Can I give ‘fake’ flight info for departure day for DME??

[sam_gordon]

It will be getting dark by the time we would need to drive and since I’m not familiar enough with the area roads driving is out of the question for us

My suggestion about renting a car was for another poster who wanted to utilize DME to get to the airport just to rent a car.

Very rarely (if ever) would it be worth it to rent a car just to get to the airport. But, Lyft, Uber, Taxi, and private car services are all options where YOU determine the time frame.

 

[dmband]

So two things...we were given “an exception” before to go early, never asked about late.

what happens if you go “on time” and miss the flight?
people say if you give them the wrong time and miss it, then it is on you but what does Disney actually do if you go on their time and miss it?
I assume they will put you up overnight if required but anything else?

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Our outbound flight leaves at 10:59pm which means DME would pick us up at 7:30. I’d prefer they picked us up at 8pm to avoid so much time at the airport. Anyone ever done this?

Yes, I've done that in the past with no issue. But I'd be reluctant to do that again anytime soon, as airport screening procedures might change due to COVID.

 

[sam_gordon]

So two things...we were given “an exception” before to go early, never asked about late.

what happens if you go “on time” and miss the flight?
people say if you give them the wrong time and miss it, then it is on you but what does Disney actually do if you go on their time and miss it?
I assume they will put you up overnight if required but anything else?

I believe Disney is responsible for getting you home. So they'll pay for another flight for you.

 

[Tink9721]

I am wondering what everyone is doing for that extra half hour that they want to "save" by taking a later bus. I don't risk going to the parks in the morning because, with our luck, the bus system would be delayed and we miss our ME bus. Not to mention paying for the extra day of tickets for a couple of hours. We live in the middle of the Country and always have to change planes so our flights are always leaving MCO late morning/early afternoon.

We're the opposite - our view is why pay for an extra night at the hotel if we're leaving early enough the next day to not get any park time? The extra night costs a lot more than the 8th day on park tickets. We always go to MK for a few hours in the morning and early afternoon, and take an 8:00 or 9:00 pm flight home. But we take a direct flight, so that definitely makes a difference.

 

[brockash]

I am wondering what everyone is doing for that extra half hour that they want to "save" by taking a later bus. I don't risk going to the parks in the morning because, with our luck, the bus system would be delayed and we miss our ME bus. Not to mention paying for the extra day of tickets for a couple of hours. We live in the middle of the Country and always have to change planes so our flights are always leaving MCO late morning/early afternoon. That gives us enough time to get up and ready, packed up and take our bags to the RAC. Then we grab some food and walk around a bit for some last minute stuff that we just "have" to have and then it is about time for our pick up. A half an hour is just going to have us wait at the resort a half hour more. I rather not be stressed possibly being late because of traffic, long TSA lines, etc. It's really not any different to sit at the airport for a half an hour as opposed to sitting at the resort and waiting.

We go to DS and plan to be back at the resort 30 mins later than you would. Everyone prefers their own way...if you prefer to give yourself more time so be it, others don't need it and prefer to use that 30 mins. on disney property as opposed to on mco property. Just different preferences.

We generally take the latest flight back we can get, so usually ME pucks up between 330-530pm. We've extended our time by 30ish mins. for over a decade now (always extended family with multiple flights etc) and never had an issue. If for some reason 1 of us did at some oount, then we may reconsider, but for now no reason to fix something that's not broke.

 

[brockash]

DME scheduling allows an extra 30 minutes to account for traffic and bus delays. The schedule allows 5 minutes between stops. That's 5 minutes to load luggage under the bus, load passengers and drive to the next resort. Waiting for stragglers. Waiting for stragglers to get luggage checked with bell services. DME is designed to get you to MCO 2 hours before your flight. Not that much time if you have to check luggage and clear security. TSA pre took me 20 minutes one trip.

People who want to maximize their time should use private transportation.

It would be more accurate if you said, "in my opinion..." before that statement. Whatever works for you is great, but it's ok that something different works for others. If for some reason they end up having an issue one time, than that's on them; they'll be ok and it won't interfere with your life.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Everyone prefers their own way...if you prefer to give yourself more time so be it, others don't need it and prefer to use that 30 mins. on disney property as opposed to on mco property. Just different preferences.

Which is fine. There are several options for getting to the airport. DME isn't mandatory. It's also not personalizable.

 

[nkereina]

I am wondering what everyone is doing for that extra half hour that they want to "save" by taking a later bus.

I was wondering the same thing. It's 30 minutes.

