DME...not so much

[House_of_Mouse Fan]

Wow, I'm really surprised to hear about the wait! We've used ME twice, as recently as this past August, and we just walked right on the bus. We had our vouchers, some cheerful ladies scanned the bar codes, and we were on the bus within minutes.

Sorry to hear that you had to wait.

 

[Cmbar]

WOW. Did you ask questions? They changed DME recently, at least when we went in July. They checked in your vouchers in the lines for the buses, so you would have seen multiple lines to the various buses. The check in counter is for other uses now I believe.

Sorry to hear that it was confusing for you enough to actually rent a car on the spot and pay tolls and have to drive to Disney yourself. Maybe you weren't in the right line. Did you at least ask someone with a Mickey Glove if you were? Maybe you got in at the exact same time as 10 other plane arrivals. Can't say why your time was crowded to you. But I think you should know that is not the norm for the buses. We have used them several times and NEVER waited more than 5 minutes to get our vouchers scanned (and they ask how many bags you have checked). Then we move to the line for the buses and have gotten on fairly quickly. Never more than a 15 minute wait to board the buses. And we have gone during Thanksgiving and Fouth of July so you can expect crowded times.

Sorry you expreience was bad. I understand to some people waiting is more of a problem than paying big bucks to rent a car. For us.... Free is worth a little patience. That and my kids love the bus ride!

Maybe give it a try next time. If you still don't like the look of the lines you can rent a car. But I think you may be surprised. What day did you arrive? Was it a Sat or Sun?

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

We attempted to use DME.....ONCE. The line was soooo long and there were folks sitting on the floor. The CM said the wait was around an hour.(and that was just the check-in line) . At that point, we headed start for the door and yelled TAXI!!!!

I think, they could offer to pay DH to use DME and he'd refuse.

Were you there this past November on a Sunday morning? I ask because that is when I went last & we experienced the same exact thing. We too opted for a taxi.

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Boards

 

[maxiesmom]

Wow I have used DME 5 (or is it 6?) times, and never had that problem. Not even over the 4th of July. It sounds like you either misunderstood how the line was divided, or hit when some kind of glitch was happening. Sorry you didn't have a good experience. But for me, I love not having to get my checked bags and hopping right onto a bus and going on my way.

 

[tjmw2727]

Things may have been different if you had asked what the lines were for or how long the wait may be before bailing. Somtimes the line appears long because the entire familiy is waiting when one member is sufficient, so it moves very quickly.

Of course opting for a taxi is an alternative and I am not faulting you for that decision but for those reading and considering the option of DME, Towncar or Taxi this isn't the norm.

We use DME 4 or 5 times a year and have never waited more than 10 minutes in the line to check in - when there is one. The past three trips if you have your vouchers in hand and don't need any changes your waived through to the bus line. They can build up but in my experience they have buses on hand and as soon as one loads another is pulling up.

Our average time from landing to the resort with DME is 70 minutes - a few times it was under an hour. Considering the trip to WDW from the airport is 34/40 minutes I think that is fine for a free service.

DME is a shared ride and it isn't for everyone - but for us the convenience and cost is well worth the 30 extra 30 minutes or so DME "may" take over alternative options. I would much rather have my luggage taken care of by DME and use the $150 for other things during the vacation.

 

[Tozzie]

We arrived at noon on Saturday. I did see people lined up to board a bus, but when I asked the CM if I had to stand in the other line first, even though I had my vouchers, she said "yes". We also did not have any luggage to be delivered, as we both only had small carry-ons. The cast member in the long line said you needed to obtain another "special" voucher/boarding pass to board the buses, thus the requirement to wait in line.

So, I'm guessing, based on the replies that we arrived at an extremely busy time of day.

What the heck is a "special Voucher" I was there in august and by passed the check in line and then went and was told what line to get into. They recently changed the proceedure where you only had to get in the check in line if you had issues or didn't tag your luggage that sort of thing. Sounds like an enomoly to me.

 

[stitch34]

Okay, I'm confused!

Went in August... we skipped the check in counter - as read on here you didn't need to go there.

but then right before where you get in line for the various resort buses, there was a little stand or podium with someone working there and a LONG line. And that line was not moving! I assumed the line was for the person to look at your vouchers and say okay, you go to this line for such and such resort, nice and simple. But family at that stand, I'll call it, was taking forever with some problem or issue, and when they finally were done, next family was the same way.
I said forget this - and me and kids just got out of line and went to the line for our resort bus. (which that's a whole other story - 25 minute wait in line - bus sitting out front empty the entire time - they said they were loading a wheelchair - okay, fine, but for 25 minutes??)

anyway, so what is that stand I bypassed that had a long line - and do you HAVE to get in that line?

