DME Questions

[Diane D]

If we arrive at MCO on Terminal B (and DME is on Terminal A), are we responsible for getting our own luggage? Or is luggage also picked up from B? We do have the luggage stickers/tags.

Is it possible to use DME only one way? We're arriving later in the day and want to get to our resort ASAP so we're thinking about reserving through a town car service for getting to our resort and then using DME for returning to MCO? Can you do that?

 

[kaytieeldr]

No. If you use the DME luggage tags, DME will collect and transport your luggage, it doesn't matter on WHICH side of the airport you land. On the other hand, DME riders who land on Side B and choose to collect their own luggage must first go down to baggage claim, wait for their bags, haul them back up to the arrivals level and across the terminal to side A, then down to level 1 to check in for DME, then haul them to the bus line, then to the bus... but that's not what you asked
You can absolutely use DME one way - just make your reservation for the direction of your choice. Keep in mind, though, that between waiting for and claiming luggage, and then waiting for the town car driver to get the car (because they have to park in the garage), chances are excellent that your fellow passengers who used DME will be at the resort before you.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

If we arrive at MCO on Terminal B (and DME is on Terminal A), are we responsible for getting our own luggage? Or is luggage also picked up from B? We do have the luggage stickers/tags.

Don't worry at all about Terminal A and Terminal B. A and B are simply two sides of the same building. The transit train from your "airside" (remote terminal where the gates are) takes you to a point between A and B, so it's simply a matter of following the signs to the correct side.

By the way, The Magical Express Welcome center will move from the A side to the B side as part of Disney's new contract with the airport. There's no official move date yet, but the new contact is effective at the beginning of 2007.

If you use Magical Express as designed, you will skip baggage claim entirely. You could be on a motorcoach to your resort while other people on your flight are still waiting for their bags. You bags will "magically appear" in your room a few hours after you check-in. You can be out having fun, because Disney takes care of the inbound bellman gratuity.

Is it possible to use DME only one way? We're arriving later in the day and want to get to our resort ASAP so we're thinking about reserving through a town car service for getting to our resort and then using DME for returning to MCO? Can you do that?

Yes. You can use DME one way only if you wish. If you don't use DME upon arrival, you won't get the DME luggage transfers. You'll have to claim your bags at baggage claim. And Disney does not take care of the inbound bellman gratuity. Also, if you only use a towncar one way, you typically do not get a grocery stop from the towncar service (although you might be able to work something out anyway).

 

[CleveRocks]

Just chiming in agreeing with all of the above. Just because you take a towncar doesn't in any way mean you'll make it to your resort sooner than with DME. You might, you might not. There are factors that affect the time that can't be exactly known ahead of time. With DME, how long will you wait for a bus, and will your resort be the first stop or the third or fourth stop? With a towncar, how long will you have to wait for your luggage at baggage claim?

When I took DME, it worked out that even in the town car verybest case scenario, I would have gotten to my resort eight minutes earlier than I did with DME (I've worked this out in detail in previous posts). EIGHT MINUTES, and that's only under the very best case scenario of minimal baggage claim wait time, minimal wait for the driver to return with the car, etc. So even if it was the best case scenario and I "wasted" eight minutes by using DME, I exchanged 8 minutes for $120 in towncar fees and tips.

Towncars have their place for those who want personalized service, a sense of pampering, privacy, etc. But if you're ONLY looking for speed in getting to your resort, I think a towncar is a bad bet, doesn't give you enough bang for a buck, insert your cliche metaphor here ....

 

[goofy4tink]

The other thing to understand is that if you do choose to go with a towncar service when you arrive at MCO, you can not have your luggage delivered to your resort via DME!! Someone has to ride the bus in order to do that.
Also, a towncar does take about an hour to get to the resort...you have to go to baggage claim, wait for the bags, then the driver will help you out to the curb with them, then he/she has to leave to go to their lot to get the car and drive it around, put the bags in, drive to the resort.
The only time a towncar has taken me less than an hour was when I had only carry-on luggage with me...and that time it took 45 minutes from touchdown to resort. Otherwise, it has taken me about 70 mins using DME.