Agreed. Someone considering this should ask themselves if an extra 30 minutes in the park is worth a higher risk of missing your flight and/or a $30+ ride to the airport (Uber or private transport). If a person has a higher risk tolerance and/or a larger budget that can accommodate the ride and any potential re-booking fees, then that extra 30 minutes may be more important.

 

[sam_gordon]

It would be more accurate if you said, "in my opinion..." before that statement. Whatever works for you is great, but it's ok that something different works for others. If for some reason they end up having an issue one time, than that's on them; they'll be ok and it won't interfere with your life.

Not really. If you truly want to maximize and squeeze every minute out of a Disney vacation, you're better off w/private transportation. Heck, if nothing else, you can go from your park straight to the airport. Need to grab carry on luggage? Taxi from park to resort, get luggage (tip the cabby a little extra) then go to the airport. You're supposed to be at your resort ready to get on the DME bus 15 minutes before your assigned pick up. That's at least 15 minutes wasted.

 

[Lewisc]

It would be more accurate if you said, "in my opinion..." before that statement. Whatever works for you is great, but it's ok that something different works for others. If for some reason they end up having an issue one time, than that's on them; they'll be ok and it won't interfere with your life.

In my opinion 2 +2 =4
In my opinion people who want to maximize their time at WDW must use private transportation.

Is that better?

Lets look at the math, not opinion. A DME pickup 2.5 hours before your flight indicates you'll be happy arriving at a DME drop off at MCO 1.5 hours before your flight. Private transportation will drop you off at level 3 somewhat near your security checkpoint. Assume you're ending your vacation at DS. Taking Uber from DS directly to MCO. Leaving about 2 hours before your flight should get you to MCO 1.5 hours before your flight. You've gained 30 minues of Disney time before you account for time from DS back to your resort. Buses from DS to resorts aren't that frequent. How much time if you just miss a bus. 20 minutes? 30 minutes? How long for the bus trip back to your resort., Most guests would allow an hour., You've gained 1.5 hours of Disney time.
Now assume you're ending your day at your resort. Private transportation would give you an extra 30 minutes of resort time, probably more like 45 since you'll want to get to your bus stop a few minutes before you bus time.

Sam already made the point.

Agreed. Someone considering this should ask themselves if an extra 30 minutes in the park is worth a higher risk of missing your flight and/or a $30+ ride to the airport (Uber or private transport). If a person has a higher risk tolerance and/or a larger budget that can accommodate the ride and any potential re-booking fees, then that extra 30 minutes may be more important.

I think skipping DME altogether makes sense when a family wants to end their trip at a different resort, or park. Assume a family staying at POP wants to end their trip with a meal at Ohana. How long do you need to allow to get from POLY to POP? Monorail or boat to MK. Walk to bus. Take bus. 1.5 hours? 2 hours? The difference is leaving POLY 3+ hours before your flight vs 2 hours before your flight. The difference between having a last meal at O'hana vs POLY. How long is your trip? How often do you go to WDW?

edited to add A poster on a different board once posted A passenger who never missed a flight is a passenger who wasted too much time at airports through the years.

This opinion isn't shared by most families vacationing at Disney.

 

[nkereina]

I think skipping DME altogether makes sense when a family wants to end their trip at a different resort, or park. Assume a family staying at POP wants to end their trip with a meal at Ohana. How long do you need to allow to get from POLY to POP? Monorail or boat to MK. Walk to bus. Take bus. 1.5 hours? 2 hours? The difference is leaving POLY 3+ hours before your flight vs 2 hours before your flight. The difference between having a last meal at O'hana vs POLY. How long is your trip? How often do you go to WDW?

I don't disagree, but many people (especially families) would need to return to their own resort to retrieve their carry-on bags before heading to the airport anyhow. Unless they have personal items only, which they could bring with them to a park or a different resort. But a rolling carry-on size suitcase would not be permitted on Disney transportation (other than DME). People may also need to return to their resort to retrieve their checked luggage if they were not able to use the RAC desk. It closes at 12pm and not all airlines participate. But, if a family can use the RAC desk, only has a backpack for carry on, and are good with the extra transportation cost for the extra 30-60 mins (ish) on property, then it could make sense to Uber or use a private transport.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Which is fine. There are several options for getting to the airport. DME isn't mandatory. It's also not personalizable.

It's personalizable to the extent that you can tell them the flight departure time you want based when you want to get to the airport (or simply tell them straight up what time you want to be picked up, instead of giving a different flight time). Some people give their actual flight time to let DME set the timeline, and some push it back an hour to get extra time at the park or resort. It's quite user-friendly in that way. I've done both on different trips, depending on the circumstances and our priorities for that trip.

