort bus stop at around 2:30 allowing for the possibility you just miss a bus.

So you need to plan to exit the turnstiles at 2:15.

Which means being through with the last ride or activity at 2.

Chances are, due to glitches, you won't actually be accomplishing all this.

 

[PoohsFan1]

On our last day our flight out is at 8pm (unless AirTran changes it again). We are not planning on doing any parks that day, instead we have ADRs for O'hana's breakfast at 8:25am and then a lunch ADR at Captain's Grill at 1:20pm. We plan on going from the Poly (after breakfast) to the Yacht Club/Boardwalk area to walk around and see the sights, then after our lunch take a bus over to DTD to do some last minute shopping. I am guessing we will have to be back at CSR by no later than 5pm for our ME bus to pick us up.

 

[dburg30]

On our last day our flight out is at 8pm (unless AirTran changes it again). We are not planning on doing any parks that day, instead we have ADRs for O'hana's breakfast at 8:25am and then a lunch ADR at Captain's Grill at 1:20pm. We plan on going from the Poly (after breakfast) to the Yacht Club/Boardwalk area to walk around and see the sights, then after our lunch take a bus over to DTD to do some last minute shopping. I am guessing we will have to be back at CSR by no later than 5pm for our ME bus to pick us up.

Back and ready to step onto the bus around 5, not just back at CSR

 

[dudspizza]

On our last day our flight out is at 8pm (unless AirTran changes it again). We are not planning on doing any parks that day, instead we have ADRs for O'hana's breakfast at 8:25am and then a lunch ADR at Captain's Grill at 1:20pm. We plan on going from the Poly (after breakfast) to the Yacht Club/Boardwalk area to walk around and see the sights, then after our lunch take a bus over to DTD to do some last minute shopping. I am guessing we will have to be back at CSR by no later than 5pm for our ME bus to pick us up.

Ready to step on the bus 15 minutes before ME departure. If my ME departure is at 5, I am back to my resort no later than 4. There are so many things that can happen that you have to pad the time a bit....

 

[goofy4tink]

Whatever time you are given as a DME pickup time....add 25 mins ahead of that time. So..if you are given a pickup time of, lets say, 4:15pm, be at the bus stop by 3:55. That 4:15 time is the time the bus will pull away, not the time you should be arriving at the bus stop. So, be sure to have everything with you, as well as your entire party ready to go...not some there, while junior is in the bathroom and sis is grabbing that last gift in the gift shop!!! I've been seated on buses where part of the party was there, and we were forced to wait for a bit, until the driver finally said 'Sorry, but we have to leave now!' and the part of the group already on the bus, got off to wait for the rest of their group. Do not make that mistake!!!

 

[seashoreCM]

On our last day our flight out is at 8pm ... take a bus over to DTD to do some last minute shopping. .

Downtown Disney buses can get mired down in Typhoon Lagoon particularly if a rainstorm hit. As well as having spotty service to begin with. A taxi back to your resort from DTD or from a park is an option you can size up at the last minute.

Your magic number for when you wake up and plan that last day, to be on terra firma back at your resort, is 3:45 PM.

... and the part of the group already on the bus, got off to wait for the rest of their group. Do not make that mistake!!!

If they had stayed on the bus (may have required additional cell phone coordination) at least some of the party (they) would make their flight if some other mishap happened.

... I have to be out of my room by 11am & they'll hold my bags but I was wondering how much time ...

Oh yes, don't forget you could be out of your room by 7am or so and make rope drop and have lots of time in the park (before 2).

 

[bear_mom]

Our flight usually leaves MCO at 7:30'ish and we stay in the parks until 3. Head back to the resort, get our bags and both times have gotten on an earlier ME bus back than our scheduled one (with the bus drivers permission of course).

Both times dh liked the idea of getting to MCO with plenty of time to get through secruity and have time to eat. It has worked out perfectly. Got to the gate and sat there about 15 minutes before it was time to board.

Emily

 

[marymac123]

Our flight was for 7:30 also 2 weeks ago. WL held our bags & we stayed out in the MK till 3:30. Got back in plenty of time...we were even able to eat real quick back at the hotel.

 

[goofy4tink]

Please, please....don't try to cut it too close people. Yes, there are going to be times that it will work out. But, I have seen buses leave a bit earlier than the time stated simply because there were no people there, at the bus stop. I have heard of buses breaking down and guests not being able to get back to the resort in a timely fashion. Or, those people that lose track of time in the parks. Or those who have a longer than expected wait for the bus back to their resort. If you have a DME pickup time of 4:30 and you leave a park at 3:30, you may very well cut it too close. But, that is up to each family to decide.
I just want everyone to realize what the repercussions can be...you may miss your bus. And Disney is under no obligation to put you on another bus. In fact, there may not even be another bus stopping at your resort for another hour or so. Or the bus that is scheduled to stop there in 30 mins is already completely booked.
At this point, you will have to get a cab back to the airport, at your expense.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Don't forget that in addition to possible lines at the park bus stop and possible bus delays, you also need to take into account a possible long line to get your luggage if you don't have RAC. We like to take late flights home as well so we can maximize our trip. We typically experience a long line when picking up our luggage.

