Earliest DME Pickup @ Resort?

[Canuck Park Hopper]

Hi all - I know that DME doesn't begin service at MCO until 5 am - taking guests from the airport to respective resorts.

But what is the earliest pickup at a resort for the return trip back to MCO?

I just got our departure day flight changed (by the airline) from 9 am to 7:30 am.

Even if we got pickup at 6 am, I think we would be hard-pressed to ensure we could still make our flight.

Has anyone done an early-early morning DME pickup and made a 7:30 am or earlier flight?

[Fangorn]

DME actually operates 24/7. Both from the airport and from the resorts. When you make your reservation, they want your flight info so they can schedule the appropriate number of buses and drivers.

Regardless of the time of your flight from MCO, DME will schedule your pick-up from the resort approx 3 hours prior. So for a 7:30am flight, they'll pick you up at 4:30am. You don't get a choice. If you miss that 4:30am bus, there may not be another one scheduled for your resort for some time, and even then, you may not be allowed to board the bus as they may be full.

I once had a 6:00am flight from MCO, and yes, they picked me up at 3:00am. I was the only one on the bus.

What you can't do that early is use the airline check-in service. THAT doesn't open until 5:00am, and you have to check your luggage with them no less than 3 hours before your flight. They are very strict about that 3 hour time frame. But all that means is that you take your luggage on the bus with you and check it in at the airport.

Just make sure that DME has the most current information about your flight.

Steve

[BigRedDad]

I've been picked up at 4AM before.

[BeccaO]

I was wondering this very exact thing. Our flight departs MCO at 7:52, and I am thinking maybe we just call Quicksilver and have them take us. I think it's totally worth it. That way we can decide when to be picked up. I don't anticipate a back-log of people when we arrive at the airport at 6 am on a Monday morning.

[Canuck Park Hopper]

Oh Joy! I can hardly wait to wake the kids up at 3:30 to catch the 4:30 DME!!

Let's see if I can arrange for a later flight time today!!

[BigRedDad]

Early flights are not too good with DME. You have to be out there about 3:15 minutes before the schedule time. We have changed our touring plans where we fly home at night and have the next day off work for recuperation, get laundry done, and be ready for work.

Our last day usually consists of hitting 1 park early in the morning, getting everything we want done by noon, eat lunch where we want, and relax at the pool until it is time to get to DME. The pool facilities have showers you can use to clean up before you head out as well. The good thing is you can wear out your kids before the flight so they sleep on the way back.

[mgmnut]

We always return late in the day, catch DME late afternoon. I would hate to have to get up at 3am as my last day of vacation.

I have no issues getting up at 3am to go on vacation though!!!

[EeyoresBestFriend]

Eyah . .they pick up at ANY hour.

Our 7am international flight had us picked up at 2:30am. We got to the airport an hour BEFORE the airline desk even opened.

Let me tell ya, there is nothing open at that hour of the morning either. Ugh . . . .

[Canuck Park Hopper]

Thanks for the input... I talked to the airline today and got another mid-morning flight!

Even so, it's nice to know we still could have made the flight via DME if we had to!

[Mitzie]

On a similar note..we are wanting to catch an evening flight for our October trip which has us getting in pretty late into MCO..instead of paying the hight cost for the night at AKL we were thinking of staying at the Hyatt there at MCO for that first night and getting up early and then catching the DME into AKL..will they let us on the bus in the morning(if we have our own luggage) even though our flight came in the night before?

[Fangorn]

...will they let us on the bus in the morning(if we have our own luggage) even though our flight came in the night before?

They will. And it won't be a problem at all. But you'll still need to call DME and book the reservation. As a Disney Resort guest you are entitled to a trip from the airport to your resort and a trip from your resort to the airport. It doesn't have to be in that order (trust me, I've done it backwards) and it doesn't have to be on the day of arrival and departure (done that too).

DME is very accomodating, but you need to let them know what your plans are so arrangements can be made. Just showing up and expecting to get on a bus right away isn't the best of plans.

Steve

[Checkers]

When we have had an early morning flight and didn't want to get up at the crack of dawn (especially on a weekend day) we did take a limo to the airport and it was worth it. On a week day and fighting commuter traffic, I don't know if I would risk it though.

[BigRedDad]

we are wanting to catch an evening flight for our October trip which has us getting in pretty late into MCO..instead of paying the hight cost for the night at AKL we were thinking of staying at the Hyatt there at MCO for that first night

Yes, you can do this without a problem at all. You do need to get your luggage though. One thing to note though is that the Hyatt is about $250+ a night. You can go to the Negotiator site and get a room at a 4* hotel by the airport for about $50 for the night. Another good thing is there are great restaurants right in walking distance of most of those hotels. Also, if their bus is not super crowded when they bring you to the airport in the morning, they may drop you right off at DME as well.