 

[TagsMissy]

hmm few weeks ago when we used DME we landed around 5:30 or something like that in the evening and we had the booklet so fir the first time we didn't go to the desk we just basically went straight to the bus and sat down and took off 10 minutes later, if that. Sorry you had a bad partial experience!

 

[TLSnell1981]

Were you there this past November on a Sunday morning? I ask because that is when I went last & we experienced the same exact thing. We too opted for a taxi.

It was a Sunday morning, but it was last December.

 

[toniosmom]

I'm so glad to hear that you don't have to get in that check-in line any longer if you've got your vouchers. I always thought that was such a stupid procedure, because they never took anything from you. They would look at the vouchers, write the number of luggages pieces you had on it and then give everything back to you.

I just booked our flights for next March, so now I can order my ME. Since I will be with my disabled mother, I am so relieved that we won't have to deal with humongous lines at ME. Although, I have to say that even with the long line, it was always moving.

 

[goofy4tink]

Wow, I've never hit that. In fact the "new" process as another poster said, providing you have your booklet and all info is correct, to bypass the desk and proceed directly to the bus line.

Now, waiting on the bus for it to fill up - that's an issue I have had. An hour wait to depart is inexcusable.

What day did you go to use ME from MCO to your resort?

though this was where they allowed your luggage to be send to your resort?

so if you are going straight to the bus - then all the luggage is being send. there was a time to get the luggage delivered you had to ride the bus.

maybe this has changed?

What, what is this, you don't have to check in anymore? When did that start? Not that it has ever been a hassle, quite the contrary, its been the easiest process ever. But you go right to the bus now, nice!

Do NOT go directly to the bus line based on having your vouchers in hand!! Yes, there will be times when you are told to do that, but wait until you are told to do so!! Many people are told to go directly to the bus line but that isn't a given.
There has never been a time when you had to ride the bus in order to get your bags delivered. Disney tells you this is the case but much evidence tells us this is just not the case. Many, many people have tagged their bags and taken an alternative method of transport to WDW, rather than ride the DME bus..their luggage has been delivered with no problems at all.

It was a Sunday morning, but it was last December.

Could that have been the first Sat in Dec? We arrived on that day last year. It was incredibly crowded. It was the start of Pop Warner week and there were a ton of families coming in. In over 5 or so trips with DME I had never seen anything like it. My friend waited in the line, which snaked all the way past the car rental booths, while I sat on the floor up against a pole close to the bus lines. I will say that she was in line for only about 25 mins. Then the bus line wait was about 10 mins..it was actually much shorter than I had thought it was going to be.

I haven't waited in a line to checkin for more than 10 mins, other than that one day last Dec. My longest wait, in a line at MCO, has been 20 mins for our bus to POP. We got to the line as they closed the door on the bus..so had to wait for the entire cycle to turn over. Then we were the first on the bus, which meant another longish wait...about 15-20 mins. Thank heaven we were the first stop.

 

[BarrerasFamily]

We have always had great success with DME and have always lined up first unless we were told to proceed directly to the long winding lines for the buses. Vouchers or not.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Could that have been the first Sat in Dec? We arrived on that day last year. It was incredibly crowded. It was the start of Pop Warner week and there were a ton of families coming in.

No, it was a Sunday in the middle of the month.

 

[pooch]

hate to drive on vacation. But last year we waited for 40 minutes on the bus to POFQ. Got right on & foolishly thought we'd leave quickly - NOT. SO it was closer to the 90 minute mark that year. But both of the 2 yrs before that were much quicker - once to WL and once to POP. Hey, as long as they get me there!

 

[LOLA2]

I am writing direction for my parents on what to do when they get to airport
(I have never done DM before) What is the proper procedure I should tell them? Anyone know how many stops to AKV?

 

[castleri]

There should be detailed instructions in the book with the vouchers in it telling them to go to baggage area B and proceed to the DME area where a CM will either direct them into the line at the desk or scan their vouchers and direct them to the correct line for AKV. I think we stopped at POP before getting to AKV but don't know if this is always the case. It may depend on how many they have for each resort as to how many resorts are on the bus and how many stops it will make.

 

[Goofygirl17]

We only used DME once (because we've only stayed onsite once) but we had a long wait in the resort line to get on the bus- probably about 45 minutes. We have rented a car every other time. This year we're staying at SSR but we're still going to rent a car as long as we can find a decent price. We love being able to go to the grocery store and to dinner off-site.

I think it's a great service for people who don't want to rent a car for whatever reason.

 

[beccasmom]

Sorry you had a bad experience. We've used ME countless times and I can honestly say we've never had much of a wait at all.

 

[MommyBryn]

What, what is this, you don't have to check in anymore? When did that start? Not that it has ever been a hassle, quite the contrary, its been the easiest process ever. But you go right to the bus now, nice!

Same here! We've always checked in first, but even then there's never been anyone at the counter already and the entire process took maybe 3 minutes max?