WDW to MCO on DME

[prairiesarah]

I know this has been posted before, but I just can't find it. I am wondering how much before your return flight they usually schedule your DME pickup? I have several options for return flight times and am trying to figure out what will be best. We would be going in a slower time of year (mid-December) as opposed to peak time if that makes a difference.

 

[disneychic2]

I know this has been posted before, but I just can't find it. I am wondering how much before your return flight they usually schedule your DME pickup? I have several options for return flight times and am trying to figure out what will be best. We would be going in a slower time of year (mid-December) as opposed to peak time if that makes a difference.

Usually 3 hours before your flight time.

 

[maxiesmom]

Your return trip will be scheduled around 3 hours before your flight. And you need to be at the Magical Express bus stop at your resort, ready to go, 15 minutes before that. Buses do come and leave early. And if you miss your bus, it will be up to you to get to the airport.

 

[prairiesarah]

Thanks! That definitely helps with my planning.

 

[IlovePiglet]

Your return trip will be scheduled around 3 hours before your flight. And you need to be at the Magical Express bus stop at your resort, ready to go, 15 minutes before that. Buses do come and leave early. And if you miss your bus, it will be up to you to get to the airport.

The buses have a scheduled pickup time and are not supposed to depart before that. If this is an issue I would certainly inform Disney of this since it can cause missed flights.

 

[maxiesmom]

The buses have a scheduled pickup time and are not supposed to depart before that. If this is an issue I would certainly inform Disney of this since it can cause missed flights.

The time you are given is actually the time the bus is scheduled to leave the resort. All DME papers tell you you have to be at the stop 15 minutes before that time. Don't follow those instructions at your own risk.

 

[goofy4tink]

As already mentioned, DME pickup times are given about 3 hrs prior to flight departure time. These times can be 15 mins either way....3hrs 15 mins, or 2 hrs 45 mins....but you will get your notification letter the day before.
The time stated is the time the bus is due to leave the resort, not the time you should amble on up.
Everyone needs to be at the DME bus stop, no less than 15 mins prior to the stated pickup time....bags ready, bathroom stops made, etc. If the time given, for example, is 5:45, and the bus gets there at 5:35, and there is no one in sight by 5:40, the driver may very well leave. They seldom leave much before stated time, but it has happened.

 

[Echo queen]

This is good to know, this will be a first using dme back to MCO.
We will be flying Delta so should I check in at 24 hrs and pay baggage fee at there website or is there some other step. I have heard folks talk of paying rack for bags?

 

[goofy4tink]

This is good to know, this will be a first using dme back to MCO.
We will be flying Delta so should I check in at 24 hrs and pay baggage fee at there website or is there some other step. I have heard folks talk of paying rack for bags?

I have heard various reports as to how best to pay for baggage fees. When you get your DME pickup notification prior to departure, there should be a number to call (to BAGS) so you can pay your baggage fees. Just jot down the conf number and have it handy when you go to RAC.
Others have said that they were able to pay baggage fees right at the RAC counter that morning.
I would check with the RAC people at some point during your stay.

 

[melnbil]

What is RAC?? I will be using ME for the first time next September.

 

[siskaren]

What is RAC?? I will be using ME for the first time next September.

Resort Airline Check-in. If you're flying on a participating airline (there's a sticky in this forum that lists the participating airlines in the first post), you can check in for your flight at your hotel. What's really great about this service (and by the way, you can use it whether you're using DME or not) is that your luggage will then be transported to the airport for you and you won't have to deal with it until you get home. (Think of it as curbside check-in, only the curb is a long way from the airport.) The only restriction is that the hours are 5:00 am til I believe 1:00 pm, and you have to be checked in at least 3 hours before your flight, so if you have an early morning flight (before about 8:15) you won't be able to use it.

 

[melnbil]

Thank you! That helps bunches. Do they have it at all of the resorts or just certain ones?

 

[goofy4tink]

Thank you! That helps bunches. Do they have it at all of the resorts or just certain ones?

All the resorts offer RAC service.

 

[IlovePiglet]

The time you are given is actually the time the bus is scheduled to leave the resort. All DME papers tell you you have to be at the stop 15 minutes before that time. Don't follow those instructions at your own risk.

Either way you want to say it, the buses are not supposed to leave the resort early.

 

[goofy4tink]

Either way you want to say it, the buses are not supposed to leave the resort early.

I don't think that happens too many times...but then again, if you were given a time of 3:45 and you get to the bus stop at 3:42 and the bus never arrives or you see it heading away, then one time is one time too many!!

The other thing that can happen is that guests can see a bus leaving the resort right around the time their bus was supposed to be there...say you have that 3:45 time, and you are walking up at 3:30, and see the bus leaving. Now, that bus could very well be just dropping passengers off, but you now believe that your bus left early, so you go back inside to complain. Meanwhile, your bus comes, and then leaves, on-time. I've seen that happen.

 

[Alesia]

Either way you want to say it, the buses are not supposed to leave the resort early.

But maybe the driver's watch is 5 minutes ahead of yours. In a perfect world, everyone's watches would be synchronized and buses would leave the precise second that they're scheduled to. Unfortunately, we live in this world, where schedules are sometimes a few minutes off. If you miss the bus, it's your responsibility to find (and pay for) transportation to the airport.

Be waiting at the platform 15 minutes early.