Our DME time is typically between 3:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon. We only go to a park in the morning and then head back to the resort for a relaxing lunch and just hang out at the resort. We take one last look through the gift shop and stroll around the pool and grounds. At least half an hour before our bus, we head over to get our luggage. We then just drag all of our bags to the bus stop and hang out until our pick up time.

No way am I taking chances of any kind of problems getting back to the resort. With our plan, even if there are delays, it just means we won't have time for strolling around our own resort one last time. We still even have time built in to get food before heading off to the airport. We take the last flight of the day. If we miss our plane, we have to find lodging for one more night plus pay the difference in airfare for that last minute flight in the morning (we fly SWA so no change fees but the fare will be significantly more than I paid when I booked so there is a significant financial cost). The risks just aren't worth it to me. I still enjoy my last day, get in plenty of park time that day, and get to finish up my day stress free.

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another forum)

Not sure whether they and perhaps other resorts still have that requirement but some years ago there was a sign at the All Stars saying to allow 45 minutes to get your bags back from the bellhop. Back then, there were U-haul-like trailers about the parking lot where guest baggage was stored, presumably because the store rooms were overloaded.

Haven't read about any instances of baggage or contents suffering heat damage "from unknown causes" but this could be such a cause.

 

[clkelley]

We always shoot to be back at our resort between 90 minutes and 2 hours before DME. We go to the bar and order a drink, and chill, then collect our bags, and wait on the DME bus.

We fly SW, so haven't used RAC in the past, and if our 8:45pm flight ever comes back, we probably still won't use it, but with the latest flight now at 6:20, we may give it a whirl next opportunity.

 

[clanmcculloch]

(copied from another forum)

Not sure whether they and perhaps other resorts still have that requirement but some years ago there was a sign at the All Stars saying to allow 45 minutes to get your bags back from the bellhop. Back then, there were U-haul-like trailers about the parking lot where guest baggage was stored, presumably because the store rooms were overloaded.

Haven't read about any instances of baggage or contents suffering heat damage "from unknown causes" but this could be such a cause.

Excellent point. One thing I forgot to mention in my description of what we've typically done is that when we first get back to the resort, we do check out the luggage situation to make sure we know if there are any issues needing us to go back for our luggage earlier. To date it hasn't happened, but this year will be the first time we'll travel at a peak time so who knows what will happen this time. At least we have time well built into our plans so we don't have to worry or stress.

 

[look1angel]

Thanks everyone! Great advice from all.

I'll be sure to be back to my resort at least 1- 1 1/2 hours before the ME bus leaves to collect my bags.

 

[mousefan1972]

Please, please....don't try to cut it too close people. Yes, there are going to be times that it will work out. But, I have seen buses leave a bit earlier than the time stated simply because there were no people there, at the bus stop. I have heard of buses breaking down and guests not being able to get back to the resort in a timely fashion. Or, those people that lose track of time in the parks. Or those who have a longer than expected wait for the bus back to their resort. If you have a DME pickup time of 4:30 and you leave a park at 3:30, you may very well cut it too close. But, that is up to each family to decide.
I just want everyone to realize what the repercussions can be...you may miss your bus. And Disney is under no obligation to put you on another bus. In fact, there may not even be another bus stopping at your resort for another hour or so. Or the bus that is scheduled to stop there in 30 mins is already completely booked.
At this point, you will have to get a cab back to the airport, at your expense.

Just a note about the bus potentially leaving early because no one was at the stop... 2 weeks ago when we retrieved our luggage from Beach Club bell services, we chatted with the CM who got our bags for a couple of minutes. He said that due to guest complaints of missing the bus when they were not late getting to the stop, Mears was now required to wait at the stop until the pickup time if they arrive early. Take with the proverbial grain of salt....

 

[seashoreCM]

Take with the proverbial grain of salt....

Maybe some of the bus leaving early instances were egregious.

Running ahead of schedule has been a problem in the mass transit industry ever since day one of the mass transit industry. There were always a few drivers who ran as fast as they could for example to have a longer rest period at the end of the line. Companies used to establish "time points" which were spots along the route which, if the driver reached them ahead of schedule, he was supposed to wait there until an appointed time. We should be reasonable, for example if all reserved passengers have been picked up, the bus should proceed to the airport immediately.

For now I think we'd better stick to the 15 minutes in advance of reserved bus time to be at the platform, kids and baggage in tow.