Airport wheelchairs available at ME drop-off point at MCO?

[shoreward]

I have two elderly (95 & 79) family members who will be traveling by themselves to WDW. Previous trips were with kids and grandchildren. They are both mentally sharp, but have orthopedic issues (knee replacements/need knee replacement + back issues), which will require them to use ECVs at WDW and wheelchairs at the airport. Their airline reservations have wheelchairs noted for both outbound and return flights.

They are flying Southwest, which is on the "A" side; ME now only drops pax on the "B" side. They will be doing airline resort check-in.

All of the times I have been dropped off by the ME at MCO, I have never noticed availability of wheelchairs at that area. Every once in awhile, I have seen a ME representative, near the entrance to the terminal.

There is no way that they will be able to walk any distance, let alone find their own way up to the 3rd level and "A" side. Is there any way to be guaranteed that wheelchairs/assistance will be available when they exit the motorcoach at MCO?

 

[stitchlovestink]

In my experience no, there is no way to guarantee assistance when they arrive back to the airport and are getting off of the bus without making arrangements ahead of time.
What can happen is you set up skycap assistance with your airline (SW) for the return flight. They will not be waiting when the bus arrives because they can't stand there just waiting. Once you arrive back at MCO, they will need to find a mgr (there is usually one close by) and have the mgr call for the skycap. They will have to wait for the skycap but they generally don't take long to get there (within 5 to 10 min). The skycap will then take care of them, getting them through security, on the tram, to the counter to get a preboard pass, and then all the way to the gate. They won't stay with them until boarding but they should make sure the gate agt knows they are there.
Please make sure they are aware that they should most definitely tip their skycap.
Your biggest hurdle COULD be finding a spot for them to sit while waiting for the skycap. Some spots where the buses stop have had benches and some haven't. They have to be where the skycap can find them easily enough. HTH

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm curious where you heard that DME only drops off at the "B" side and when this started.
I have not heard or seen anything about this.

Because we travel most of the time on one of the 'non-participating' airlines, we can't check our bags for our return flight at the resort. We have too many bags to handle along with pushing a wheelchair, so do need assistance.
We did set up Skycap assistance with our airline, but Bell Services at our resort suggested talking with the bus driver and asking him/her to contact the Skycap service for us. Since we are way in the back of the bus by the wheelchair securement area, I'm not exactly sure who the driver contacted or how, but there was a skycap ready for us by the time DD's wheelchair was unloaded.
We had a bus issue our last trip in April 2016 and didn't take DME back to the airport, but it worked fine in April 2015, October 2015 and January 2016

 

[Gracie09]

I'm curious where you heard that DME only drops off at the "B" side and when this started.
I have not heard or seen anything about this.

Because we travel most of the time on one of the 'non-participating' airlines, we can't check our bags for our return flight at the resort. We have too many bags to handle along with pushing a wheelchair, so do need assistance.
We did set up Skycap assistance with our airline, but Bell Services at our resort suggested talking with the bus driver and asking him/her to contact the Skycap service for us. Since we are way in the back of the bus by the wheelchair securement area, I'm not exactly sure who the driver contacted or how, but there was a skycap ready for us by the time DD's wheelchair was unloaded.
We had a bus issue our last trip in April 2016 and didn't take DME back to the airport, but it worked fine in April 2015, October 2015 and January 2016

Our last couple trips they only made one stop (can't remember if it a or b) at drop off.

 

[stitchlovestink]

In our experience using DME the last two years or so, they have only been making one stop when returning to MCO. The driver used to announce which airlines applied to the first stop when he was making 2 stops. Now they do not mention airlines at all but just "thank you for riding DME."
The first time I experienced this I was a bit confused but the driver said they had changed to one drop off and everyone gets off at the same location.

 

[shoreward]

Thanks to all for the valuable replies, sharing your experiences. After calling ME and being told to contact the airline, and then calling Southwest, with them really trying to help, but not able to, I think I convinced the travelers to check their bags at the resort, but take a cab to MCO. That will enable them to be dropped off at the Southwest departures area, with lots of assistance/wheelchairs readily available. I was concerned about them being "stranded" and feeling helpless, as that drop-off area is usually fairly deserted.

Stitchlovestink, I smiled when I read your comment about tipping the skycaps. The 95 year old male asked if a $2.00 tip would be okay, while his 79 year old wife just rolled her eyes and gave me a look. I explained that it's going to be quite a distance, and that they will be taken all the way with the wheelchairs, through security, on the tram, and over to the departure gate. They return this weekend, and I can't wait for a full report. They are more than able to give worthwhile tips for good service.