As a PP said, it's all about one's personal risk tolerance when traveling. Some people have little to none, like some here who would never push back their DME pick up time, and some on the cruise board who would never ever arrive morning of for their cruise. Likewise, there are others who have no issue pushing back their DME time or arriving morning of for a cruise.

Our flights usually leave late evening, so an extra hour at WDW can be valuable in that scenario, particularly when staying at a resort where we can walk from the park to the resort & not rely on Disney transportation to get back on time, or if we just want to swim at the resort. We have TSA Pre-check and always check our bags at the resort via RAC, so the airport itself is a breeze. We just walk straight to and quickly through security. We've tried private transportation in the past and much prefer DME with an adjusted time. We've had private transport arrive late, the driver want to play annoying music or chat with us the whole way, just not my cup of tea. And DME is complimentary, so might as well use it.

It's fine and expected for different people's travel styles to be different. There should be tolerance for different styles of travel, instead of attacks on another person's travel style. The farmer and the rancher should be friends...

 

[Lewisc]

This is opinion...Guests who don't need to check luggage at MCO and have TSA precheck are the guests who might consider shaving some time off suggested time to arrive at MCO. Guests checking luggage and don't have TSA precheck should plan on getting to MCO 2 hours before flight time. Even the precheck security line at MCO can be 20-30 minutes. There are times when the regular security line is 45+ minutes.

Disney doesn't ask for your flight departure time, what time you want to be picked up or what time you want to arrive at MCO. They only ask for your flight number.

 

[Lilsia]

Agreed. Someone considering this should ask themselves if an extra 30 minutes in the park is worth a higher risk of missing your flight and/or a $30+ ride to the airport (Uber or private transport). If a person has a higher risk tolerance and/or a larger budget that can accommodate the ride and any potential re-booking fees, then that extra 30 minutes may be more important.

I would not be able to enjoy my time at the parks because I would be constantly checking the time and worrying what time we should leave the park in order to catch the bus back to the resort. I rather leave knowing that I enjoyed the time that I had, then spend those last few hours stressed that I might miss the bus and then rushing at the airport. But I have been going for almost 3 decades and know that I will be back within the year. I also take longer trips, around 2 weeks time so I don't feel like I need to get those last few hours in the park. But what we are talking about here is a measly half and hour. That is not enough time to make a difference, especially if you have little kids. Presuming that you get to the airport in a decent time, and that you can get through TSA in under a half an hour, that half an hour is just enough time to get everyone a potty break and a snack.

 

[nkereina]

I would not be able to enjoy my time at the parks because I would be constantly checking the time and worrying what time we should leave the park in order to catch the bus back to the resort. I rather leave knowing that I enjoyed the time that I had, then spend those last few hours stressed that I might miss the bus and then rushing at the airport. But I have been going for almost 3 decades and know that I will be back within the year. I also take longer trips, around 2 weeks time so I don't feel like I need to get those last few hours in the park. But what we are talking about here is a measly half and hour. That is not enough time to make a difference, especially if you have little kids. Presuming that you get to the airport in a decent time, and that you can get through TSA in under a half an hour, that half an hour is just enough time to get everyone a potty break and a snack.

Agree. We are constantly clock watching on our last day, even though we take a late flight. In our case, because we have the last flight out, if we miss it then we have to spend another night. Not worth the risk to me either.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's personalizable to the extent that you can tell them the flight departure time you want based when you want to get to the airport (or simply tell them straight up what time you want to be picked up, instead of giving a different flight time). Some people give their actual flight time to let DME set the timeline, and some push it back an hour to get extra time at the park or resort.

It's personalizable to the extent that you can tell them the flight departure time lie about the departure you want based when you want to get to the airport (or simply tell them straight up what time you want to be picked up, instead of giving a different flight time). Some Most people give their actual flight time to let DME set the timeline, and some a very few with nonstandard circumstances push it back an hour to get extra time at the park or resort.

Great that some are willing go take risks. Not so great advising posters to take that risk.

 

[brockash]

In my opinion 2 +2 =4
In my opinion people who want to maximize their time at WDW must use private transportation.

Is that better?

