DME to MCO from other resort

[Lewisc]

Hi Shelly,

This won't work for us because we're doing a split stay between AoA and Wyndham Bonnet Creek so we'll need the car for the latter part of our vacation and we'll be checking out of Bonnet Creek.

The Hilton at BC has a Hertz desk. You could always use your rental car to transfer your luggage and all but one guest then use BC transportation to a Disney park.

 

[goofy4tink]

There some efficiency gained by relocating a lot of the desk clerks to MCO from each of the individual resorts. Basically there are times at each resort where the clerk is not helping anyone while another resort has a line of guest waiting to check in.

Disney can "fix" the baggage issue by offering free check luggage if you book using your "Disney Rewards Visa". But those of us that fly Southwest, don't have to pay to check 2 bags.

There is also efficiency gained by reducing the number of trips by the trucks transporting the luggage, since everyone would be in the parks, the drop off time could be guaranteed in your room by 8pm.

The buses could still pick up / drop off at each resort but those buses would be servicing more resorts per trip and take longer.

Wait..... the real profit is in the souvenirs sales. It is odd that the drop off spot is not at DTD for purely profit reasons.

In all reality, having checkin counters at MCO, for WDW resorts, is not going to work. The system already notes that a resort guest has 'checked in' at MCO and is 'on their way to the resort'. Having counters to check people in for their resorts, at MCO, is hugely unwieldy. Sure some resorts have longer lines...but many times this is because there is an issue of some kind. And that issue may not be resolved at the airport..at least not easily.
And luggage? If I get to MCO at 10am, and am on property at 12pm, I sure as heck don't want to be waiting until 8pm for my luggage.

Here's the issue. The vast majority of people don't want to go right to a park..they want to go to their resort and get checked in. I suppose that the parks could have the capacity to give out park passes to those on packages.
But, the number of guests wanting to go directly to a park is minimal. So, why change the system to accommodate a very small percentage?
Then, as far as returning to MCO, from WDW. DME is basically mass transit..and please, lets not get started on the meaning of 'mass transit' or 'public transportation'. The vast majority of people know how DME works and they plan accordingly. If I'm going to want to linger at WDW on my departure day, then I book a later flight. If I want to get up and get going, then it's an earlier flight. But, you can't have it both ways all the time. Most people say that they booked an early flight because it was cheaper..but now they want to stay in the park a bit longer, so can DME pick them up there??

If people don't like the 3 hr prior to departure rule or they want to be picked up elsewhere, then they are free to book alternative transportation back to MCO. Disney will try to accommodate the largest number of people. I doubt they will change the existing system (any time soon anyway) to accommodate a smaller group of guests.

 

[seashoreCM]

There some efficiency gained by relocating a lot of the desk clerks to MCO from each of the individual resorts. Basically there are times at each resort where the clerk is not helping anyone while another resort has a line of guest waiting to check in.
There might not be enough space at the airport for that many resort check in stations.

There is also efficiency gained by reducing the number of trips by the trucks transporting the luggage, since everyone would be in the parks, the drop off time could be guaranteed in your room by 8pm.
I'm sure the truck schedules are already optimized; baggage trucks depart when full, with just a few instances where there is a deadline whereby the truck departs full or not. We don't want to hold all the baggage deliveries until around 8 PM because that would overload Bell Services at the resorts.

Wait..... the real profit is in the souvenirs sales. It is odd that the drop off spot is not at DTD for purely profit reasons.
Dropping off only at Downtown Disney might snag a few more shoppers but many guests will head immediately for the buses to their resorts possibly creating long queues..

My comments in red above.

 

[arthuruscg]

There is space for check in at MCO, on the current side of DME.

I would say the truck size is optimized to the current delivery schedule based on when you check into your resort.

What I am saying is offer choices to people when they check in at MCO.

I would suspect that people checking in between 8am and 1pm would want to go to a park. Since normal check in is at 3pm. (This would also allow room cleaning to have more time)

Those checking in between 1pm to 7pm would want to go to DTD or to a location for dinning.

After 8pm, most people would want to go to their "home" resort to check in and get ready for bed.


But this is just my assumptions, based on flying southwest with check bags. Then again, when we fly with your 2yr old DS, we only have 1 book bag as a carry on (Cares harness as the kid seat), and the BOB stroller is gate checked. So, we are ready to roll when we taste the Florida air.

 

[Lewisc]

And luggage? If I get to MCO at 10am, and am on property at 12pm, I sure as heck don't want to be waiting until 8pm for my luggage.

Here's the issue. The vast majority of people don't want to go right to a park..they want to go to their resort and get checked in. I suppose that the parks could have the capacity to give out park passes to those on packages.
But, the number of guests wanting to go directly to a park is minimal. So, why change the system to accommodate a very small percentage?
Then, as far as returning to MCO, from WDW. DME is basically mass transit..and please, lets not get started on the meaning of 'mass transit' or 'public transportation'. The vast majority of people know how DME works and they plan accordingly. If I'm going to want to linger at WDW on my departure day, then I book a later flight. If I want to get up and get going, then it's an earlier flight. But, you can't have it both ways all the time. Most people say that they booked an early flight because it was cheaper..but now they want to stay in the park a bit longer, so can DME pick them up there??

