DME Question-What is the usual bus capacity? About This Page:

[benjiboo25]

So I guess my question is better stated-How full are the buses, in your experience? And how long have you had to wait for you bus? (I was not able to edit the question title)

Last fall, we took DME to CSR. We did not have to wait a second (we were the last ones on and the bus was practically pulling away before we were seated.) Speaking of seats, there were only 4 seats left on the bus (we are a family of 5, but at the time, youngest was 2.5 so I wonder if she was not counted?) AND there were not seats anywhere close to each other. Me (with DD 2.5 on my lap), DH, DS (7) and DD (5) were spread throughout the bus. About mid-ride, my DH was offerred a seat switch with someone that got him closer to us. The ordeal made me feel very anxious. First time to WDW, first time on a plane for our kids, first time on a bus like this. I was surprised the bus was so full and I was also surprised that there was not more "shifting" to try to get small children seated closer to parents. It was so awful that we chose to take a cab from CSR to MCO on checkout day. I am hoping this experience was not typical. Anything we can do to have a better experience next time? Appreciate your feedback!

[B.M.]

That experience does not sound typical. I don't know the bus capacity, but it should be equall to the amount of seats. We have taken ME on two trips (so four times total including going and coming) and we have never had any trouble sitting together. It sounds like it was just kind of a fluke that you got on last and the available seats were spread out; if that ever happens to you or anyone again- you should request to sit w/your kids- other families should be accomodating because no one wants to see small kids seperated from parents......

[doccoc2002]

We have always had pretty empty buses, but there should be 1 person per seat no matter the age. I can see a baby because you hold him/her. I think they probably miscounted or they didn't want you to wait for the next bus and figured your youngest would sit on your lap. Maybe because your DD was under 3 she did not have a boarding ticket? There has always been plenty of seating on ours. When we left the last time I say there was only 6 other people on board with us. Usually when we arrive the bus is probably 80% full.

[Buffalogirl18]

every time we've gone on DME the buses were pretty full. We've usually waited about 10 minutes or so before leaving MCO.

[MMMD]

I always go on the earliest possible flight so DME buses are very empty.

[benjiboo25]

Originally Posted by MMMD

I always go on the earliest possible flight so DME buses are very empty.

I would love for you to clarify "early." Last time we arrived at 2:00pm. This time it will be at 1:00pm. With the time changes, we are actually leaving MSP at 9am (which is the earliest flight out that day). Do you find any difference in the days of the week? Last time we arrived on a Saturday, this time it will be a Friday. Thanks for the feedback!

[MMMD]

Our flights usually leave between 6am and 7 am. We are on East coast to we get to MCO at 9:30 a.m. and right to DME. Have the place pretty much to ourselves.

[benjiboo25]

Originally Posted by MMMD

Our flights usually leave between 6am and 7 am. We are on East coast to we get to MCO at 9:30 a.m. and right to DME. Have the place pretty much to ourselves.

I guess we would need to get a flight out in the middle of the night to have that much space! LOL!

[MMMD]

Yep!! It's much, much easier for us since we are so close. I always take first flight out and last flight at night (usually about 8pm or 9pm) That way I save on having to spend another night at hotel. We are tired when we get home though.

[b3ivey]

Both times I have taken the Magical Express there was practically nobody on the bus and I have arrived in the afternoons just like you will! I'm sorry to hear you had a negative experience last time. I have noticed that the "fullness" of teh bus seems to vary by resort...

[WeRDisneyFanatics]

In my past few experiences with DME, the buses leaving MCO have been very full. We've managed to be one of the first ones on, so the upside is that we get seats together but the downside is we have to sit until they have enough people to fill the bus (a couple of years ago I swear we sat for almost 30 minutes).

Coming back to MCO it seems like the buses aren't as full.

[B.M.]

Originally Posted by benjiboo25

I would love for you to clarify "early." Last time we arrived at 2:00pm. This time it will be at 1:00pm. With the time changes, we are actually leaving MSP at 9am (which is the earliest flight out that day). Do you find any difference in the days of the week? Last time we arrived on a Saturday, this time it will be a Friday. Thanks for the feedback!

First time using DME- we arrived on a Tuesday at around 1pm- we waited a good 10 plus minutes for a bus, but the bus was empty. We came back on a Tuesday, leaving the resort around 3pm; the bus was a little over half full.
Second time using DME- we arrived on a Thursday at around 8pm- we waited only a few minutes for a bus that ended up being maybe half full. We came back on a Sunday, leaving the resort around 10am; the bus was a little over half full.

I truly believe what you experienced was a fluke; and I encourage you to give DME a second chance

[benjiboo25]

Originally Posted by B.M.

I truly believe what you experienced was a fluke; and I encourage you to give DME a second chance

We will try again--and i was also hoping it was a fluke! I soooo appreciate the others experiences!

[AGentlRose]

Because of time difference and a 5+ hour flight, we don't arrive until after 3:30pm, usually between 3:30 and 5pm and our buses were never even half full. We stay at the Poly, which makes stops at Poly, Grand Floridian, Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge, and we've never waited on a line to board a bus. I did notice that two other lines, and I don't know which resorts they were going to, had lines of people waiting to board, so I think it depends on what resort you are going to.

[feonag]

We usually arrive mid day, about the same time that you got there. We have always had an almost empty bus, usually about 12 ppl max. The longest we waited was about 10 min before the bus left the airport.