DME
I know there have been posts here asking if you can schedule a later DME bus to the airport. The answer is ‘no’ for a number of good reasons (traffic, unexpected delays, etc).
Having said that, would DME refuse to take you on a later bus if you ‘missed’ your allotted seat?
During my last trip, I was killing time around the lobby waiting for my DME to MCO. An earlier bus was loading guests when a Bell Services Cast Member suggested I get on it. I did and it was no problem.
So, if I can get on an earlier bus, I’d like to assume I can get on a later bus too (space permitting, do so at your own risk, and all that fine print).
Has anyone accidentally or deliberately gotten on a later DME bus? Was it an ordeal?
Horrible idea, particularly if you're staying in one of the smaller resorts. DME schedules pick ups based on guest reservations. A large resort like POP is likely to have DME pick ups scheduled every 30 minutes. A smaller resort. The next pick up after your scheduled pick up might not be for an hour, maybe even 90 minutes. Driver of a later bus will allow you to board IF THERE IS CAPACITY. Some buses are scheduled to be full.
People complaining about an early pick up time are looking at it the wrong way. The relevant question isn't what time you're picked up, the relevant question is what time you get to the airport. DME is scheduled to get you to the airport around 2 hours before your flight. Figure an hour to pick up at other resorts, or a delay in the bus getting to your resort, and travel time to MCO. DME buses go at or below the speed limit. DME might not drop you off at the closest point. DME is every 30 minutes. Depending on your flight time your pick up might be schedule 3 hours 20 minutes before your flight, the +/-15 minutes has been increased. A car service, taxi, uber can get you to the airport in around 30 minutes. You might gain 45 minutes or so of extra time. You'll gain even more time if you want to finish your vacation at a location other then your resort. Using a car service from your final WDW location might give you another hour.
The other question. Do you need to get to MCO 2 hours before your flight. 3 reasons. check luggage, security and airline. Southwest passengers might want to get to the gate at least 30 minutes early to ensure a better boarding position. Passengers on other airlines might want to time their gate arrival to board 10-15 minutes before departure time. Board as the flight crew is closing the door and preparing to push back. (just kidding).
No checked luggage. TSA PRE it's taken me 20 minutes with pre check at MCO. You probably don't need to get to the airport 2 hours before.
Real simple. Call DME the day before and ask for a later pick up. Explain you don't have checked luggage and have TSA PRE. You'll be told you're on your own if you miss your flight. You might be even a pickup 30 minutes later. You'll be told to go your hotels desk and have the DME letter reprinted with the updated pick up time.
I doubt they'll give you a pick up 2 hours before your flight. They'll change a 3 + hour pick up to one that's less then 2 hours, as long as space permits.
Families flying Southwest, without TSA Pre should stick with assigned DME schedule. People who want to minimize their time at MCO need to skip DME. It's that simple.