Lets look at the math, not opinion. A DME pickup 2.5 hours before your flight indicates you'll be happy arriving at a DME drop off at MCO 1.5 hours before your flight. Private transportation will drop you off at level 3 somewhat near your security checkpoint. Assume you're ending your vacation at DS. Taking Uber from DS directly to MCO. Leaving about 2 hours before your flight should get you to MCO 1.5 hours before your flight. You've gained 30 minues of Disney time before you account for time from DS back to your resort. Buses from DS to resorts aren't that frequent. How much time if you just miss a bus. 20 minutes? 30 minutes? How long for the bus trip back to your resort., Most guests would allow an hour., You've gained 1.5 hours of Disney time.
Now assume you're ending your day at your resort. Private transportation would give you an extra 30 minutes of resort time, probably more like 45 since you'll want to get to your bus stop a few minutes before you bus time.

Sam already made the point.

I think skipping DME altogether makes sense when a family wants to end their trip at a different resort, or park. Assume a family staying at POP wants to end their trip with a meal at Ohana. How long do you need to allow to get from POLY to POP? Monorail or boat to MK. Walk to bus. Take bus. 1.5 hours? 2 hours? The difference is leaving POLY 3+ hours before your flight vs 2 hours before your flight. The difference between having a last meal at O'hana vs POLY. How long is your trip? How often do you go to WDW?

edited to add A poster on a different board once posted A passenger who never missed a flight is a passenger who wasted too much time at airports through the years.

This opinion isn't shared by most families vacationing at Disney.

You're still misleading ppl. to manipulate them into thinking your way is the only way. You're still stating a false fact. As numerous ppl have already explained they've rearranged their ME times many times with no issues. So it is an option, perhaps not an option you would choose, but it can/does work/is an option. It's nver okay in my opinion to make someone believe something that is false. Totally okay to give you're opinion that you don't think it's wise or explain the reasons that you wouldn't do it, but that's very different than lying to someone.

 

[brockash]

I would not be able to enjoy my time at the parks because I would be constantly checking the time and worrying what time we should leave the park in order to catch the bus back to the resort. I rather leave knowing that I enjoyed the time that I had, then spend those last few hours stressed that I might miss the bus and then rushing at the airport. But I have been going for almost 3 decades and know that I will be back within the year. I also take longer trips, around 2 weeks time so I don't feel like I need to get those last few hours in the park. But what we are talking about here is a measly half and hour. That is not enough time to make a difference, especially if you have little kids. Presuming that you get to the airport in a decent time, and that you can get through TSA in under a half an hour, that half an hour is just enough time to get everyone a potty break and a snack.

Lol...everyone is different. Some ppl.s anxiety is higher on certain things etc. It is okay. No one is telling someone that they should feel bad for wanting to get to the airport earlier than others, but yes it is an option...even with little kids. We've been doing this for over a decade...multiple times a year. I fly by myself with 3 kids...the youngest has been 7 weeks old...so I've done all stages and have never even come close to having to run for it etc. We always give a flight for around 30 mins after our real flight and have always had plenty of time to go to the bathroom and get something to eat/drink. - You have to also remember most ppl who take ME won't have luggage they have to check, yet still have 2+ hrs. at the airport. It's totally fine for those who prefer to "play it safe," but it's also very easily done 30 mins later for those who want to.

 

[nkereina]

Lol...everyone is different. Some ppl.s anxiety is higher on certain things etc. It is okay. No one is telling someone that they should feel bad for wanting to get to the airport earlier than others, but yes it is an option...even with little kids. We've been doing this for over a decade...multiple times a year. I fly by myself with 3 kids...the youngest has been 7 weeks old...so I've done all stages and have never even come close to having to run for it etc. We always give a flight for around 30 mins after our real flight and have always had plenty of time to go to the bathroom and get something to eat/drink. - You have to also remember most ppl who take ME won't have luggage they have to check, yet still have 2+ hrs. at the airport. It's totally fine for those who prefer to "play it safe," but it's also very easily done 30 mins later for those who want to.

I don't doubt what you're saying, but even if you have a great experience every time, it doesn't mean everyone always will. There's a reason DME picks up 3 hours before. If a person chooses to go later than that, they incur any risk associated with it, including any costs. As has been mentioned, everyone has a different risk tolerance so all we can do is advise people of those risks and let them decide for themselves which way to go. No one is necessarily right or wrong.

I would also add that there are actually many people who do need to check their luggage at the airport. Not every airline participates in RAC, and the RAC desk closes at 12pm. There are also people with late flights that need or want to access their luggage, so they choose not to check it with RAC. I personally would implore anyone who needs to check their bag at MCO to take the 3 hours DME gives you, but again, everyone will have a difference risk tolerance for that. I'd rather not end my vacation running Home Alone style through the airport to get to my gate.