BTW, I also gave them a list of positions for tipping, along with appropriate amounts. They are not inexperienced travelers, but WDW can be so different than other destinations.

As for drop-off locations for ME at MCO, there has only been one stop, on the "B" side, for probably about two years.

Again, thanks to all for the feedback. It's too bad that there is not a better set-up for these circumstances.

 

[seashoreCM]

Finding a complimentary wheelchair at any given spot at the airport is hit or miss. Same for the handicapped areas of the theme park parking lots.

Many guests found it quicker to get off at the first stop as opposed to "their stop" even if they had to go to the ticket counters when Magical Express stopped on both sides. One exception would be when they had bags under the bus that the driver did not get out until the correct stop.

For those not needing to go to the ticket counter or baggage check in counter, the distance from the Magical Express drop off is approximately the same for both "Side A" airlines and "Side B" airlines. It might be possible to have those in wheelchairs wait along the way to security while others go off and check the bags in.

You could use a football stadium as an analogy. The ticket counters correspond to the side grandstands. The security areas correspond to the goal posts. The ground transportation stops and bus stops correspond to the stadium side entrances.

Each security station handles half of Side A and half of Side B.

 

[Starwind]

FWIW, ultimately in the US it is the airline's responsibility to provide wheelchair assistance if requested. They may have skycaps or their own airline employees provide it, but the airline is responsible to. By regulation.

FWIW, on our return to the airport (twice during the trip) during our december 2015 trip, there were skycaps waiting for the DME bus to arrive and offering to help us with our luggage.

One would think that if the airline is notified ahead of time, ME is notified ahead of time, and the bus driver radios in once you are picked up that wheelchair assistance is needed on arrival, that all of them could co-ordinate so that assistance is waiting -- ME knows where their buses are and when they will arrive. Of course, what seems logical may not always work in practice...

SW

 

[SueM in MN]

Finding a complimentary wheelchair at any given spot at the airport is hit or miss. Same for the handicapped areas of the theme park parking lots.

Many guests found it quicker to get off at the first stop as opposed to "their stop" even if they had to go to the ticket counters when Magical Express stopped on both sides. One exception would be when they had bags under the bus that the driver did not get out until the correct stop.

For those not needing to go to the ticket counter or baggage check in counter, the distance from the Magical Express drop off is approximately the same for both "Side A" airlines and "Side B" airlines. It might be possible to have those in wheelchairs wait along the way to security while others go off and check the bags in.

You could use a football stadium as an analogy. The ticket counters correspond to the side grandstands. The security areas correspond to the goal posts. The ground transportation stops and bus stops correspond to the stadium side entrances.

Each security station handles half of Side A and half of Side B.

For DME at the resorts and when there were 2 stops at the airport, the driver doesn't know which bags are going to which stop.
The driver got the bag out when the guest gets off the bus and tells the driver which bags are theirs.

FWIW, ultimately in the US it is the airline's responsibility to provide wheelchair assistance if requested. They may have skycaps or their own airline employees provide it, but the airline is responsible to. By regulation.

FWIW, on our return to the airport (twice during the trip) during our december 2015 trip, there were skycaps waiting for the DME bus to arrive and offering to help us with our luggage.

One would think that if the airline is notified ahead of time, ME is notified ahead of time, and the bus driver radios in once you are picked up that wheelchair assistance is needed on arrival, that all of them could co-ordinate so that assistance is waiting -- ME knows where their buses are and when they will arrive. Of course, what seems logical may not always work in practice...

SW

That has been our experience.
We arranged with the airline and the driver alerted the skycap.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Actually when we rode DME and they went to both sides at MCO, the driver always asked what airline we were flying and when we got dropped off, he opened one of the compartments and we never had to point out our luggage. He just emptied that compartment. They had it stored under the bus based on your airline/side. At least that was always our experience....

 

[Starwind]

Actually when we rode DME and they went to both sides at MCO, the driver always asked what airline we were flying and when we got dropped off, he opened one of the compartments and we never had to point out our luggage. He just emptied that compartment. They had it stored under the bus based on your airline/side. At least that was always our experience....

The last time we rode DME, from AoA to MCO in December 2015, we the passengers actually had to load our own luggage under the bus. I thought this very weird and rather unsafe (well, I thought that after whacking my head inside the compartment... which fortunately only hurt for a few minutes then was ok) and hope it is not standard practice. On previous stays at other resorts the driver always loaded passenger bags underneath.

