DME - How does it work?

[cobbler]

I understand the basics of how it works and have been trying to read threads but could use a little more clairification.

We land at the airport, check in at the counter (which is located where by the way?) and board the bus.

Now do busses leave at certain times? Certain intervals or what? We are scheduled to land around 11am-ish and just wondering how long we may be at the airport.

And is there a certain resort order they drop off in? For examples values first, mods second and deluxes third type thing?

And where do you check back in for returning flights?

 

[seashoreCM]

The counter is on the main terminal "A" side, lowest level, in the corridor in line with bus space #30 outside.

Magical Express is never sold out. Going to Disney you are not assigned to a specific bus and do not have to hustle from the plane.

Under normal conditions buses should come about every half hour, more often if it is crowded. (Of course when the next bus comes the one already there for that resort group has to leave.)

Resort sequence can vary but normally a bus should go to no more than four resorts.

Going home, buses are reserved. You must have a bus return time (typically 3 hours before flight time) and validated return vouchers. Typically this is arranged when you first arrive at the counter but can be done or modified t the resort as late as a day before checkout. You should receive a confirmation at the room door the day before checkout but if not, get the confirmation at the resort before beginning that second to last day's activities.

Going home you need to be ready to board 15 minutes before bus time. We suggest aiming to be back at the resort a least an hour before. There is one ME boarding area at the resort, in or near the main building, no matter how sprawled out the room buildings are.

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

 

[CleveRocks]

Now do busses leave at certain times? Certain intervals or what? We are scheduled to land around 11am-ish and just wondering how long we may be at the airport.

And is there a certain resort order they drop off in? For examples values first, mods second and deluxes third type thing?

And where do you check back in for returning flights?

Buses aren't scheduled for certain times. Several resorts are grouped together, guests wait in the correct queue, and then you board the bus when it's ready. You can't miss your bus, because the buses are ongoing. If you go slowly from the arrival gate to DME, go ahead and do so; no need to rush unless of course you just want to get to WDW ASAP! My experience was being in the DME line less than 5 minutes, in the bus queue maybe 10 minutes, and then on the bus 5 minutes before it left. All in all, it took me 53 minutes from getting in the DME counter line to getting dropped off at CBR.

There is no set order of resort groupings, or of drop offs. For example, at 10:00 a.m. or so, CBR may be grouped with AKL and All Stars Music, and at 6:00 p.m. CBR may be grouped with Beach Club and SSR. It all depends on demand. They know who's coming, when they're coming, and where they're going. They dispatch buses on-the-fly, based on need. The only "rule" that's been posted here (by actual Mears drivers) that seems to be reliably followed is that the resort closest to MCO gets dropped off first, etc.

Don't forget to pack well in your carry-ons, just in case your luggage takes longer than you'd like. I do this everywhere I fly just in case the airline delays my luggage. My luggage took about 4.5 hours from landing, but we didn;t care because we packed accordingly. We were in the pool when our luggage magically appeared in our room.

ENJOY WDW!

 

[kaytieeldr]

DME counter is at ground level on the A side of the terminal (MCO is one main terminal building with two 'sides' - A and B - but you take a tram from your gate to the main terminal.
Buses leave when they're full or full-ish, not on a set schedule. Most DME patrons arrive at their Disney Resorts about sixty to ninety minutes after the plane arrives at the gate.
There is also no set routing, but the buses to Disney tend to drop off passengers at the property closest to the airport first, then the next furthest away, then the next,... I've never heard of a DME bus having more than four stops. And so you can get an idea what's closest, the DME buses take 417 from the airport.
If you are flying a participating airline (see the sticky at the top of the main transportation page "Disney's Magical Express - What "Participating Airline" Really Means! ") you check in at the airline check-in counter at your resort. Check your luggage and, just like when you flew to Orlando, wave bye-bye, since you don't have to see or worry about it until you get to the luggage carousel at your home airport. If you're NOT flying a participating airline, you don't need to check in. Just be at the DME pickup location before the time indicated on the paperwork you'll receive on your doorknob or under your door the day before departure, with your luggage. The bus driver will stow it underneath, and drop you, it and a bunch of other passengers off at the airport shortly.