Change to ME check-in?

[gumbo1009]

Thanks to a tipster on another forum, I found a piece on Stitch Kingdom about a change to ME. The site indicates that you no longer need to go to the Welcome Center if you have your ME booklet -- you can proceed directly to the buses. Certainly sounds nice to remove one step in the process -- but I can't find another source that verifies this. Has anyone heard of this revision to the ME check-in process? (TIA)


THE URL:

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/2009/0...xpress-streamlines-check-in-process-for-most/

"About a month ago, Disney’s Magical Express instituted a new check-in procedure for guests arriving at Orlando International Airport and making use of the service for those staying at a Disney owned and operated resort.

Guests who have their blue DME booklet in hand and have attached the yellow tags to their checked bags (or have no checked bags for DME to claim) are able to proceed directly to the bus waiting area, bypassing the welcome desk altogether which used to be mandatory for everyone. Instead, eligible guests will now have their voucher scanned at a podium at the front of the bus queues."

 

[Traveliz]

I have done it twice this month (July).

You still head toward the Welcome Center and when you get to the where the queue would begin there is a CM there who checks to see if you have vouchers, if so you proceed on but to a podium down the way where a CM will ask you a question or two and circle a couple of things and then tell you what lane to get in.

It does shave a small amount of time off the process. It's not like you just head outside to where the buses are and put yourself on a bus. You still need to have your voucher out to get onto the bus.

Liz

 

[goofy4tink]

Many have reported being told to do this. BUT...do not do it unless instructed by a DME CM. Be sure to stop at the line for checkin, then the CM there will give you further instructions. You don't want to have to be in the bus line for 15 mins only to find that you should have stopped at the counter first!!!
Personally, I don't find the wait in line to checkin at the counter to be bad....the longest wait we have had was 20 mins but that was last Dec, when the PW families were arriving and the line was waaay down the corridor. Most times the wait has been less than 8 mins.

 

[Traveliz]

You couldn't actually get to a bus line withoout being stopped so I don't think its an issue. Each time I have been there they have been at least two CMs at the end of the queue who then direct you to the counter (through the queue) or straight ahead which leads you to the podium with another CM.

They have changed the queues to add this new queue.

It doesn't really avoid a wait .. it just changes who waits where.

Liz

 

[gumbo1009]

Thanks! I *knew* the DISers would know the real scoop...