Early Morning Flights

[WildLodgeFan]

Hi!

I'm just looking fo rsome intel regarding early morning flights and the Magical Express. We have a flight at 7:30 and I know I've read that DME typically picks you up 2 1/2 to 3 hours before your flight time, but since it's early in the morning, is that sometimes shorten? Has anyone had experience with this? I hate to admit it, but I'm not looking forward to getting up at 3:45 am in the morning and this comes from a flight change from Air Tran.

Thanks to all who respond!

 

[maryszhi]

not that i know of. its better though becuase even early in the morning, lines can be long and the crowds heavy at the airport

 

[Rob562]

Magical Express will pick you up 3 hours before your flight regardless of what time your flight is. So your 7:30AM flight will have a 4:30AM scheduled pickup time.

-Rob

 

[jjgoo]

If that is really too early for you (I know it would be for me) maybe you can take ME to Disney and then a car service back to the airport.

They pick you up a little bit later than ME.

When is your trip? It is AirTran, they will probably move your flight again and you might not have to worry about the early time.

I think I saw you post on the thread about AirTran, could you possibly call and complain about your new flight time and get a later flight? It seems a shame to have to leave WDW before the sun even comes up.

 

[WildLodgeFan]

If that is really too early for you (I know it would be for me) maybe you can take ME to Disney and then a car service back to the airport.

They pick you up a little bit later than ME.

When is your trip? It is AirTran, they will probably move your flight again and you might not have to worry about the early time.

I think I saw you post on the thread about AirTran, could you possibly call and complain about your new flight time and get a later flight? It seems a shame to have to leave WDW before the sun even comes up.

Yes, we are flying on AirTran, so I am hoping they will probably move the flight, because I'm not looking forward to waking kids that early - it could be taking my life into my own hands! :ROFLOL:

 

[WildLodgeFan]

Magical Express will pick you up 3 hours before your flight regardless of what time your flight is. So your 7:30AM flight will have a 4:30AM scheduled pickup time.

-Rob

So it's three hours? Because I've heard a couple of different things.

 

[Tinkerbella16]

We have a 7am flight back to philly. And I like coming home early and all...but I'm gonna have to get up around the same time and thats not fun!

The last morning is always so depressing, its dark and gloomy and everone else is sleeping in their rooms getting a good nights sleep for the parks that day, while I am on my way back to reality...ughhh I hate thinking about it!!! LOL

 

[Craig & Lisa]

We, a few years ago had the same situation, and they picked us up really early, yes it was a pain but, if you look at it this way you get home earlier, and can rest at home alot longer. For us this year we won't get home till after 11 pm, but I really don't care, by leaving this late we get to stay at the parks longer in the day than by leaving early in the morning.

 

[fosse76]

I don't think the 3-hour timeline is a hardfast rule. You can always call them and tell them what time you'd like to leave for the airport. Though I wouldn't reccommend an hour before...that's just insanity.

 

[WildLodgeFan]

I don't think the 3-hour timeline is a hardfast rule. You can always call them and tell them what time you'd like to leave for the airport. Though I wouldn't reccommend an hour before...that's just insanity.

Agreed an hour would be crazy, but it seems to me 2 hours would be reasonable. I know they stop at other hotels, but I would think at theat hour, it wouldn't be as many.

An extra hour of sleep could mean the difference between sanity or insanity. :ROFLOL:

 

[kstella]

Your scheduled pick up time will be 2 1/2 to 3 hours before your scheduled flight time. This figures 1 hour travel time to the airport and two hours for you at the airport, just like the airlines like. I don't think they accept requests for later pick up times. They wouldn't want to be blamed for someone missing their flight because they didn't get there soon enough. If the early pick up time is a huge issue then maybe a car service would be a better option. Maybe to ease the early wake up you could be packed the night before and just have to get up and get on the bus. They can go back to sleep on the bus and catch an extra hour on the way to the airport.

 

[elizs77]

On a prior trip, we had a 7:30 am return flight on Southwest. And yes indeed, we did have to wake up at 3:45 for a van to pick us up around 4:30!

In one of those didn't-think-about-it-then issues, we had our then 3 year old son with us, and he rode to the airport just sitting in the passenger van seat. He really should have been in a car seat, but of course, we didn't have one. I think because it was so early, this just wasn't registering until later. When we were planning for our last trip, I had our travel agent make sure that we were returning to the airport in a bus since we now had two little ones with us. So, if you have any car seat issues, make sure that you let Magic Express know so that they can provide the right kind of transportation for you. The van was sent b/c it was so early and so few people were going at that time.

 

[MickeyspalJim]

We one time had a 9am flight and they pulled up right at 6am. slight time differences would only be if they make stops at up to 3 other resorts and yours is the last one on the loop. that could give You a slight extra rem cycle. LOL. We were all alone on the bus, and the driver did tell Us that they were not supposed to make the trip with less then a certain number of passengers, so that may be why the other poster mentioned a van picking them up. We were up before the birds that morning. BTW, We never booked an early morning flight again. LOL. The bus ride is really only 35 mins. or less and they do play a video going back to the airport as well once they are on the highway, so if You plan on your kids falling asleep on the ride there, just hope they fall out quickly, cause once they see mickey and stitch, there eyes will be wide open. :snore:Happy traveling.

 

[WildLodgeFan]

Thanks for everyone's input! We obviously will survive - but I tell you, have you every tried to wake a teenager before noon - :ROFLOL:. Just kidding. I'm trying to weigh the option of renting a car or not and using some of this intel for that purpose. After reading all the threads on here about bus transport issues at WDW, I'm trying to figure out if it might simply be easier to rent a car.

 

[fosse76]

I don't think they accept requests for later pick up times. They wouldn't want to be blamed for someone missing their flight because they didn't get there soon enough.

They allowed me to go later, it's not a big deal. Disney has no liability if you yourself schedule such a change. And if you miss your bus they will put you on the next one.