Un-Magical express (return trip) About This Page:

[Canada Amy]

FYI for Canadians: Disney considers us international and insists we return to MCO 4 hours before our flights!!!! yeah, so we had to get up at 3:30am for a 4am bus when our flight wasn't until 8am! then we got stuck in Montreal and didn't get to our hotel until nearly 8pm, fed our 2 little girls supper at 8:30pm, and had them to bed for 9pm - only to have to wake them again at 5am for the last flight to home!!!

My parents opted to take the later flight at 2pm, so they had until 10am to be ready for the bus to MCO. Their flights didn't get delayed and since they had confirmed seats on the last flight out, they made it home on schedule at 11:15pm that night when there weren't seats for us to switch!!!!!!!!!!!!! so note to self, might as well book a later flight next time!!!

[HiddenMickey]

I've also been up in the wee hours of the morning to catch DME to the airport. We had a 7:30 flight and the bus came for us at 4:30. Not too fun. We also don't do that anymore. It gives me a headache all day from lack of sleep and airport stress.

Sorry your flights got so bungled, making it even worse.

[Asuka]

Well, technically Canada is another country from the United States which would make it international. Not to mention having to go through customs and all that. I remember when I flew to Canada and had to pick up my bag from baggage claim and run it through security before making my connection flight in Toronto.

[Canada Amy]

yes, but Air Canada only advises being there 2 hours early. It was 5am when we got to MCO after stopping at other resorts, but check-in wasn't even open until about 5:45am. we just won't opt for an early flight out again. that was too much after an exhausting trip. We also took an early departure and had to be up at 4:15am and didn't recover from the fatigue for two days. won't do that again, either. lessons learned!

[Kelly66]

That sounds like a trying time for you all. Thanks for posting to alert others so they can 'learn the lesson' without all the grief. Even domestically, we were surprised at the limited times we could get on the ME. I think my husband wanted to get to the airport early and eat at the airport, but there were no busses leaving for a three or four hour period, so we had to leave the resort at something like either at 10 AM or 6 AM -nothing in between.

[CinderAbby]

I'm sorry you had such a hard time getting home but because of all the "horror" stories I've heard about DME and returning to the airport, we've decided to drive ourselves and get there when we want to get there, not when we're told to get there.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by Canada Amy

FYI for Canadians: Disney considers us international [...]

.... um .... you are. Not unless you want to make that "51st state" joke a reality, ha!

note to self, might as well book a later flight next time!!!

I always aim for afternoon flights home. Not TOO late, we don't want to be on the road at 10pm or 11pm, but, not before noon either.

[guerns17]

It would be nice if they could give you an option for an early or late pick up. Some people prefer to get to the airport early just in case...and some don't mind getting their a little later. Just having an option is nice...I guess a taxi is always an option too.