DME and on-site transportation review

[Flyin2MCO]

Recently returned from our first on-site stay (Yacht Club), which was also our first time using the larger Disney transportation system (we've of course used the monorail in the past). A few thoughts, pros and cons:

• Arrival Magical Express - Very easy to find at MCO and not crowded when we arrived (a Monday afternoon). Efficient check in and line up process, and only a few minutes of waiting for the bus. We were on the CBR/YC bus, so there was one stop before our destination. Overall, this leg of the trip went well and no issues to report. Our luggage arrived in our room a few hours later...this is probably the best part of the whole DME deal.
• Buses - Here's where we start to wish we had a rental car or taxi service. We took the bus to/from Magic Kingdom, to/from Animal Kingdom and from DHS to Epcot. The Kingdom routes were too crowded and had too many stops for our preference, translating into too much time on the bus. I mean, they really pack folks in like sardines on those buses....not fun to be around all that sweat and, um, smelliness. The one exception was the DHS to Epcot bus, which we found to be a pleasant and quick ride.
• Boat - We used the boat (once) from DHS back to the Yacht Club. I think we could have walked faster on the foot path...the boat was also way overcrowded. I'll post a review over on the Universal boards comparing the Epcot resort boats to the Universal on-site boats.
• Departure DME - For a 1030AM departure we went out to the YC bus stop at the suggested 3 hours in advance mark (actually 3 hours 15 minutes). The bus didn't come until 8AM. We were the first pick up, so that was good to have the pick of seats. We made four or five stops and ended up being packed to the brim. The overall trip back to MCO took about 90 minutes, so this was way too long for us.

Overall, I really liked the DME arrival service and bus option from DHS to Epcot. The Kingdom buses were not that great, really dislike the resort boat service and didn't like the DME departure service at all....Recognizing that it's tough to provide such a vast transportation service to so many people, but in the future we'll likely take advantage of the parts of the system that are most efficient and comfortable, while finding alternatives for those less desirable parts.

 

[dburg30]

Yea, I've heard that the BC/YC, BW, and even somewhere else? all use the same buses sometimes? That is crazy. I'll agree on the boats, we took it from DHS to epcot, or did we get off at BW? I dunno but they for sure arent for speed, they are just for convienience..

That's one of the only 'downfalls' i see staying at the BW 'area'.

As far as DME you shouldnt have just 'shown up 3 hours before as suggested' you should've gotten a packet on your door the day before departure telling you when to be at the stop. If that's what happened, that isnt how it came across. If that's not what happened, are you sure you were on the correct bus? or was it the 'next' bus that just happened to come thru? And if it was the suggested DME time and that was 'the' bus, you only got to MCO with 90 minutes before your flight?

 

[Flyin2MCO]

As far as DME you shouldnt have just 'shown up 3 hours before as suggested' you should've gotten a packet on your door the day before departure telling you when to be at the stop. If that's what happened, that isnt how it came across. If that's not what happened, are you sure you were on the correct bus? or was it the 'next' bus that just happened to come thru? And if it was the suggested DME time and that was 'the' bus, you only got to MCO with 90 minutes before your flight?

Yep, we got the door packet and the time was listed as 730 for the bus stop...we're always early so we got out there at 715...pick up was a few minutes before 8, total trip to MCO just shy of 90 minutes, so we had just over an hour before our flight...no problem with crunch time at MCO, but the whole DME trip took too long.

We could have slept in a bit longer, taken a cab, and been at MCO with more time to spare.

 

[dburg30]

Yea, please take the time to let DME know and the resoirt know that happened. If you were the last stop it would 'kinda' make sense.. Buses being slow to get you from park to park or even MCO to resort, I can kinda deal with, but getting you to MCO that late, meh.. I have a little issue with that one..

 

[raidermatt]

Yea, I've heard that the BC/YC, BW, and even somewhere else? all use the same buses sometimes? That is crazy.

Yes, they sometimes share with the Swan/Dolphin. Since the S/D and Y/B each have two stops, there can be a total of 5 stops. This can get really hairy at times.

 

[francie57]

We were at disney from Aug. 16 - 21 and never had a problem with the buses. We always stay at the Boardwalk. We actually had a quick trip the day we went to Magic Kingdom. As we got to the bus stop a bus for the Kingdom pulled up but we had to wait until they loaded a wheelchair first. In the meantime another Magic Kingdom bus pulled in, completely empty, so we got on that and went express from Boardwalk to the Magic Kingdom. As for the boats, we always walk to both Epcot and the Studios. We have on occasion walked over to the Swan and gotten on the bus there and we always get off there when taking the bus from the Magic Kingdom since it is the first stop and we just walk over the bridge back to the Boardwalk.

 

[goofy4tink]

Please, please, please...let both Disney and DME know about your return trip experience. This is not the way it is supposed to work. I had to take the DME bus back to MCO from BW a few trips ago. We were picked up, right on time. But, I felt badly for those who had been on the bus from the start. The bus stopped at CRB, the YC, then BC, then finally to BW. Some of thos poor people had been on the bus for close to 40-45 mins by the time they got to BW...but the bus was on time. We got to the airport at just over the two hour before departure mark.
You shouldn't be getting to MCO with less than 2 hrs when using DME.

The boats do take longer than walking....I've timed it. Especially if there isn't a boat there, when you start walking. I've been half way to BW when the boat has gone past me...to pick up at DHS. If you're in a hurry, you're better off walking.

The bus system at the Epcot resorts is one big drawback to the area. I know that when we stay at BW, we have longish waits for the buses to MK and AK. And depending on the time of day, that bus can stop at the Swan, then Dolphin and then head to YC and then BC before heading to the park. But, usually, at the busier times of day (park opening and closing) the resorts split up the route...S/D/BW and YC/BC.