Return to the airport-ME Questions

[Bird-Mom]

We have a really early flight home-6:50am-on a participating airline (Continental). Would our bags get picked up the night before? Is it like a cruise where you leave your bags out by midnight or something? Are Bell Services open that early (3am-ish?)? Would we have to lug our bags to the ME pickup if they are not open? The mere thought scares me as we will also be lugging two (hopefully) sleeping princesses.

Would it be easier to hire a towncar one way?

We are currently staying at ASMo, but I am 99% positive we will be changing to CSR or CBR.

TIA!

 

[safetymom]

Yes you would have to take your bags to the resort check in desk. You don't leave your bags out. DME would have you leaving 3 hours beforehand. But at that early hour they may be making some adjustments. I would call DME and ask them what time they would pick up for your flight and then see if that works or a town car would be better. Just be sure to allow plenty of time to get checked in at the airport and through security.

 

[clkelley]

Unfortunately, even with a participating airline, you will have to take your bags to the airport and check in there. Resort check-in will not be available.

The resort check in is only from 6am till 2pm. The maximum time before your flight to check in is 12 hours.

With a 6:50 am flight, Magical Express will probably be picking you up about 3:30 am.

If you are still at a Value Resort, you will have to bring your bags out to the bus yourself.

If you have moved to a moderate resort, bell services will be open and can assist you with your bags to the bus.

Carol

 

[Bird-Mom]

Thanks safteymom and Carol. We upgraded to CBR, and we haven't decided what to do about ME yet. Maybe we'll rent a car for the end of the trip and return it to the airport if we can't do luggage check-in at the resort anyways.

Are the airline counters open that early? I don't think they open here until 5 am...hmmm...some more detective work!

 

[clkelley]

With your pickup time at your resort approximately 3:30 am, I would imagine your arrival time at the airport will be between 4:30 and 5:00 am. There are flights that leave as early as 5:30 am (I know, I've got one booked in December). So yes, the airline checkin desk will open that early and security will open that early.

Since you'll be at CBR, and have small children, a rental car may be best. You should be able to park fairly close to your room, then you and/or your DH can load the bags in the car while the children are still sleeping in their bed, then carry the sleeping kids to the car. Then you could get away with leaving CBR around 4:30/4:45.

The Alamo/National rental desk at the Dolphin is open until 4pm. You could go to Epcot or the Studios on your last day, scoot over to the Dolphin at lunchtime and rent the car, then pick up the car from the valet at the Dolphin as you head back to CBR for the evening.

Or if you are at Magic Kingdom the last day, you could have someone from the National/Alamo office at the Car Care Center pick one of you up from the Grand Floridian at a convenient time and rent the car then and park it in the MK parking lot, then drive the car back to CBR that evening.

Carol

 

[safetymom]

Yes the ticket counter will be open at 5 AM. I can tell you that there can be lines at that time also. So be prepared.

If you are going to be renting a car and returning at the airport be sure to do curbside check in. Whoever is driving can show their photo id and then return the car while you are getting the luggage tagged and boarding passes are printed. If it is crowded they get really tough about how long you can have your car at the curb waiting to check in.