Bizare DME Booking Experience

[ancestry]

We booked a last minute Disney trip at the end of April for travel mid-May. I booked the trip through the Disney website using the AP discount. I added both DME and the dining plan so we have a package. I entered my flight info and DME is showing on my reservation confirmation and is also showing on the website when I log into my account.

Yesterday we received our Disney package paperwork and decorative mickey luggage tags in the mail. That paperwork also says we are booked on DME for our arrival and departure dates.

We had not received our DME paperwork so DH called DME last night to see if it had been mailed or not. I would like to have it so we don't have to go to the DME counter when we arrive.

When DH called he was told that we DID NOT have a DME reservation. He explained that DME was booked when we scheduled the trip about 10 days ago and that DME showed on all of our confirmation paperwork -- both in the mail and via e-mail. The DME rep said that meant nothing. That we had to call DME to actually book DME and that all of my paperwork and Disney package paperwork meant nothing.

The lady took our flight information and said she would get the DME booklet and luggage tags in the mail and then proceeded to lecture DH about calling at the last minute. She said DME had to be booked at least 10 days out and he had called the evening of the 11th day.

What is going on here? Did this happen because it was a late booking (about 20 days before the travel date)? Or did we get a misinformed DME person on the phone? Why was our DME reservation not in the DME system?

My last trip in January I also had a bizarre experience with DME. For that trip I traveled with my two older childen. I was the lead on the reservation and we booked about 6 months out. When our DME booklet arrived it came in my 15 year olds name and didn't have me on the DME booking at all. I called DME and they tried to argue with me that I wasn't on the reservation with Disney, which I most certainly was. We eventually got it straightened out and got the correct booklet and tags. The only explanation DME could give me was that the information didn't download correctly into their system.

Are there issues in communication between Disney booking and DME?

 

[thewesterberg]

We had something weird happen too with ours. We're doing a split stay. First at Pop and then OKW which means booking ME with CRO for our arrival and with DVC for our departure. I got the ME stuff for our return trip, but nothing with our first part. So I called ME direct and got it set up for our arrival. This was at least a month ago. Got the booklet and everything for that part of our trip.

This past Thursday I had to call CRO and see about adding a fridge at POP for medical reasons because DS got sick and his meds need to be refrigerated. The CM I spoke to went through my reservation and said that I didn't have ME. I told her I had the booklet but she said I wasn't signed up. Their systems must not always communicate. At first I thought it might be the CM who was confused (she told me to put the yellow luggage tags on my carry ons. ), but it sounds like it might be something else.

We'll see tonight if everything works out! (YAY! We're going to WDW TODAY!!!!) We arrive so late (11:30pm) that I hope we don't have problems... just want to get on that bus and get to POP so we can get to bed.

 

[seashoreCM]

(for everything everywhere all the time)

Ask for a written confirmation or at least a confirmation number or confirmation code for everything you book or order over the phone.

Learn how to print screen, to get written confirmations if you see the information on the screen. (hint: Varies from one computer-printer combo to another and takes more than pressing the PrtScrn button).

Write down the name and city of everyone you talk to on the phone.

Keep calling (800, 866, etc. numbers only) if you do not receive something that was promised to you (like a written confirmation)

(in addition for Magical Express)

Your planning should include calls to DME's own number, 866-599-0951

If there seems to be a problem with DME back to the airport, wait until you get there before fixing that. Usually you can arrange this at the DME welcoming area when you arrive in Orlando; you can also do it at y our resort.

Your resort reservation that actually says DME on it, or yellow tag stubs or a DME booklet that are not obviously stale are enough to get you on DME to your resort. If you never received even that then two names of people you talked to on the backs of envelopes should suffice in getting you on DME even if your reservation does not show up at the welcoming area.

(off topic)

You must have written confirmation for the DME trip back to the airport. If you did not get that at your room a day before checkout or if it is incorrect, go get it fixed at the front desk that morning before checkout even if you have to miss rope drop. Intentional changes to DME back to the airport should be done at least 2 days in advance.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm assuming that the vast majority of people that run into this issue have booked DME online. I always tell everyone to call and speak to a human being when booking DME. It seems that online booking of this doesn't always end well. The only time it works is when booking through DVC online.

As far as what the DME people told the OP.....sort of right. If you want the DME booklet (with vouchers) and luggage tags, then yes, you do have to book no less than 10 days prior to travel. They need that time to print out your stuff and get it to you. But, in all actuality, you can call DME the day before you travel and get a reservation. You won't be able to tag your bags and you will get a voucher printed up when you get to the DME counter at MCO...but you can ride the bus.

As I said...it seems that those who do it online, for a regular WDW resort stay, tend to have issues. The poster who said they had their return stuff just fine, but not the arrival stuff demonstrates this.....her return, from a DVC resort, is fine. But her arrival at a regular WDW resort isn't. I have to ask if she tried doing it online for both ends. I have never had an issue with making my DME reservations online at the DVC site. But I refuse to add DME to a regular stay when booking online. I always call and get it added.