goofy4tink said:
My experiences with DME is it takes about 70 minutes from deplaning to resort check-in. I realize others have had different experiences though. It really shouldn't take more than 90 minutes worst case scenario. So, if you get to MCO at about 3ish, you should be at the resort no later than 4:30, most likely sooner.
I agree with goofy4tink, but I'd to add a few details...
Plan on 70 minutes, plus or minus 20 minutes if you use DME as designed (by putting the yellow tags on your bags before checking them at your home airport so that you can bypass baggage claim).
DME guests who decide to retrieve their own bags at baggage claim (instead of using the yellow tags) should plan on 90 minutes, plus or minus 20 minutes.
When planning activities at WDW on arrival day, keep in mind that flights are often delayed. It's not unusual to arrive an hour (or even more) after your scheduled flight arrival time due to weather, mechanical delays, traffic flow, late crew, or late arriving aircraft at your origin airport.
goofy4tink said:
DME historically picks up about 3 hrs before flight times.
The day before your departure you'll get a note at your room with a scheduled pickup time at you resort. An airport-bound DME motorcoach typically serves each resort at fixed times twice each hour, so your pickup probably won't be exactly 3 hours before your departure, but close.
Three hours sounds like a long time, but remember that flights start boarding 30 minutes before departure. If there are no traffic problems, no delays checking in, and no long lines at security, you will be a your gate quite early. But there have also been reports on this board of guests who arrived just in time for their flights, despite the three hours.
