URGENT!! What is we miss our DME bus back to MCO?

[katied]

We really want to get pictures with DS today with Santa, but Santa is not at DTD until 12 pm, and our DME pickup time at the Comtemporary is at 12:25 pm. What would happen if we were 45 min late or so? Would we be stuck paying for a taxi to the airport? Is it best to be late and hope for the best, or call ahead this morning and ask?

Thanks!

 

[Lewisc]

DME schedules you for a bus 3 hours before your flight. There is no guarantee they'll be room for you on the next bus. There isn't a guarantee DME will have a bus scheduled for your resort at 12:55p. The bus won't make the stop if there aren't any scheduled guests.

You have no shot of making it back to the Contemporary. Don't even think of taking DME. Instead take a taxi, or arrange a car service, from DTD.

I'd question if you'd have enough time to meet Santa at noon, take a bus to the Contemporary and be on time for a 12:55 bus.

Is it best to be late and hope for the best, or call ahead this morning and ask?

Neither, either forget about Sanata or find alternate transportation.

 

[Cmbar]

Go and ask if you can make the next bus. They don't always have room. Otherwise hop in a taxi if it is important to you.

 

[katied]

Thanks. I call and ask my options, and then price a taxi from DTD to the airport. However, we already checked our luggage with Disney. Will they still take it to the airport, even if we miss our bus?

 

[Lewisc]

Go and ask if you can make the next bus. They don't always have room. Otherwise hop in a taxi if it is important to you.

I don't think the OP will make it back to the Conmtemporary in time to catch the next bus and an even later bus gives them a good chance of missing their flight.

Taking a taxi from DTD is the best, and maybe the only way, to enjoy Santa at DTD and make their flight.

 

[Cmbar]

Yes! Your luggage is on its way whether you make that bus or not! Good Luck!

Don't know where you are leaving from. When we missed our bus this past Nov, we were at BLT. They called and got us on the next bus, but told us it would be an 1 hour to get from BLT to airport. They were right (mostly because we had to go pick up at Poly and GF). Hope this helps. You don't want to cut it too close!

 

[seashoreCM]

You should aim to be back at your resort an hour before your DME bus back to the airport in case of some glitch which seeing Santa is not one of.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/magicx.htm

>>> Taking a taxi from DTD ...

Directly to the airport, I presume. So you need all your carryons with you. There could well be a line waiting for Santa so your kids won't be seeing him at 12 sharp.

 

[Cmbar]

Wow you are cutting close. I agree with Lewis above. Take a taxi from DTD. There is not guarantee that you will get back in time for the next bus and they only come once an hour. Plan on taxi or skip the picture. Sorry! Good luck.

 

[Anal Annie]

OP I would go see Santa at home! You don't know how long the line will be to see him and they schedule you that early for ME in case the security line is long. We once waited over an hour at MCO to get up to the security scanners. Personally I don't know if you even have time to get back to the Contemporary from DTD to even hit the next bus.

 

[katied]

Yes, I just got off the phone with DME, so we will be taking a taxi. It wouldn't be an issue if I hadn't promised DS he would see Santa today, and that's the first thing he asked for when he woke up. I didn't check the Santa times at DTD or Epcot ahead (and Santa's not at Ecpot until 1:30, which is really an issue for a 3:45 flight).

Oh well. DS will be happy, and it will be a very expensive Santa visit.

 

[Cmbar]

Thanks. I call and ask my options, and then price a taxi from DTD to the airport. However, we already checked our luggage with Disney. Will they still take it to the airport, even if we miss our bus?

Lewis we posted at the same time and I didn't see your message. I think you are giving the best advice, didn't want you to think I was ignoring your great advice. They will cut it too close.

 

[katied]

BTW, I do fly all the time, and I do understand there can be lines at Security. However, I very rarely arrive at any airport more than 1 hr ahead, and have never missed a flight.

 

[Lewisc]

Different airports have different suggested arrival times. Many airports only suggest an hour. MCO suggests 1.5 or 2 hours (depending on the day of the week).

If the OP had posted yesterday I would have suggested checking with the airline about switching to a later flight. There might have been issues getting seats together and a child young enough to visit Santa is probably too young to be split from a parent.

Taxi from DTD is the best solution. More then enough time to see Santa, grab lunch and look around. I'd grab a tax about 2 hours before your flight. That should get you to MCO 1.5 hours before your flight, considering you don't have luggage to check that should be good.

 

[katied]

THanks again! DS will be very happy to still get Santa. He's not quite 3, so if we make a promise, we do our best to keep it. He's too young to understand flight schedules, and bus schedules, and all the reasons certain things just are not possible.

 

[katied]

It worked great! We saw Santa, got pictures (no line). Had lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express, and ice cream at Gharidelli's, and DH has some time to pin trade. Got to the airport in plenty of time. Taxi was the best option, so we could squeeze in our last bit of Disney fun.

Thanks all for your advice.