1) Get your own bags off the flight and load them on the bus.
2) Look at the line before you check in. If it's busy, take a cab. It's about 40 bucks to most resorts, and it beats standing and waiting and waiting if it's a long DME line.
3) Arrange a cab for the trip back to MCO. For very justifiable reasons, DME wants you at the airport a lot sooner than you might want to be there.
DME is a nice perk during slow times (if such things still exist) but the $100 you end up spending in cab fare can save you a lot of aggrevation, and help you get your trip off to a happier start
Seems like a lot of 'what ifs' happening here.
1. Unless you arrive later than 6pm, there's really no reason to not tag the bags and allow DME to handle them for you. If you aren't going to need anything in the checked bags for 6 hrs or so, let DME take them for you. But always, always, always pack your carry on bag with anything you will need for the first day of your trip...airlines misdirect bags, and if that happens to you, you will have what you need to get by until the bag reaches you.
2. The lines aren't long! The worst line I've seen took less than 25 mins, and that was on a Sat afternoon, in Dec, when Pop Warner families were arriving, and the DME counter was still being used. The line was back to the car rental counters!! But, it took less than 25 mins. Now, no need to use the counter, you go directly to the bus kiosk, scan your MB, and head to your resort bus line.....those lines are seldom longer than 20 mins. A year ago, we had an issue that forced us to hang out at the bus kiosk for 15 mins, but we still arrived at our resort in a timely fashion.
3. There is a reason DME picks you up 3 hrs prior. MCO recommends getting there 2 hrs prior to your flight departure. And believe me, there are times you'll need those 2 hours!! Not always, but since there is no way to know that beforehand, it's better to be there early!! Even when I take a car service (which I heartily recommend over a cab!!) I have them pick me up 2.5 hrs prior to flight time. I've seen way too many people trying to shove their way through security or onto the tram yelling that they have 15 mins before their flight departs!!!
I'm really not trying to be argumentative, but obviously my experiences (which number about 25) with DME are vastly different than yours.
Here are some times I've had with various modes of transport, from MCO to resorts....as best as I can remember them.
Using DME.....shortest time was 60 mins, longest 85. Usually around 70-75. Bags get to my room about 3-4 hrs later. I'm usually not there to see.
Car service....with carryon bag only....45 mins. With checked bags, 60 mins
Mears...between 70 and 95 mins. Depends on if I have checked bags and how many stops there are.
No one service is going to be perfect for every family, and what worked 5 yrs ago, may not work today. It's up to each group to research and decide what is best for them.