We don't know how many people would like to go directly to a park. Some hotels make you wait until check in time, even if rooms are available earlier. Guests arriving at 11 would probably like to go directly to a park if they knew their room won't be ready before 4 or even 5.

We know Disney was thinking of letting guests doing resort check in at MCO. It was in one of the earlier planning videos. We know at one point in time the resort computer system wouldn't allow it. We don't know if Disney decided against the plan, is considering it or is waiting until the implementation of the rumored RID bracelet. The bracelet is rumored to be replacing room keys.

People who want to get picked up at a park should ask. Enough people ask and Disney could change the system.

 

[seashoreCM]

Would there not be a large number of guests who would be interested in going directly from the airport to a park if it is early in the day -- because of the high probability that the room would not be available yet?

Hmmm. I can foresee that very quickly the lockers at the parks will be sold out and need augmenting. (A problem analogous to parking at resorts to go to parks.)

 

[goofy4tink]

However, we don't know that the reason it hasn't been put into effect is due to Disney's figuring out it won't work efficiently. Sure, it may still be 'on the drawing board', but it may very well have been taken off, as well.

As for room cleaning being given more time??? They have until 3pm. That's the official checkin time. Being able to go directly to a park isn't going to change the official checkin time...that's pretty standard. I have yet to be held from going to my room if it has been cleaned and is now available...even DVC does that.

I arrive at MCO, tomorrow, around 10am-ish. I really don't feel the need to head right to a park. I want to get to my resort, I want to drop my carryon bags off, I want to freshen up. Sure, I guess I could freshen up at the airport, or once I got to the park. It's just more relaxing to do it at my resort...even if my room isn't ready.
And yes, I understand this is 'my' choice. Others may very well want to go directly to a park. I just don't think resort checkin at MCO is the answer. Way too much opportunity for mess ups. Bell Services/Luggage Assistance isn't going to be thrilled with that change. They make a fair amount of money taking those bags for storage...that won't happen if there is airport checkin. Not sure how resort CMs are going to feel about working at the airport...I highly doubt that Disney is going to contract resort checkin out...but it could happen. And that's nothing I would want to see. Already plenty of complaints with DME and how Mears handles things.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Lewisc]

However, we don't know that the reason it hasn't been put into effect is due to Disney's figuring out it won't work efficiently. Sure, it may still be 'on the drawing board', but it may very well have been taken off, as well.

As for room cleaning being given more time??? They have until 3pm. That's the official checkin time. Being able to go directly to a park isn't going to change the official checkin time...that's pretty standard. I have yet to be held from going to my room if it has been cleaned and is now available...even DVC does that.

I arrive at MCO, tomorrow, around 10am-ish. I really don't feel the need to head right to a park. I want to get to my resort, I want to drop my carryon bags off, I want to freshen up. Sure, I guess I could freshen up at the airport, or once I got to the park. It's just more relaxing to do it at my resort...even if my room isn't ready.
And yes, I understand this is 'my' choice. Others may very well want to go directly to a park. I just don't think resort checkin at MCO is the answer. Way too much opportunity for mess ups. Bell Services/Luggage Assistance isn't going to be thrilled with that change. They make a fair amount of money taking those bags for storage...that won't happen if there is airport checkin. Not sure how resort CMs are going to feel about working at the airport...I highly doubt that Disney is going to contract resort checkin out...but it could happen. And that's nothing I would want to see. Already plenty of complaints with DME and how Mears handles things.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I thought check in at DVC resorts is 4p. I remember being told 4p isn't even a guarantee.

We have no idea how many passengers would like to be bused directly to a theme park. We don't know if the answer would be different if Disney made a change in policy and didn't let people get their room assignment prior to official check in regardless of room status.

Look at how many things are now self service via Kiosks, on the web or on a smartphone. I wonder how long before resort check in changes. Express check in without a CM. There are already some rumors which suggest a RID based card or wrist band might be mailed to the guest in advance of their trip.

 

[seashoreCM]

Or maybe have resort check in counters outside the theme parks as opposed to at the airport, while offering Magical Express to there.

1. Avoids more CMs having to report to work at the airport and worry about parking there.
2. Avoids the need for so many CM stations in the limited space at the DME welcoming area.
3. Avoids inconveniencing guests just wanting a DME bus with resort issues of other guests.

There could be a baggage rechecking stand at the welcoming area so carryons and other items brought there can be yellow tagged for resort delivery rather than being schlepped to the park (prohibition of luggage on the park to resort buses mighr remain in effect).

Taking DME to your resort would still be offered.