We got off our flight at 12:20PM...made a quick rest stop and headed down to DME check in...no line, check in took all of 30 seconds (the clerk also entered our return flight info - we were changing resorts mid trip and the flight info had not been entered on the return portion of the reservation), walked straight over to the bus line, were escorted into the correct line ( we were staying at VWL the first couple of nights and at CR the rest of the trip) and after maybe a 15 second wait in line they escorted us onto a bus. We waited probably 10 minutes for others to board the bus before pulling out.
Uneventful ride to WDW...we were the 3rd stop so it took a little while to drop off at the other places (went to Poly, GF, then WL and the CR people were the last stop)...but the stops were short and we got to the WL by 1:20PM....really excellent time (jetway to hotel desk was exactly 1 hour and it would have been less if we had been the first stop). There were maybe 20 people total on the bus. I would give an A+ for service and efficiency.
We left the resort immediately after check in and did not come back to the room until 8PM or so and our luggage was there waiting on us then.
The return trip was not quite as painless....we had a 10:55AM pick up for our 2:10 departure. As requested we were at the hotel drive with luggage (we were flying SW so could not check our luggage at the hotel) driver loaded us and then we sat there for a good 20 minutes waiting on the people who had an 11:15 pick up for the same bus and same hotel!! Then we left the CR and went to the WL, followed by the Poly and finally the GF. Every seat was filled and they kept asking for all children under age 4 to be placed in a parents lap so everyone could have a seat!! By the time we finally pulled out of the GF drive we had been on the bus for 1 hour and 20 minutes!! Of course if we had been the last stop instead of the first it would have been a lot quicker, but then again I might not have had a seat!!
When we got to MCO we went to the B terminal for drop off first and finally after slightly over 2 hours on the bus we were at our stop!! Fortunately we had boarding passes and there was no wait to check baggage at MCO and no delay at security so we actually had a few moments to spare at the gate....but now I know why they pick up 3 hours in advance!!
It seems they group all of the MK resorts onto 1 bus route and the CR gets the short end of the stick (last drop off and first pick up), with the WL getting the next worst schedule. I doubt I would use DME if I was staying at the CR again.... but then again if it remains free I guess the delay was worth it (saving us $90 to 100 on town car service or more for a rental car was a big help, so I guess a little extra time was worth it).
Actually I would probably use it on arrival anytime because not having to wait to claim and haul luggage is well worth a little bus inconvienence. On the return if I was flying an airline where I could check luggage at the hotel I would still be tempted to use it....but I might spring for a town car 1 way to return to the airport if I was staying at the CR again and using an airline (like SW) where we could not check luggage in at the hotel.
Uneventful ride to WDW...we were the 3rd stop so it took a little while to drop off at the other places (went to Poly, GF, then WL and the CR people were the last stop)...but the stops were short and we got to the WL by 1:20PM....really excellent time (jetway to hotel desk was exactly 1 hour and it would have been less if we had been the first stop). There were maybe 20 people total on the bus. I would give an A+ for service and efficiency.
We left the resort immediately after check in and did not come back to the room until 8PM or so and our luggage was there waiting on us then.
The return trip was not quite as painless....we had a 10:55AM pick up for our 2:10 departure. As requested we were at the hotel drive with luggage (we were flying SW so could not check our luggage at the hotel) driver loaded us and then we sat there for a good 20 minutes waiting on the people who had an 11:15 pick up for the same bus and same hotel!! Then we left the CR and went to the WL, followed by the Poly and finally the GF. Every seat was filled and they kept asking for all children under age 4 to be placed in a parents lap so everyone could have a seat!! By the time we finally pulled out of the GF drive we had been on the bus for 1 hour and 20 minutes!! Of course if we had been the last stop instead of the first it would have been a lot quicker, but then again I might not have had a seat!!
When we got to MCO we went to the B terminal for drop off first and finally after slightly over 2 hours on the bus we were at our stop!! Fortunately we had boarding passes and there was no wait to check baggage at MCO and no delay at security so we actually had a few moments to spare at the gate....but now I know why they pick up 3 hours in advance!!
It seems they group all of the MK resorts onto 1 bus route and the CR gets the short end of the stick (last drop off and first pick up), with the WL getting the next worst schedule. I doubt I would use DME if I was staying at the CR again.... but then again if it remains free I guess the delay was worth it (saving us $90 to 100 on town car service or more for a rental car was a big help, so I guess a little extra time was worth it).
Actually I would probably use it on arrival anytime because not having to wait to claim and haul luggage is well worth a little bus inconvienence. On the return if I was flying an airline where I could check luggage at the hotel I would still be tempted to use it....but I might spring for a town car 1 way to return to the airport if I was staying at the CR again and using an airline (like SW) where we could not check luggage in at the hotel.
