DME Route Question

[kristenrice]

Where does the OKW stop fall on the DME route?

I've only used DME for Pop Century and AKV and they are both on the same bus, AKV first and Pop last. What resorts share a bus with OKW and in what order are they dropped off?

 

[SueM in MN]

There are not fixed routes as far as I know. The last time we used DME was in October and we usually go once in the Spring and once in the Fall.
We have been on the bus to OKW and it has stopped at different resorts each time we took it. It will often be on a route that includes SSR or PO, but we've also gone to the MK area resorts or had our bus go there after we got off.
They route the buses depending on how many people are going where. I believe they often go first to the resort that the most people on the bus are going to.

 

[CleveRocks]

No pre-set routes. No pre-set order of drop-offs. In fact, the driver decides the order for himself/herself. Most drivers tend to drop-off the resort closest to the airport first and farthest from the airport last. But this is just a tendency, NOT a rule or a policy. It is up to the individual driver.

There are 4 geographic DME zones. Resorts tend to be grouped by zone, but only when there are lots of people going everywhere. When it makes sense, they will group a bus together with resorts from more than one zone. Because we mjst make reservations, DME knows about how many people are going to which resorts at about what times, and from that data they can make the most efficient dispatch plans.

When the bus stays within one zone, it will make a maximum of 4 stops. When it crosses zones, it will make a maximum of 3 stops (to make up for the increased travel time).

The only time the driver can't decide the order of drop-offs is when they have guests from both Polynesian and Grand Floridian. In that case, they MUST drop-off at Poly first before GF ... this isn't because Disney wants to treat Poly guests better, it's because the large buses can't make a left turn into the Poly complex if it is coming from the direction of GF.

 

[Jestocost]

As the PPs have correctly noted, there is no set grouping or order of resorts for DME buses. However, there are some common groupings and drop-off orders and it may be more likely that you will follow one of those than some random grouping (unless you are coming in at a very slow time).

In several stays at POFQ where we have used DME, the bus also has gone to OKW and every time OKW was the first stop (followed by SSR and then POFQ). So, while there are no guarantees, it is likely that your route may be the same.

 

[SueM in MN]

As the PPs have correctly noted, there is no set grouping or order of resorts for DME buses. However, there are some common groupings and drop-off orders and it may be more likely that you will follow one of those than some random grouping (unless you are coming in at a very slow time).

In several stays at POFQ where we have used DME, the bus also has gone to OKW and every time OKW was the first stop (followed by SSR and then POFQ). So, while there are no guarantees, it is likely that your route may be the same.

We've stayed at OKW and had the opposite - stop first at POFQ or POR and then at OKW. Or SSR, then OKW.
I don't know if the driver chose to not do OKW first when we were on because we had a wheelchair, which would take extra time or not, but the times OKW was the first stop were often when the OKW passengers outnumbered the passengers for other stops.

So, like you said, no way to know.

 

[helenk]

I stayed at the WL the beginning of Dec and was surprised that OKW was included in the trip the airport. WL was first then OKW and then SSR.I thought it was odd, but perhaps it was because it was not busy. It was the Monday after Thanksgiving around 6:30 pm and there was hardly anyone waiting for the buses.

 

[IlovePiglet]

Another thing that drivers take into consideration when deciding what order to drop off is, if there is going to be a DME bus in there picking up. In many cases there is only room for one bus at a time and it just makes sense to run to the other hotels rather than sit behind a bus making a pickup since they typically take longer to load.

 

[Missytara]

I arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving and stay at POR, and they are so busy running buses to the airport, they don't even wait to fill them up. I have never had the same grouping or route twice.

This past year, it was BC/YC/BW and us - we were the first stop.

Last year, it was OKW/SSR/POFQ and we were the last stop.

The year before it was CSR and us; we were the first stop.

They have to group them the best way they know how for that particular day.