DME or picking up

[candielips]

My BIL and his family are flying into MCO and we are driving down a few days before them. I am wondering if it will save a lot of time if we pick them up at airport or if we should let them take DME? We are all staying at POP if that makes a difference.

 

[Jestocost]

It MIGHT save them a few minutes (but probably not many) and it certainly will cause you to spend a bunch of extra time going to the airport and back. I'd have them ride DME.

 

[figment_jii]

Also note that if you pick them up, they cannot use the luggage delivery service associated with DME, so they will have to pick up their own luggage.

I agree that if you pick them up, they might have a bit of time getting to WDW because they won't have to wait for the DME bus and then wait while the DME bus goes to the various resorts (unless Pop is the first resort the bus goes to), but you will spend extra time driving to MCO and getting them.

For us, the bigget drawback would be having to get our own luggage and transporting it.

 

[candielips]

Thanks!
How long does it take to get from MCO to the resort on the DME? Also, how soon before your flight does the DME pick you up?

 

[tipsytrtle]

when we used DME we got from MCO to Pop Century in about a hour or so, not a big deal at all.
I would let them take DME, that was they have luggage service, you dont have to go out of your way and make room for them and their stuff.

 

[Jestocost]

Thanks!
How long does it take to get from MCO to the resort on the DME? Also, how soon before your flight does the DME pick you up?

It takes about 60-90 minutes from the time they get off of the plane until DME delivers them at their resort, with the average being about 70 minutes. That's if they have only carry-on bags or use the DME luggage transfer service for checked bags.

If you were to pick them up, it would take 10-20 minutes from plane to baggage claim, 10-20 minutes (minimum) at baggage claim, a few minutes to the car and then about 30 minutes to WDW. In other words, 60-80+ minutes.

On the way to MCO from WDW, DME will schedule pick up approximately three hours before their scheduled departure (assuming it's a domestic flight). The should be at the pick-up point 10-15 minutes before that time.

 

[candielips]

I never would have guessed that DME was quicker. I never knew anything about this luggage thing either? So you do not need to claim any checked luggage as long as it has the DME tags on it?
That really does save a lot of time!
Thanks everyone for all of your info.

 

[goofy4tink]

DME isn't quicker than someone picking you up unless you get very lucky and hit everything perfectly with DME...no stops at the counter, right onto the bus that is just about to leave the airport.
If you have someone pick you up, and you have checked bags to claim, it will take you less than an hour to get from your gate to your resort. Without checked bags to claim it has taken me about 45 mins.

But, it all depends on whether or not you want to take the time to drive to MCO, find them, and then drive back...all to save about 20-25 mins. Now, if you're talking about your return to the airport, then sure, drive. It allows you an addtl hour to hang out.

 

[candielips]

That sounds like a good idea. So we will let them take DME to the resort and we will drive them to the airport fr their return trip home.

 

[figment_jii]

I never knew anything about this luggage thing either? So you do not need to claim any checked luggage as long as it has the DME tags on it?

With regards to the luggage delivery service, they must be using one of the participating airlines. Most of the major ones participate (e.g., AirTran, Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and US Airways). When you register for DME, they will send you your bus vouchers and yellow luggage tags. You affix these tags to your luggage and that signifies that those bags should be send to WDW and not the luggage carousel at the airport. The bags will be delivered directly to your room (you do no have to be there to receive them), but it takes about three hours.