Arriving at MCO at midnight and ME...

[SeaSpray]

Any experiences with this? Last trip, DH and I "chickened out" and went with a towncar because of the late arrival time, but for our trip in May we're considering giving ME a try (finally. lol). If you've arrived late at MCO and used ME, please share your experience. Thank you

 

[stephen11]

In early December, our flight arrived in Orlando after 10:00. There were no lines at ME and our bus was waiting. We checked in, went to get something to eat, and our bags were in our room when we returned at 11:45.

Hope this helps... the experience was terrific!

 

[Selket]

How late does ME usually run?

I'll relate our experience from last summer. Our plane was due to arrive around 10 pm but got very very delayed due to thunderstorms and we actually landed and got in the airport in Orlando around 3 a.m. (yes...with 2 young kids even - ugh!). There was hardly a soul in the airport except the cleaning folks - certainly no one at the ME counter. I called the toll free ME number that came with our ME stuff and they apparently have someone working 24 hours a day. She arranged for us to use one of the taxis out front waiting to take folks (thankfully there were still many taxis out there) and arranged to pay him directly - we only had to give him a tip. My husband was able to find someone to open up a room where they had put our luggage at the airport that had been tagged for ME and we put it in the taxi with us.

Anyway it all worked out but it did make me wonder how late does ME usually run? And if your plane is delayed I wouldn't expect they'll wait around for you! Perhaps give them a call before you leave because of your late arrival time and see what they say.

 

[Luv2Travel]

We flew in around 10 pm last October and even though there were several lines waiting for the ME buses we seemed to get on our bus fairly quickly. The problem IMO was with the resort we were headed to. It took over an hour to check in at POR. We arrived in our room around midnight. We all brought carry-ons (DH, myself, and 3 kids) with our pj's and clothes for the next day, but I had no idea when our luggage would arrive. I stayed up past 1:00 thinking they would bring it any minute. The next morning I got up around 8:00 again thinking they would be there any minute. Just to be sure I called bell services and confirmed that they had my luggage and that it would "be right up." TWO hours later I called again and asked where my luggage was and could I please just come get it since we were waiting to head for the parks. (I accidentally forget to put clean underwear in DH's carry-on and since he didn't want to go "commando" we had to wait on our luggage ). Anyway, the luggage finally arrived around 10:30, they said they were understaffed and the resort was packed (which it was). Short story long - it can take a while to get your luggage so bring a carry on! I'm sure that sort of thing doesn't happen very often, but be prepared. It was not DME's fault that our luggage arrived so late, it was the resort's fault. We did enjoy DME and will be using it again in just a few weeks.

 

[seashoreCM]

All the reliable information says that ME will run as late as needed to accommodate arriving guests. It certainly helps to have the toll free number written down and handy to let Disney know of flight delays. Disney's assigning you to a taxi or a van rather than a bus is not out of the question.

Although a variety of subcontractors including Mears run it, ME is Disney. There is an image to maintain, as well as discouraging guests from staying their first night at an airport hotel.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

 

[SeaSpray]

thanks everyone

 

[goofy4tink]

thanks everyone

I'm in the midst of planning our May trip!!! Have yet to book airfare. Dh and dd will be arriving 2 days after me and a very late arrival into MCO is one possiblity so that dd only misses two days of school. I was also wondering what would happen if they arrived at midnight!
I see you'll be at FQ...when are you staying until? I'm either booking FQ or CBR...can't decide. I'll be there from the 15-20, dh from the 17.