DME lines for late arrival - how bad are they?

[childressva01]

Coming in on what is supposedly a low attendance week (2 out of 5 by Tour Guide Mike). Plane arrives at 8:40 pm. How bad will DME be? Will there be a wait?

Staying at BLT, 1) what time do you think we will actually arrive to room and 2) what time do you think bags will arrive (if that night)???

 

[Tozzie]

Coming in on what is supposedly a low attendance week (2 out of 5 by Tour Guide Mike). Plane arrives at 8:40 pm. How bad will DME be? Will there be a wait?

Staying at BLT, 1) what time do you think we will actually arrive to room and 2) what time do you think bags will arrive (if that night)???

I have no idea why people have a pre conceived notion that DME 'Will be bad"

I will be using DME for thee 11th time in March, generally my trip is around 70 minutes sometimes a little less the longest was 80 minutes and that was plane to resort and we had an extra stop on the bus. I have only waited in line at the DME counter once for longer than 5 minutes but that was only a 20 minute wait and they have changed it recently where if you have you vouchers you bypass the DME counter and go straight to the podium at the bus lines. If your plane is on time you should be at your resort by 945-10 pm

 

[childressva01]

Thanks! Yeah - I just saw that someone just posted the same concren - sorry for the repeat quesiton.

My little ones are usually in bed by the time our plan arrives. . so the quicker the better. My 5 year old can turn into a monster far scarier than any disney villain if she gets cranky!

Hey you are right - for something tha tis free - it's hard to complain!

 

[goofy4tink]

If your flight arrives ontime, at 8:40, then you should be at BLT by about 10pm-ish...give or take 15 mins. Your bags most likely won't get there until close to midnight. DME info packet states that you should expect your luggage in your room up to 4 hrs after resort checkin..which could be about 2am!!!! If it were me, I would pack essentials in carryons for the night and then ask to have your bags held until the next morning. Then, call down as soon as you wake up and have the bags delivered to the room.

Your only other option is a towncar service....that would get you to BLT by 9:40ish. But if you wanted your bags with you, you would have to not tag the bags and then head to baggage claim for them. That's where the hour would be.....10 mins from gate to baggage claim, 15 mins for bags to get to you, then 30 mins to the resort.
Up to you to decide what is the best idea for your family. DME works very well for the vast majority...it truly isn't a case of 'how bad can it be if it's free'.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have used ME many times, and most time we are at our resort abount an hour and a half after landing. There have been a couple of exceptions, the worst one being when we landed at 11pm. We didn't get to our resort until 1am, as our resort was the 4th stop. This past October we arrived around noon and had to wait in the ME queue line for 20 minutes before loading onto a bus.

Your checked bags will usually arrive in your room around 3 hours after you check in at the resort. So pack anything you will need for the night in your carry-on bags.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Coming in on what is supposedly a low attendance week (2 out of 5 by Tour Guide Mike). Plane arrives at 8:40 pm. How bad will DME be? Will there be a wait?

Staying at BLT, 1) what time do you think we will actually arrive to room and 2) what time do you think bags will arrive (if that night)???

DME has been great to us and we have used them for years......

We also have flown in late and stayed at the Hyatt at MCO (hotwire) which was cheaper than Disney, we got up in the morning totally refreshed and got on line early arriving at resort before 8am on DME, what a GREAT way to start a vacation, instead of paying for a night at the resort which was significantly higher AND we were so relaxed, we'd def do that again.

 

[childressva01]

DME has been great to us and we have used them for years......

We also have flown in late and stayed at the Hyatt at MCO (hotwire) which was cheaper than Disney, we got up in the morning totally refreshed and got on line early arriving at resort before 8am on DME, what a GREAT way to start a vacation, instead of paying for a night at the resort which was significantly higher AND we were so relaxed, we'd def do that again.

So if I understand you rode DME in the next morning? How does that work? Did you just pick up your checked bags or tag them differnetly so they would show up at your room in Disney? Did you have to tell them a different flight?

Unforutnately we have arleady reci'd our DME tags. I know you can probalby change but I think we are getting a little too close to our trip to do that (14 days away!)

 

[helenk]

So if I understand you rode DME in the next morning? How does that work? Did you just pick up your checked bags or tag them differnetly so they would show up at your room in Disney? Did you have to tell them a different flight?

Unforutnately we have arleady reci'd our DME tags. I know you can probalby change but I think we are getting a little too close to our trip to do that (14 days away!)

If you decide stay overnight at or near the airport you will need to get your luggage yourself. Just do not put the yellow tags on the luggage. You would need to call DME and change your date of arrival, just pick a flight time and give that to the person taking the reservation and you will be fine. The next morning just head over to the ME counter when you are ready.
For my trip this past December I did not arrive at MCO until 9:00 pm, I did not want my luggage delivered around Midnight so I did not tag my luggage. I got my suitcase from the baggage claim. I then took it to the bus and the driver stored it underneath.
There were hardly any people in line for the buses when I got there, and I actually got right on the bus for the Allstar Sports and waited about 5 or 10 minutes and we were on our way.

 

[childressva01]

Did I hear taht they will not take Checked Baggage on DME?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Right. CHECKED baggage never gets into the terminal. It's pulled before any luggage is offloaded onto the luggage carousels, and taken to a warehouse at the airport for sorting.

Don't worry - your luggage WILL get to you, and you won't have to be hauling it. It's what makes Magical Express, well, magical

Over TEN MILLION passengers have used Magical Express since its inception in May 2005. In fact, a couple of DISers were among the very first passengers.

Always always always always - whenever you fly - bring a carry-on containing travel documents, valuables (jewelry, electronics, etc.), medication, and whatever items you will need for the first 24 hours at your destination. Did I stress always? Always. That way, even if the airline misdirects your luggage, you'll be comfortable - you'll have the items you need to start your vacation (did I ever mention the time my brother got separated from his checked luggage for a day and a half, and traveled with a VERY small bag, and had to borrow every item of clothing except shoes and underwear from a friend?)

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you decide stay overnight at or near the airport you will need to get your luggage yourself. Just do not put the yellow tags on the luggage. You would need to call DME and change your date of arrival, just pick a flight time and give that to the person taking the reservation and you will be fine. The next morning just head over to the ME counter when you are ready.

Even better, if you stay at the Hyatt (in the airport), Bell Services will pick up your yellow-tagged luggage from your room and get it sent to your Disney resort on a Magical Express truck.

 

[helenk]

Even better, if you stay at the Hyatt (in the airport), Bell Services will pick up your yellow-tagged luggage from your room and get it sent to your Disney resort on a Magical Express truck.

Wow, I did not know that, a perk to keep in mind for a future stay.

 

[clkelley]

Even better, if you stay at the Hyatt (in the airport), Bell Services will pick up your yellow-tagged luggage from your room and get it sent to your Disney resort on a Magical Express truck.

Yep, but don't tag it till you arrive at the Hyatt!!

 

[Wendy5055]

I didn't wait when we had a late arrival the year before last...we bypassed the desk check-in and were directed to get right in line (had our vouchers already)...walked right onto the ME bus and waited approx. 5/10 minutes until they filled the bus and off we went (we were going to POP on that trip).

Staying at the GF and arriving in the early afternoon it was an approx. 15 minute wait...but still not horrible.

We are staying at the Poly in April and will arrive before noon...I can't wait until we board that ME bus and are on our way!!!