SW

 

[SueM in MN]

Actually when we rode DME and they went to both sides at MCO, the driver always asked what airline we were flying and when we got dropped off, he opened one of the compartments and we never had to point out our luggage. He just emptied that compartment. They had it stored under the bus based on your airline/side. At least that was always our experience....

Our experience is that if you still are on the bus when it stops because you are with someone in a wheelchair, it is best to have one of your group get off the bus or watch from a window to make sure no one tries to claim your luggage.
I was on the bus standing next to my daughter's wheelchair at the airport when I saw someone pointing at my carryon bag (it has a distinctive ribbon tied to the handle). I got off quickly and by that pont, she had her hand on the handle and was ready to leave. I yelled that she had my bag and the driver stopped her. She let go; he asked if it was her bag and she said, "I guess I made a mistake." He asked her to point out which bag still in the compartment was hers and she said she forgot that she had not brought a carryon.

The last time we rode DME, from AoA to MCO in December 2015, we the passengers actually had to load our own luggage under the bus. I thought this very weird and rather unsafe (well, I thought that after whacking my head inside the compartment... which fortunately only hurt for a few minutes then was ok) and hope it is not standard practice. On previous stays at other resorts the driver always loaded passenger bags underneath.

SW

our last 2 trips were December 2015 and March 2016.
The driver loaded all the luggage both times.

 

[stitchlovestink]

The last time we rode DME, from AoA to MCO in December 2015, we the passengers actually had to load our own luggage under the bus. I thought this very weird and rather unsafe (well, I thought that after whacking my head inside the compartment... which fortunately only hurt for a few minutes then was ok) and hope it is not standard practice. On previous stays at other resorts the driver always loaded passenger bags underneath.

SW

Wow! I'm not saying that you didn't experience this but I have never heard anyone else report having that happen. I would think this has to be an unusual circumstance. I hope. We have used DME dozens and dozens of times and have never experienced this situation. Hope it was a fluke?!

Our experience is that if you still are on the bus when it stops because you are with someone in a wheelchair, it is best to have one of your group get off the bus or watch from a window to make sure no one tries to claim your luggage.
I was on the bus standing next to my daughter's wheelchair at the airport when I saw someone pointing at my carryon bag (it has a distinctive ribbon tied to the handle). I got off quickly and by that pont, she had her hand on the handle and was ready to leave. I yelled that she had my bag and the driver stopped her. She let go; he asked if it was her bag and she said, "I guess I made a mistake." He asked her to point out which bag still in the compartment was hers and she said she forgot that she had not brought a carryon.
our last 2 trips were December 2015 and March 2016.
The driver loaded all the luggage both times.

I rarely use a lift bus for DME....haven't in many trips now. I'm thinking that they must do things differently on the lift bus as when we/I ride DME, the driver is always standing at the door as everyone exits the bus. Once everyone has exited the bus, the driver then opens the compartment and retrieves all the luggage and items that were stored underneath. It has always happened that way on all of our trips. I'm not saying other patterns/occurrences don't happen but this has consistently been the way things are handled when we use DME.

 

[SueM in MN]

Wow! I'm not saying that you didn't experience this but I have never heard anyone else report having that happen. I would think this has to be an unusual circumstance. I hope. We have used DME dozens and dozens of times and have never experienced this situation. Hope it was a fluke?!


I rarely use a lift bus for DME....haven't in many trips now. I'm thinking that they must do things differently on the lift bus as when we/I ride DME, the driver is always standing at the door as everyone exits the bus. Once everyone has exited the bus, the driver then opens the compartment and retrieves all the luggage and items that were stored underneath. It has always happened that way on all of our trips. I'm not saying other patterns/occurrences don't happen but this has consistently been the way things are handled when we use DME.

That is what happens, but the guest using the lift is almost always left on the bus until other guests are off the bus and have gotten their luggage.

 

[Starwind]

Wow! I'm not saying that you didn't experience this but I have never heard anyone else report having that happen. I would think this has to be an unusual circumstance. I hope. We have used DME dozens and dozens of times and have never experienced this situation. Hope it was a fluke?!

It has only happened the once for us. Earlier in the same trip (WL-Hyatt MCO-B2B Disney Dream-AoA) when we used DME from WL to the Hyatt the driver loaded our bags under the bus. So I am guessing it was some weird event. certainly hope so ! And my head sure hopes so !

SW